Billionaire Stepbrother: Autumn(6)

Phoebe pulls me to her and gives me a big hug.

“It’ll be OK,” she hushes.

“No it won’t. I’ll have to see him again… one day.”

“Ah, but by that time you’ll be over him. You’ll have moved on; I’ll make sure of it.”

I don’t want to be over him, though…





Chapter Six



The music is so loud I can hardly hear what Phoebe is shouting, but with her overactive gestures and signalling, I get by.

“This place is awesome! Ooh, he’s nice!” Phoebe yells and uses the straw from her drink as a pointing device to single out a muscle–bound guy with his hair gelled back, wearing a white wife–beater shirt.

I wrinkle my nose and shake my head; too high maintenance, I think. He’d be the type to look in the mirror more than me.

Phoebe after hours (minutes) of convincing, made me promise we’d check out the hottest nightclub in London: Club Empire. And with my new name and connections, it had been a piece of cake to get us in the following Friday. She’s determined to make me forget about Lex; she’s made it her mission in life. I’m like her pet project.

“What about him?” she yelled, nodding towards a tall handsome specimen leaning against the bar.

I shrug noncommittally and attempt to hide a smile. Phoebe takes it as a positive sign and drags me towards her prey. I resist playfully, but she’s strong and pulls me along anyway. Might as well indulge her; you never know. It might be more fun to play tonsil–tennis than to wallow over what could’ve been.

We sidle up to the man, and I keep my eyes low and let Phoebe do all the work. God, why do I have to be so shy? It’s like Lex drained all the confidence out of me in four short weeks.

“Do you come here often?” Phoebe asks the guy, and I groan. She giggles and takes a sip of her fluorescent–pink drink.

He turns to us, looks us both over, and his green eyes flash, amused.

“Is that the best you can do?” he says, leaning down towards our ears so we can better hear him.

“Sadly,” she mock sighs, “it’s the best I can do, but my friend Aimee here can do a whole lot more if you let her,” Phoebe waggles her eyebrows and I want to look away. This is worse than worse, so bloody embarrassing.

He chuckles. “I’m Jake. You ladies look thirsty. What can I get you?”

“Oh nothing for me, thanks. I’ve just seen someone I know, erm over there… be right back,” Phoebe says. She trots off and gives me a not so subtle wink.

I shake my head as she leaves and turn back to look at Jake. What do I have to lose? He’s gorgeous, granted not someone I would’ve picked out for myself; he’s too much of a bad boy with his fake leather jacket and stubble to die for.

“What will it be then?” Jake asks, and I briefly look up at him, daring myself to make eye–contact.

“Jack and coke, please” I reply, barely audible.

“My type of gal,” he says smiling. Jake flags down the barman which allows me a chance to study his face. He has a strong side profile and a slightly misshapen nose – a bad boy who knows how to fight but has been hit a few times, too?

He catches me looking at him, and his mouth creases into a smirk. So cute in a knicker–wetting kind of way. The drinks arrive, and he hands me the glass. Our fingertips touch, and I’m surprised to feel a stirring within me. But as soon as I do, guilt envelopes me. I try to pull it together and tell myself it’s over with Lex, that I’m doing nothing wrong.

“Everything OK?” he asks with concern.

I nod. Enough with this. I take a long, slow mouthful from my drink and then place the glass on the bar. My hand reaches up to grasp Jake’s neck and pull him down to me. Our lips touch, and suddenly I want more. Jake responds and takes me around my waist, bringing me closer to him. His touch is different – the polar opposite of Lex. Softer. Kinder.

I relax into him, letting his tongue explore my mouth. After a few seconds I’m breathless; the club is hot and noisy, and I feel like I’m going to suffocate, but I keep kissing Jake and try to not to imagine that it’s Lex I truly want.

I hear my name and a gentle tug at my elbow. I shrug it off, losing myself in Jake’s arms and forgetting everything else.

“Aimee!” I hear more urgently.

I pull away from Jake’s kiss and feel his hot saliva trickling down the corner of my mouth. I wipe it away with the back of my hand.

“Aimee! He’s here,” Phoebe hisses into my ear.

I know automatically who she’s talking about, and I go cold, rigid in Jake’s arms.

I give Jake an apologetic look, smile and mouth the words, “I’ll be right back. Don’t you go anywhere.”