Beneath This Man (This Man 2)

‘I said, stop it.’ he warns. ‘I don’t know what your concern is.’

He doesn’t? My concern is his reproachful glare at the alcohol. ‘Did you get everything sorted?’ I ask.

‘I did. Now we eat, and then we go home to bath and snuggle for a while, deal?’ He looks at me expectantly.

‘Deal.’ That was an easy deal.

‘Good girl.’ He gives me a chaste kiss and shifts me back onto my stool. ‘Here’s our lunch.’ He nods across the bar, and I see Pete carrying a tray in our direction. He places it down. ‘Thank you, Pete.’ Jesse says.

‘It’s my pleasure, as always. Enjoy.’ He gives me a pleasant smile. He is so nice. In fact, everyone who works for Jesse is lovely, with the exception of one person, but I won’t let her ruin my day on Central Jesse Cloud Nine.

I unroll my knife and fork and plunge straight in to the colourful salad doused in that yummy dressing. I need to find out what it is.

‘Good?’

I look up around a forkful of salad and see Jesse pop his own fork into his mouth. I moan my appreciation. I could eat this every day for the rest of my life. He smiles at me.

‘Jesse, are you happy for the band to set up in the far corner of the summer room?’

My shoulders tense as Sarah’s shrill voice washes over me.

Fuck off!

My appetite has just run for the hills and my mood plummeted into subzero temperatures. Oh God, I hate this woman and now Jesse has admitted that he has slept with her, I really want to smash her face in.

‘That’s fine. I thought we agreed that?’ Jesse turns slightly on his stool to acknowledge her. I don’t. I stay facing the bar and start poking at my salad with my fork.

‘We did, I was just checking. How are you, Ava?’ she asks.

I scowl at my plate. Does she really want to know because I’ll happily tell her. I feel Jesse’s eyes on me, waiting for me to be decent and answer the witch. I swivel on my stool and plaster a big, insincere smile on my face. ‘I’m good thank you, Sarah. And you?’

Her smile is as phony as mine. I wonder if Jesse is picking up on this. ‘I’m fine. Are you looking forward to tonight?’

‘Yes, I am.’ I lie. I might be looking more forward to it if she wasn’t going to be here.

Jesse pipes up, relieving me of strained pleasantries. ‘I’m heading off. I’ll be back at six. Make sure everything is in order upstairs.’

Okay, any hope of finishing my lunch has totally dissolved now. I’m going to be spending all night watching people drift off up the stairs for a visit to the communal room.

‘The suites and communal room remain locked until ten thirty,’ Jesse points his fork towards the bar entrance. ‘No exceptions.’ he adds sternly.

‘Of course,’ Sarah agrees. ‘I’ll leave you to it. See you later, Ava.’

I swivel slightly and smile. ‘Bye.’

She returns my smile, but after last night, there is no getting away from the fact that we dislike each other, so all of this pretending is pretty senseless. I swivel back to face the bar as soon as I can to recommence poking at my salad. I have no doubt she’s playing all friendly and kindly for Jesse’s benefit. Surely he must see her for what she is.

‘Why are you not looking forward to this evening?’ Jesse asks quietly as he continues with his lunch.

‘I am.’ I say without looking at him.

I hear him sigh heavily. ‘Ava, stop twiddling your hair. You did it when Sarah asked you and you’re doing it now.’ He nudges my knee with his, prompting me to freeze mid-twiddle and drop my hair.

I put my fork down. ‘I’m sorry if I can’t get excited about attending a party where every time someone looks at me or speaks to me, I’ll be thinking they might want to drag me upstairs and f**k me.’

I jump as Jesse’s knife and fork clatter against his plate. ‘For f**k sake!’ He pushes his plate away aggressively, and out of my peripheral vision, I see him reach up and start rubbing his temples. ‘Ava, watch your mouth.’ he huffs tiredly. My jaw is grabbed and yanked to face him. His green eyes are brimming with anger. ‘No one will be doing any such thing because they all know you’re mine. Don’t say things that make me crazy mad.’

I shrink a little under his stern tone. ‘Sorry.’ I sound grumpy, but it’s the truth. They could be thinking anything, how would he know?

‘Please try and show a bit more willingness.’ He shifts his grip on my jaw and cups my cheek. ‘I want you to enjoy yourself.’

His beseeching face makes me want to slap my loser arse all over the bar. He’s spent God only knows how much money on a stunning gown and dresses for me and this is a special night for him. I’m such an ungrateful cow. I crawl across to straddle his lap. He, of course, doesn’t give a shit that my legs are wrapped tightly around his waist and we are sat at the bar.

‘Forgive me?’ I bite his bottom lip cheekily and circle his nose with mine.

‘You’re adorable when you sulk.’ he sighs.

‘You’re adorable all of the time.’ I toss back at him and seal our lips together. ‘Take me home.’ I say into his mouth.

He moans. ‘Deal. Up you get.’ He stands with me, and I release my thighs iron grip of his hips.

‘Oh no!’ I exclaim.

‘What?’ He looks at me worriedly.

‘I’ve got to get some whiskey for Clive.’

‘Have you?’ His brow furrows ‘Why?’