She raised her eyebrows. ‘And it’s one you’ve never sunk to before?’
He made a non-committal noise. ‘Why don’t we focus not on the level, but on how we’re going to move you up from it?’
He gave her a tentative smile and was shocked to hear a peel of laughter burst out of her. ‘It’s okay, you don’t have to look so worried. I’m not the sensitive flower you seem to have me pegged as. I know I’m rubbish at singing, but earlier it felt as if you were laughing at me. Now I feel we’re laughing together.’
He let some of the amusement he’d been holding back come out in a short bark of laughter. ‘By the end of this week we’ll be singing together,’ he promised, in a crazy burst of confidence.
Over the next few hours Michael explained about the basics of music, getting her to sing the right notes in (approximately) the right key. With the ice finally broken, hallelujah, Jessie became less self-conscious about singing in front of him.
Which unfortunately only made her more aware of who she was singing to.
‘Let’s finish with a few exercises to help your posture and breathing. That way, when you do hit the right note, you can sing it loud and clear.’ He added one of his careful smiles, as if anxious not to upset their new-found harmony.
He moved to stand in front of her and she had another waft of delicious, tangy aftershave. She was still breathing it in when he placed his hands gently on her shoulders, drawing them back. When he told her to relax, tilting her head so she was forced to stare directly at the tanned flesh exposed by his shirt, his words began to blur. Soon they were only a rich, deep sound that meandered through her, caressing everything they touched.
‘Jessie?’ he prompted.
Mentally she shook herself. Focus, Jessie, focus. ‘Sorry, what did you say?’
‘Well, you were certainly relaxing,’ he replied dryly. ‘But this time please listen and relax at the same time. I’m given to understand women are good at multitasking.’
There it was again. That dry wit. Earlier she’d thought he’d been having a dig at her. Now she knew him a little better she realised it was simply his slightly formal, incredibly deadpan, brand of humour. ‘Give me laundry, homework and cooking to juggle and I’m masterful. Listening, not so much.’
His lips, so yummy she found herself focussing on them a little too long, twitched. ‘I was trying to tell you that for singing, you need to breathe low into the bottom of your lungs. Done correctly, it will lead your rib cage and back to expand but your shoulders and chest to remain still. Let’s try, shall we? Breathe in deeply.’
She sucked in a breath but to her horror, her chest didn’t keep still. No, the damn thing rose and seemed to inflate, causing her breasts to jut out prominently.
Oh God, she felt like a poor man’s Dolly Parton.
A quick glance at Michael and her fears were confirmed. He’d noticed. Yet the longer his gaze remained on her chest, the more her embarrassment receded, replaced by a flutter, a tingle.
Michael cleared his throat. ‘I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it, with a bit more practice,’ he said, after a lengthy pause. ‘Let’s finish now.’
Jessie moved away quickly, grateful to escape. She’d fantasised about being this close to him, but the reality was far more vivid. Television didn’t capture his raw sex appeal, or the power of his build. Heck, the sheer virility of him.
And she could categorically confirm he didn’t have bad breath.
Unconsciously she put a hand to her chest, feeling the way her heart danced beneath her fingers. She needed to be a bit careful here; make sure the crush she had for the singer didn’t become a crush for the man himself, or the rest of the week was going to be terribly awkward.
‘Are you seeing your children tonight?’ Michael’s question rocked her out of her thoughts.
‘No, I live in the Chilterns, so they’ve put me up in a hotel this week.’ Needing something to do to avoid looking at him, she went to pick up her handbag. ‘I’ll have to make do with a phone call home and room service.’
‘Would you care to join me for dinner?’
As the shock of his invitation sunk in, she stared over at him. ‘Dinner?’ she repeated, as if the concept was entirely alien to her.
He shifted uncomfortably and gave her a tight smile. ‘Robert and Georgina will be there too. I thought, perhaps, it would be an opportunity to get to know each other more.’
Okay then. An offer to dine with Michael Tennant – she’d forget the part about his manager and cow of a PA being there, too. Jessie felt a sudden, crazy desire to giggle. Part because it was so surreal, and part because his invitation was so formal, his expression so painfully serious. She wanted to tell him to relax, that he didn’t need to try so hard, her earlier hissy fit was over. But she didn’t know him well enough, nor did she think her advice would be welcome. So instead she smiled. ‘I’d love to, thank you. Just tell me when and where and I’ll be there.’
As they discussed the logistics, Jessie felt another jolt of surprise at finding they were both staying in the same hotel.
Wait till she told Annabel that she was going out to dinner with Michael Tennant. And had every intention of going back to his hotel afterwards.
Chapter Five
Back in his hotel room, Michael threw his jacket on the bed and rubbed a weary hand over his face. Bloody hell, what a day.
He’d nearly touched her breasts.
God, when he’d looked down and seen those wonderful globes jut right under his nose… his body tightened just thinking about it. Jessie Simmons might be a terrible singer, but there was something about her – the curves, the warm brown eyes? Maybe just the fact that she seemed so normal, where his life was full of artificial, of surface gloss with little substance. Whatever it was, it made him look. And then want to touch.
And he’d invited her to dinner.
Even now he couldn’t remember why he’d done it. It was so out of character. He’d arranged for a couple of meetings this week just so he could have a break from her, for crying out loud. Yet in a moment of madness, he’d invited Jessie to spend the evening with him.
Hell, he even thought of her as Jessie, because the more familiar name seemed to fit her. Yet Georgie still felt clumsy on his tongue, even after two months.
Robert was going to tease him mercilessly.
Undressing quickly, Michael stepped into the shower. It hadn’t been her breasts that had driven him to invite her, he decided. He’d not wanted her to be alone in the city. It was an act of kindness, pure and simple.
Yes, that sounded better.
Robert knocked on his door just before seven thirty, raising his eyebrows when he saw what Michael was wearing. ‘I see you’ve decided to go wild tonight. Is that a white shirt you’re wearing with your suit instead of the grey one you had on earlier?’
‘Piss off.’
Ignoring him, Robert strolled into the room looking annoyingly casual in jeans and a bright red polo shirt. It wasn’t that Michael couldn’t appreciate the relaxed look. Just that he wasn’t sure he could pull it off. Smart clothes gave him confidence. It was like putting on armour.
‘You survived the day at least.’ Robert made himself at home on the sofa in Michael’s suite. ‘How did it go?’
‘Fine.’
‘As uncommunicative as ever, I see. Are you going to give me more than that or do I have to bring the thumbscrews out?’
‘Jessie is… nice,’ Michael settled with, though the image flashing through his mind of her breasts jutting beneath her pink blouse made him think of different adjectives.
‘Nice as in nice, or as in nice?’
‘We’re not in the school playground now.’ Michael let out an exasperated breath. ‘She’s easy to get along with, okay? Can’t sing to save her bloody life, but at least she can laugh about it.’
‘Is she a looker?’
‘I’m sure Alice will be delighted to hear you ask that.’
Robert laughed, stretc
hing out on the sofa. ‘My wife wouldn’t mind, because she’d know I was asking for you, not myself.’
‘How many times do I have to tell you I’m not interested in dating anybody at the moment?’ Slightly irritated, Michael reached for his jacket. ‘I’ve got enough to focus on with this tour you’ve set me up with. Now, shall we go downstairs and meet the ladies?’
‘Ladies?’
‘Yes.’ And why did he feel he was on the verge of going an embarrassing shade of red? It had been an act of kindness, he reminded himself again. ‘Jessie’s meeting us down in the lobby, too. And before you say anything sarky, I invited her because her alternative was to spend the evening alone in her hotel room.’
Robert didn’t say a damn thing. Just rose to his feet and gave Michael a smile that was half smug, half smirk before heading to the door.
Michael walked behind him, wishing he’d not invited Jessie. Wishing he’d never agreed to the damn competition in the first place.
And while he was on this roll, wishing his friend didn’t know him so well.
Georgina was already waiting for them in the lobby, wearing a short pink dress, endless tanned legs and an eye-popping cleavage.
‘That’s all for your benefit,’ Robert whispered as they walked over to her. ‘I wonder if she’s wearing a bra? If not, they’ll fall into her soup when she sneezes.’
Michael struggled not to laugh. ‘Shut up,’ he said mildly. ‘And put your tongue back in your mouth.’
‘Gentlemen.’ Georgina gave them both a kiss on the cheek and Michael reassured himself she hadn’t pressed her body into his deliberately. ‘Shall we go?’
‘Ah, I forgot to tell you, I invited Jessie to come with us.’
Irritation flashed briefly across her face before she caught it and smiled back, slipping her phone out of the slim pink handbag she was carrying. ‘No problem. I’ll just warn the restaurant.’
When she was out of earshot, Robert groaned. ‘Don’t tell me she’s booked us into some pretentious place again.’
‘I haven’t a clue.’ Michael patted Robert’s not-quite-as-flat-as-it-used-to-be stomach. ‘If she has, the artfully arranged, though pitifully small portions, will do you good.’
Robert glanced down at his stomach, then back up to Michael, a broad smile across his face. ‘That’s what being married does for a man. Home-cooked meals every night. Not to mention sex on tap.’
‘Alice would crucify you for that description of marriage.’
‘Hey, I didn’t say it was all there was to the great institution.’ He gave Michael a meaningful shove. ‘Perhaps you’ll find out one day. Thirty-seven is a bit long in the tooth for the bachelor life.’
Michael considered which of his stock replies to go with. Piss off, which he usually reserved for when he was feeling tetchy, or the truth, which went along the lines of give it a rest, you smug bastard, not all of us are lucky enough to meet a woman like Alice. Robert’s wife wasn’t just attractive, she was easy company. Warm and down to earth. A real woman, unimpressed by money and celebrity. He might have too much on his plate to consider dating at the moment, but Michael wasn’t averse to having a woman in his life. He was single not out of choice, but out of lack of choice.
Before he had a chance to verbalise either reply, Jessie came into view. Jessie, who’d already admitted she was a fan of his singing, yet rather than coming on to him, had almost walked out on him.
She wore a simple black dress, her curly hair an untamed riot around her pretty face. ‘Hi.’
Her smile was hesitant and he could see from the way her hands clutched at her handbag that she was nervous.
‘Thanks for joining us.’ He gave her what he hoped was a friendly smile. ‘Can I introduce you to my manager and sometime friend, Robert?’ As Robert ignored her outreached hand and kissed Jessie on the cheek instead, Michael added. ‘A word of warning, don’t ask him about his recent wedding. Not if you want a quiet evening. Georgina is around too. She’s just phoning the restaurant to change the booking to four.’
‘It’s done.’ Georgina slid up to them, tucking her phone back in her bag. ‘Jessie, good to see you again.’ Michael had a moment to wonder at the cursory glance his PA sent Jessie’s way before Georgina was urging them towards the exit. ‘The car’s waiting for us outside. Shall we?’
Jessie’s stomach churned as they walked out to the car. Nerves, not a stomach upset, though either way she wasn’t sure how much she was going to be able to eat. Her phone call home hadn’t helped. Here she was, about to have dinner with Michael Tennant, for heaven’s sake, and yet her heart was back home with her boys.
She missed them.
But they weren’t exactly balling their eyes out at not having her home. So if they were happy to be without her for a few days, she owed it to herself to put on a smile and be happy, too.
Even if it meant spending the evening with Georgina. She was grateful she’d settled for wearing the boring black dress and not gone for the red. She and Georgina would have clashed horribly. As it was they appeared to be rubbing each other up the wrong way. Jessie wasn’t sure what she was supposed to have done, other than perhaps spending time with the man Georgina clearly had the hots for.
Damn, she wished she didn’t look so drab next to her. And so old.
‘It’s good to meet you, Jessie.’ Robert fell in beside her. Around the same age as Michael, he was shorter and stockier, and though his face had none of the high watt glamour of his friend, it was pleasant, and his eyes kind. ‘I’m looking forward to hearing how today went. Michael took a lot of persuading to take part in this programme; I hope he’s behaving himself.’
At the friendly tone, Jessie felt her churning stomach slow a little. ‘Well, I nearly walked out after the first ten minutes,’ she admitted, smothering a laugh at Robert’s look of horror. ‘But we made it through to the end of the day and we’re still talking.’
Just then a group of women squealed and rushed up to Michael. Robert raised his eyebrows, shaking his head as they waited for Michael to sign everything shoved under his nose. Dressed in a dark suit with a white shirt and no tie, he looked elegantly handsome, yet while he smiled smoothly at the ladies Jessie couldn’t help but remember how different he’d been with her back in the rehearsal room. Where was the stiff formality now?
When Michael had dashed off his last autograph, they settled into the waiting limousine. Robert shuffled in next to her, leaving Georgina and Michael sitting on the seats facing them.
Robert eyed her speculatively. ‘Tell me more about this first ten minutes when you nearly walked out.’
Immediately Jessie cursed her big mouth. What she’d intended as banter between her and Robert, now felt like a betrayal with Georgina watching her intently, and Michael looking uncomfortable. ‘Looking back, I realise I was too sensitive,’ she murmured. ‘Michael was just being honest.’
Robert started to laugh. ‘I admire your diplomacy.’
‘It was a small misunderstanding.’ Michael’s expression was tight, and the dark look he sent his friend wasn’t hard to interpret. ‘One we resolved when we started to get to know each other.’
Robert leaned closer to Jessie. ‘By the end of this week, you might know him better than you want to,’ he said in a mock whisper.
A joke, certainly, yet Jessie’s heart fluttered at the words and involuntarily her eyes drifted over to Michael. A flicker of unease crossed his face before he carefully masked it.
‘We’re nearly at the restaurant,’ Georgina cut in, clearly determined to transfer the focus back to herself. ‘I hear it’s really good. Rumours are it’s going to be awarded a third Michelin star.’
Robert groaned. ‘Georgina does love her posh restaurants. Personally I prefer less style and more substance.’
Georgina’s glance skimmed over Robert. ‘I can see that.’
Just as Jessie began to feel bad for Robert, he laughed. ‘Touché.’
Moments later they came to a smooth halt. A q
uick glance at the restaurant’s simple façade and Jessie wondered if the driver had got the right place. But Georgina climbed out of the limo – managing to do so with an enviable elegance, and without showing her knickers – and strode straight in.
Michael motioned for Jessie to follow, and the moment she stepped inside, she let out a long, slow breath. Rows and rows of candles provided a romantic, flickering light, with exposed brick walls and rustic oak beams adding to the atmosphere. Dining was on white tablecloths in secluded, private bays. It shrieked of taste, of wealth and exclusivity. A world away from Nando’s.
When they were shown to their bay, Jessie went to pull out her chair but Michael covered her hand with his.
‘Allow me.’ He eased the chair out, his body so close she felt his warmth through the thin fabric of her dress.
Flustered, she almost fell onto it. ‘Sorry, I’m not used to dining with grown-ups.’ Or gentlemen, she could have added as she watched Robert pull a chair out for Georgina.
‘I think you’ll find the food here is slightly better than McDonald’s.’ Georgina smiled coolly over at her.
Jessie glanced down at the menu she was handed and returned Georgina’s cool smile with one of her own. ‘At least in McDonald’s I can understand the menu.’
Robert burst out laughing, though Michael’s responding smile was far more restrained. Perhaps like Georgina he preferred the fancy restaurant. Or perhaps he simply preferred Georgina.
‘Oh, by the way, Jessie, the low calorie options are on the third page.’ Georgina gave her a sickly sweet smile. ‘You might want to consider them, as the television always adds a few pounds, especially to the female figure.’
‘Thank you, but I’ll take the risk.’ Jessie gave the blonde an equally false smile. ‘You’ve gone to the trouble of finding such an excellent restaurant. I’d hate to waste the chance of eating one of their specialities.’
Feeling she’d evened the score, at least if Robert’s wide grin was anything to go by, Jessie made a point of ordering the most calorific dish she could find on the menu. If the TV added pounds, she was already doomed anyway.
Reach for a Star Page 4
