A Brit on the Side (Castle Calder Book 1) by Brenda St John Brown

Author:Brenda St John Brown [St John Brown, Brenda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-08-11T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

For the next two hours, Claire and Scarlett take turns babysitting Jasper. Ed and Will make an occasional appearance, but they seem to have decided Jasper’s not their problem and spend most of their time trying to hook up. And Jasper, for his part, remains rooted to his stool, nursing a gin and tonic. He doesn’t say much and I’d forget he was here altogether if his eyes didn’t follow me everywhere I go.

For my part, I have a million questions, but nothing I feel like I can ask. Instead I follow Scarlett’s lead, staying on the dance floor ten times longer than I normally would. I dance most of the night and while I’m not sure I’d say it’s fun, it serves its purpose. I get lost in the music and manage to avoid another confrontation-slash-conversation with Jasper. I also manage to somehow work my way around to feeling sorry for him, which isn’t something I want or need, but it’s there nonetheless. Knowing about Sam makes so many things click into place – the push me/pull me dance we’ve been doing, Jasper’s inability to keep this casual. My instinct to keep things between us private.

Not that there’s anything between Jasper and me besides a long-ago weekend and a couple of stolen kisses.

Scarlett throws her arm around my shoulders as we leave the dance floor and get back to the table. “So? Final stats, please? How many guys did you give your number to?”

Jasper raises his eyebrows. He looks a lot more sober than he did a couple of hours ago, but it doesn’t make him any nicer. His tone is just as brusque when he says, “Giving out your number, Bea? And you skipped me? Am I not worthy?”

I muster up the most saccharine smile I can. “You don’t need my number, Jasper. You know where I live.” I turn to Scarlett and say, “And to answer your question, two. I gave my number to two guys, like we agreed.”

“How about the guy in the orange shirt?” Scarlett asks. “He was quite keen.”

“Um, I’m pretty sure it was you he was keen on.” I shake my head. “Plus, he’s too Theo-like.”

“Theo of ex-fiancé fame?” Jasper asks. “You’ve never said. Is Theo your ex because you broke it off? Or was it him?”

I slide my eyes over Jasper’s face. It’s arranged in a careful mask. The only hint his question isn’t as offhand as he makes it sound is the way the corner of his mouth turns down. Like he’s trying not to frown but can’t quite manage it. I work to keep my tone casual. “I broke things off. Not that it matters.”

Jasper shrugs. “I think it matters a great deal.”

The familiar frustration rises in my chest, but before I can give in to it, Scarlett laughs and says, “What matters is Bea getting back on the horse. Now the next thing we have to do is convince her to actually go on a date with one of these guys when they call.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.