Jessie Slaymaker's Non-Existent Love Life (The Jessie Slaymaker Series) (12 page)

‘Yeah, sure. That’d be nice,’ she fibbed. ‘To be honest though, I’m not the biggest hockey fan in the world, and I fear it might all be wasted on me.’

‘You don’t know what you’re missing. It’s one of the best team sports out there. A terrific combination of speed, agility, skill, teamwork, and aggression,’ he said passionately. ‘You really must come now. I insist. You obviously need educating in the finer points of sport. Hockey is much more of a spectacle than tennis.’

Jessie smiled tightly, deciding it better not to argue the point or tell him that she was entitled to her own likes and dislikes.

The date was not going well. Despite everything Jessie knew about Charlie, they seemed to have very little in common other than work. Their interests were worlds apart and they seemed to think differently on everything they discussed, from what was in the news to what was on at the cinema. Jessie couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Two years of lusting after this guy, and for what? A complete and utter waste of time. Even Charlie seemed to notice that he didn’t exactly have Jessie eating out of the palm of his hand like most women did. Like Nadia had.

Speaking of Nadia, Jessie deliberately placed her arms so that they squeezed her tits together, hopefully giving him an eyeful. He took the bait and seemed mesmerised by her bazookas, the same way he had been over Nadia’s prized assets. Jessie carefully analysed how she felt about him looking at her like he wanted to unwrap her. Was she turned on? Was she excited by the thought of him perving on her? Crass as it was, she even asked herself if her underwear was growing damp. The answer to all of her questions was a resounding ‘no’. She was unmoved, unemotional and very much wanted to remain untouched.

Charlie eventually managed to tear his eyes away from her chest and make eye contact with her for the first time in well over two minutes.

‘There is something I’ve been meaning to run past you for some time now,’ Charlie announced, leaning in closer conspiratorially, although Jessie suspected it was to cop another eyeful. Jessie played ball, and flashed him a bit more boob, trying to make herself feel excited by him looking at her. The thought that maybe he was going to ask her to be his fuck buddy ran through her mind before she silenced herself. One weekend full of sex and her mind was in the gutter.

‘It’s a work-related matter with an element of the personal about it as well,’ Charlie continued, flicking his eyes from her mouth to her décolletage.

‘Oh yes?’ said Jessie, encouraging him to go on.

‘I have a trip planned for the bank to see some potential investors and I’d like you to come along and assist me. We’d be working during the days of course, in the Hong Kong office, but there would be the evenings and maybe a free weekend as well.’

‘Wait, a trip to Hong Kong? Are you serious?’ Jessie asked incredulously. This was the last thing she’d expected to pop out of his mouth. Hong Kong was seriously exotic-sounding to her. The most she ever got offered was a day down in Brighton for IT training.

‘Yes, Hong Kong. I take it you’re interested in coming then?’ Charlie said, seeming pleased with her response.

‘Yes please, sign me up. I’d absolutely love to go,’ Jessie gushed. She performed a mental slap on the wrist and told herself to rein it in a bit. She’d misunderstood Charlie about last Friday’s date debacle; maybe she was once again hearing something totally different from what he was actually saying, and had grabbed the wrong end of the stick with both hands again. Where Charlie was concerned, it was entirely possible.

She really didn’t think she had totally misconstrued what he’d said this time, but she thought it safe to clarify a few of the key points.

‘So, it’s a business trip with a little bit of leisure time tagged on?’ she asked, regaining a bit of composure.

‘Correct.’

‘You and me and who else?’ Jessie asked carefully.

‘No one, Jessie. I thought it would be a great opportunity for us to get to know each other better. If you don’t want to come, then I’ll understand.’

‘No, no I do,’ Jessie said quickly, feeling her chance for overseas travel and adventure with the gorgeous Charlie Davenport slipping away. ‘I just wanted to be sure we were reading from the same page,’ she added, a little embarrassed.

‘Whatever do you mean?’ Charlie asked, clearly perplexed.

Jessie had an internal debate over whether to tell him the truth or not. Sod it, what did she have to lose?

‘Well, last Friday…’ she began, then stalled, not knowing how to continue.

‘Yes?’ he prompted, his face looking expectant.

‘Well… I kind of thought it was just going to be you and me then as well,’ she finally managed.

‘I see,’ was all he said. Jessie was stumped. It was she, not he, who should have felt humiliated.

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.’

‘Forget about it,’ he answered eventually. ‘Anyway, so you’ll come to Hong Kong?’

‘Is the Pope Catholic?’ she said, beaming at him, glad he’d dismissed her admission and had gotten back on track with the Hong Kong topic.

‘Great! We leave tomorrow evening, and let’s keep it on the down low. We don’t want the others back in the office to act all jealous. There are of course several people whose noses would be put out of joint by me asking you when I would really be expected to invite them ahead of yourself.’ Jessie chose not to dwell too much on his slight against her. She was off to Hong Kong, and soon. Very soon. Not a complete waste of a date outfit after all.

Jessie couldn’t sleep for toffee that night. Yes, she was excited about this impromptu trip, but she had some niggles in her mind about the whole thing. For one, why was this the first time she had heard about a Hong Kong trip? She knew Charlie’s agenda and project work like the back of her hand, and this had been a complete bolt out of the blue to her. Second, the secrecy thing. People would find out soon enough. What were people going to say and think when they both disappeared from the office for the best part of a week? Her colleagues were an unobservant bunch at the best of times, but someone would surely notice their simultaneous absence eventually. Also, they were on business, so she couldn’t see the need for the deception. It’s not like they would be doing anything wrong.

Chapter 36

Jack was vegetating on the sofa, watching—but not
really
watching—the news on the telly. He was in thought mode, contemplating the meaning of his life and why he was back in England. He tried to focus on business and career reasons for being here, but his mind kept deviating to the people in his life instead. His brother; his mother; Regina, his most recent girlfriend in China; Sonia Shum, his intelligent and beautiful friend. And Jessie. He kept thinking about Jessie Slaymaker as well. Jessie and her lovely underwear. Jessie and her warm and affable personality. Jessie and her soft and milky skin and hair that smelled faintly of lavender and vanilla. Jessie and her quick mind and fun sense of humour. Jack’s contemplation session was ruined by the less-than-subtle arrival home of his brother.

‘Hey,’ Charlie announced as he barged through the door of his flat and headed straight for his bedroom, laden down with several folders in one hand and his overstuffed laptop bag in the other.

‘Hey,’ replied Jack, following his brother to his room, where he hovered on the threshold.

‘Any plans for dinner?’ Jack ventured, suddenly feeling the need for some guy time and maybe the chance to talk a few things through with his brother.

‘No can do, Jacky boy. I’m off to Hong Kong tonight with a beautiful lady,’ Charlie replied offhandedly, barely able to hide a smirk as he dug out a suitcase from under his bed.

‘Nothing to say?’ Charlie asked when his brother didn’t say anything. ‘Don’t you want to know who I’m going with?’ he goaded as he proceeded to begin filling the suitcase first with the folders, then with an untidy assortment of various mismatched clothes and underwear.

‘I’m sure you’re going to enlighten me,’ Jack answered, already knowing the answer as he folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the doorjamb. He wasn’t entirely sure what had prompted his brother’s snarky mood, but he didn’t appreciate this side to him.

‘I’m going with Jessie,’ Charlie confirmed snidely.

Jack tried to keep the unexpected pain he felt from puckering his poker face. He knew what his brother had been going to say, but hearing him say her name was still hurtful.

‘Judging by the forest of paper you’ve packed there, I’m guessing you’ll be spending quite some time in the office. If you guys do manage to get some free time, then I’d be happy to give you some suggestions,’ Jack offered by way of reply, as calmly as he could muster, wearing a tight smile.

‘Thanks,’ Charlie acknowledged, pausing momentarily to notice his brother and study him carefully. Jack saw a look of disappointment cross his brother’s features. He was probably miffed that Jack wasn’t as irate as he’d thought he’d be. Charlie loved nothing more than winding his brother up, and several times over the past week he’d made insinuations that he liked Jessie. Jack had done his utmost not to rise to the bait. In pre-China days, Jack would have bitten his head off when it came to competing over a woman.

‘Enjoy your trip,’ Jack signed off, and walked off to his own room.

Jack closed his door quietly, fighting the urge to slam it shut to release his mounting frustration. He was fuming. Fuming at his brother for being an arrogant prick. Fuming at Jessie for going away with Charlie. How could she seriously be going away with him after the amazing weekend they’d just shared? He thought it’d been amazing, even if she obviously hadn’t. After several minutes of frantic pacing and mentally calling both his brother and Jessie every foul word under the sun, the more rational part of Jack’s brain started to take over from his initial caveman instincts. He knew in his heart of hearts that his roguish brother was not the main reason why Jessie was going to Hong Kong. Jessie was relatively untravelled, and her eyes had lit up something chronic when he’d told her stories of his life in Asia. He knew she longed for an adventure of her own, which surely must have contributed to her accepting Charlie’s offer to go. Also, Charlie could very well have forced her to go, playing the work card, giving her no other choice. Knowing Charlie as he did, Jack could quite easily envisage Charlie having done this. Maybe it was a genuine work thing and there was no alternative for Jessie.

As the adrenaline started to subside, Jack became more aware of his surroundings again and suddenly noticed his phone flash to life on his nightstand. He’d had it on silent all day and it had only just occurred to him that someone may have been trying to reach him.
Jessie
may have been trying to reach him. Sure enough, he’d received two missed calls from Jessie and a voicemail. The calls had been received over twenty minutes ago, long before Charlie had dropped what was his perceived bombshell to antagonise his brother.

The voicemail was from Jessie too.

‘Hi Jack,’ she began all bright and breezy, ‘sorry to miss you, hence the garbled voicemail. Well… I’m off to Hong Kong this evening on business…with Charlie. Quite exciting to be going so far at such short notice. Anyway, just wanted to let you know I’ll be out of town for the next week or so and that I’ll call you when I’m back. Also… I just wanted to say that… er … I … I had a really nice time at the weekend and hope you did too. Well, bye then.’

Jack slowly pulled the phone away from his ear and couldn’t stop himself from smiling widely. She’d started her message with what Jack thought to be rehearsed words in a businesslike, to-the-point manner, which he didn’t care too much for. Probably owing to the content and mention of Charlie’s name. However, she’d redeemed herself during the second part of the message, saying she’d had a good weekend. He heard the uncertainty and edge of vulnerability in her voice, which made him want to wrap his strong arms around her and keep her safe.

Jack lay down on his bed and thought about happy memories from the weekend with Jessie. He didn’t exactly feel shame for berating Charlie and Jessie behind their backs upon hearing the news just minutes ago. But he understood why she would want to go. Plus, her nice words had softened the impact slightly. She liked him. The voicemail had assured him that she’d had fun at the weekend and that she was keeping lines open for future communication. Without saying so, she had been telling him she wasn’t running off into the sunset with Charlie. The question Jack now found himself asking was: What kind of game was his big brother playing at?

Chapter 37

Tom was being chauffeur to Jessie again, driving her to the airport on her last-minute business trip, which she’d called him about a mere few hours earlier in a considerable flutter. Tom didn’t know whether he entirely bought the whole thing or not. If he was completely honest, he didn’t really know what to think. Jessie suddenly calling him to say she was going away with her boss had been a total bolt out of the blue. She never went anywhere with work, let alone anywhere as far away as Hong Kong. His heart had definitely skipped a few beats until he’d managed to confirm with her that the duration of her trip would be for around a week and not for the rest of her lifetime. He really hadn’t liked how that had felt. The thought of her relocating to some far-off place for good was not a happy one for him.

Over the past week or so, Tom had managed—well, more like struggled—to admit to himself that his feelings for Jessie actually ran a little deeper than just platonic friendship. Although there was no way he could consider himself as anything other than a gay man, where Jessie was concerned, there was a glaring question mark regarding what he really wanted from his relationship with her.

Tom desperately wanted to fill Jessie in on what he was going through. The problem was, however he tried to phrase and word his feelings, it simply didn’t sound right. He barely understood it himself, so how could he ever expect her to? He contemplated the idea of telling her that he thought she and she alone made him feel less gay, and that he’d prefer it if she stayed away from all other men until he figured out whether he wanted her or not. Upon further reflection he found this idea absolutely repulsive, and thoroughly deserving of a sharp slap around the face. He couldn’t do that to his friend even if that’s what he really wanted and what he really felt. What he wanted more than anything in the world was time. Time to figure out if what he was going through was a fundamental change to his lifestyle choice of the past twenty years, or if it was something of a passing phase.