Love and Liability (Dating Mr Darcy - Book 2) (30 page)

“And promise you’ll never wear a thong that barely covers your naughty bits in front of Alex, ever again.”

Kate blushed. “I promise.”

“Good.” Holly thrust out her hand. “Mates?”

“Mates,” Kate said, and clasped her hand tightly. She drew away and surveyed the shoes and boxes strewn all over the bed. “Now, how about you do
your
bloody part, and help me clean up this mess?”

Chapter 43

Marcus was halfway through his Becks, and he’d seen no sign of Kate Ashby in the pub.

He glanced at his Rolex and was surprised to see it was nearly eight o’clock. Surely Kate had finished work by now. Valery must have warned her that he’d be here, or else she’d gone straight home.

At any rate, waiting any longer wasn’t an option; he needed to stop in at the brasserie tomorrow morning, then he was off to film a new episode of
Chefzilla
.

Fucking hell
. Marcus stood and took out his wallet and threw a ten-pound note down on the bar. He was no closer to finding Holly — or his daughter — than he’d been before.

The thought filled him with frustration…

And a small but distinct prickle of fear.

“I’m glad we stayed in tonight,” Holly told Alex as she finished off the last samosa and leaned back against his sofa and yawned. “I’m exhausted.”

He stood up — they were sitting cross-legged on the white flokati rug in his flat, finishing the last of their Indian takeaway at the coffee table — and picked up their plates. “I suppose this means I won’t be getting lucky tonight,” he said, just before he disappeared into the kitchen with their plates.

“No. And just as well, we both smell like curry anyway,” Holly pointed out. She drew her jeans-clad legs up against her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “But at least I finally got to see your place.”

“And does it meet with your approval?” he called out.

“It does.” She liked the modern painting hanging over the sofa — a real painting, not a print, with random splashes of grey and red and cream — and the low-slung sectional sofa and the matching pair of chairs. There wasn’t a lads’ mag, amplifier, or a crushed can of Foster’s to be seen. It was a grown-up flat.

“You know,” Alex remarked as he returned and lowered himself back onto the floor next to her, “we could’ve gone out somewhere for dinner.”

“I know.” She met his eyes. “But this is better. I have you all to myself, no waiters or menus — or Kate! — to get in the way.”

He leaned forward and kissed her, and took his time doing it. “So what was your first day of work at Gordon Scots like?”

“Awful.” She closed her eyes as he began to massage her shoulders. “Umm, that’s heavenly. The place was packed, for starters, and then, to make matters worse, Kate waltzed in with a couple of my ex coworkers.”

“That must’ve been awkward.”

“It was excruciating. And of course Mark was snarky…and I tried to ignore him, I really did. But he pushed my buttons and…well, I accidentally caught the edge of the tablecloth with one of my bangles when I walked away, and he ended up with a lapful of hot fries. Jamie was furious.” She felt renewed hurt at the memory. “He thought I’d done it on purpose.”

He regarded her quizzically. “And did you?”

“No!” she retorted, indignant. “But I wasn’t exactly sorry it happened.”

“Poor girl, you really did have a rubbish day.”

“Oh, it gets better,” Holly added. “When my shift ended, I went to the flat to get the rest of my stuff before Kate got back. But she came home early and caught me going through her shoes—”

“Going through her
shoes
?” Alex echoed. “Why would you do that?”

“Because I thought if I could just find that photo of Zoe — the one that got published with the article — then I could prove Kate was behind it all, and get my job back.”

“And did you? Find the picture, I mean?”

She shook her head. “Kate swore to me she didn’t do it.”

“And you believed her?”

“I did. I do. She was really upset, Alex. She told me she was sorry for everything — especially for throwing herself at you — and she admitted she
did
have a hand in screwing up my interview with you.”

“But why would she do such a thing?”

Holly shrugged. “She wanted my job. And—” she paused for emphasis “—Sasha knew Kate lied on her CV about finishing business school. She threatened to go straight to Valery and tell her if she didn’t help Sasha sabotage me.”

“It’s a good job you’re out of there.” Alex regarded her thoughtfully. “I could find you something in our offices. One of the secretaries downstairs is leaving soon-”

“Thanks, but I’ll be okay. I doubt if I’ll see Kate or Mark in Gordon Scots again. I’ll keep looking for magazine work.” She sighed. “Jamie’s docking my pay to cover the cost of their meals. So I basically worked for free today.”

“Well, at least you’ve got the part-time job at Jacqueline Winter’s office.”

“No, I don’t, actually,” Holly admitted. “I got sacked. I cut off one too many callers.”

“Poor girl.” Alex kissed the top of her head. He leaned back against the sofa and stretched his arm out behind her. “Why don’t you move in here? I’ve plenty of room.”

Holly blinked. She hadn’t expected this. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly afford to live here,” she said quickly. “Living upstairs from Jamie’s restaurant is actually very…convenient. No excuses to be late to work.”

“You wouldn’t have to pay rent. We could go Dutch on groceries, if you insist. You do eat rather a lot.”

“Ha.” Holly toyed with her bangles, stalling for time. Here she’d thought Alex was an ‘I’ve-no-interest-in-commitment, don’t-ever-want-to-get-married’ kind of man. Yet he was asking her to move in and share his flat. A week ago, she would have arranged a flash mob in the middle of Piccadilly Circus to announce to the world that Alex Barrington had asked her to live with him.

So why on earth was she hesitating now?

“Alex,” she began, choosing her words carefully as she turned to face him, “I love the idea of moving in with you, I really do. But I don’t think I’m quite ready for that yet.”

“What do you mean? You’re sharing a flat with Jamie. How is that any different?” His words were clipped.

“It’s completely different! We’re not
sleeping
together, for one thing. We’re mates. He sleeps on the sofa, I sleep in the bedroom. After all, Jamie and I are practically—”

“Brother and sister,” he cut in. “Yes, I know, you’ve told me often enough. Except that you’re not. He’s adopted. So there’s nothing stopping either of you from taking things to the next level.”

She stared at him. “The next
level
? Alex, this isn’t a video game! Look, let’s not argue, okay?” she implored him, and slid her hands up and over his shoulders. “You know, you look incredibly sexy with your collar undone and your tie loose like that,” she murmured.

His expression was sulky. “Don’t think you can talk me round with flattery, or sidetrack me with sex.” He paused. “Although I won’t object overmuch if you try.”

She rested her forehead against his. “Alex, I adore you. I do! But my life’s a mess right now. I don’t even have a proper job, and I need to learn to stand on my own feet first. And I’m really, really tired.” Her lower lip began to tremble. “Can’t we just leave things as they are for now?”

The tight line of his jaw eased. “Of course we can,” he agreed, and put his arm round her and drew her close. “I’m sorry. I’m a selfish sod. I just like the idea of having you around all the time.”

“How’s your campaign going, by the way? I haven’t kept up with the news much lately.”

He sighed. “The pressure’s mounting to withdraw my support for reopening the Chipping Barnet homeless shelter.”

“And whose pressure is that?” Holly demanded. “No, don’t tell me, let me guess — Camilla’s.”

Alex nodded. “The thing is…she’s right. If I don’t back off, any chance I have of winning the election will go right down the loo.”

“But you can’t back down now! What about people like Zoe, people who really
need
that shelter? What about them?”

“I agree. But if I don’t get the votes I need,” Alex said reasonably, “I won’t get elected. And if I’m not elected, then I truly can’t do anything to effect change, now — or ever.”

She tilted her face up to his. “I suppose so. But it still seems wrong, somehow.”

He brushed back a strand of hair from her face. “I love your fierceness. It’s quite sexy.” He kissed her again. “You taste like biryani,” he murmured. “Interesting. Not sure if I like it or not, though. I think I may have to kiss you again.”

They kissed for a few more minutes, until Holly drew reluctantly away. “I’ve got to go,” she sighed, and stood up. “I’m working the lunch shift tomorrow, unless Jamie’s sacked me already.”

Alex stood as well. “Right, let’s get you back. I hope he hasn’t thrown your stuff in the street and changed the locks.”

“Shit,” Holly said, stricken. “I hope he hasn’t, either.”

“Well, if he has,” Alex informed her as he pulled her into his arms, “I happen to know a chap who’s looking for a flatmate. Nice fellow. Bit too earnest. You’d like him.”

“I already do,” she whispered, and kissed him again, more lingeringly this time.

Chapter 44

Thankfully, Jamie hadn’t changed the locks. It was just past midnight when Holly said goodnight to Alex and let herself into the kitchen. She was surprised to see the light on, and Jamie sitting at the table with his hands wrapped around a mug of tea. He glanced up as she came in, his face unreadable.

“I was beginning to worry,” he said. “You might have called.”

“Sorry,” she said as she closed the door. She was getting quite good at apologizing, actually. Too bad she couldn’t make a career of saying ‘sorry’. “I was with Alex.”

“I thought you two weren’t on speaking terms these days.”

“We weren’t. But now we are.” She took down a cup and switched on the kettle. “Think I’ll have some tea before bed.”

“What’s happened?”

“He’s campaigning to reopen the Chipping Barnet homeless shelter. But the locals are dead against it. They say it brought crime to their neighbourhoods and decreased the value of their homes.”

“Yeah, I heard something about it on the news.”

“Alex is ready to back down.” Holly frowned. “He’s more worried about losing potential votes than he is about helping the homeless. It’s all about winning.”

Jamie shrugged. “Well, you can’t blame him, I suppose. And if the locals don’t
want
the shelter—”

“But the point is — London desperately needs more shelters! That’s what matters, not how many votes Alex gets.”

“But if he doesn’t get the votes he needs,” Jamie pointed out, “he won’t get elected, and then he can’t do anything to change things, one way or the other.”

“You sound just like him,” she accused.

“I never thought I’d take Alex’s side in an argument. Holly,” Jamie added after a moment, “about today—”

“I know,” Holly interrupted him in a guilty rush, “I pissed off your customers and cost you money and I’m sorry and I swear I won’t ever do it again.” She paused. “Even though it
was
an accident,” she added with a sniff.

He set his cup down and looked up at her. “I’m the one who should apologize. I came down on you far too hard. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she said warily, and withdrew a tea bag from the box in the cupboard. “You were right. I shouldn’t have let Mark and Kate get under my skin like they did.”

“No,” he agreed. “But I heard some of the stuff they said to you, and I can’t blame you for getting mad.” He took a long sip of tea. “The truth is, business is down, and I’m worried.”

Holly took her cup and sat down across from him. “But we’ve been busy during lunch — you said so yourself.”

“Lunch, yes. Dinner’s another matter…business has fallen off by half. And I don’t understand it.” He ploughed a hand through his hair in frustration.

“Maybe you need publicity,” Holly suggested. “You know, put an ad in some upscale food magazines, or the local papers. Or you might add some new specials to the menu.”

“Maybe.” Jamie didn’t sound convinced. “Ah, well, I’m knackered. It’s past time I turned in. I’m too wrecked to deal with it tonight, anyway.” He thrust his chair back and stood.

“Poor you.” Overcome with sympathy — he really
did
look exhausted — Holly stood and flung her arms around him impulsively. “You’ll figure it out,” she said into his shirt.

Jamie’s T-shirt, the exact shade of blue as his eyes, was soft beneath her fingers, and he smelled of Imperial Leather and — very faintly — whisky.

She breathed in his scent as his arms tightened imperceptibly around her waist. “I don’t like to see you worry,” she whispered into his shoulder.

He reached up to stroke her hair. “Holly,” he murmured, “Holly,” and then his hands were cupping her face and his mouth found hers. He tasted of whisky. Their bodies fitted perfectly together, and the seconds spun away into minutes. His lips were warm and skilled and were doing odd things to her insides.

Obviously there’d been something a bit more than tea in his mug…

Holly clutched at the front of his shirt with both hands, partly for balance, but mainly because she was momentarily dizzy with the unexpectedness of his kiss. His hands slid down her back to her waist, pressing her closer.

“Jamie, stop,” she protested as he moved to kiss her again. “What are you
doing
?”

He paused. “Isn’t it obvious?” he asked, one brow lifted. “I’m kissing you, Holly. Nothing wrong with that, is there?”

“Yes,” she said irritably, and pushed him away. “Two things are wrong with it. Number one, you’ve been on the whisky. Number two…I’m with Alex!”

Gradually they both became aware of mewing — plaintive and quite loud — coming from just outside the kitchen door.

“What the hell is that?” Jamie asked, startled.

“Oh. It’s Tabby,” Holly said. “She’s a stray. I felt sorry for her this morning and fed her a dish of that leftover cream in the fridge. I think she’s pregnant.”

“That was my Devonshire cream! You didn’t give it all to her?”