Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Then he places a kiss in my hair, and I can’t help but think he’s pacifying me. “What did she mean, how well are they getting to know you?”
“She means what she says. Katherine has some warped notion that no one knows me better than her.”
“Because you were engaged,” I murmur.
Jude stops me, putting himself in front of me, holding the tops of my arms. “Stop it,” he warns. “Stop letting her get under your skin.”
I sigh. “You need to tell her to leave.”
“I know,” he says. “But like you do with Nick, I have to choose my moment.”
God damn him. “Nick’s not making you miserable.”
Jude laughs, pinching the bridge of his nose, seeming to take in air and patience. Does he disagree?
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing.” His chest expands, his breath deep. “Come on, it’s been a lovely afternoon and evening. Let’s not spoil it now.” He collects me and walks us back inside.
“She denied scratching my car, didn’t she?”
“Yes,” he says, flat and clipped. “I think I might need to find a room for your parents tonight.” And just like that, the conversation is over. I exhale, fucked off with myself for feeling so irritated. “And tell me we can book our break tomorrow.”
“We can book our break tomorrow,” I confirm quietly, feeling a bit deflated. My mum and dad are still lost in the music, and probably their tenth cocktail now.
“Hey.” Jude nudges me in the side. “Snap out of it. Everything will be okay.”
I force a smile, and it’s an effort.
Because something doesn’t feel right, and I can’t put my finger on what.
Chapter 21
Mum and Dad woke up with sore heads on Sunday, but a lavish breakfast got them back on track. Poor Jude was hit with more of the Lazenbys when Mum insisted on repaying him for his hospitality and invited him for one of her famous Sunday roasts. Which, of course, meant he got to meet Grandma and Grandpa too. So that’s it. He’s met my entire family. And, I admit, when we left my parents and headed back to my place, I was a little worried Jude would try to worm his way out of this relationship we’ve unexpectedly got ourselves into. He didn’t. Instead, he took me to bed and whispered sweet nothings in my ear as he made love to me. Then the next morning, he made me a coffee with the new kettle he brought for me on Saturday while I was at the gym. Then he drove me to work. Kissed me long and softly before he let me get out of the car. It was the best start to my day, but that’s where my good day ended.
My Monday rapidly went downhill.
Gary was out of the office all day in client meetings, so I couldn’t talk to him about Jude. A client, Mr. Coldfoot, emailed to tell me he’s moving to the South of France and, therefore, moving his money too, putting a tidy hole in my portfolio, and a Zoom call at ten with Mr. Jarvis that was only allocated an hour turned into two hours, fucking up the rest of my day’s schedule and meetings. I’ve been chasing time ever since, run off my feet, but I haven’t achieved much. In fact, thanks to Mr. Coldfoot moving to France, I’ve gone backwards.
At three o’clock, I drop my mobile to my desk on a sigh and go to get myself some needed caffeine. I watch the coffee trickle out of the machine slowly and add some cold water when it’s done, drinking it on my way back to my desk. Three more hours to get through. Just three. I push my way back into my office and nearly throw up what I’ve just drunk when I see someone sitting on the opposite side of my desk.
“Nick?” I breathe, as he looks back at me. “What are you doing here?” My feet refuse to take me to my desk, keeping me by the open door.
He smiles and stands. “I had a meeting.”
“What?” I look back into the corridor, seeing it empty. “With whom?”
“Sue.”
My blood runs cold, everything telling me I’m not going to like what’s coming next. He’s blocking the way to my desk. “Sue?”
“About the new position that’s come up.”
“New position?”
“So how have you been?” He lowers back to the chair, getting comfortable, while I stand like a statue trying to process the bombshell he’s just landed on me. I round my desk and sit, grateful for the huge piece of wood now serving as a barrier between us.
“New position?” I repeat, not wanting to get into idle chitchat.
“You didn’t know LB&B are hiring?”
“No, I didn’t know.” What the fucking hell is going on? My eyes drop to my mobile on my desk. I’m itching to swipe it up and call Gary to find out. And, maybe, to tell him they can’t hire Nick. “And since you’re here, I’m assuming you’re thinking of going for it.”