Scarlet
“I’ve found Reid.”
My lips part at the mention of his name. My blood starts pumping through my veins rapidly. David knows where he is. How tempting it would be to go to him now and start fucking with his head.
All in good time.
“Where is he?”
David manoeuvres himself into a seated position before pulling me onto his lap. He threads his arm through mine and cradles my stomach to him in a protective manner. It’s quite sweet.
“I got my contact to look everywhere in Ibiza and particularly for anyone British trying to purchase a bar. I got nothing. When I asked to check the whole of Spain, though, I got a hit on a cash buyer. His name’s Reece Valentine.” He laughs sarcastically. “It seems he couldn’t quite help himself there, could he?”
David absolutely despises Reid. Not only because of what he did to me, but also because of the big secret he kept. Although he won’t admit it, I think he also doesn’t like him because Reid, at one stage, basically owned me. David’s a shrewd character. I know he has my best interests at heart, but deep down, he has this dark side of him that wants to possess me too. I guess that’s one of the reasons why I’m drawn to him now. Well, I am a sick fucker like that.
“But that’s not the only thing.”
David snaps me out of my thoughts. “What?”
He starts shaking his head. “Guess what the fucker’s named his new bar?”
A big smirk rises on my face at the thought. “Scarlet’s?” He nods, and I start laughing.
He really is his father’s son.
“And, look what Reidey boy will be getting on his doorstep tomorrow morning.”
With a quick flex of his wrist, David throws down The Sun newspaper where on the front page it reads, BODY OF WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN BARNES WOODS.
Scanning the newspaper, I come across a picture of the area where I woke up. It’s been cordoned off by police tape, and police can be seen combing through the bushes.
I look at it stunned. After a few seconds, I turn my face up to look at David. “How?”
David smiles triumphantly as he squeezes me into him. “It’s easy enough to doctor. The trickiest part is getting him to see that paper and only that paper. My source out there, who is watching him right now, tells me that he has that English newspaper delivered every day, and that every morning, he scourers through it like a madman. I’m guessing it’s to see if he can find this,” he states, tapping at the headline. “Reid currently thinks he may have killed you. Without evidence, he’s going to put two and two together once he sees you again. At least, with this, he will have no other option but to believe you must be someone else who just happens to look like her.” He frowns. “Talking of which, how’s the accent going?”
I smirk. “One thing at a time, David. This is huge! Thank you.”
He smiles like I’ve just given him the best news ever. “It was no sweat. I’d do anything for you. You know that.”
A part of me feels bad about that. “After everything I’ve done.”
“Hey,” he says, clasping his hand over my arm and giving it a squeeze, “we’ve already talked about this.”
I sigh. “I know. I still feel badly about it, though. I broke your marriage apart.”
David laughs. “Some marriage that was! You did me a favour.”
I stare for a little, wondering what he’s thinking since my mother dropped that bomb on him about me yesterday. He hasn’t said anything to me yet. I’m starting to wonder if he ever will. He’s certainly treating me a little differently since. It’s like he doesn’t want to be too close to me. All it does is make me want to be closer to him.
And what does that say about me?
I glance back at the newspaper, and I’m amazed at how real it all looks. “This is … it’s …” I look up and catch him staring at me, and I smile. “Thank you,” is all I can muster. I am genuinely grateful. I’m also pretty impressed with how he’s managed to do it.
“No sweat,” he answers, fixing me with his dazzling eyes. Today, they do look pretty dazzling. In fact, everything about David looks dazzling lately. As my eyes trail from his eyes to his neck, I watch as he swallows hard, and the desire to lick from his chest up to his chin overtakes me.
Without saying a word, I slide my hands around his waist and lean my head against his chest. At first, he stiffens, but when I snuggle my head in more and voice my gratitude again, he relents, placing his arms around me. He doesn’t move at all, but I can feel his heart beating rapidly. Is he nervous? Aroused? Panicked? Whatever emotion it is, it’s strong enough to cause his heart to thump against his ribcage.
My loins waken, and the desire to kiss him is so strong that I pull my head away and look up. David is frowning. His face is in definite turmoil. Despite knowing why, I can’t help wanting to push the boundaries—just to see how far I can take it.
I move my lips close to his and kiss him gently on the lips. David stiffens, unmoving. He’s not kissing me back. A part of me wants to push further, but another part of me thinks it would be cruel.
That’s not like me.
I’m no saint, and I’m definitely not one to back down from a challenge just to save another person. Just as I’m thinking to move in again for another kiss, David pulls away, sighing. “I have work to do.” He stands up, picking me up with him before walking away without looking back. “I’ll be in my office if you need me,” he states, walking out of the kitchen.