London Bound: New Adult Romance (Chase Brothers) (29 page)

Abbie shook her head. “Just what has Max told these guys to do for me?”

“Oh, I don’t think that had anything to do with Max, babes. I think he genuinely wants your body.”

Oh. Well. Then
. “As pretty as he is to look at, I’m staying away from uber hot guys for a while. It’s probably safer that way.”

Chapter 29

Under the cover of night and away from Sophie’s judging eyes, Abbie climbed into bed with her phone. The good news was, she had a paying gig lined up. A decent, paying gig. She just needed more of those.

Max had gotten two new models in the house that night so the spare room she’d been sleeping in was occupied. She’d taken Jasper up on his offer and was frankly glad she did. His bed was soft, and the electric blanket chased the chill away.

The bad news was, she still had to face the outside world come tomorrow. She couldn’t very well ignore her assignment, which meant she’d have to head out into Soho tomorrow to capture street fashion. Maybe she could convince Sophie to go with her. Tamsin had to work. She could always ask Angel or somebody to tag along with them for the day and grab some shots of him, but when they weren’t working, the boys tended toward sloppy hipster chic with their skinny jeans and faded ironic T-shirts. But it wouldn’t hurt to ask. They also knew a load of female models, so that could make her assignment pretty easy.

With a deep breath and a silent prayer, she sat up under the blanket and turned on both of her phones. As she waited for the screens to light up, her breathing and her heart rate increased. Both phones immediately started to vibrate.
Shit
. Between the two, there were eleven missed calls and fifteen texts. Her hands shook as she checked the voicemails first.

Alexi
.

“Jesus, shit. Abbie, I’m so sorry. I—”

She deleted it without listening to the rest of the message.

The next from her sister Akos. “Fuck, Abbie, what kind of mess have you gotten yourself into? I mean of all the moronic—”

Abbie deleted that one too.

The next one was from Ilani. “Oh, you dark horse, you. Look, I know it’s probably messy and all right now, but if you need to chat, I’m here. Call me.”

Abbie’s shoulders slumped. It was sweet of Ilani to call, but she wasn’t in the mood to deal with anyone. She’d just have to wait and see her at school.

The rest of the messages included one from her mother telling her she’d already pulled the funds for her second semester out of her bank and stating her disappointment. Silence from her father.
So much for him admiring me
. Two more from her sisters, and one from Evan, insisting that she call him right away.

Right
. On to the texts.

She squeezed her eyes shut when her screen lit up, slowly opening one lid at a time. Alexi, Alexi…They were all Alexi.

“I’m sorry.”

“Please let me explain.”

“Please don’t shut me out.”

“I’m coming over.”

They were all a variation of the I-know-I-fucked-up-please-believe-me theme.

But she wasn’t going to do that any time soon. She couldn’t deal with him right now. Couldn’t deal with any of it. It wasn’t so much that he hadn’t told her who he was. But more about the way he’d gone about it. He’d had a million opportunities. He’d slept with her knowing he was deceiving her. Knowing she had no idea. She’d slept with a total stranger. One who had more secrets than anyone she’d ever met.

Tears stung Abbie’s eyes as she deleted all her text messages. How had she gotten it so wrong? He said he cared about her, but this wasn’t how you showed someone you cared. She’d fabricated all of that in her mind. She’d need time before she could deal with him.

She eventually drifted into fitful sleep. Tossing and turning, wishing that Alexi would call, then wishing he wouldn’t.

It was three in the morning when she heard Jasper and Max finally stumble home. They weren’t being too loud, but since she was up, she heard every footstep.

When Jasper opened the door to his room, she immediately sat up. “Hey. I’m sorry. You said I could sleep here so…” She cleared her throat. “Tams stayed the night, so she’s on the couch.”

Jasper just blinked at her like a kid on Christmas morning who couldn’t quite believe he’d gotten the gift he’d asked for. “Ahh, that would explain why the bundle on the couch didn’t slap me when I suggested I might snuggle in.”

He laughed when she rolled her eyes.

“It’s cool. I like you in here. Now my sheets are going to smell like you.”

Oh Jasper, always outrageous. She hated the weakness that made her consider staying, and she didn’t want to be alone, so she hesitated, but finally said, “I’ll grab a duvet and head to the media room to sleep on the recliners.”

Jasper halted her with a hand on her foot. “No, don’t.”

“But I’m in your bed. Where are you going to sleep?”

He grinned, and Abbie stammered. “O-oh, no, I don’t think that will work.”

“Look, we’ll just sleep okay? I can be a friend.” He smiled sheepishly. “Besides, I’m knackered. And you look like you could use a friend.”

She chewed her bottom lip. She didn’t particularly want to be alone, but she didn’t want to give him the wrong impression either. “Just friends. And you’ll keep your hands to yourself?”

Jasper put his hand over his heart. “I swear to be on my best behavior.”

She nodded.

After changing in the bathroom, he slid into the bed next to her. If she closed her eyes and snuggled into the cocoon of his warmth, she could pretend it was Alexi. Just to help her sleep…

Jasper kissed her shoulder and wrapped an arm around her waist, tugging her close to his body. Just as her eyes fluttered closed, he whispered, “But if you did want me to go down on you or something, I promise I’m willing and very good. I like to take my time with a woman’s body. You can pretend I’m anyone you want.”

She swatted the arm that wrapped around her waist. “Go to sleep, Jasper.”

Chapter 30

The following morning, Alexi’s head throbbed as Jasper, Angel, Nick, and Max all convened on the barge. He hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep, and he wasn’t in the mood for the mental beat down he was about to endure. And to make matters worse, Abbie hadn’t replied to a single one of his messages.

“Mate, what the fuck were you thinking?”

Lex glared at Max. He really didn’t need his friend taking the moral high ground with him. “Look, it wasn’t supposed to happen like that. The whole thing just got fucking messy, okay?”

“She’s a nice girl. You really should have left her alone.” Jasper’s voice was barely above a snarl.

“And what, left her for you?” Lex growled.

“Maybe.” Jasper stood to glare at him.

Nick stepped between the two of them. “Come on, you two. Are you really going to get in a row over some bird? Use your brains.” He turned his attention to Angel and Max. “A little help here?”

Angel shook his head. “I was just looking for a lift to the agency. I’m starting to think I should have taken the tube.”

Max shrugged. “I didn’t think I’d agree with Nick on this one, but he’s right. We’ve been mates for how long? Stop being mad for just a moment and use the brains God gave ya.”

Lex dragged in a breath. “I just want to know that she’s okay.”

“She’s fine,” Max said. “Well, as fine as she can be. Sophie’s got her holed up at the house, and she and Tamsin are pretty much circling her like mother hens.”

Lex breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t been able to reach her, which was to be expected, but he was worried that she wasn’t okay. And when he’d seen the paparazzi camped on her lawn, he’d really worried. “Okay good. At least she’s not all alone in her flat with the vultures circling.”

“Would there be any vultures, if it weren’t for you?” Jasper grumbled.

“No, I’ll admit, I cocked this whole thing up. But there were some extenuating circumstances I couldn’t avoid.”

“Oh, you mean like already having a fiancée?” Jasper made to stand again, but Nick shoved him back into his seat.

“Easy, both of you. Jas has a point though. What about Gem? Have you seen her, talked to her?”

Gemma was staying out of sight at Jacinda’s. She’d stayed with him a couple of nights, but then the press had gotten so ridiculous, she’d needed to escape. “I talked to her this morning. She’s fine.”

Nick frowned. “What do you mean fine?”

“I mean
fine
.” What the hell could he tell the three of them? That Gemma had seen it coming, that she’d apologized to him profusely again because she suspected Jacinda had gotten pissed enough about Gemma’s closeted status to call the press and force her hand? That his relationship with Gem had been a sham? He was sick of this shit. But he couldn’t really tell them with Angel here. “Look, Gemma and I have some logistics to work out, but we haven’t been really intimate for a long time.”

“I know, that’s what you said before. But why stay with her?” Nick asked, his brows furrowing.

Lex swiped his hair off his forehead. Habit sounded too callous. But it was the truth. Gemma probably hadn’t needed him to shield her for nearly so long, but he’d done it because he had no one in his life that he wanted to be single for. “It’s complicated.”

Nick shook his head. “You lot are a pair. When I talked to her this morning, she seemed more concerned about you and how you were handling things with the press than she did about your relationship.”

Lex nodded. “See, there you go, she’s fine.” He turned his attention to Angel, Max, and Jasper. “Now come on, do me a solid. I need to speak with Abbie, if I can.”

Max merely shook his head while Jasper muttered, “Fuck no. I look like a better option if you remain a fuck up. To the victor go the spoils and all that.”

Max slid a narrowed glance at his flat mate. “Jas, for once, give it a rest. He’s clearly already shattered.” Max turned his attention back to Lex. “Look, no can do. Sophie will kill me, and honestly Abbie looks like she needs a break. Maybe when she’s more settled.”

Lex scrubbed his face with his hands. How the hell was he going to fix this, if he couldn’t even talk to her?

Chapter 31

“Lex, I’m so sorry. I didn’t intend for this to happen.”

Lex shifted uncomfortably on the park bench. When Gemma had told him to meet her in Hyde Park, he’d been a little dubious, considering Jacinda and her penchant for calling paparazzi. “Gem, I know it’s not your fault. You wouldn’t have ever done something like this. You’re not responsible for her actions.”

“But you got hurt because I couldn’t be an adult and accept some things about who I am, so I feel terrible.”

He shook his head. “Still not your fault. She retaliated and that was uncalled for. Especially the way she did it.” He shoved his hands into his pockets to ward off some of the cold. “Look, I’m not telling you who to be with, but you should be with someone who doesn’t try to manipulate you into the outcome they want.”

She rubbed her nose. “Yeah, I know.”

“You’re far too smart for that and deserve better.”

“You know, you’re probably the safest, healthiest relationship I’ve ever had.”

Laughter bubbled up from his chest. “Then aren’t we a pair, because we are royally fucked up. This whole thing is fucked up.” He shook his head. “I thought I was doing you this favor, but I probably did more damage in the long run. As for me, I was just hiding from a real relationship. I’m as fucked up as Xander is with his string of women.”

She wrinkled her nose. “You’re nothing like Xander.”

A cold fist of ice wrapped around his gut. After the hell they’d gone through as kids, neither one of them had ever learned to fully trust anyone. And God knew how fucked up their love lives were. What would she think if she realized he was more like Xander than he could ever admit? Worse, what would Abbie say? “He’s my brother. He’s part of me and vice versa.”

“I wish you wouldn’t say that. You go through life separate from people and you’re secretive. You act like no one could ever love you, and I just hope you find someone who can, because you deserve it.”

He swallowed around the lump in his throat.
I want Abbie
. Yeah, well, no amount of wanting her was going to make her manifest in front of him. His only chance at a real human connection in the last five years, and he’d fucked it up. “Maybe one day.”

“I still think you should let me talk to her.”

“No dice, Gemma. It was my fuck up. You don’t have to clean up my mess for me.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You mean, like you’ve been cleaning up my messes for me? Without you, I might not have survived the last five years, and I’m well aware of it. You’ve been my rock, and you’ve kept me sane and made me feel loved. It’s the least I can do.”

“And I said no.”

She pursed her lips and turned to face the lawn. He knew that look, she was stewing. But let her stew. Abbie wanted to be left alone; he wouldn’t have his life intrude on hers. He cleared his throat. “So I guess we should officially do this then.”