Wild Fire (The Fairy Tale Match Series) (23 page)

“I hope he doesn’t say anything to
Martha,” Laura said quietly to Jake. “She knows nothing about the problems with
the budget. I don’t want her to find out.”

“There isn’t much we can do about
that,” Jake replied, giving her a hug. “Blankton has a big mouth. I doubt you
can stop him from spilling the beans.”

Laura grimaced, gave him a quick kiss
and went back to Martha.

“Was there some kind of problem?”
Martha asked worriedly having seen the exchange with Blankton.

“Nothing we couldn’t handle,” Laura
told her evasively, getting back to work.

Finally everything was in place and
the barn raising spectacle began. Laura spotted Dan and Kerry in the crowd as
Jake addressed his ‘friends and neighbours’ and thanked them all for coming to
help him raise his barn. A cheer went up from the surrounding crowd. Four teams
of men stood at the front, each team picked to raise one side of the barn in a
friendly competition. The prize for the winning team was a large hamper, set
out on a table to the side.

The teams stood ready and as Jake
gave the signal, they took off, each side spurned on by supporters from the
crowd. Good natured teasing and much ribbing took place as the teams battled it
out to raise the sides. Before long, one of the teams had managed to complete
their task first and were pronounced the winners. The barn went up like a
dream, just as it was designed to. Everyone clapped and cheered with the
winning team taking several bows.

Laura and Martha began to uncover the
food as it was announced that the pot luck dinner was ready to be served.
Streams of people headed to both tables, with the larger crowd heading for
Blankton. Laura gritted her teeth, but kept on encouraging people to come and
try their food with a wide charming smile, trying to ignore Blankton’s smug
grin that he tossed in her direction.

As the dinner progressed, slowly the
tide began to turn. As people sampled Laura’s food, exclaiming over how good it
was, more and more people headed for their table. Before long, they had a huge
crowd clambering over the dishes. Many asked Martha about the location of her
diner, with promises to come in and try her menu. As the end of dinner drew up,
there wasn’t a single scrap of food left on their tables, in contrast to
Blankton, who had a number of dishes with plenty left over.

Laura felt very satisfied with the
event. It couldn’t have gone better. She felt slightly sorry for Rosalie, when
she caught sight of the woman receiving a tirade from Blankton, her cheeks
burning with embarrassment as she tried to defend herself. But considering the
woman had walked out on Martha and had been part of trying to shut her down,
she couldn’t help think that she had got her just rewards.

As late afternoon drew forwards, the
band struck up a lively tune. Soon people were beginning to dance to the music
and the noise of happy conversation filled the air. Laura tapped her foot in
time to the music and wondered where Jake had got to. She looked over the crowd
but couldn’t see his dark head anywhere. She caught a brief glimpse of Kerry
and Dan as they whirled around the dance floor. She smiled at the happy
expression on Kerry’s face, wishing she was out there with Jake.

She felt the presence of someone at
her side. Thinking it was Jake, she turned with a smile. Instead she was
surprised to see Henry Blankton with a sickening smile attached to his face.

“I must congratulate you on such a
popular spread. I didn’t realise what a talent you are my dear.” His small
piggy eyes roamed over her. Laura squirmed, wishing he’d go away.

“What do you want Mr Blankton?” she
asked abruptly.

“I think your talent is somewhat
wasted in that tiny diner of Martha’s. You could really spread your wings and
explore your craft, given the right place to work.” He smiled again, oozing
more oil than an oil slick.

“Let me guess; your place would be
the right place, is that it Mr Blankton?” Laura lifted an eyebrow in question.
She could hardly believe the audacity of the man.

His smile grew even oiler, a fact she
hadn’t thought possible. “It would make sense. Your talent, my money. We would
make an excellent team.”

“I’m not leaving Martha,” Laura
stated firmly.

“Oh come now my dear. Loyalty is all
well and good, but it doesn’t pay for life’s little luxuries now does it?” He
leaned in closer, his sour breath making her want to heave. “I am willing to
pay you double what Martha is paying you.”

Laura laughed. She couldn’t help it.
It just struck her funny that he wanted to pay her double of nothing.

He looked at her irritated. “Fine,
I’ll triple it, but I won’t go higher than that.”

Laura tried to pull herself together.
“Mr Blankton, it just so happens that double or triple what Martha pays me ends
up the same since she isn’t paying me at all.”

He looked shocked for several
moments. “Don’t be ridiculous. Nobody works for nothing.”

“She’ll pay me eventually,” Laura
conceded. “But only when her place is back on track. Which after today should
be really soon.”

Blankton didn’t look like he knew
what to say for once. He opened and closed his mouth several times, but no
words came out. “You must have a price you’d be willing to work for me.
Everyone has a price! Just name it.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t. There isn’t
an offer you could make me that would tempt me away from Martha’s diner. I am
truly happy there and that is something money can’t buy.” She almost felt sorry
for the poor man. He didn’t seem to know what to do with someone he couldn’t
buy. The thought had obviously never crossed his mind.

Finally, he patted her arm with a
muttered ‘if you change your mind’ and stomped off.

“That’s my Laura,” came Jakes voice
as he hugged her from behind, his warm breath tickling her ear. “Loyal and
trustworthy. Martha and I are both very lucky to have you.” He kissed her on
her cheek.

She smiled, turning round in his
arms. “I’m just as lucky to have you,” she whispered, kissing him gently on the
lips. He smiled, his eyes twinkling.

“Care to dance?” he asked. At her
delighted nod, he grabbed her hand, twirled her around and headed for the dance
floor. The band was playing a slow song. Laura settled into Jake’s arms,
enjoying the feel of his body so close to hers. She nestled her head into his
shoulder, sighing in deep contentment. This had been a day she would never
forget for as long as she lived.

The music flowed over her as her body
moved in perfect union with his. He kissed the top of her head, his loving
gesture making her heart swell. Laura began to wonder why she’d asked for time
before they took their commitment to the next level. She bit her lip, wondering
if she could persuade Jake to come to her room tonight or her to his. Her heart
tripped over at the thought, her body heating in anticipation. She was ready to
commit completely.

“Jake,” she said softly. “I’ve been
thinking. How would you feel about……” she broke off as she realised Jake wasn’t
listening to her. In fact his body had gone so stiff, she thought he might
snap.

Alarmed, she looked at his face. He’d
gone white as a sheet, looking for all the world like he’d just seen a ghost.
He was staring off into the crowd. Concerned, Laura gazed behind her to see an
incredibly beautiful woman gliding through the crowd. Her auburn hair was piled
on top of her head in cascades of curls that tumbled over her shoulder. Her
dress fit her figure like a second skin, outlining her large breasts and small
waist to perfection. Her skin glowed with a healthy tan, her golden eyes
flickered from side to side as she took in the male attention she was
receiving. A small half smile lit her lips, an imitation of the Mona Lisa if
ever Laura had seen one.

The woman obviously knew she
commanded the attention of every male eye that fell upon her. Her eyes slowly
scanned the crowd till they landed on Jake. She let her gaze flow over his
body, deliberately sexy and enticing. She sauntered up to him, her smile
widening.

“Hello Jake,” she said in a husky,
sexy voice. “Long time, no see.”

“Victoria, what the hell are you
doing here?” Jake looked floored. He ran his hand through his hair, blowing out
several shocked breaths.

Laura felt her heart miss several
beats, dread flowing through her veins. This was Victoria? Suddenly she felt
drab and unattractive in the face of this vibrant beauty. Her stomach rolled
over as sick dread filled her. What was this woman doing back here after two
long years? Laura had a horrible feeling she knew as she saw Victoria’s gaze
lock with Jakes.

“I’m here to see you of course,”
Victoria replied with a sultry smile. “It’s been too long. I’ve missed you.”
This last was said in a low suggestive tone. Laura gritted her teeth, trying to
fight the urge to slap the woman.

“Funny, for me it isn’t long enough,”
Jake’s tone was icy. Victoria didn’t seemed in the slightest bit phased by his
coldness.

“I understand you haven’t forgiven me
yet Jake,” her eyes glittered with unshed tears. Laura wondered if the woman
could cry on demand, the speed in which they came to her eyes. “That’s one of
the reasons I’ve come back. I want to work things out. Make a clean start. I’ve
had a lot of time to think these past two years. I know I made a lot of
mistakes, but I believe we can work past them. I was very confused at the time,
but not anymore. I know what we had was special. It’s worth salvaging, if we
can.”

“It’s a bit late for that don’t you
think?” Jake snarled, his whole body shook with rage. Laura placed her hand on
his arm to silently let him feel her support. Victoria noticed the gesture. For
the first time, she took note of Laura. Her golden eyes swept over her in a
dismissive fashion, narrowing in on her hand on Jake’s arm. She turned back to
Jake.

“Some things never change it seems,”
she purred. “You’re still making sure all the ladies have had a dance. It is so
sweet that you never leave a wall flower to go without being asked.” Laura
gasped at the snide remark. “You can let go of him now sugar. One dance doesn’t
give you ownership you know.”

“For your information Victoria, Laura
and I are together,” Jake said firmly, putting his arm around Laura’s shoulder
and pulling her closer. She took comfort in his warmth as Victoria’s eyes
narrowed to thin slits. She regarded Jake and Laura for a few moments then she
threw back her head and laughed.

“Oh Jake. That is priceless. You
don’t have to make out your seeing her to make me jealous. Although if you were
going to try, you should pick someone a little more……..well, attractive. I
already told you, I’m back to make things up to you. To sort out the past and
see about making a future for us.”

“Too bad,” Jake told her in a deadly
voice. “I’m not interested in anything you have to offer or say. I want you to
leave. You are not welcome here.”

“And that gives me all the answer I
need,” Victoria smiled softly, looking for all the world like he hadn’t just
told her to get out, but to move in. “If you didn’t still have strong feelings
for me, you wouldn’t want me to go.” She leaned in close, her perfume swirling
round them. “Isn’t that the reason you want me to leave; because you don’t
trust yourself around me?”

Jake gritted his teeth, his jaw
clenched in anger. He’d forgotten how damn manipulative she could be. No matter
what he ever said, she knew how to twist it round to suit her. He’d never been
able to win an argument with her in all the time they’d been together.

“You know damn well that isn’t the
case. Stop twisting everything like you always do.” He ran his hand through his
hair again in frustration.

Victoria laughed in delight. “It is
so good to know I still get under your skin. I was afraid we’d have no spark
after all this time, but it’s wonderful to see that’s not the case.”

Laura had had enough. She stepped in
front of Jake, her hands flying to her hips. “He’s already told you he’s not
interested. Why don’t you just leave?”

Victoria patted her arm in a
patronising way. “I’m not surprised you want me to leave. It can’t be nice for
you to have the woman Jake loves turn up again right when you thought you’d
bagged him for yourself. I would feel the same.” She gave an insincere
sympathetic smile.

“Laura has nothing to worry about,”
Jake growled at her. “She knows how things stand between us.”

“Does she indeed?” Victoria
questioned softly. “I wonder…..” She trailed off, her eyes issuing a challenge
to Jake. Laura’s gaze shot to his face. She didn’t like the way Victoria was
talking. As if there was something she knew that Laura didn’t. Jake avoided her
gaze, making her heart flutter in panic.

“What the hell is she doing here?”
Kerry flew up to them, her face a mask of fury. Dan trailed behind her, his
face white with shock.

“How lovely to see you again Kerry.”
Victoria ignored Kerry’s seething countenance. She turned to Dan. “And you of
course Dan. It’s been so long.”

“How dare you come back after
everything you did!” Kerry seethed. “What could possibly have made you turn up
here? You must know that you aren’t wanted. Why don’t you just turn around and
head back to whatever rock you crawled out from?”