Page 100 of For Love or Money
‘Mmm. I should probably go,’ she said, nodding to Al.
Oh, God, what had she been thinking, behaving like that with Scott in front of Al’s family. They’d all hate her now. They’d think she was another cheating skank like Cassie. She may not really be his girlfriend, but he was paying her to keep up the illusion and she’d fallen down on the job big time. She’d never felt so shitty and miserable, and she just wanted to run away and hide and never have to face any of the Bradshaws ever again.
But she forced herself to walk over to Al, who was chatting to Toby, his back to her as she approached. He didn’t turn around, but Lesley knew he was aware of her – and she could tell he was seething!
‘Lesley,’ he said coldly, turning to her at last. ‘Are you ready to go?’
She nodded. ‘Yes, if you are.’
The party was winding down, people starting to leave. Al took her hand, and Lesley was in an agony of anticipation as they made their way slowly through the garden, stopping every few minutes to say goodbye to someone. Part of her was dreading being alone with Al when he could let rip, but at the same time she wanted to get it over with.
‘I’m really sorry, Al,’ she said as soon as they were outside. ‘I don’t know what I was thinking. Well, Iwasn’tthinking. I drank too much, and then—’
She expected him to shout, but he didn’t say a word, and that was worse – his set jaw, the blazing anger in his eyes, the jerky tension in his body. Then they were joined by Jane, and he couldn’t say anything. The short walk home was passed in tense silence and felt like it took a lifetime. Lesley was quite woozy and unsteady on her feet, and she had to cling onto Al’s arm to steady herself. She knew he was probably dying to shake her off, but couldn’t do it with his family watching.
‘Nightcap, anyone?’ Jane asked as soon as they were inside, throwing Lesley a sympathetic look.
‘No, thanks,’ Al said.
Even though the thought of any more alcohol turned her stomach, Lesley was tempted to take Jane up on the offer and delay the moment of confrontation with Al. She could sit out on the terrace, drink very slowly and think about what she’d done – and hopefully Al would be asleep by the time she went to bed. But she wasn’t going to be a coward. Better to face up to it tonight and clear the air than have to deal with The Fear in the morning.
‘No, thanks,’ she said. ‘I can’t wait to get into bed … um, with Al,’ she added, taking his hand and giving him what she hoped was a sexy smile. He just threw her a scathing look, and Lesley thought she might explode from the tension as they walked upstairs in stony silence.
As soon as they were out of sight, he dropped her hand and strode down the corridor ahead of her to their room. He stood back and held the door open for her, staring at the floor as she walked into the room. She flinched when she heard the door close behind her with a soft click. Only then did Al finally let rip.
‘What the hell was that?’ he asked, facing her, hands on his hips.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—’
‘Jesus, Lesley!’ he shouted.
Lesley gulped. ‘I know. I was just—’
‘You were just behaving like a complete tart! Flirting your arse off with Scott, of all people!’
‘It’s not how it looked. It wasn’t even a real kiss – just a vampire one. We were just messing around, having a laugh.’
‘You were dry humping him right in front of me. I wasright there! Not to mention my whole family.’
‘I know. I’m sorry.’ She felt awful. Al was so nice. He didn’t deserve to be humiliated like that in front of everyone. ‘I just had a bit too much to drink – well, a lot too much, actually – and I lost the run of myself and forgot about you being my pretend boyfriend. I’m really sorry, Al,’ she said miserably, tears springing to her eyes. ‘It was a horrible thing to do.’
He looked a little taken aback, and she got the feeling she’d taken the wind out of his sails by not trying to justify herself. But she was in the wrong and she knew it. There was no excuse.
He took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh. ‘Look, I know you’re not really my girlfriend,’ he said stiffly, ‘but as far as my family and everyone else is concerned, you are.’
‘I know, I know!’
‘So I’d appreciate it if you could try and act as such, at least while we’re here.’
‘Honestly, I feel terrible about the way I behaved. You’re a lovely boyfriend even if you’re not real, and you don’t deserve that, especially when you’re paying me. It was very unprofessional of me. But no one’s going to think anything of it. I mean, it wasScott—’
‘Right, of course. I suppose I should have anticipated this.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, we all know how “insanely hot” my cousins are,’ he said bitterly. ‘Who’d blame you? He told you himself he’s irresistible to women.’
‘No, that’s not what I meant. It’s not about Scott. I was just drunk, and a bit lonely and—’
