by Amber Nox
She glances up at me and surprises the hell out of me by saying, “I wish we could too.”
10
Scarlett
I don’t know what possessed me to tell Jake yesterday that I wished we could stay together forever. It’s like my brain went on vacation and the words coming out of my mouth were not under my control. He’s not the man I thought he was and the more time I spend with him, the more I crave his time. It’s bizarre. This has never happened before with a client. Usually, I’m the epitome of professional, but Jake… Jake is a different story.
I wake before him and peer over the edge of the bed to where he’s snoring on the floor. I hate that he’s down there. It seems ridiculous when the bed is big enough for us both, but that would be inviting trouble, so I don’t address it.
Quickly, but quietly, I climb out of bed and grab some clothes before heading into the bathroom. I shower and get ready for the day, and when I step back into the room, Jake is sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbing at his eyes.
“Sorry, did I wake you?”
“No, it’s fine.”
Which I translate as I did.
“I tried to be quiet,” I say, apologetically.
He waves this off. “It’s fine, Evelyn. I usually wake early anyway to work. I don’t know why I slept so late this morning.”
Considering it’s barely after nine, I think his and my idea of late differ.
“I don’t usually rise for a while yet. I work a lot of late nights.”
He nods and I don’t miss the flinch in his shoulders. “I can imagine you do.” He considers me a moment, then says, “Is this the strangest job you’ve worked?”
“Not the strangest, no, but it’s certainly the longest. I don’t usually do more than an evening, but I have on occasion done a weekend.”
“Don’t you find it odd, hanging out with men you don’t know?”
“A little, but you get used to it.”
“Do you enjoy it?”
I tilt my head to the side, considering him a moment. “It’s a job, Jake. Nothing more. I go to work, I get paid—the same as you.”
He stares at me a beat, and I think he wants to say something more, but he shakes himself.
“It’s normal to be curious, but I’m happy with my work. I’m not a hooker. I don’t sleep with men for money. I simply fill a need. I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong.”
“I never said I thought that either,” he says.
“You don’t have to say it.”
“Let me get dressed and let’s go for a walk up to the vines. I want to show you the plants.”
I saw some of the vines yesterday, while we were picnicking on the meadow, but I have to admit, I’m curious to see the actual grapes.
Even so, his change in direction irritates me slightly, but it’s probably for the best. People rarely understand my lifestyle or why I do what I do. Most people view me as a victim, forced to do this, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Since I’m here on his dime, I force a smile and say, “Of course.”
He doesn’t seem to like my acquiescence, though. “You don’t need to be an automaton. If you don’t want to do something, say.”
“But I do want to do it.” I don’t, but clearly he does, so I’ll do what he needs.
My words seem to take some of the fire out of him. “Okay then. Give me ten minutes to get showered and dressed.”
It’s more like thirty, but when he emerges from the bathroom, dressed in a pair of dark stonewashed jeans and a shirt, unbuttoned at the neck, I find I don’t care how long he was in there. The man can wear jeans well. They sit on his hips and hug his thick thighs perfectly.
I’m not blind to Jacob’s appearance. The man is very attractive with that dark hair and dark beard covering his face. I may not be his type, but he certainly is mine.
His eyes come to me. “Come on.”
When we reach the kitchen, I hear voices. His parents are awake. I slip my hand into Jake’s before we reach the door and he glances at me in question.
“We need to sell it, sell us. We’re supposed to be madly in love, remember?”
He rakes the fingers of his free hand through his hair before he mutters a, “Right.”
He’s finding this hard, even four days into this ruse, and I wonder if this might be too much for him, but when we step into the room, he does it with confidence.
“Oh, darlings, good morning!” Juliet says, kissing her son on the cheek before giving my cheek a peck too. There’s less suspicion in her face as she takes me in this morning, although I can still see that wary apprehension lingering behind her eyes. I’ll need to work hard to convince her I love her son.
“Morning, Juliet,” I say as Jake’s fingers tighten a little around mine.
Richard glances up from the coffee mug in front of him and gives a slight lift of his chin. That’s the only acknowledgement we get.
“Ignore him. He’s like a bear with a sore head when he’s jet lagged.”
“Did you manage to sleep on the plane?” I ask.
“A little, but it’s always so noisy. I’m used to the silence of the vineyard, so even the slightest noise wakes me.”
“Help yourselves to whatever you need,” Jake tells them. “I’m taking Evelyn for a walk around the vineyards.”
“You’re not even going to have breakfast?”
“When we return, yes.”
“Your father and I have some old friends to catch up with, so we may not be here when you get back.”
Jake nods. “Enjoy yourselves.”
“You too, son.”
He tugs my hand a little. “Come on.”
We step outside and we start up the path. Even though it’s only just mid-morning, the sun is warm and I tip my face towards it, enjoying the rays.
Halfway up the path, Jake asks under his breath, “Do you think they’re still watching?”
“I suspect your mother has her nose to the glass. Let’s give them something to look at.”
I stop and turn him to me. Our eyes meet and I see the question in his. I don’t give him a chance to object. I roll to my toes and press my mouth to his.
It’s a mistake. I realise it the moment my lips touch his. My world narrows suddenly to just the feel of his mouth on mine.
It’s just acting. We’re just playing a role.
But it doesn’t feel like it.
This feels real. Too real, and when his hands slide up my back and come to rest on the bare skin near the nape of my neck, my heart twitches in my chest. His touch on me feels right, and that is terrifying.
I don’t get a chance to worry about it, because his tongue licks over my lips, begging entry. I shouldn’t grant it. I shouldn’t, but my mouth parts and he slides in. My own tongue comes to meet his, pushing, pressing, caressing against the foreign invasion.
Everything about this kiss is wet, warm and divine. I want it to continue forever, but breathlessness forces us apart.
When I pull back, I feel a little dazed. I meet his eyes, which look equally confounded.
Swallowing hard, aware we may have an audience, I do the only thing I can do. I smile. But inside, I’m in turmoil.
11
Jacob
Kissing Evelyn is like kissing heaven. She’s warm, soft and pliable beneath me, and the kiss, which should have been perfunctory—something to appease our voyeurs—becomes something far more intimate. I don’t know how to describe the feelings that roared through me when she let me into her mouth. Elated, maybe, triumph, even. I do know now I’ve tasted her, I want more.
The moments after the kiss have been filled with awkwardness I don’t know how to combat, although she takes my hand, still keeping up the facade and hand in hand, we walk up the path towards the nearest vines.
The kiss was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before and my heart is still thrumming in my chest as we move to the nearest row of vines and start to wander up them. I have no idea what
to expect next, but the uncertainty has me on edge.
As soon as the house is on the horizon, Evelyn turns to me, tearing her hand from mine.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Kissing you.”
Disappointment hits my gut like lead. “Are you really?”
Her brows draw together as she crosses her arms over her chest. “I shouldn’t have done it.”
“I’m glad you did. In fact, I wouldn’t object to doing it again.”
As I move, her hand comes to my chest, stopping me in my tracks.
“We can’t. Absolutely not.”
“Why not?”
She gawks at me like I’m being obtuse, which I purposely am being. I don’t care that she’s an escort. My entire body sat up and took notice. I’ve never had that response to a woman before. Certainly not any of my exes. I don’t think Anna could bowl me over with a kiss, nor Serena. Evelyn practically knocked me on my arse.
“You know why not,” she counters.
“But you felt it, right?” I press.
She tries to walk away, moving up the rows of grape vines, but I don’t let her go far. I snag her wrist, which pulls her up short. I steady her on her feet.
“Evelyn, tell me you felt it too—that it wasn’t just me.”
I’m begging her with my words, but I don’t care. I need to know. I need to have her deny it to walk away from this—whatever this is.
She nibbles on her bottom lip, looking—for the first time since I met her—off-kilter. I don’t know what to make of it. She’s usually so together, so… well, professional. She seems frazzled right now.
“It doesn’t matter what I felt,” she says with an exasperated huff. “It can’t happen again. You’re my client. This is against the rules.”
“Then why did you do it?”
She throws her hands up in the air. “Because I thought a peck on the lips would sell what we’re doing. I didn’t expect to—”
“Feel?” I interrupt. “Me neither, but Evelyn, I did feel. I felt something I’ve never felt before.”
She groans. “Stop it. We can’t.”
I take her hands in mine and I’m relieved when she doesn’t pull away. “Why not? Why shouldn’t we enjoy our time together?”
Her eyes slam to my face. “And then what? What happens once our time is up and there are feelings involved? You live here. I live in London.”
I don’t have an answer to that, so I say nothing.
Evelyn pulls away from me. “We can’t. I can’t even believe I let it go that far.”
“Eve—”
“No! You’re a client. My client. This can’t happen again.”
Disappointment floods me once again, but I say, “Okay.”
“Okay.” She lets out a breath and pushes her fingers through her short hair. “I’m sorry.”
“Please, don’t apologise. It wasn’t exactly a chore kissing you.”
A pretty pink stains her cheeks and I’m not sure I’m enjoying seeing her so flustered and outside of her comfort zone. I want her to feel comfortable with me; not upset.
“Shall we walk a bit?” she asks. “We can’t go back to the house yet. Your parents will know something is wrong.”
I dig my hands into my pockets, mostly so I don’t touch her, but the urge is strong.
“Tell me about the grapes,” she says after a moment as we stroll through the rows of vines.
“There’s not much to tell,” I admit, although I do give her a brief lesson in wine making as we move through the maze lines of foliage. It’s the height of the season, so the leaves are thick on the vines and the grapes are growing like weeds.
“We used to crush the grapes manually back in the day. It was hard work, but Mum and Dad loved it. They’d get us kids involved and we’d make it a fun thing. It was a few years before they had the capital to buy the equipment, and by then our wines were gaining notoriety in town.”
I run a finger over the leaves of the vine we’ve stopped at. “This is my parents’ life work—mine too. I’ve been working here since I was old enough to get on the books.”
“Do you enjoy it?”
“Yes. It keeps me busy, though, something previous partners never liked. Taking time off while my family visits was… difficult.” Next to impossible, in fact, but I’m sure the vineyard’s manager will be able to handle things while I’m away, and I’m only across the courtyard from the office if anything goes drastically wrong.
I watch her glance away, seemingly preoccupied with the nearest vine.
“It seems hard. I’m sure there are easier ways to earn a living.”
“I’m sure there are too, but none would fulfil me the same way as this does. This is my home and my passion.”
“I can tell. When you speak about it, your eyes get bright.”
I can see she’s still uncomfortable, and I don’t want that. I might have paid for her services, but I don’t want her to think I’m going to jump on her anytime we’re alone.
“Look, let’s just forget earlier happened, okay? I don’t want things to be weird between us.”
I track her movements as she tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. “That would be for the best.”
I don’t believe that, but I nod anyway. If she’s not willing to go there, I’m not either. I’m not into unwilling participants.
I smile, but there’s no humour behind the gesture. “The best. Right. Let’s finish our walk.”
We fall in beside each other, but I notice she’s careful to leave a gap—a gap that is both physically and now emotionally between us.
12
Scarlett
I stare at the text message from Francesca, questioning how things are going, and asking me to call her when I get a moment. I’m sitting in the bedroom—hiding out really—under the pretence of showering ready for dinner. I can’t avoid Jake forever, but his parents are out with friends, meaning we’ll be eating together alone. Considering what happened this morning, I’m not sure it’s the best idea for us to do anything alone.
Kissing Jake was meant to solidify our relationship in the eyes and minds of his parents, but that’s not what happened. The moment our mouths touched it was like this explosion of feelings hit me. I have no idea where it came from or why, but Jake is front and centre in my thoughts right now.
Considering why I’m here, this is a very bad place to be.
I’m supposed to be aloof, maintain a professional distance. I’m failing miserably and this is only the fifth day I’ve been in Jacob’s company. How am I going to survive the rest of the time?
I bury my head in my hands and let out a groan. What am I doing? I’ve never crossed the line with a client before. Why is Jake Hansen any different?
Because he is sexy as sin and kisses like a god…
I push that thought aside. I can’t be thinking these things.
I’m a coward, so I don’t call Francesca. Instead, I drop her a text telling her I’m busy, so can’t call, but I assure her everything is all right—a lie. She’d pull me out of this double-time if she knew what I’d done. She’d probably fire me as well.
I flop back on the bed, letting all my anxiety, all my fear, go.
I just have to go downstairs and maintain my professionalism. How hard can that be?
Too hard.
I lie for a while, just staring at the ceiling while my thoughts collide. I’m in a lot of trouble here.
“Evelyn?”
I squeak and sit up so fast it makes me dizzy.
Jake arches a brow at me from the doorway of his bedroom. How long has he been standing there, just watching me lose my mind?
“It’s rude to watch someone without permission.”
His lips quirk. “You’re a strange woman.”
“Is that meant to be a compliment?”
“Just an observation. Everything about you is strange and mysterious. I can’t fathom you out.”
A tingle works through m
y belly. “I’m not a puzzle for you to solve, Jake.”
“I know, and yet I really want to unravel you.”
I push off the bed and gather my things to shower. “That’s the problem.”
“That I find you fascinating?”
“That you want to explore what makes me tick. Nothing can happen between us.”
He steps into the doorway of the closet, blocking my entrance, although not intentionally.
“Nothing is happening between us. We kissed. That’s it.”
I search his face, looking for the truth of his words. Does he truly believe that? I hope so. It’ll be easier to ignore those feelings surging through me if he’s also ignoring them.
I’m not sure I can ignore another kiss like the one we had. It was… perfection.
In all my years, I’ve never been kissed like that, but it was a kiss. Nothing more. I shouldn’t read too much into it.
“Good. Yes, that’s how we should keep it.”
“Are you hiding up here?”
“Absolutely not.”
“So, you just thought you’d take a few moments to sprawl on the bed?”
“I was… tired.”
It’s reaching, but I don’t care. I can’t have him know how badly things are going.
I sigh. “I understand if you want to terminate our contract. I’ve overstepped the line here somewhere.”
His head tilts to the side. “Why would I want to do that?”
“Because we kissed. It’s expressly forbidden in our contract.”
“I believe it said minimal physical contact would be okay.”
“You put your tongue in my mouth,” I counter.
He leans against the door jamb, crossing his arms over his chest. “You allowed me to.”
My head scrunches up as I gawk at him. “I did not.”
“You opened your mouth to me. That’s allowing me entry.”
I did.
I scowl at him. “That’s not the point, Jake. We’re crossing a very dangerous bridge here, one that cannot be uncrossed. I could lose my job.”
