Thirteen (Love by Numbers Book 4) (9 page)

I blink rapidly, relieved I didn’t choose that option. “I haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about.”

“Or the strip joint on the high street?”

I shake my head quickly, “No, I’ve never been there before. I didn’t even know there is a strip joint in town.” I lie unconvincingly.

“Naked massage?”

Who the fuck is this girl and how is she in my brain?

“Now, you’re clutching at straws. Just buckle up and get ready for a wild ride.”

I slam her door and walk around to the driver’s side. Before I’ve even grabbed my seatbelt, I can hear her murmur, “I’d have a wilder ride on a Shetland Pony than I would in this little go-kart.”

So I mumble back, loud enough for her to hear, “Don’t fucking bet on it, Bunny Girl.”

Then I rev the fuck out of the three-cylinder engine, causing the car to whirr like a battery powered whisk and I pull off with a squealing wheel spin into the light traffic. I sound like a boy racer on helium but the action makes her laugh, and I don’t care if it’s at me, because I can’t help but laugh too.

“It’s almost as meaty as my Clarabelle.” She chuckles, depositing her large, brightly coloured handbag into the back seat of the car.

“Clarabelle?”

“My baby.”

“You have a baby?”

She giggles loudly, “Yes, you’ve already met her. She was dressed head to toe in red and almost made you pee your pants.”

Clarity registers and I look over at her dumbfounded.

“You call a beast like that, Clarabelle?”

“She’s not a beast; she’s an independent, feisty, woman with curves that make grown men drool, including you.”

“Still, Clarabelle? Couldn’t you call her something sinful like Jezebel? Clarabelle sounds like a cow.”

“That’s a bit sexist of you. Clarabelle was my Grandmother’s name.”

Foot in mouth. In fact, I’ve wedged my foot so far into my mouth that my toes are tickling my intestines.

“S-sorry. That was rude…”

She breaks into peals of laughter, the words, “Oh, God. You’re so easy to wind up. My Granny is called Rachel,” come out in between each chuckle.

Relief floods me, but I cover it with the expected huff of annoyance, “You’re insufferable.”

She smiles broadly, making deep dimples pop out on her cheeks.

How can dimples be so sexy? Because, on her, they are.
So
fucking sexy
.

I clear my voice, attempting not to show how heated my blood feels. “So, are you ready to meet a superstar?”

Her grin deepens, and she tucks a few strand of hair behind her ear. “Are you taking me to see a championship racehorse?”

“Nope. Although, he thinks he’s a bit of a stallion.”

“A Crufts winning dog?”

“No, although he’s a reformed dirty dog.”

“Well, then, I’m all out of guesses. Take me to this superstar so I can worship at his feet.”

I give her a smirk, “He’d like that, so please restrain yourself should you get the urge.”

“Do I get a clue?”

“Nope. Superstar is clue enough.”

“Fair enough, take me to your superstar. I still don’t see how this is a payback date, though.” She wrinkles her nose in confusion.

“You’ll see,” I say, smiling smugly over at my unsuspecting victim who is about to meet the most drooled over man on the planet.

W
e pass the rest of the short journey discussing random things, from music to movies. I find out she’s a huge
Fast and the Furious
and
Son’s of Anarchy
fan, just like me. She also likes indie rock and has a soft spot for
The Stone Roses.
Could this girl be any more perfect?

As we drive towards Jake and Em’s place, and the houses start to become more and more like mini mansions, her eyes widen, and I get the feeling she’s starting to take what I said a little more seriously.

We pull into their street, and I swear I hear her gasp at the wealth that surrounds us.

“You weren’t shitting me were you? Someone famous lives here.”

My grin is my only reply, and I glance from the road to her a few times and watch as she gets more and more nervous.

I turn left towards Jake’s long driveway and stop at the recently installed security gates to press the buzzer. Since his fame has skyrocketed and then baby CJ came along, Jake is taking the safety of his family very seriously.

“Wow.”

I turn to look over at Lilah and watch as her gaze rakes over the magnificent house in front of us.

“It’s like an episode of
Through the Keyhole
or
MTV Cribs.”

I let out a chuckle and hit the intercom; seconds later the gates swing open, and I drive down the gravel driveway, swinging the Banana Mobile around to park outside the huge quadruple garage.

Once I’ve shut off the engine and unbuckled my seatbelt, I take another glance at Lilah and see she’s gone a little pale.

This is the reaction I was looking for on our payback date, but the glory of getting one over on her falls flat, and I just want to reassure her that there’s nothing to be worried about.

I reach over and grab her slightly shaky hand. “Hey,” I call softly to get her attention which is riveted to the double front door, “These are good people, in fact, they’re the best and my best friends. You have nothing to worry about they will love you.”

She makes eye contact with me and nods once.

I tug her hand lightly, “C’mon, Bunny Girl. Let’s go and meet J and Em.”

“
Fuck!
Did you just say,
Eminem?
I thought he lived in The States?”

If it’s possible, her face goes even paler. “No,” I speak slowly and clearly, “I said
J and Em.
C’mon, gangster rap fan, let’s go and eat before Jake scarfs down all of Em’s awesome cooking.”

I release her hand, exit the car and walk around to let her out. Nobody can accuse me of not being a gentleman.

I offer her my hand, and she hesitates for a brief second, before placing her slightly sweaty palm in mine.

I notice her movements are clunky as she gets out but put that down to nerves affecting her balance. She stands next to me, an awestruck look on her face and I have to fight the urge to kiss her if only to shake her out of her nerves. No, it’s more than that. I want to kiss her for my own selfish reasons.

“Let’s go. I’m serious about missing out on the grub if we don’t get a move on.”

I lace my fingers through hers and drag her towards the house, meeting a little resistance at first, before she manages to get her feet to move in a forward direction.

I don’t bother with the front door, instead, I drag her around the side of the house, aiming for the side door, or servant’s entrance as Jake calls it every time I use it.

Sure enough, I push down the handle and enter the massive utility room that leads into their opulent kitchen and no sooner than my feet hit the threshold, Jake hollers out from a few feet away but just out of sight. “H, is that you?”

I call back, “Who else would be using the servant’s entrance seeing as you don’t actually have servants?”

I try and tug Lilah forward but she’s glued to the spot, so I turn around and, lower my voice and whisper, “Hey, it’s cool. I’ve told you; they’ll love you.”

She mutters under her breath, “I don’t even know who they are.”

“Well, Bunny Girl, you’re just about to find out.”

“Grab a bottle of wine on your way through and bring it out to the patio,” Jake calls again, this time from a bit further away.

I manage to get Lilah moving again, even if it is only short, tentative steps. That is until we hit the kitchen. The massive, you could fit a small house inside, kitchen.

I let go of her hand to walk over to the impressively sized wine fridge, grabbing the first bottle my hand comes into contact with, and not bothering to read the label. When I turn back to Lilah, she’s gawking. Full, open-mouthed, goggle-eyed, gaping.

I can’t help but chuckle; I’m sure that was my reaction the first time I came here too.

I walk towards her and gently use my index finger to close her jaw. Her eyes flick to mine, and she shakes herself out of it, and I can’t help but grin. “You ain’t seen nothing yet. Puts your scary bikers to shame, hey?”

Then I chuckle and lead her through the kitchen, out into the central hallway and towards the open French doors.

Jake has his back towards us and is cooking on the biggest effing barbeque I’ve ever seen, and Emma is playing with CJ on a large plaid blanket that’s been spread out in the shade. She spots us immediately, her eyes flicking from me to Lilah and back again before a welcoming smile hits her face and a twinkle lights her eyes.

She scoops up CJ in her arms, calling out, “Hey, you made it,” then making CJ wave when she tells him, “Come and see your Uncle H.”

She promptly deposits CJ in my arms, then leans up to kiss my cheek, quickly turning to Lilah and embracing her in a hug.

“Hi, I’m Emma, it’s lovely to meet you…?”

“Lilah.” Bunny Girl speaks shyly.

“Lilah, such a beautiful name. Short for Delilah, right?”

Lilah smiles, her nerves easing a little. “Yes, my Dad is a
Tom Jones
fan, so I got lumbered with this name while my sister Nicola was named by my mum.”

“It’s a cool name. Your Dad has good taste.”

Emma’s smile is warm and genuine, and I can feel Lilah’s rigid stance loosen a little. That is until Jake realises we’ve arrived and turns away from the grill.

“H, Bro. Did you get that…” His question trails off when he notices I’m not alone.

“Oh, Hi. I’m sorry,” he looks over at me and raises his eyebrows subtly, “H didn’t tell us he was bringing anyone.”

He wipes his hands on the frilly pink apron that’s tied around his waist and walks towards us, extending a hand out towards Lilah.

“I’m Jake; it’s nice to meet you.”

He gives her his trademark, knicker melting smile that has graced more magazine covers than I’ve had hot dinners.

I roll my eyes and whisper into CJ’s ear, “Once a manwhore, always a manwhore.” To which Jake grumbles, “Hey, I heard that. Don’t tell my son shit like that.”

I laugh and look over at Lilah.

She’s completely mute, the same goggle-eyed look on her face as she had in the kitchen but multiplied by a thousand.

Jake’s hand hovers in the air between them, and he looks over at me, unsure about what the hell is going on.

I catch Emma’s face in my periphery as she shakes her head at me.

“You didn’t tell her, did you?”

All I do is grin back.

Yes, this payback date is a roaring success.

Lilah 1 – Harry – 1

Bring on round three.

J
ake effing Fox.

Jake ‘Cole Creed’ Fox.

Jake ‘holding his hand out to me and close enough to lick’ Fox.

Bugger.
Would it be wrong to kiss his hand seeing as I’m on a date?