Jessie Slaymaker's Non-Existent Love Life (The Jessie Slaymaker Series) (3 page)

Chapter 7

Jack’s willpower was fading fast. He was sitting next to
her
again.
Her
being the vision in the green dress from the church. She was closer now though, and every now and then he caught a whiff of her perfume. She smelled delicious. And up close, she was even more lovely. Bright and animated. Jack was determined not to like her, but he was finding it impossible not to admire her. She was effortlessly hosting the table, asking interesting questions and gently pushing the conversation along. Not an easy feat considering the table was somewhat of a medley, female-dominated with a wide span of ages from what Jack guessed to be from about eighteen to over seventy. Regardless of the obvious differences amongst them, everyone seemed to be visibly having a good time. Courtesy of Jessie.

Jessie. She was the green goddess. Apart from her name and the fact that she was a good friend of the bride, Jack knew very little else about her. She managed to guide the conversation without giving anything away about herself, focusing on making everyone around her feel special and included. Her companion, a slightly bored-looking man who went by Tom, only paid attention when Jessie was talking. Paying attention to Jessie, Jack realised, was all too easy to do. He still wasn’t entirely sure of the relationship between Tom and Jessie, but judging by the way she was personal and affable with everyone, he was inclined to believe that they were only friends—at least, from her perspective they were anyway. From what he could tell, this Tom guy seemed to really like her. How could anyone not? The more he saw of her the more he wanted to pounce on this creature and take her somewhere private.

Shit. How could he have let this happen to him in the space of just a few hours? He was here for his brother. His good-for-nothing, irresponsible older brother. So much for broaching a brother-to-brother opening of communication lines for a serious chat. All he’d succeeded in doing so far was to watch the woman next to him and increasingly think of all the things he wanted to do to her. He forced himself to think about his brother instead. Yes, what was going on with his brother? The problem was that Jack kept coming back to the same thing: what was
she
doing with his brother? The way her eyes had eagerly followed Charlie around the church suggested there was something going on. And as Jack had concluded earlier, how could there not be? She was a goddess. His brother was lucky to have her.

When Jessie had addressed him, he had done his utmost to appear calm and detached. He didn’t want her to think he was under her spell like the rest of the table were, or how his brother must be when he was around her. He purposefully was civil and friendly, but not over-communicative, in his responses to her, even though he could feel his whole body tingle with her being so near. On more than one occasion he noticed her look in the direction of where Charlie was sitting, but it was nigh on impossible to see him clearly, let alone make eye contact with him, and she seemed to give up quickly and return her concentration back to the table conversation.

Jack found himself thinking that he was most impressed with this Jessie. He didn’t think his mother had mentioned Charlie having a girlfriend, and he couldn’t help but wonder what was the depth of their relationship. He now didn’t regard Jessie as some kind of floozy, free with her love to all men. Her actions told him she was committed to his brother. A fresh worry started to creep into the forefront of Jack’s mind: he hoped his brother was committed to Jessie and worthy of her love. He barely knew her; but from what he could tell she was definitely a keeper, and in an infinitely different league altogether from Charlie’s usual conquests and girlfriends.

A wave of jealousy bolted through Jack as though he’d been struck by someone. The thought of Charlie caressing and kissing Jessie whenever he wanted awoke the green-eyed monster within him. He didn’t like it. Not one bit.

Chapter 8

Jessie was fuming. Not only had she been put on a table with a right motley crew, but she had been forced to sit next to the evil-eye guy from the church. Apparently his name was Jack, not that he spoke much. So far, it had been like getting blood from a stone when it came to trying to get him to talk. Jessie also found it off-putting that whenever she asked him anything he looked at her like she’d mortally offended him or something. Tom wasn’t helping, either. He sat there wearing a sullen sulk, looking thoroughly disinterested in everyone around him. She guessed he hadn’t managed to spy any totty and was subsequently in a bad mood. To top it all off, Charlie was seated over at the far side of the room behind a sea of other people. Just bloody typical. It was like the stars had aligned and conspired to keep her away from Charlie all day—and instead keep her in the general vicinity of this creepy Jack guy.

Finally the dinner and the speeches were over, and Jessie excused herself to go to the bathroom, to make sure she still looked presentable. Satisfied she still looked polished, and with a fresh layer of lip gloss, she strutted back to the main hall, head held high. Now was her time—time for her and Charlie. She scanned the room and spied Tom chatting to a dishy-looking guy near the band. That would be him sorted for hours, she thought to herself as she continued scanning the vast space for her prey.

Then she saw him. Sat at the bar with none other than the grand misog himself, Jack.

‘Don’t tell me they know each other,’ Jessie muttered under her breath as she grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. She took a big sip and propelled herself forward, plastering on a smile which she hoped said
bright and breezy
to Charlie, and
go away
to the impossible Jack.

Whether they knew each other or not, there was no way Charlie was enjoying Jack’s less-than-sparkling conversation skills. She could tell by the way Charlie’s shoulders were hunched that he wasn’t at ease. She had to save him. She would be the one to rescue Charlie from the world’s worst conversationalist, and then he would see her in her true light. A kind, caring, selfless, and sometimes funny woman with lots to give.

She marched towards Charlie with a purpose, sure that her plan was flawless. She would go and interrupt Charlie and this Jack character, and Charlie would be eternally grateful to her for saving him from the hardship of talking to Jack. Bye-bye, Jack. Then the band would start playing and Charlie would ask her to dance, look deep into her eyes, and say something about not realising what had been right before him the whole time.

Chapter 9

Jack and Charlie were sat at the bar, drinking beer and chatting about the wedding so far, and how happy their friend Nick seemed to be. They weren’t exactly sharing the easy comfortableness of their youth, but they weren’t yelling at each other either. Jack was finding it hard to find the words he really wanted to say. All he really wanted to do was to find out about Jessie, and how serious Charlie was about her.

‘When were you going to mention her then?’ Jack asked, finding it impossible not to bring up the subject any longer.

‘Who?’ Charlie replied suspiciously.

‘The green goddess,’ Jack replied cheerfully.

‘The what?’ Charlie asked, looking totally lost now.

‘The girl from my table. Jessie, I think her name was,’ Jack explained trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. It only just then occurred to him that maybe she didn’t wear green everyday, and that it was
his
nickname for her, not his brother’s. He didn’t want to know what his brother called her.

‘Jessie? Oh, you mean Jessie from work. What about her?’

‘You don’t have to play coy with me, Charles. I know a woman in love when I see one.’

‘Don’t know what you’re on about Jack, I barely speak to the woman. Did you see that bridesmaid though? Nadia, I think her name was. She is on a promise tonight,’ Charlie said, with full-on male bravado. Jack didn’t push it any further. His brother was obviously shy, or maybe protective about this Jessie girl, and he obviously didn’t want to talk about her. So Jack moved into safer waters and got a recap of all the FA Cup Finals he’d missed while he’d been in China.

Jack clocked her before Charlie did. The green goddess herself. He knew she’d come over, and he smiled at the thought of Charlie having to finally admit that there was some sort of romantic entanglement between the two. Jessie entered the hall alone and just stood there looking gorgeous while she planned her next move. To Jack, she seemed to be illuminated by her own private lighting. Wherever she went, she looked like she was on a film set. He followed her eyes around the room whilst he continued a half-hearted football conversation with his brother. First, her intelligent eyes found her friend Tom. She seemed to start moving in his direction, then stopped herself and searched out the hall again.

Then she clocked him looking at her, and her face dropped a fraction of a millimetre. She grabbed a drink and seemed to take a big swig before she started towards them, as though on a mission. It wasn’t the most graceful Jack had seen her look today, but he couldn’t help but notice that she looked damn sexy. Jack licked his lips, looking forward to the prospect ahead.

‘Here she comes,’ Jack muttered to Charlie under his breath. Charlie’s expression barely registered any emotion as he turned to see Jessie coming towards him. He
had
turned into a cold fish, Jack found himself thinking.

‘Hi Charlie,’ she began, confidently smiling directly at Charlie.

‘Jack,’ she then said, more out of politeness, giving him only a cursory glance. Jack tried to contain a smile. It was blatant that she didn’t want him anywhere near her.

‘Hi Jessie,’ Charlie replied, giving her an awkward kiss on the cheek. ‘This is my brother, Jack. I think you’ve already met though,’ he continued. Shock and surprise flashed across Jessie’s face. Jack gave her credit for recovering so quickly. She obviously hadn’t been expecting that in a month of Sundays.

Chapter 10

Jessie felt stuck between a rock and a hard place. Here she was, right in the middle of her moment to shine, and Charlie had thrown her seriously off-kilter by introducing his brother to her. She tried to rearrange her face to one exuding calm and serenity, but feared she was failing miserably. So far, the plan wasn’t going to plan. Not at all.

‘Oh, I didn’t realise you had a brother,’ she said to Charlie lamely, purposefully avoiding Jack’s gaze.

As if on cue, the band suddenly came to life playing ‘Mambo No. 5’. Not exactly romantic, but it was better than nothing.

‘Charlie, would you like to dance?’ she asked, trying to keep her tone light.
Please say yes
, she silently begged.

‘I’m pretty sure the bride and groom are supposed to have the first dance, Jessie,’ Charlie laughed. ‘Oh, there’s Nadia over there. I must just check on the… going-away preparations,’ he quickly added, before vacating his seat. ‘Hey Jessie, keep my brother company for a bit, will you?’ he called back over his shoulder, before striding off towards Nadia and her horrendous dress.

‘Yes sir,’ she muttered to herself as she took Charlie’s seat at the bar and stared into her half-empty glass. She couldn’t believe he’d just walked away. He’d barely acknowledged her presence, never mind seen the full glory of her dress or anything. Jessie kicked herself. How could she have been so bloody stupid? She was absolutely mortified. She was going to have to resign and move to Alaska for a decade, she was so embarrassed.

‘You okay?’ Jack asked softly, pressing his shoulder to hers.

‘This isn’t how it was supposed to be,’ she answered, feeling utterly deflated, unable to bring herself to look at him.

‘Oh, right. How was it supposed to be then?’ he asked, signalling for the barman to top up her champagne glass.

‘Well, he wasn’t supposed to walk off and palm me off on you for a start,’ she replied, lifting her eyelashes slightly in Jack’s direction. ‘He wasn’t supposed to laugh at me, even if asking him to dance was inappropriate. He should have said,
of course
he would and then notice the smallness of my waist. Is that too much to ask? But no, that would be too bloody simple for him, wouldn’t it?’ She knew she was waffling, but she didn’t care. She’d been chasing this guy for years and the champagne had gone to her head. She was sad and lonely and she was exhausted from trying to hide it.

‘My brother is a fool. You do know that, don’t you Jessie?’ Jack asked, leaning in still closer to her. Jessie could feel his warmth radiating through his shirt touching her bare arm. She allowed herself to look at him and actually see him properly for the first time today. There was no denying it: he was a fine-looking man, similar in build to Charlie, but altogether darker in terms of complexion and hair, with dark brown eyes which matched her own. His face had relaxed now, and his jaw had lost the tenseness which she’d noticed at dinner. He had a playful smile on his lips and a glint in his eye. She stared into his eyes and deliberated for a good ten seconds before she made up her mind.

Then she kissed him. Slowly at first, just tasting the beer off his lips. Then tasting it more strongly from the tip of his tongue. It sent pulse waves through her unsatisfied body. Some nagging voice inside her which she normally ignored was urging her on.
You need this Jessie
, it kept repeating.

Their kiss began to deepen, and she could feel his urgency heighten as well as her own. Jessie could feel her body taking over her senses. Just when she thought she would start unbuttoning his shirt in a public place if they continued, she forced herself to stop. Jessie didn’t pull away, but instead she looked Jack squarely in the eye, and said to his uncomprehending face in a firm tone:

‘I really want to fuck you.’

She watched Jack’s eyes widen like saucers. He obviously hadn’t expected her to say that. He didn’t reply, but gently took her hand and led her out of the wedding reception.

Chapter 11