‘We make sense.’
‘Good girl. Sit up so I can bathe you.’ He drops my lips, leaving me feeling deserted, and pushes me forward in front of him. ‘We’ll have breakfast with your family, then I’m taking you home. Deal?’
‘Deal.’ I agree. I can’t wait to go home but I absolutely can wait to go downstairs and face Kate and Dan. Stupid, stupid Kate. I’m not even going to try and work out what the hell she’s thinking, and I suspect she doesn’t even know herself. Will she even remember? She was pretty pissed. And Sam. I inwardly groan. How am I going to face Sam knowing this?
‘What are you thinking about?’ Jesse asks, pulling me back to the here and now.
‘Kate.’ I answer immediately. ‘I’m thinking about Kate and Sam.’
‘I’ve told you A…’
‘Don’t tell me it’s none of my business, Jesse.’ I cut him off completely. ‘She’s my best friend. I feel like I’m watching a car crash in slow motion. I need to stop it.’
‘No, you need to mind your own business, Ava.’ he scorns me harshly. ‘You’re done.’ He places the sponge on the edge of the bath and rises behind me, stepping out and grabbing a towel. ‘Wash your hair.’ He rubs himself down and wraps the towel around his waist. ‘Maybe you could show as much concern for a little detail in our relationship that needs addressing.’ He drills holes into me with an expectant look, and I immediately forget all issues relating to Sam and Kate, but I don’t embrace his new-found talent for talking. Instead, I slide down the bath and immerse myself in the bubbly water. I’m still not ready, and I notice that his new talking ability is only used on subjects of his choice.
I’m not looking at him, but I know he’s just rolled his eyes. He can roll his eyes all he likes. I’m dealing with this in my own way. And that way is to wedge my head as far underground as I can get it.
* * *
We walk into restaurant of The Manor hand in hand and are immediately greeted by loud clapping and cheering. The first things I notice, apart from the noise, is Kate’s obvious hangover, and across the room, Dan’s glacial glare, pointed right at Jesse.
My husband either notices neither or ignores them both, because he scoops me right up and strides through the tables, places me neatly on a chair opposite my mum and dad, then takes one up next to me.
‘Darling!’ My mum’s excited shriek hammers at my ears. ‘What a wonderful day it was, despite a certain difficult man.’ She glares across the table at Jesse.
‘Good morning, Elizabeth.’ Jesse beams at my mum, and she rolls her eyes, but I can tell she’s restraining a fond smile. ‘How are you, Joseph?’
My dad nods while carving through a sausage. ‘Very well. Did you two enjoy your day?’
‘We did, thank you. Are you being looked after?’ Jesse casts his eyes around the restaurant, obviously checking that the staff is seeing to the remaining guests.
‘Too well.’ Dad laughs. ‘We’ll be hitting the road after breakfast, so I’ll take this opportunity to thank you for your hospitality. It really was a special day.’
I smile at my dad and his graciousness, his manners never failing him. I’m glad they enjoyed themselves. ‘Is Dan going back with you?’ I ask, trying to sound casual.
‘Oh no, has he not told you?’ mum asks.
Jesse butters some toast and takes my hand, placing the bread in my grasp and nodding at it, his silent instruction to eat. ‘Told me what.’ I ask before wrapping my lips around the edge.
‘He’s staying in London for a while.’ Mum starts cutting the fat off my dad’s bacon, and I cough.
‘He’s what?’
‘Staying in London, darling.’
I swing my eyes across the room to where Dan is sitting with aunty Angela, but clearly not listening to her babbling. No, his full attention is on Kate. ‘Why?’ I ask. ‘I thought he has the surf school to expand.’ This is bad news. I drop my toast on my plate and Jesse immediately picks it up and puts it back in my hand.
‘He says there’s no rush, and I’m not complaining.’ Mum accepts a coffee from Pete, and then he places one in front of me, too.
‘No chocolate and no sugar,’ he confirms.
I look up at him and smile fondly. ‘Thank you, Pete’ I place my toact back on my plate and Jesse immediately picks it up again.
‘Eat.’ He thrusts it in my hand.
‘I don’t want the fucking toast!’ I spit harshly, halting all chopping and sipping at our table.
‘Ava. Mouth!’ Jesse recoils, and I can feel my mum and dad’s shocked stares from across the table. I’m shocked myself, but I don’t need him trying to force feed me, and I most definitely don’t need Dan hanging around and complicating an already complicated situation. What is he playing at? I’m not naive enough to think that his dislike of Jesse and concern for me is his reason for staying.
I ignore Jesse’s incredulous stare and my parent’s dumbstruck faces, and get up from the table.
‘Where are you going?’ Jesse stands with me. ‘Ava, sit down.’ His tone is warning, even in front of my parents, but I should know by now that he couldn’t give a flying fuck where he is and who is present. He’ll be mad at me or ravish me wherever and whenever he likes. My parents aren’t going to stop him.
‘Sit down and eat your breakfast, Jesse.’ I go to pass him, but his hand flies out and grasps my wrist.
‘Excuse me?’ He laughs.
I look him straight in the eye. ‘I said, sit down and eat your breakfast.’
‘Yes, I thought you did.’ He pulls me back down onto my chair and places my toast in my hand, then leans into me, pressing his mouth to my ear. ‘Ava, this isn’t the time or the place for you to start throwing your weight around. And have a little respect in front of your parents.’ His hand moves to my knee and strokes up the inside of my bare thigh. ‘I like this dress.’ he whispers.
I smile sweetly at my parents across the table, who have resumed eating their breakfast. He has nerve. Have some respect for my parents? My teeth clench when he brushes the seam of my knickers and blows in my ear. He was losing the battle, so he saturates me with his touch to regain the power. Damn him. I squeeze my thighs together and pick up my coffee with shaking hands while he continues to wreak havoc on me with his hot breath in my ear, and my parents continue happily with their breakfast. They’ve spent time with us, and they have fast become used to Jesse’s craving for constant contact.
He pulls away and hits me with a smug, satisfied stare. Yes, he’s won now, but only because he’s absolutely right. This really isn’t the time or the place, especially with my mum and dad here. I know Jesse won’t be all that delighted by the news my mum has just disclosed, either.
‘Jesse is right, Ava.’ Dad pipes up, completely shocking me. ‘You should watch your language.’
‘Yes,’ My mum agrees quickly. ‘It’s not very ladylike.’
I don’t have to look at my husband to know his smugness has just expanded ‘Thank you, Joseph,’ His knee knocks mine under the table, and I knock him right back.
‘So when are you two honeymooning?’ Mum smiles across the table at us.
‘When my wife says so.’ Jesse replies dryly, eyeing my toast. ‘When will that be, lady?’
I nibble a corner of toast and shrug. ‘When I have time. I’ve got a lot to sort out at work. My husband knows that.’ I turn accusing eyes on him, and he grins at me. ‘What are you grinning at?’ I ask.
‘You.’
‘What about me?’
‘Everything about you. Your beauty, your spirit, your need to drive me insanely crazy.’ He reaches over and straightens my diamond. ‘And the fact you’re mine.’
I see my mother is my peripheral vision swaying with giddiness at my challenging man and his open need to drown me in his adoration. ‘Oh, Joseph.’ she croons. ‘Do you remember being that much in love?
‘No, I don’t.’ Dad laughs. ‘Come on, I want to get on the road.’ He brushes his mouth with his napkin and stands.