Page 43 of Hidden Gem
“I’m kidnapping you.” He pulled her closer, his lips searching for hers.
She fought him for a split second before her body took over, flooded with endorphins. How could she think straight when overpowered by his scent, those long fingers tracing her face, diving into her hair? She couldn’t think at all. Instead, white hot fire spread down her spine, taking residence in the pit of her belly. After a whole day without pain, living on salad, this was the perfect icing on the perfect cake, better than any actual dessert. She’d never need food again.
He released her and glanced over her shoulder. They had company. Marnie jerked around, her hands flying to her mouth. Oh, no. Both Tanya and Lando stood at the end of the hallway, jaws hanging like two ventriloquist dummies.
“Mum? Is that...?” Tanya stopped to swallow without blinking.
“Jason Hallett. Lovely to meet you.” Jason offered his hand and the practised smile he seemed to be able to pull out of a hat in any situation, although his eyes held an ever-so-slightly dazed look.
Lando switched the wrench he was holding into his other hand and took Jason’s in his overly firm grip. “I know you,” Lando announced, sticking out his chin. “You’re that politician.”
Jason nodded. “Yes, I am.”
“What are you doing with our Marnie?”
“We’re friends,” Marnie mumbled, her cheeks burning.
Lando narrowed his eyes. “That looked real friendly.”
“Yeah, come on, Mum. Are you... with him?”
Marnie turned to her daughter, her heart beating erratically. Was there any way to salvage this? Any way the reporters weren’t already on their way to her home? Any way she didn’t have to sell the house and go on a year-long cruise with retirees?
“Tanya, honey, I was going to tell you, but it’s all so new.” she glanced at Jason, emitting a silent apology.
Jason grimaced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be seen by this many people. I just couldn’t wait to see you. The yard looked empty when I arrived. Are your neighbours very nosy?”
Marnie placed a hand on his arm. Her fingertips curled on the inside of his wrist, detecting the rapid pulse under his skin. Her heart matched it, beat for beat. “Sue and John are very discreet, if we just tell them what’s going on.”
“Whatisgoing on?” Tanya demanded.
“That’s what I’d like to know,” Lando echoed. “I’m slaving away in your backyard, connecting your fountain, which I gifted you as a token of my feelings, to be honest.”
Marnie cringed, turning around so that Lando couldn’t see her reaction. Meeting Jason’s confused gaze, she subtly shook her head, her eyes pleading for understanding. “I’m sorry, Lando. I never meant to lead you on,” she whispered, casting him a quick look over her shoulder.
The palpable disappointment on Lando’s face wound her stomach into a knot. She should have listened to Shasa and told him a firm ‘no’ to the fountain, as well as everything else. The man was guileless. He didn’t deserve this, no matter how terrible his taste in garden ornaments.
“Wait! Are you... Beatrice?” Tanya’s voice rose an octave as her eyes widened into cartoon versions of the originals. “Mum, seriously? Is it you?”
“Shhh!” Marnie wasn’t sure why she was shushing, as nobody could possibly overhear them. The closest people were John and Sue, all the way in the garden. Holy shit. She had to include them.
Trying to ignore the swirling in her stomach, Marnie hurried out the front door and located her neighbours, busy installing slug traps. “Sue? John? Can I please talk to you? Do you mind coming over for a minute?”
They both looked a little puzzled but followed.
Once they were all inside, Marnie led them into the lounge, urging everyone to take a seat. Sue and John took the couch, while Jason perched on one of the barstools. Lando remained standing next to him, arms folded, back straight, as if to show how much taller he was. Tanya lowered herself into an armchair, never taking her eyes off Jason.
Choosing the barstool next to Jason, Marnie eyed the motley crew in her lounge. “I’m so sorry to spring this on you. But since you’ve already seen him, I have to ask you to keep this secret with me.”
“What secret?” John asked, his voice gentle, clueless.
His arched eyebrows matched his wife’s, who was still holding a dirt-covered spade, trying not to touch any of her furnishings. Marnie took it from her and placed it in the sink.
Jason cleared his throat. “I’ve been seeing Marnie.”
John stared at him, still confused. “And it’s a secret because...?”
Sue’s mouth formed a perfect O as they all waited for the rest of the sentence.
