Truth of Touch (Templer Series 2) (4 page)

Jake slams his body against the hard coolness of his suite door. He scrapes a hand slowly down his face and sighs deeply.
He feels a weird heaviness in his chest. The smell of sex….of her…..surrounds his nostrils. He drags himself across the room and heads towards the shower.
She’s right……we don’t do relationships…….so why do I feel so crap?
He decides not to shower…..wanting the smell of her, the taste of her to last just a little bit longer.

Chapter Six

Something is badly wrong. I know Tilly, maybe even better than I know myself, and I know she would never send that text.

I lied. I don’t love you. It’s over.

Tilly had to leave early the morning following the Hotel opening to attend a breakfast meeting. She’s an event planner for a number of charities, and like me, needs all the commissions she can get. So instead she is missing breakfast with Drew, Jake, Ambe
r and I.

I am trying to make light conversation, hoping that Drew and Amber will not notice the tension between myself and Jake. We should never have slept together again, but hopefully, after we leave here today, we can return to normal…..well, until Drew received that text from Tilly. And I know something is badly wrong. I’ve never seen Tilly so happy, so in love. This text doesn’t make any sense. And now Drew is distraught, Jake is spitting venom at me and Amber is staring at me with wide eyes, hurting for her brother.

***

I try calling Tilly’s phone but it is switched off. The others have stormed off heading back to Cornwall. I need to find out what the fuck is going on. Something is badly wrong. I can sense it and I’m scared but no-one will believe me.
I spend the next few hours constantly ringing her phone but there is still no answer. I ring her family but no answers. I try to ring Jake but he won’t listen to reason. Drew is drinking himself into oblivion back at Mawgan Porth. He has also rung her phone constantly. The chauffeur, Thomson, has had a constant watch on Tilly’s cottage but she is nowhere to be seen. Now I’m freaking out. This is not Tilly. This is the kind of crazy shit that I would pull, but not her.

I call Jake again….He must listen to me. Something is badly wrong.

“Please, Jake……something is really wrong……I’m scared. This is not Tilly. She adores Drew, you know she does……Please, Jake. Something is wrong” My voice breaks with tension, needing someone to believe me.

“Ok…..I believe you…..you’re right. This is not Tilly
. If we don’t hear anything by morning, we’ll contact the Police, ok?” Jake lets out a deep sigh.

“I’m coming down there. I’m getting a flight first thing.” I sob out each word, already booking a flight on my laptop. I was going to Cornwall whether Drew and Jake believed me or not. Thankfully, he now did.

“I’ll get Thomson to pick you up. Text me the flight details. And Mia? You will stay here at Drew’s house”

***

24 Hours Later

The time has passed like a whirl wind. But it has also dragged like a snail through treacle. If that is even possible. Drew is a mess. He hasn’t slept or eaten, constantly pacing between rooms. I am trying to keep it together….for Tilly. She is now officially missing.

Jake has taken control. He has been in constant contact with the Police and Tilly’s family. And on occasion, he has patted my arm or given me reassuring words. It is an agonising waiting game.

The day Tilly went missing should have been her wedding day to Simon. Both the Detective in charge of the Missing Case and I believe this is significant. The Met Police are waiting to speak to Simon. Maybe he knows something.

***

“Hey…..come on, hold it together. We’ll find her.” Jake clasps a hand over mine. It feels warm, and safe.

“I hope so……oh, Jake” I feel myself start to crumble, my lips trembling, trying to fight another round of tears.

As a sob reaches my throat, he folds strong arms around me, holding me tight. He strokes my hair, letting me break around him. A knock at the door jerks us both apart as we all rush to answer. It is a young Constable, looking stern. I can feel my legs weaken, my chest tightening, restricting my breathing.

“Mia Fox?”

“Yes, that’s me! Oh
God, what’s happened?” I push forward in front of Drew and Jake.

“Ma’am, we have heard back from the Met. Miss Teague’s ex fiancé….” He checks his notes on a pad before continuing. “Simon Clifford? He appears to be missing also. He has not been at work for the last two days and there is no response from his apartment.”

I’m trying to take in this information but the clogs of my brain are straining with exhaustion and stress. “What - what are you saying……?”
She can’t be with him……

“We followed up the address of the Charity that you informed us Miss Teague was visiting yesterday morning. It doesn’t exist…just a bogus website. The office suite appears to have been rented by Simon Clifford three days previously. We have also now received reports of witnesses recording seeing a distressed lady seemingly being forced into a car outside of the same office block.”

Drew can feel the blood draining from his face.
The cunt has got her….the cunt has got her….
He catches Jake’s look and he knows he is thinking the same thought.

Realisation dawns on me
too but before I can utter a word or even a scream, blackness falls….

***

Another 24 Hours

“I’m trying to think! Stop screaming at me…..think, Mia, think!”
I’m banging my hand in frustration against my forehead.

Drew and Jake are sat on their haunches in front of
my chair. Occasionally, Jake strokes my face reassuringly, willing me to remember anything that will help find where Simon may have taken Tilly. Drew thrusts himself up into a standing position, his hands running through his hair.

“Please, Mia…..anything…..anywhere he would take her” Drew knows his constant pushing
me is not helping but he’s holding on to the cliff by his fingernails. His head is pounding with the stress of thinking what the woman he loves might be enduring.

A scream breaks through
from my mouth. “Oh my God! Honeymoon! HONEYMOON!”

Drew and Jake are frozen in puzzlement.

“He was taking her to Scotland to a secluded Lodge….they….they would have been there now…..on their honeymoon…..maybe…..maybe…” My mind is working too fast, each word spilling out.

“Where, Mia? Think!” Drew has grab
s me by the arms, gently shaking me. “Where in Scotland?”

“Craig…something….the Lodge was called Craig something….near Edinburgh…..Fuck, Craigmere!….Yes, Craigmere!” Tears of relief, stress, exhaustion streaming from
my eyes.

Suddenly, Drew is grabbing his phone and wallet. “Mia, ring the
Police….tell them everything you remember about this Lodge. I’m going there. Jake, ring ahead….get the Jet ready” And with that he fires out of the door. Jake is tearing after him, his phone clamped to his ear, barking orders down the line.

“Drew, I’m coming with you!”
Jake launches himself at the car.

***

Simon is pacing the Lodge, ranting and pulling his hands through his hair. Tilly can see his anger building. She doesn’t know what is the best thing to do or say. She is sat huddled on the sofa, her anxiety growing by the minute.
Should I lie and tell him I love him….will he release me then……maybe he will try to force himself on me…….
She can barely move. Every slight movement of her restrained wrists causes the raw skin to rub more and the bleeding to start again. Tears prick at her eyes. She knows she must not aggravate the situation further.

Sirens….
She can hear sirens in the distance. But she is so hungry and exhausted her mind is playing cruel tricks on her. But then, the shriek of the noise gets louder.
It is sirens….they are getting closer….please be for me….please

The screech of tyres outside snaps
her into reality. Simon lunges at her and throws her against the wall beside the window, pinning her across her mouth with his hand. “Stay fucking quiet, bitch!” He spits at her.

A booming knock at the door, followed by Police shouting causes
her heart to leap in her chest. She kicks out at Simon with all her force. Suddenly, a voice…..Drew!

“Kick the fucking door in….what are you waiting for!” Drew screams in frustration. Jake is pulling him back, letting the Officers do their job.

Tilly bites hard with all her might at the hand across her mouth. It springs away and she screams “DREW! DREW!” as pain sears across the side of her head and darkness descends upon her.

***

Three Days Later

I’m standing outside on the veranda overlooking the beach at Mawgan Porth. Tilly has been back for three days now and is recovering slowly. We have all spent hours, each taking turns, watching over her, nursing her and grateful that she is safe once again. I don’t think Drew will ever let her out of his sight again. They are more in love than ever.

And I don’t think I have ever been so scared. A shudder shakes me to the core, and once again, I feel myself welling up with tears.

I turn to make my way back into the house. I’m returning to London today. I don’t want to go but I have one
final photo shoot commitment. And I have a photography commission next week at the very Hotel that Templer Industries opened last week…..

Jake is leaning on the door frame watching me as I turn to head indoors. He has been a rock. I can’t deny it. I feel a pang, a pull in my heart, which I must ignore as our eyes connect.

“Hey. You ok?” He throws me a shy lop-sided smile.

“I will be. Jake, I’ve never said thanks properly…..you know…..for everything” I lean in towards him, squeezing him lightly in my arms.

I make to pull away, but he holds me in tighter, stroking a hand down through my hair. I can feel his warmth enveloping me, his solid chest pressed hard against me. I feel so safe in his arms. But I know we can’t do this….I can’t do this

I lift my face to his. “Jake, we…..I got to go…..”

He answers me with his mouth reaching and finding mine, brushing slightly, tenderly. My lips part and let in his warmth, our tongues gently stroking each other. He nibbles my bottom lip, soft bites causing me to melt further into him. My hands reach up to pull the nape of his neck down further towards me.
His taste, his smell is intoxicating…..

***

A cough from behind us breaks the moment and we spring apart. Thomson the chauffeur is shuffling from one foot to the other, trying to avoid eye contact.

“Um, Miss Fox…..we need to leave soon if you are to make your flight”

“Yes….of course. I’m ready” I throw a glance at Jake, noticing him running a hand through his hair. He looks awkward and frustrated. “I’ve got to go, Jake.”

“Mia……wait!” I hear him call after me as I dash out of the door. I glance through the car window as we pull away, looking at Jake standing barefoot on the front lawn, both hands on the top of his head. I turn my face away.

Oh, Jake, you’ll hurt me…..and I’ll hurt you………two players colliding…..

And that is why I must never see you again.

Chapter Seven

Jake is restless. He badly needs to let his hair down. Chill for a couple of days. Now that Tilly is safe and Drew has relaxed his 24/7 watch over her, Jake can let his life return to normal. Well, almost….if he could only get that fucking woman out of his head.
Let’s not get messy with our heads she had said….well, too late

What he needs is to have a blow-out, some time with the guys….maybe get some pussy. Fresh pussy will take his mind off Mia.
Fuck…..the taste of her….the feel of her…

He
had told Drew he was heading up to the new Hotel complex in Shoreditch for a couple of nights when he called in at Mawgan Porth last night. And now he was in the Jet heading out of Cornwall. A night in the new Hotel and then a night at the new Sex Club he’d heard rumours about in Surrey should eradicate her completely.
I need this……

***

I’m finally going to be shooting other models. Ok, so it is only one commission but if I do this well then surely other commissions will follow. And when I saw the hot new male model in the brief that I’ll be photographing today, well, that makes the job a whole lot of fun. And I’m getting a silly shit load of money for the pleasure.

The location is not ideal. I was hoping to never see this Hotel again. It only holds memories for me. Sleeping with Jake (incredible but a huge mistake) and Tilly going missing (don’t even go there).

***

“Hey, isn’t that Mia Fox….the
Supermodel
?” Tony’s eyes are wide, peering around the wide curve of the leather chair in the bar of the Hotel. “She’s so fucking hot!”

Jake heart drops hard in his chest. He doesn’t want to look but he can’t seem to stop his eyes searching in the direction of Tony’s gaze. This was supposed to be a lads night out…..
to forget her…..and now, she is walking through the Lobby
. He ducks his head, holding it tight against the wing of the chair. “Don’t know, didn’t see anyone”