AllFreeNovel
Share Us
How can this be happening? My emotions are all over the place and not a drop of alcohol has passed my lips. I am kissing the man of my dreams, disguised as one from my nightmares, and I’m strangely euphoric as my world shatters around me. I am so far out of my comfort zone, and I don’t speak the language because what has happened to the efficient woman who controls life, not the other way around?
I should be stepping up and taking charge of everything, instead I’m snogging a man in his father’s study as if I’m a teenager. I despise my own family for being selfish and putting their needs above everyone else’s and now I’m doing the same thing because I couldn’t stop now if I tried. It feels reckless and I can’t believe I’m loving every second of it.
It would be so easy to forget the drama and see where this would lead but there is too much happening right now to carry on, so reluctantly I pull apart and say regretfully, “I’m sorry, Robert, I can’t do this.”
“Why?” He seems surprised.
“Because our relationship should be business. It’s why I’m here, after all, and I have a job to do.”
“We can do both.”
“Not really.” I hate the words but realise it’s the right thing to do.
“Listen. I can’t pretend you don’t affect me because you do. If things were different, perhaps we could go out on a few dates and see where this would lead.”
“Dates?” He appears bemused and I shrug. “It happens a lot, so I believe.”
“I’ve heard.” The amusement in his voice tells me he’s not taking this seriously, so I harden mine a little and say with a deep breath, “So, until things have settled down and the postman is apprehended, I think we should remain as we were. It’s good of you to help me with my unfortunate domestic drama, but tomorrow I will deal with this and get on with my job.”
“If that’s what you want.”
I hate the hurt in his voice and can’t look at him, especially when he says softly, “Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
“Look at me, Jessica.”
I know what he’s doing, and it takes every ounce of self-control to face him with no emotion in my eyes at all. I need to be strong for everyone’s sake and so I glance at him coolly. “It’s for the best.”
“For whom?”
“For everyone.”
His low laugh surprises me and if I expected any anger directed at me, I’m mistaken, because he just nods with a small smile on his lips. “I understand. We’ll get through this drama, as you put it, and then see what happens.”
“You agree?” Part of me is happy about that, but the other part is enraged because what’s wrong with me? Is he really giving up this easily? Now I’m a fraud because I suppose deep inside, I wanted him to argue with me. To tell me he wasn’t giving up on us and declare his undying love for me on bended knees. Not agree with everything I just said. Wow, how to make a girl feel special.
He stands and adding insult to injury, says abruptly, “We should be going. It’s getting late and the children need to be in bed.”
“I know that.” I bark irritably and I’m not sure if I hate myself more than I do him right now. Why did I destroy something that could have been amazing? I like Robert, despite his arrogance and I pushed him away even though it was reluctantly, and I have nobody but myself to blame for how wretched that now makes me.
* * *
Sable has risento the occasion in the most spectacular way. As soon as we entered her bedroom, I stopped still, and my mouth dropped at how amazing the children look. Angelina has been wrapped in layers of satin and silk, decorated with a feather boa and she is dancing around the room pretending to fly. Brad is resplendent in a shepherd’s outfit that surely couldn’t have been hanging in Sable’s wardrobe. He is wearing with pride, brown trousers that are cut crooked at the knees. A striped shirt covered by a brown suede tunic and a headpiece worthy of an Arab prince perched on top of his head.
“Sable, you’re a miracle worker.”
I immediately toss aside the frostiness that has developed between Robert and me and smile at him.
“Your mother is a genie, no scrub that she’s a fairy godmother.” He appears as surprised as I am and Sable laughs at our expressions.
“It was nothing. I remembered we had a dressing-up box in the attic. It was the result of many stints on the board of governors at Robert’s school. Years of school plays and events, fancy dress parties and parades are stuffed in the oak chest, gathering dust in the attic.”
“You were a fairy?” I can’t disguise my amusement and Sable laughs out loud as Robert shakes his head irritably. She grins. “Of course not, darling. No, the fairy costume has been formed from my various scarves and lingerie.”
“Lingerie?”
I steal a glance at Robert, who is now apparently concerned, and Sable waves her hand dismissively. “It’s nothing more than a pair of French knickers and a camisole, made to fit with a few safety pins. Add in some silk scarves, a feather boa, and a few items of jewellery and voila, a star is born.”
