Valentine Present and Other Diabolical Liberties (25 page)

     
‘I’m sorry,’ I whisper. ‘It was an accident.’

He whimpers something but I don’t quite catch it. Brice emerges from the bathroom and his eyes light up on seeing me.

      ‘Oh good, you’re here. As you can see it’s just a graze.’

I look at
Babyface Jack’s leg and breathe a sigh of relief when I see it is just a scratch. Babyface is shaking so much that I think he will fall off the bed.

     
‘He’s in a terrible state of shock. I’m going to have to sedate him. Odd though, he wasn’t this bad before you came in.’

I look into
Babyface Jack’s eyes.

     
‘You’re going to be fine, it isn’t serious,’ I say kindly.

     
‘I’m sorry ‘arriet,’ he moans.

Brice’s head snaps up and he stares at me.

      ‘Do you know him?’

I bite my lip. He looks at me for a few seconds and then reaches down to his bag.

      ‘I’m giving you an injection. It will relax you and make you sleep. I’m then going to dress your wound. Do you understand?’

Babyface
nods. I watch silently as Brice gives the injection and Babyface Jack’s eyes slowly close.

     
‘Do you want to tell me how you know him?’ Brice asks as he cleans the wound.

     
‘Yes,’ I whisper, ‘but not here. I don’t want anyone else to know.’

     
‘Not even Hamilton, your fiancé?’ he says, lifting his eyes to meet mine.

     
‘Hamilton isn’t going to be my fiancé,’ I say quietly, averting my eyes from his.

He nods.

      ‘I kind of guessed that right from the start. Come to Stalkers Lodge for dinner. Bring on a migraine, after all, everyone else does, and excuse yourself from supper. You can tell me everything then. Is it a deal?’

     
‘It’s a deal.’

     
‘Dress casual. Come as ‘arriet, you know what I mean.’

I hide my smile and nod, but anxiety clutches at my stomach. The relief of being able to tell someone the truth at last is overwhelming but the fear that he will hate me for it is unbearable.

     
With Fiona’s help I sneak down the stairs and out the back door.

     
‘I’ll tell everyone your migraine is improving but you can’t eat,’ she says while hugging me. ‘I hope it goes okay.’

I nervously make my way to Stalkers Lodge. The moon is bright and I follow the path around the loch. I am wearing jeans, a black vest and an oversize top. I’d washed my hair and blow dried it into my usual shaggy look. Apart from a small amount of blusher I am make-up free. My heart races as it occurs to me that Jack Diamond could spring out from the undergrowth at any moment and it is a huge relief
when I finally reach the lodge. Brice greets me in a short sleeved white shirt which is open at the neck. He looks so sexy. My breath catches in my throat when I say hello. His hair is ruffled and his eyes are sparkling. His jeans hug his backside and I fight the urge to squeeze it. The fragrant aroma of spices makes my mouth water and I sniff in appreciation.

     
‘I hope you like curry,’ he says nervously.

I enter the living room and pull off my poncho. The table is laid a
nd there are candles everywhere. The candlelight and blazing fire cast flickering shadows around the room.

     
‘It’s almost ready,’ he says, walking to the kitchen. I follow and accept a glass of wine from him.

     
‘What kind of doctor are you?’ I ask curiously.

     
‘I trained as a GP and then I spent a year doing voluntary work in South East Asia. I loved it and when I came back I studied tropical diseases. I went out again and set up my own charity.’

He hands me two plates of rice and points to the table. I take them and he follows with a bowl of curry.

      ‘Do you live there?’ I ask.

I know he will ask how I know
Babyface and I’m trying to put that off for as long as possible.

     
‘For about six months of the year, and then I come back here where I shamefully work in private practice. I like to use my own money for my work in Laos. Money isn’t really an issue. I have an allowance from Grandma. In that way I’m not much different to Hamilton.’

     
‘Oh, you’re very different to Hamilton,’ I protest.

He passes the curry dish and I take a large spoonful.

      ‘God, I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.’

The curry is delicious.

      ‘This is really good,’ I say. ‘Almost as good as the curries down Brick Lane, and they’re the dog’s bollocks.’

I bite my lip when I realise what I’ve said. He laughs heartily and dips a piece of
naan bread into his curry. I take a sip of wine and struggle not to blush.

     
‘You did say come as ‘arriet,’ I mumble.

He laughs softly.

      ‘So, how did Hamilton find you?’ he asks, avoiding my eyes.

     
‘At Silva’s wedding,’ I say quietly.

He nods and his mouth tightens.

      ‘Why did you accept?’

I put down my fork and lift my glass.

      ‘My boyfriend Julian, you got that bit right by the way, never turned up for the wedding. He was ragging it down the A40 in my car. That night I found out that he had taken more from me than just my car. He owes thousands of pounds, most of it connected to the French restaurant he started. Some of his debts had my name on them too. I was a stupid bitch. I trusted him.’

I pause and sip the wine. God, this is harder than I thought it would be. No matter how I tell it I still sound like a bloody fool. He looks at me over the rim of his glass and gives an encouraging smile.

      ‘So, Hamilton offered you a way to pay off those debts did he?’

I nod.

      ‘Julian borrowed money from this loan shark named Jack Diamond. Babyface Jack, the guy back at the house …’

He nods, his brows knitted together.

      ‘That’s Diamond’s son. He has two, Babyface Jack and Mad Jack Junior.’

     
‘That’s one way of not forgetting your kids’ names,’ he laughs.

I can’t laugh with him. Just talking about the Jacks’ makes me feel de
pressed. I take more curry but feel I have lost my appetite.

     
‘How much do you owe?’ he asks, spooning more curry onto my plate. I put out a hand to stop him and it brushes his. I see a spark in his eyes and that familiar tingle runs through me.

     
‘Thirty-eight thousand,’ I say bluntly. ‘Julian bought a new van and the loan for it was in my name. I must have signed something. He was always putting things in front of me but I thought they were connected to the Barclays loan of seven thousand, which of course turned out to be a hell of a lot more than that. Jack Diamond has the van now.’

     
‘Sounds like you’ve been very naive,’ he says, topping up my wine glass.

What a cheek.

      ‘I don’t need you bleeding reminding me thank you very much,’ I say angrily. ‘I trusted a man, that was my bloody problem and it seems like I’ve made the same mistake again.’

I stand up abruptly and hobble towards the door. He doesn’t move from the table and I feel stupidly disappointed that he doesn’t try and stop me.

      ‘If you think trusting me was a mistake then leave. I’m not going to stop you. All I’m saying is maybe you were stupid to have trusted Julian. He’s sounds like an idiot and frankly you deserve better. So, sit back down and enjoy the dinner. I personally think it’s the dog’s bollocks.’

I lower my eyes and walk back to the table. Honestly, this man can do anything he likes with me. Oh, what a delicious thought.

      ‘I’m only staying because the dinner
is
the dog’s bollocks,’ I say.

     
‘That’s a good enough reason.’

We eat in silence for a while and he replenishes our glasses.

      ‘So Jack Diamond is blackmailing you?’ he asks finally, pushing his plate away.

     
‘Everyone is blackmailing me,’ I say miserably, ‘except you, but I suppose you will after dinner is over. I’ll tell you now you might as well forget it as I haven’t got a pot to piss in. Hamilton has promised me I won’t work again if I don’t do what he says, and the Jacks have threatened to burn down the restaurant. I paid the protection money but I’m not doing it any more. Sod Julian and sod his restaurant, but I underpaid Jack Diamond by fifty quid,’ I groan.

I finish the wine and feel my head spin. He doesn’t comment but opens another bottle. I know I shouldn’t drink any
more but the wine is giving me the courage I wouldn’t otherwise have.

     
‘Anyway, the Jacks must have come here and I accidently shot Babyface. That’s
it in a nutshell really. I’ve left out loads like my dead goldfish, Julian’s ears or the lack of them. Basically I’m a Battersea girl,’ I shrug. ‘I’m not a posh toff like you. I went to uni but that’s it. I was studying but I had to chuck that in to do all this crap to get the money to pay the bills.’

     
‘I knew Hamilton was up to something, that little creep. He’s trying to get the shares isn’t he? He is as corrupt as his father.’

Oh dear, I really should warn Fi.

      ‘We can sort this out Harriet but you have to trust me. Can you do that?’

My heart skips a beat. Can I trust him? I trusted Julian didn’t
I and look where that got me. Then I trusted Hamilton. No, if I’m honest I never trusted Hamilton. I find it hard to answer.

     
‘I’m no good at desserts,’ he says, changing the subject. ‘So I bought a couple of tubs of ice cream. I hope that’s okay. You’re not one of those silly women who don’t eat ice cream because of the calories are you?’

Not bloody likely. I stand up and help with the dishes.

      ‘I’ll do that,’ he says gently. ‘You’re my guest and I like to please my guests.’

His hand strokes my arm before taking a plate from me and I sway slightly, grasping the table for support.

      ‘So,’ he says softly, ‘you’re not in love with Hamilton?’

I shake my head and shiver as he his fingers trace the curve of my shoulder slowly upwards to my neck.

      ‘And you’re no longer in love with Julian?’

His fingers are moving slowly downwards now to the swell of my breast and I restrain a gasp.

      ‘No, no longer in love,’ I say huskily, the ache in my loins unbearable.

He puts the plate down and encircles my waist with one hand while the other cups my breast. Just the warmth of his breath in my ear makes my nipple harden in his palm. I’m pushed back against the table and I feel its hardness press into the low of my back.

      ‘You drive me mad Harriet,’ he whispers.

Oh good. At least I drive him mad in a nice way. I should have brought my riding crop. After all, it’s a shame not to find a use for it after Hamilton spent all that money. His lips brush mine gently and my body goes limp. He groans beneath my lips and grinds himself against my hips.
It was never like this with Julian. I don’t think Julian ever had me up against a table. The closest we ever came to a table together was making them at the restaurant or eating from one at home. But hip grinding against one … No we never did that. I’m not sure we ever hip grinded anywhere. Julian was more a
wham bam thank you mam
type of bloke. That was okay because I was always too bloody tired to give it much myself. This past year, the quicker the wham bam, the better I liked it. I guess that says a lot about us in the past few months. My breasts are now so swollen I feel sure they will burst out of my bra if he doesn’t release them soon. His lips leave mine and travel slowly down my neck. I stretch one hand behind to steady myself and squeeze his buttocks with the other. I feel my legs will soon give way and I’m engulfed by so many emotions that I can’t think straight. The only thing I know is that I never want to lose this man now I have found him. A loud rapping noise sounds in my head and Brice suddenly releases me. Someone is at the door.

     
‘Damn it. Who in God’s name?’ he says brusquely.

I open my eyes and it takes a while for me to remember where I am.

      ‘Angus, is everything okay?’ he asks on opening the door.

I fall into a chair and quickly tidy my hair. My face feels hot and I fan myself with my hand.

      ‘Sorry Brice, it isn’t a bad time is it?’

     
‘Of course not, come in. Harriet’s here, she came for dinner.’

Oh God, I hope I don’t have that ‘about to be fucked’ look on my face.

      ‘I’m sorry to be a pest but the pickup has broken down just outside Glenwood. I’ve got jump leads but …’

Jump leads that’s bloody appropriate isn’t it? Honestly, bad timing or what.

      ‘Actually Angus, you’re just the man.’

Oh really? And there was me thinking it was
me
he wanted to see. I’m grateful for the dim lighting but I can see Angus is uncomfortable.

     
‘I’m sorry guys, the wee pickup just conked out. Look, I’m in the way I’ll scoot up to the house and get Cedric to jump start me.’

     
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ says Brice. ‘You couldn’t have timed it better.’

I give him a sharp look. What the hell does that mean?

      ‘Harriet and I have a little problem with a man named Jack Diamond and as an ex-policeman I think you can help us. What do you say to a wee dram and we can discuss it?’

Brice winks at me and Angus grins.

      ‘Am I going to enjoy this?’ he asks.

     
‘Oh indeed you are,’ laughs Brice, pouring whisky into three glasses.

I look longingly towards the bedroom. Bloody Jack Diamond is becoming a real thorn in my side. It’s a bit much when he interferes with my sex life.

      ‘Tell me all about it,’ says Angus.

I relax in my chair and listen as Brice recounts my story.