Chapter 34
34
I fell asleep quickly and easily in Jake’s arms and we dozed together until my phone alarm went off to remind us we needed to get ready for the end of conference dinner and party.
Jake snuck out of my room with a quick goodbye kiss without us having any time to talk. So, I had no idea if he would want to see me once we left New York. I got ready and tried not to think about it, but he was on my mind more than I cared to admit. I hadn’t really experienced thinking about someone quite this much. It was distracting.
I looked at myself in the mirror and realised I had forgotten to use mascara and then I put my dress on backwards before correcting myself. I kept wondering if I was on Jake’s mind too. How did you know if someone was feeling the same things that you were? It was mildly terrifying to suddenly want a man as much as I now wanted him. I had told Liv and Tessa I was being careful but every moment with Jake made that a hard promise to keep.
There was a knock on my door, drawing me out of my head. I went over to answer it and was rewarded with Jake standing there wearing another slick, black suit, and looking exactly like he was doing a James Bond audition later. ‘Shall we go to the dinner together? We are sitting at the same table so it won’t surprise anyone to walk in with one another, right?’ He gave me his charming smile and I was powerless to resist.
‘I suppose it would make sense,’ I replied, smiling back. ‘Let me put my shoes on,’ I said, walking back to the bed and sitting down. I knew everyone would be glammed up tonight so I’d brought a fancy outfit with me for the occasion: a silver dress with black shoes and matching bag. I had left my hair loose but added a sparkly hair clip on one side.
Jake edged in slightly. ‘You look stunning, Freya,’ he said in a low voice.
I glanced up. ‘Even though I’m not in your favourite sundress and boots combo?’
‘You know I love you in that but honestly, you look good in everything.’
‘So do you,’ I said as I stood up, my shoes now on. ‘It’s a shame we can’t really go to the party together,’ I added a little shyly as I didn’t want to come on too strong or anything. I liked the fact he thought I looked good, though. ‘But we definitely need to stay apart; no dancing together like we did in Times Square,’ I said as I grabbed my bag. ‘Hayley will be around us all night, I bet.’
‘If that’s what you want,’ he replied quietly, stepping out into the corridor as I walked out and closed the hotel room door behind me.
I would have killed to slow dance with him again, especially in his sexy suit, but I knew dancing together would make it nearly impossible to hide the fact we were more than colleagues. And the last thing I wanted was for Hayley to notice anything and change her mind about discussing my future once we got back to London. Plus, everything was going so well for Jake at the conference; we didn’t want to derail it now. I was sure that the good opinion he’d won would change if people started gossiping about us.
Jake put his hands in his pockets as we walked to the lifts. I was disappointed we weren’t touching while we were alone but maybe he was just being ultra careful, and I couldn’t fault him for that after I’d asked him to. He glanced at me as I pressed the button for the lobby but didn’t say anything. It was maddening not to be able to read his thoughts.
We went down to the lobby and across to the conference hotel side by side but in silence, feeling weirdly distant from one another when just a couple of hours ago, we’d been asleep curled up together. But I told myself that this was for the best, and we’d be in each other’s arms again tonight.
That thought would get me through the next few hours.
We walked into the banqueting suite where round tables with white cloths were laid out for dinner, and authors and readers and publishing-industry people mingled together dressed in black tie.
Hayley came straight over. ‘I’ve moved the seating so I’m next to Jake,’ she informed us. ‘Freya, I’ve put you over there.’ She gestured to the other side of the room. ‘See you at the party.’ Grabbing Jake’s arm, she steered him away and I was left alone. With a resigned sigh, I went to my table. I didn’t know anyone on it and I could not only not see Jake or Hayley but Tessa and Liv were nowhere close by either.
The dinner ended up with me sipping wine and checking my phone as everyone at my table knew each other and didn’t really include me. I couldn’t think of anything to say either so the meal dragged by painfully.
When it was finally over, I wandered into the next room where the dance was being held. I found the drinks table and grabbed another sparkling wine; I had had a couple already at dinner but I decided I deserved it. After all, tonight was turning out to be less fun than I’d imagined.
I tried to find Liv or Tessa again but ended up circling the room by myself at a loss as to what to do. I saw Jake and Hayley surrounded by people. It looked like they were the favourites of the party. I was glad that things had gone so well but I did feel a bit annoyed that they seemed to have forgotten about me.
I hovered by the dance floor before walking to the side near to a door that led into the bar. I leaned against the wall to sip my wine, wondering how early I could escape to my room. I wondered if Jake would have any time to talk to me tonight or if he might try to come to my room once the party was over. Everyone seemed desperate for his attention, and I wished I wasn’t feeling the same way.
‘All alone?’
I jumped as a voice spoke in my ear, close enough to be heard over the music. Turning around, my heart sunk in dismay to see Davis Mulberry beside me, drink in hand, with a slimy grin on his face.
‘As you can see,’ I replied, waving my glass. ‘Just having some quiet time.’
‘Hmm.’ Davis scanned the room. He was wearing a bow tie and it made him look older than Jake even though they were the same age. ‘I can’t see your client anywhere; aren’t you two usually joined at the hip?’ he asked, raising an eyebrow.
‘He’s in demand tonight; Hayley is with him.’
‘Hayley is here? How come?’
‘Well, she thought she should come as things weren’t going great but then Jake told everyone why he said those things about romance books to you,’ I said, giving him a glare. ‘And everyone now understands.’
Davis rolled his eyes. ‘Yeah, I heard his dad ran off and chose another family over Jake and his mum. Looks like the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’
‘What do you mean?’ I asked him.
‘I can’t hear you. Come on.’ Davis nodded his head and stepped into the bar room behind us. ‘Freya,’ he called, beckoning me over his shoulder.
I sighed but pulled myself off the wall and ducked into the room, which was far quieter and empty of people, the bar unused as drinks were being served by wait staff.
Davis leaned one arm in the doorway like he was in a Booktok romance and I kept a couple of feet between us – being alone in a room with him wasn’t something I felt 100 per cent comfortable with.
‘I mean Jake is just like his father, isn’t he? A lady’s man. After anyone in a skirt… even if they are inappropriate,’ Davis said, the smirk on his face annoying with a capital A.
‘What are you talking about?’ I said, my cheeks flushing when I thought about me and Jake. But I was sure he was nothing like his father.
‘I saw you,’ Davis said then.
‘Saw what?’ I asked, suddenly nervous. He looked way too happy.
‘I saw you with Jake earlier in the lift. Kissing. I know you two are sleeping together.’