Wanting Mr Wrong by Avril Tremayne

Author:Avril Tremayne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia
Published: 2015-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

Needless to say, dinner was a bust after that affable little interlude. For me and Jack. Not that any of the others seemed to notice our joint state of moroseness. Conversation amongst them was animated, with quips bouncing between Chloe, Marcus and Drew like a ball at a high-speed tennis match. Mr and Mrs Stevens were in their element – the consummate entertainers. Lachlan was clearly enjoying himself and the free-flowing wine.

But I could barely squeeze a word out of my tight throat – just a yes or no if asked a direct question. And Jack didn’t even make the effort of a yes or no. An occasional look at me – hooded and brooding. An occasional look at Lachlan – emotionless. A glancing sweep of everyone else at the table – remote. An almost imperceptible shake of the head every time his mother caught his eye.

And then a boozed-up Lachlan planted a sloppy kiss on my cheek, and I shot a look at Jack, and our eyes clashed. Jack raised that infuriating, supercilious eyebrow, and turned to his mother. Small, subtle nod and she was up, melting away. Drew and Chloe looked at each other, then at Jack, then at me. Expecting something – but what?

Mrs Stevens was back a few minutes later with a tray holding eight glasses of champagne. Jack got slowly to his feet. ‘There’s a reason for the champagne,’ he said.

My palms were suddenly damp and I found myself wiping them convulsively on my jean-clad thighs. Dreading what was coming. Which didn’t make sense, because champagne signalled good news, didn’t it?

Jack smiled. ‘I’m not engaged to be married and I haven’t won the lottery,’ he said. ‘But I am heading overseas.’

‘Overseas?’ The question escaped before I could catch myself.

But Jack didn’t even look at me. ‘I’m decamping to Morocco,’ he said. ‘I’ve bought the rights to Darkest Dusk.’

Drew let out a long, slow whistle. ‘Even I’ve read that book. Hoooeeee! Altair the Arabian vampire! I guess that explains the long hair.’

‘Yes, I’ve been warned – don’t mess with Altair’s hairstyle!’ Jack said.

I was still rubbing my hands up and down my thighs, needing to do something physical, wishing I could get up, walk to the edge of the deck, see the calming view. If only I’d had some warning. If I’d had some warning, I could have … What? The problem was I didn’t know what. Couldn’t seem to think past the fact that he was going.

‘Anyway, that’s it,’ Jack said, into the awed silence. ‘So grab a glass.’

He started to sit, but Chloe, seated beside him, chose that exact moment to leap up to hug him, and Jack’s elbow connected sharply with Chloe’s cheekbone. She flopped back into her chair, tears of pain starting in her eyes as she rubbed gingerly at her cheek. Jack dropped to his knees beside her chair, and Marcus raced around the table to her other side.

Jack took her hand. ‘Chloe, I’m so sorry.’

‘Not your fault, Jack – and Marcus, I’m fine, calm down.

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