Page 5 of Fool Me Twice

The man eyed him suspiciously. “Where are you staying?”

“I...” What was the name of the place? He hadn’t needed to ask for a house or street name. Jaxon had picked him up at the airport, and either Anya or Morwenna had taken him wherever he’d needed to go. “I’m...” What should he tell him? Should he mention Jaxon? Should he say “I’m staying at my son’s house”? Finally, he settled on, “I’m staying at the big white house, on the hill.”

“Jaxon’s place?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “That’s right.”

“You must be him?” the man grunted. “That fellow? Whatshisname?”

“Sorry?”

“Jaxon’s dad, the big rock star.” He turned to look at Peter and snickered. “Don’t look like much of a rock star to me.”

“No, I suppose not.” Peter felt his cheeks burn. He’d thought the same thing himself a million times. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

“Bert.” The vehicle swerved as he reached over to shake Peter’s hand.

“Peter.” He let go of Bert’s hand quickly, convinced the man was deliberately hitting every pothole on the road. Maybe it was the way he smirked every time Peter’s head ping-ponged against the roof as they bumped along.

Finally, the dark, winding lanes gave way to tarmac roads, street lights and familiarity.

Peter pulled out his wallet as they came to an abrupt halt outside Jaxon’s house. “Here.” He pulled out some notes and offered them to Bert. “For your trouble.”

“I don’t want your money.” Bert sniffed as he pulled up the handbrake and twisted in his seat until he was facing Peter. “It’s what we do round here. Look out for each other.” He cocked his eyebrow. “But I don’t expect you city types know anything about that.”

Peter unbuckled his seat belt and got out. “Yes, well, thanks for the lift.” He leaned in with one hand on the roof, the other on the door.

“Evie’s got a lot of friends round here, and Jaxon,” Bert warned. “And like I said, we look out for our own round these parts.”

Peter stepped back. Was that a threat?

“G’night.” Bert stretched over the passenger seat and tugged the door from Peter’s hand. He slammed it shut and drove off.

What the hell was that about?

Peter reached into his pocket for his phone. Now you work. He stared at the screen, his jaw tight as he scrolled through his messages. “Great,” he sighed, counting eight messages from Shari. “Bloody great.”

Evie scanned the faces of her guests. These were people she’d known for years; some were people she’d been friends with since forever, and normally she would have been in her element, celebrating her birthday with the people she loved and cared for, but Peter’s appearance had spoiled everything.

It wasn’t that she didn’t know Peter had been staying at Jaxon’s house. She’d just been very careful to make sure their paths didn’t cross. She hated herself for making things so difficult for Jaxon, making him split what little free time he had between the pair of them, especially now that he was about to embark on a tour that would see the band on the road for months.

But she couldn’t help it. Even thinking about that man made her stomach muscles spasm. The only thing worse than sharing her son with Peter was watching how easily he’d wormed his way into Jaxon’s life. Her blood boiled at the way he behaved like some puffed up peacock, taking credit for how well his son had turned out, when nothing could be further from the truth.

Throwing her head back, Evie drained her glass, then headed toward the bar for a refill.

“Happy birthday, gorgeous.” Matt, one of the fitness trainers at the retreat, appeared beside her, planting a kiss on her lips before handing her a small package.

“Aw, you shouldn’t have,” she said, as her eyes swept the room for signs anyone might be watching them. Not that it was anyone else’s business. They were both free agents, but she was his boss, and a good fifteen years older than him. Not that that was anyone’s business either, but she didn’t want everyone to know they were sleeping together.

Matt placed his hand over hers and looked around. Lowering his voice, he continued huskily against her ear, “It’s probably better if you wait until you’re alone to open it. Or maybe I could come by later.” He ran a finger along her collarbone. “And we could open it... together.”

“Maybe.” She shrugged off his hand, her eyes darting left and right for Jaxon. He didn’t entirely approve of Matt.

Correction. He didn’t approve of Matt, full stop.

According to her son, Matt was a player and only interested in her money.

Evie knew exactly what Matt was. She didn’t need her twenty-two-year-old son or anyone else spelling it out for her. But it wasn’t just her money he was interested in. Wasn’t it every young man’s fantasy to hook up with their very own Mrs Robinson?

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