Beautiful Boxset: Beautiful Series, books 1-4
Page 128
“I’m sure you are.” He laughs, continuing to focus on the road.
I look over at him, studying his profile, wondering if he had any idea how well connected I am. I feel like he’d be one of the few people who’d understand why I keep the information to myself. But then, I can’t be sure he’d keep the information to himself. He obviously has impulse control problems. And you can’t trust people like that not to slip up and—
“What?” he asks with a grin and a quick glance in my direction. Oh, my god. What if he does know exactly who I am, and he’s targeting me to get close to my parents? “Lisa?”
“Huh?” I blink, clearing my head. What if…
“You’re staring.”
“I was?”
“You sure were.”
“Oh. I guess I was just thinking.”
“About me, I hope.”
“Kinda. Did you ever…” I bite my lip, trying to work out how to ask this without giving out unnecessary information.
“Did I…” He glances at me, brows raised.
“When was the first time you saw me?”
“What?” Now he’s frowning.
“I know it’s a weird question.”
“Have we met before?” he asks, a slight edge to his voice.
“No. Never. I…shit. I’m not making any sense.”
“No, you aren’t. Did you lie about not knowing who I was?” OK. Based on that reaction. Maybe this is just a coincidence.
“What? No. I’m just asking why. Out of all the people in this world, why did you chase a friendship with me?”
He shrugs. “I like that you don’t like me.”
“’Cause that’s the perfect basis for a friendship.”
“Of course it is. If someone doesn’t like me, I can win them over. If someone likes me instantly, I’m wary of their motivation.” I know what you mean.
“Aren’t you worried I’ll leak everything you tell me to the press?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you don’t exist online.”
“You Googled Lisa Russell?”
“Fair’s fair.”
“I suppose. But not having an online presence doesn’t mean much.”
“Sure it does. Especially these days. It means you have zero interest in attention. And that summation is backed up by the fact you’ve repeatedly told me to leave you alone.”
“And yet you keep coming back.”
“I can tell I’m already wearing you down.” He flashes me a grin, and I can’t help but smile back. Maybe he’s genuine…
“It’s possible I don’t hate you as much as I thought I would,” I say, pulling out my phone when it vibrates with a call in my bag. I swipe at the screen to reject the call as soon as I see who it is.
“Boyfriend?” Marcus enquires. And it strikes me that with all his flirting and innuendo so far, he’s never found out whether I’m attached or not. Cocky much.
“No. It’s my mum calling for her Saturday gasbag.” I open up the messages to text her.
Me: Busy. Will call later.
“You can talk to her. I don’t mind.”
Mum: ur neva busy
I laugh as my thumbs tap, glad I invested in a privacy screen so Marcus can’t see what I’m about to type. “I do. I’m grateful to have an excuse.”
Me: do any of you know Marcus Bailey?
Mum: Dad or K mite. I don’t
Me: can u ask K?
Her: Will ask when he wakes up.
Me: thx
Mum: y
Me: Work interviewed him and I’m worried he recognised me. But not sure.
Mum: u look 2 different now. I reckon its ur imagination.
Me: probably. Just check.
Mum: He’s hot.
Me: I’m not interested.
Mum: we could arrange it. I hear he likes the ladies…
Me: I will block you. I swear.
Mum: ur no fun