This Man

Oh, no. He’ll be ripping his hair out again. I dial him as I walk across the landing and into the lounge, looking out of the window to see if Kate’s back.

She’s not, but Jesse is pacing up and down the garden path, looking his usual Godly self, in jeans and a thin knitted, navy jumper. I smile, tingling from top to toe at the sight of him. He’s frantically punching buttons on his phone and, just like I knew it would, my mobile lights up in my hand.

Ah! ‘Hello?’ I say, all cool and casual.

‘Where the hell are you?’ he barks down the phone. I ignore his tone.

‘Where are you?’ I counter. Of course, I know damn well where he is. I stand at the window, watching him rake his hand through his hair, but then he disappears from view into the recess of the front door.

‘I’m outside Kate’s kicking the door down,’ he snaps, ‘Is it too much to ask that you answer your phone the first time I call you?’

‘I was otherwise engaged. Why haven’t you called all day?’ I ask, making my way down to the front door.

‘Because, Ava, I don’t want you to feel hounded!’ He’s completed exasperated, making me smile. I love every crazy element of him.

‘But you’re still shouting at me.’ I remind him. I look out of the viewer, dissolving on the spot when I see him leaning against the wall in the open porch way.

‘I am,’ he says softly. ‘You make me crazy. Where are you?’

I watch him slide down the wall until his arse hits the floor, knees bent, head dropped. Oh, I can’t see him like that.

I open the door. ‘Here,’

He looks up and drops his phone from his ear, but makes no attempt to get up. He just looks at me, relief flooding his handsome face. I step out and slide down the wall opposite him so we’re sat across from each other, knee to knee. I half expect him to throw me inside because of my half naked state, but he doesn’t. Instead, he reaches forward and places his big hand on my exposed knee. I’m less than surprised when it sends hot sparks of fire flying off all over me.

‘I was in the shower.’

‘Well, take your phone next time.’ he orders.

‘Okay.’ I salute him.

‘Where are your clothes?’ He runs his green eyes over my towel clad body.

Ha! I wouldn’t have dared kept him waiting while I got dressed. I probably would’ve found him dead of a seizure. ‘In my wardrobe,’ I answer dryly.

His hand disappears under my towel, clasping me above my hip bone, prompting a jerk and the loosening of my towel.

‘My man!’

I look down the path and see Sam walking up. When I return my eyes to Jesse, he looks like he may, very well, have a seizure now. His eyes are wide as he jumps to his feet and yanks me up, doing a spectacular job of keeping me covered by the towel.

‘Sam, don’t f**king move!’ he yells. I’m scooped up and bundled through the door at breakneck speed, hearing Sam laughing as Jesse jogs up the stairs with me in his arms, muttering about ripping prying eyes out. I’m tossed on the bed. ‘Get dressed, we’re going out.’

I snap my head up. I’m not going to The Manor. I get up from the bed, minus one towel, and go to my dressing table. ‘Where?’

His gaze travels down my naked form. ‘Well, it occurred to me when I was out running that I’ve not taken you for dinner yet. You have the most incredible legs. Get dressed.’ He nods at my wardrobe.

If he means dinner at The Manor, then I’m not game. I’ll avoid that place at all costs if she’s there. And the chances are – now I’ve established that she works for him – she will be.

‘Where?’ I ask again as I start rubbing coco butter into my legs.

‘A little Italian place I know. Now, get dressed before I collect on my debt.’

I stand, slowly massaging my cream in. ‘Debt?’

His eyebrows rise. ‘You owe me.’

‘I do?’ I frown, but I know exactly what he’s talking about.

‘Oh, you do. I’ll wait outside at the risk of cashing in sooner,’ He gives me his roguish grin. ‘I wouldn’t want you to think this was all about sex.’ He leaves me with that little comment before stalking out.

Oh, it’s not all about the sex? Those few words have just made my day. Maybe tonight I’ll find out what goes on in that beautiful, complex mind of his. I’m suddenly filled of hope.

After much deliberation on what to wear – I’m shocked the decision hasn’t been made for me – I settle on my beige capri pants, a nude, silk shirt and cream ballet pumps. I make sure I put my coral lace underwear on – he loves me in lace. I rough my hair up and smoke my eyes out. Nude gloss finishes me off.

I walk onto the landing, finding an irritable Jesse pacing up and down. I frown. ‘I didn’t take that long.’

He looks up, giving me his glorious smile, reserved only for women, and I’m reassured again. As I approach him, he looks me up and down with satisfaction, and as soon as I’m close enough, he yanks me into his muscled body.

‘You’re impossibly beautiful.’ he breathes in my hair.

‘So are you. Where’s Sam?’

‘Kate’s giving him a tour of the van.’

Oh, I almost forgot about Margo Junior. I pull back, giving him a suspicious glare. ‘You brought Kate a van?’

He smirks. ‘Are you jealous?’

What? ‘No!’

His face straightens. ‘Yes, I brought the van.’

‘Why?’ Doesn’t he think it’s a bit weird? Is he trying to buy my friend so she overlooks his unreasonable behavior?