31 Days of Summer (31 Days #2) (3 page)

‘I know, I know, but I’m doing this under duress,’
I protested, as she grabbed my clutch and shoved it in my hands.

‘Well, on the bright side, you get an amazing
Sunday lunch for free with those vouchers Dan left you and you have us to come
home to, so we can dissect how it went,’ Brooke grinned. ‘Or if you want to
come back and shag like rabbits you text us and we go back to ours. Even better
don’t come back, fuck at his.’

‘I may have only known her for six months Brooke,
but even I know she’s not going to bring him back here, or go there,’ scoffed
Molly. I laughed, she was dead on. No way was I ready for sex with another guy,
not after … I bit my lip as my nipples peaked at the thought of Dan’s lips on
mine, his manhood stretching me pleasurably, no one would compare. I gave them
both a hug as the doorbell rang.

‘No shagging in my bedroom, or on any of the
kitchen or dining surfaces please. Plus I’m going to start charging you both
rent you’re here so much.’

‘Yeah yeah, sing another tune,’ Brooke smiled as
she put her arm around Molly and kissed her. I smiled with an internal sigh, as
I watched Molly kiss her back. They were so happy. In fact I’d never seen
Brooke so happy, ever. Even though I was ecstatic for her, I was also kind of
jealous. I’d never been alone for so long, without someone to love and take
care of. It had done me good in a way, I’d realised that although I preferred
being in a relationship, I could manage on my own. I headed downstairs and got
into the taxi. I was meeting Tom there, I didn’t want him asking loads of
questions about how I could afford to live in such an affluent area.

He was waiting outside for me, tugging at his
shirt sleeve as he bit his bottom lip. He was nervous. I took a moment to study
him as the taxi slowed to a halt. He was about six foot, with short brown hair,
blue-grey expressive eyes and a decently proportioned body. If I hadn’t met Dan,
I’d probably have found him really attractive. I took a deep breath, maybe
going on a few dates with him would change how I felt. It couldn’t be instant
attraction and chemistry with every guy I met. I paid up and stepped out and he
marched forward with a big smile on his face.

‘Ellie, you look amazing,’ he advised as he kissed
both cheeks.

‘You too,’ I nodded. ‘You’ve shaved.’

‘I have to keep something for out of the office,’
he smiled. He held out his hand and I felt myself stiffen. ‘Shall we?’

‘Please, I’m starving,’ I replied, as I stepped
forward and wrapped my arm around his. I wasn’t at hand holding stage, far from
it. I looked around impressed, they’d done an amazing job with the refurb of
The Savoy. It was about time I spent those vouchers Dan had left for me, when
I’d moved in. I handed them over and we were seated and ordered a bottle of
white wine and I tried to break the obvious tension, by talking about one of
the books I was working on, that Tom had wanted to be given. We ended up
laughing as we finished our main courses. I really needed to just relax and
take this one step at a time. ‘Please excuse me and no eating my dessert when
it arrives,’ I warned, as I put my napkin down and headed to the ladies. I
touched up my lip gloss and fluffed out my hair before heading out, as I tugged
on the hem of my dress again. Brooke had insisted it wasn’t too short, I had to
disagree, this was a clubbing style dress, not Sunday lunch at The Savoy. ‘Damn
it,’ I muttered, as I spotted a loose thread. I tugged it as I walked, trying to
snap it off and walked straight into a wall of muscle and fell straight on my
backside in an ungainly heap.

‘Shit, Ellie are you ok?’

‘Embarrassed,’ I replied, as I quickly put my
knees together to protect my modesty, right at the time I froze, as that deep
voice stirred memories in me and made all the hairs on my arms stand to
attention. I closed my eyes quickly and took a deep breath.
Please no,
I
thought. It couldn’t be him, not here, not in London.

‘Ellie?’ came his unmistakable voice again. I
gulped, the last time I’d seen him I’d fled in tears and now here I was in a
crumpled heap on the floor of a luxury hotel.

‘Please go away,’ I whispered. ‘I don’t want to
see you.’

‘I can’t leave you on the floor flashing your
knickers at everyone, take my hand.’

‘My knees are together,’ I protested, as I slowly
opened my eyes. My heart started racing as I saw he was crouched in front of
me, his knees parted showing a visible bulge that made my mouth water, along
with other parts of my anatomy. I trailed my eyes up to see he was in a black
three piece suit, with a white shirt and purple tie, and had to swallow hard as
his square clean shaven chin, perfectly formed lips and
those
ridiculous
deep green eyes came into view and locked on mine. I saw his pupils expand and
his nostrils flare as we just looked at each other for a moment. I suddenly
felt hot and dizzy.

‘Then how do I know that you’re wearing green lace
knickers, like the ones I ripped off you?’ he asked, his lips curving up into
that sexy smile I’d never forget.

‘Please go away,’ I begged. I hadn’t shed a tear
over him in five months, but suddenly the sting in my eyes warned me that there
was a backlog waiting to flow. All my twisted mixed up feelings of love, lust,
hurt and betrayal were swirling around in the pit of my stomach. A shot of
energy flowed up my arm as he grabbed my hand and pulled me up, before slipping
an arm around my waist as I wobbled.

‘I’m so sorry how things were left between us.’

‘You’ve already said that, a number of times if I
recall. I’d really like to get back to my dessert.’

‘You’re trembling,’ he observed, as I looked at
the knot of his tie, it was done in a sophisticated double Windsor. If I’d
thought rough and ready Dan looked hot, this was just blowing that look out of
the water.

‘I just fell over, it has nothing to do with you,’
I replied, trying to sound as emotionless and cold as I could.

‘Don’t lie, Ellie. You’ve missed me as much as
I’ve missed you. I can feel your heart beating extra fast, the pulse point in
your neck is racing and you’re all flushed. You want me, you remember how good
we were don’t you?’

‘All I can remember is that you’re married and an
arsehole, so dream on, it’s never happening again,’ I bit and shoved him as
hard as I could. He barely even wobbled and I could hardly breathe, his unique sexy
smell and physical proximity were firing off all sorts of memories, hot, sexual,
happy memories. Why couldn’t I focus on the memories of how much he hurt me? He
grabbed my chin and pulled my face up to his. I clenched my teeth and willed
myself not to cry as I took in his gorgeous face. He was even better looking
than I’d remembered, or than his picture had captured. The one I looked at
every day, several times a day, unable to move on.

‘I deserve a chance to explain, I told you it’s
not what it seemed.’

‘You had plenty of chances Dan, every day for the
four weeks that I stayed there, then every day for the last six months when
you’ve known
exactly
where to find me. You didn’t even contact me.’

‘You told me not to,’ he reminded me.

‘So what, the guilt got too much and you got your
investigator to tail me, then report my location so you could come and ambush
me on my date?’

‘You’re on a date?’ he exclaimed, as a look of
pain crossed his face.

‘Yes, although it’s nothing to do with you what I
do,’ I bit angrily, secretly pleased he seemed pissed about it.

‘Please, just agree to stay for a drink with me
and I’ll explain everything, even if it means I lose you. I don’t want to walk
away from you again. I really thought I could forget you, I thought I could stay
away, but seeing you again has ignited something in me.’

‘Well it’s ignited all the feelings of hate I have
for you,’ I lied, as I felt my bottom lip trembling. His body was so warm
against mine, his erection laying heavy against my stomach. How could my mind
and body betray me so much, by telling me to succumb to him?

‘You don’t hate me Ellie, you told me as much.
You’re too good to hate, you see
the good in everyone. Why can’t you
give me that chance? Meeting you today was fate, I never planned it, but I’m
not going to waste the opportunity. If you don’t believe me when I’m done, or
if you tell me that you don’t love me anymore then I’ll walk away, for good.’

‘Love? Who the hell said anything about love?’ I
felt my cheeks betraying me now, burning to a deep shade of pink, while I
desperately tried not to flex my fingers against his firm chest.

‘I heard you, you thought I was asleep, I wasn’t.
That’s why I panicked in the morning and ran, but I came back. I came back for
you and you’d already left for the airport.’

‘It wasn’t love, it was … it was
lust
, you
spun my head when I was vulnerable,’ I protested.

‘Don’t accuse me of being an arsehole when you
continue to lie to me and yourself. You love me, Ellie. We both know that you
shouldn’t, but you do. Even if a tiny part of you hates me, you can’t help
yourself, we’re fated.’ He leaned in and nosed through my hair, as I closed my
eyes and tried desperately to hold in a sigh of pleasure as his lips gently
touched my neck and he whispered in my ear as I shivered. ‘You’re aroused,
those big pink nipples are stiff, just like the first time you saw me and I can
smell you watering for me. Your tight little cunt is just desperate to have my
cock back inside you. No one is as compatible as we are Ellie and you know it.
Meet me in the bar,’ he coaxed.

‘Dan,’ I moaned. My insides were liquefying, he
was like some sexual master, his voice was hypnotic.

‘Say yes, Ellie. I need to be back inside you.’

‘Oliver? Is everything ok?’

‘Damn it,’ Dan muttered under his breath and
quickly let me go. I reached out to palm the wall, my legs had turned to jelly.
I tried to catch my breath as he turned to face a seriously stunning woman. I
looked back and forth between them confused. Was this his wife? Was he
seriously brazen enough to flirt with me while she was here?

‘Oliver? Our meal is being served.’

‘I’ll be there in a moment mother, sorry I just
ran into a friend,’ he smiled, as he shoved a hand through his dark hair.
Mother?
This was Dan’s mother?
My God, she was simply gorgeous and looked
so young, no wonder he was so good looking. I blinked rapidly as I realised
she’d called him something other than Dan.

‘Please forgive my son, living up there away from
humanity means that he’s forgotten his manners. I assume that you’re Ellie?’
she smiled, as she held out her hand.

‘Yes,’ I replied, feeling more confused than ever,
as she shook my hand and placed her other one on top and squeezed tightly.

‘I can see why he’s fallen so hard for you Ellie,
you’re very beautiful. Please don’t be too harsh on Oliver, he’s been harsh
enough on himself for the last few years. You may think me biased as he’s my
son, however I’m not afraid to say that his behaviour in the past left much to
be desired, but he’s turned into a fine man and I’m proud of him for trying to
do the right thing, even if he’s suffered for it. If anyone can thaw him you
can.’

‘I’m sorry I’m feeling rather confused. You called
him Oliver?’

‘After his Grandfather, Daniel’s his father’s name,
yet he insists on calling himself Ollie much to my horror. I’m getting the
infamous Davenport scowl, I’ve said too much. I hope that you can work things
out and that I get to meet you again,’ she smiled and kissed me on each cheek.
‘Take your time sorting this out Oliver, this is important. I’ll eat and call
James to take me home. You’ve no idea how lovely it was to meet you, Ellie.’

‘You too,’ I uttered, wondering what the hell was
going on. She turned and headed back into the restaurant as I looked back
around at Dan. He was leaning against the wall, a hand covering his lower mouth
as he shook his head. ‘She called you
Oliver
. Oliver Daniel Davenport. You
lied to me about your name as well?’

‘Not exactly a lie,’ he shrugged. I stepped back
as it suddenly hit me and covered my own mouth in shock.

‘O my God. You’re not best friends with my
landlord, you
are
my landlord. You own the island, the house, my house.
You’re not Dan the woodcutter, you’re a millionaire software CEO.’

‘Billionaire,’ he corrected with a heavy sigh, as
I looked at him in disbelief. ‘This wasn’t how I wanted you to find out. We’ll
go to the bar and I’ll explain everything.’

‘NO!’ I snapped, if I thought he’d betrayed my
trust before this hurt even worse. ‘You’ve played me and manipulated me from
the moment you met me, I can’t ever trust anything that comes out of your
mouth. If I hadn’t committed to a two year lease I’d tell you to shove your
house, but I can’t afford anywhere else on top of your payments.’

‘Ellie,’ he protested as he stepped towards me.

‘Leave me alone,’ I hissed, as I side stepped him.
‘I don’t ever want to see you again. If you spot me in London in future walk
the other way because yelling “Fuck you arsehole” ranks low on what I’ll do to
you if you come near me again.’

‘Ellie, don’t do this, don’t walk away from me.’

‘I’m fleeing Dan, as fast as I damn well can. Or
is it Ollie, or Oliver, or Sir? I really have no idea who you are, do I?’ I
asked, as I shook my head in disbelief.

‘You know who I am to you. I’m the guy you fell in
love with, I’m the guy you’re still in love with. I’m the guy you’re meant to
be with.’

‘No!’ I retorted with a glare. ‘You’re not the guy
I fell in love with, I fell in love with Dan and he doesn’t even exist.’

‘My name and job may be different Ellie, but it’s
still me on the inside. Damn it woman, I don’t beg anyone, people do as I ask.
I’ll carry you over my shoulder into that bar if I have to.’