Truth of Touch (Templer Series 2) (6 page)

“Too much information! You’re getting me jealous!” I mock pout at her.

“You! Jealous! You have men falling at your feet! I bet you had sex in the last couple of days! Probably with some hot male model” She raises an eyebrow.

“Actually……she hasn’t! No-one compares to J……” Jonny blurts out excitedly.

“SHUT UP JONNY!” I growl at him, eyes wide in panic. “Go back to sleep….or you’ll be sent home!”

Tilly sits bolt upright, ignoring that her bare breasts are exposed. “There
is
gossip! I know there is…..spill, Mia Fox!”

I turn my head away, sighing into the pillow. “There is nothing to tell. And your tits are on display by the way”

***

The house is lit up like a Christmas tree by the time we pull up outside the house. Ok, maybe I went a little over the top with the brief for the decorators. Tilly throws me a puzzled look. I shrug it off, nudging Jonny hard in the ribcage as I can feel him ready to implode with excitement. He throws me a scowl, and I
return with a
Supermodel
kiss. Works every time. There is a heady thumping beat of music resonating from the house. For a moment, Tilly seems anxious.

“I don’t understand. I thought we were going to dinner?” She searches my face…..as if I would know what is happening.

“Search me. Let’s get inside.” I pull her towards the door
halting any further inquisition.

***

“SURPRISE!” Echoes of laughter and heightened excitement radiate from the crowd of familiar faces as we enter the house. Drew is stood, quietly smiling, looking tall and very handsome, and slowly parts a path through the throng of people towards Tilly. He pulls her into his arms, stroking a finger down her shocked face.

“I don’t understand, Drew. Are we having a party…..not going to dinner?” She peeks at him shyly, aware of the attention focussed on her.

“Well…..yes, it’s a party. Just for you.” Drew bends to plant a chaste kiss on her lips, the crowds sighing and awing in the moment. I feel a lump of emotion building tight in my throat. I reach out and squeeze hard on Jonny’s hand.

“For me? Why?” She still seeks assurance, puzzled by the attention.

“Well…….can we kill the music, please?” Drew nods to the DJ. “Because of this….” Bending his body gracefully, he plumps down onto one knee. Tilly clasps a hand over her mouth, her eyes darting from my face and back to her lover, now reaching out to take her hand. A small red box is balanced on the palm of his other hand.

***

I’m so caught in the moment, gentle small sobs of emotion catching in each breath, I’m not aware of an arm slowly reaching around my waist.
Dear Jonny, sweet Jonny…..

“Tilly Teague…I love you with every breath I take. I can’t imagine another day unless it is by your side, waking up with you every morning, and falling asleep with you every night. You took my heart the day I met you and you will hold it until I die. Will you marry me?” Drew manages to voice the words although his eyes are wet with emotion, his hand shaking in nerves.

I grip the arm holding me tight around the waist. Tears spring into my eyes, spilling onto my cheeks, my body trembling with emotion.

Amber is shrieking, jumping up and down on the spot.

Tilly falls to the floor, hugging Drew will all her heart. “Yes! I love you. Yes!”  I release a laugh as they embrace passionately oblivious to the masses of watching eyes, and cries of cheers.

***

I turn my head and body into the trunk of the person holding me, small weeps breaking through my trembling body. Suddenly, I’m aware of his scent….his feel…..this is not Jonny. Jake holds me tighter, lifting my teary face to his. He gently kisses my forehead.

“That will be you next, Mia Fox”

I shake myself from his grip, tears still stinging at my eyes. I defiantly front up to him. “No, it won’t” My lips trembling. “I won’t ever have that…..I can’t…….no happy ending for me……please, JAKE…..leave me alone…..” I gulp back another tear and run towards Tilly, clutching her tight. This is her moment.

***

Jake can feel the wrench in his heart as he watches her run away.
What the fuck did she mean? No happy ending?
And she did run. Not just from me, he suddenly realises.
She ran from her own vulnerability.
He can feel the tightness again in his chest. And just as suddenly, he knows he is no longer a
player
…..but a man……..needing to protect her

***

“Drew?” Tilly smoulders, batting her eyelashes at her new fiancé. The night is closing in….party people filtering out. Tilly is wrapped in Drew’s lap, savouring this moment, this night.

“Yes, baby. I know that look, Tilly Teague!” He throws a playful smile, before burrowing his face in the warmth of her neck, his favourite place, apart from
there
.

“You know what Mia mean
s to me. Yes?” Cute champagne infused slurry words.

“Huh, yeah. She’s number two on the list…..after me, right?” Drew playfully sends her a slightly drunken questioning smirk. She scuffs the back of his head, before planting
yet another kiss on his now swollen lips.

“Can you give her a photo commission? Please…….for me? It will make me really happy……and very grateful”

He raises an eyebrow, reaching a hand to cup her breast. Finding her nipple eagerly hard and sensitive to his touch, he lays his head back against the chair, a groan escaping from his throat, his cock twitching in need of her.

“How happy, baby?
” He moans.

“Very, very happy” As she unzips
him, freeing his hardening cock, bending forward to take him in her mouth.

Chapter Ten

The board room of Templer Industries
is not what you would expect to find in light of the knowledge that this century old family run organisation has risen to become the market leader in advanced 3D and 4D design technologies within the field of building and construction. There is no shiny topped veneer table surrounded by designer sprung chairs, with floor to ceiling glass walls and artificial lighting.

Instead, Drew and Jake are sat with colleagues around a hand crafted oak hexagon table built by the calloused hands of their great grandfather,
Samuel Templer. The leather chairs in which each of them is sat display the scuffs and scrapes and mouldings of many a hard working bottom to grace the seat. The room has the look and comforting smell of age.

The group of colleagues are reviewing the work schedules and project plans of current and forthcoming contracts
. One of the agenda items in today’s meeting is the risk assessment of a new contract to build the first and only Hotel complex on the Pitcairn Islands, Britain’s last remaining outpost in the Pacific Ocean. It will be an emotive build owing to the history of the local accommodation providers, who take visitors on a rota system, offering comfort and home cooked inclusion into their homes or rental of locally owned chalets. Drew, Jake and the team are fully aware that this opportunity must be handled with great sensitivity requiring the cooperation and backing of the local residents.

Jake is due to head a team of engineers to travel to the Islands next week to meet with the residents. Dave Bennett is especially excited to be part of the team going but for very different reasons.

***

“Mia Fox is going with us? I’ll volunteer to take her around the site….and anywhere else she wants me to take her!” He laughs through a sleazy smile.

Jake can feel the tension pulling at the muscles in his neck. He struggles to contain a scowl. “She’s there to take photographs, not to fucking entertain you!”

Drew sighs deeply. Dave Bennett may have been headhunted for his impressive resume but that didn’t mean he had to personally like the man. And he
doesn’t. He leans aggressively across to focus his direction in Dave’s sweaty face. “She is a talented photographer who also happens to be the best friend of my fiancé. I will
not
tolerate any undue attention or approaches made to her. Jake will be escorting her
if
she needs escorting anywhere. She is there on a commission to work, not as a piece of fucking eye candy for the engineers!”

“No harm in looking though….can’t blame a guy for that!” Dave retorts, embarrassment flushing his cheeks, wiping a chubby hand across his brow.

“Just fucking
drop
it, Dave!” Jake scowls at him, his shoulders tight in knots.
I’m going to have to watch this fucker……..

***

Excitement and anxiety filled me when I got the call from Drew. I’m sure Tilly had a hand in the decision to give me this commission but either way, I’m grateful and delighted. This is a serious piece of work working for an international organisation. I will be in the Pitcairn Islands photographing the proposed site of an exclusive development. It will require me to use my imagination to visualise a construction that is not there yet, and try to see how it will sympathetically fit into the landscape. This is not shooting hot male models!

“Thank you, Drew. I’m really grateful for this opportunity. But are you sure I’m up for the job? Wouldn’t you have preferred a technical photographer?”
I’m not trying to talk myself out of work, but I have to remain realistic. I don’t want to fuck this up.

“No, Mia…that’s exactly why I want you for the project. I think you will really care about what you are shooting, and the feelings of the people around you. I know you are anxious about taking this one, and it is that anxiety that I’m counting on
to get the best results. Do you understand?”

I did. “Yes, I get it, Drew. And thanks. I hope I won’t let you down”

Chapter Eleven

We are all exhausted and Jet lagged by the time we arrive on the Island. There is no airstrip so we have arrived after boarding a charter vessel at Mangavera in the Gambier Islands, some 330 miles away from Pitcairn. We have been travelling for nearly two days –
London to Papeete via Los Angeles, then Papeete to Mangavera –
and despite the luxury of First Class, we are all dead on our feet.

Due to the advance planning of this project, we have taken the residence of four chalets. I have my own, as does Jake, with the other four engineers sharing the remaining two. I am quite relieved to know that Dave Bennett is in the chalet farthest from mine. He hasn’t said anything to make me uncomfortable but I don’t like the way he leers at me with his eyes and a permanent smirk on his lips.

“Try to get some sleep. We’ll all meet up again in about two hours for something to eat. Are you ok with that?” Jake searches my exhausted face, a gentle hand resting on my shoulder.

“I’m cool with that. I don’t think I’ll have any problem sleeping!” I raise a weary smile.

“Me too. But we’ve got a lot to get through in the next couple of days before catching the MS Europa returning to Mangavera. I’m not looking forward to the return flight back so soon. When we hit Heathrow again, I think I’ll sleep for a week!”  He shakes his head, knowing the next few days are going to be tough going.

***

As my head hits the pillow, I’m out like a light. I did not have the energy to un-pack, instead, preferring to use up all of the allotted two hours cramming in as much sleep as I can. It feels like seconds since my eyelids gave way to unconsciousness when there is a loud knock on the door of my chalet.

“Mia? You awake? Dinner will be ready for us in about 20 minutes.”
It is the voice of the shy, youngest engineer of the team. I think his name is Alex.

“Hmmm” I mumble, groggily. “See you in 20”

I pull my achy body out of the cool sheets and slump across to the shower, letting luke warm water run soothingly down my body. It is too hot to have anything above hand hot temperature. I dress quickly in casual shorts and a vest top, and head out to meet the others, realising I am famished.

***

We dine on fresh caught fish and salad sharing a couple of bottles of crisp white wine. It is a pleasant evening, still very warm, but with a gentle cooling breeze. I take the opportunity to shoot some pictures of the chalets and surrounding area. A trio of local children are curious about why we are here, as they already know we are not typical tourists, so I also take pictures of Jake as he entertains them with stories that we are going to build a magic castle for the beautiful princess to live in.

“Is that her?” One of the children points a tiny finger in my direction, wide eyed in wonderment.

“Yes, that’s her. Isn’t she the most beautiful princess you have ever seen?” A huge smile spreads across Jake’s face. The other engineers laugh, shaking their heads at their boss.

“Yes!” Cries out the smallest boy. “But where is
her dress….and…..”

“Not all princesses wear dresses!” The lone girl in the trio says defiantly, tugging at the hem of her own shorts.

“Yes, they do!” The boy retorts, before all of them disappear back down the path, laughing and giggling excitedly. They have much news to tell their friends.