Chapter Four.
Mitch
Jess was laughing at an incident he was telling her about Diarmad getting stuck in a woman’s bedroom with an angry husband outside.
As he described Diar jumping, Jess began crying with laughter when Mitch explained that Diar’s man parts had slammed into a wall.
Somehow, Dair had managed to crawl bare ass naked into a bush.
“How did he get home?” Jess demanded.
“The woman threw his phone out. God knows why she didn’t throw Diar’s clothes too.
He called me as I was in Scotland, and I had to rescue him.
I sold my car straight after. I couldn’t shake the image of Diar’s butt cheeks sitting on my seat,” Mitch explained, and Jess’s breath hitched as she wiped her eyes.
“Oh, poor Diar!”
“Trust me, he’s done background checks on women he’s dated since.”
“That’s so funny. I don’t think I could meet Diar without imagining him naked and slapping his privates on a wall. How long until he walked normally?”
“Over four weeks.” Mitch grinned as Jess howled with laughter.
It warmed his heart watching how Jess reacted to him.
She appeared genuine, though she was reticent to share details about herself.
She clearly wasn’t as poor as she first made out if this was her secondary home.
Mitch didn’t blame her; he wasn’t exactly bragging that he was Mr One Hundred and Forty-three on the richest people list. That was a fact Mitch wouldn’t reveal to Jess. Honestly, he was tired of gold-diggers.
“So, what do you do?” he asked. “You know I work in business and run my own company; what about you?”
Jess looked hesitant. “I’m a designer.”
“Clothing? Jewellery?”
“Film sets.”
Mitch blinked, and Jess laughed.
“Yeah, not a normal career, is it? But I enjoy designing things,” Jess replied.
“Have you worked on anything I might have seen?” Mitch asked, interested. How strange, both of them working in the design field, she with visual effects and he with jewellery.
Jess named a couple of big hits that had been released this year, and Mitch’s eyebrows rose. “Wow, those sets were inspired. You’re very gifted. Have you considered other options?”
“Like?” Jess asked, tilting her head.
“Jewellery or room designs.”
“Room design is largely what I do now, but jewellery, no, I don’t think I’m that talented. I just enjoy drawing. I’m pretty simple,” Jess replied.
Mitch smiled. Jess was anything but ordinary. For one, Jess cared about the environment, plus she was funny and cute and liked cooking. He noticed she didn’t pick at her food like women on a constant diet, but enjoyed every mouthful.
“How long here?” he asked. He wanted to get better acquainted and hoped she was staying a while.
“A few weeks. As I can work anywhere, I can go where I want,” Jess replied.
“Fancy a sail tomorrow, search for Nessie?” Mitch teased.
Jess tensed slightly before relaxing, and Mitch wondered why.
“Sure, why not. The village was abuzz about the news she’d been sighted.”
Mitch squirmed, and Jess looked at him quizzically before asking, “What is it?”
“Do you believe in Nessie?” he inquired and waited.
Jess took a few moments to consider the question. “I don’t know. I think there’s a possibility, but a plesiosaur? Seems a stretch. Then again, caves and tunnels exist that haven’t been mapped. Nessie could be lurking there.”
Jess
Mitch was hiding something. He looked shifty. Had he figured out she was Nessie? How could he have?
“Last night,” Mitch began hesitantly.
“Yes?” Jess encouraged.
“I saw Nessie. She was on the shore near Drumnadrochit, entering the water. I thought I was seeing things and chased her. Nessie dived under the surface, but I spotted the ripples and followed them. If not for Nessie, I wouldn’t have found you,” Mitch admitted reluctantly. “And now you probably think I’m crazy.”
“No. Numerous people have witnessed something. Most sightings can be explained, but the ones that can’t? There are too many. I’d love to see her myself,” Jess said and prayed for forgiveness for the lie.
Mitch seemed to relax. “Is that why you purchased a cottage on the loch shore?”
“You got me! Actually, no, I bought it because it was pretty and gave me the peace and quiet I wanted. The view is inspiring.”
“So, if I haven’t scared you away, how about that date tomorrow?” Mitch asked,
Jess pursed her lips. Mitch seemed genuine and the real deal, but so had many others. She was unsure whether his admission of seeing Nessie was a trap to lure her in or if he was being honest.
“Sure,” she said against her better judgement and instantly wanted to kick herself. Jess made a mental note to tell Mary Worth where she was going, since Mary would send a rescue party if needed.
“I’ll pick you up at ten? We’ll take Diar’s yacht out,” Mitch suggested, looking delighted.
“Wonderful, do you want me to bring anything?”
“Just yourself and a smile. You’ve a pretty smile, Jess,” Mitch said and grinned.
“That will be fine.”
“I’d best make a move; it’s getting late, and I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”
Jess nodded. Mitch had just casually tested if she wanted him to stay overnight. She didn’t. Casual sex didn’t do much for her, and she preferred to be at least a little close to someone before putting out. Sex on the first date, or second or third, for that matter, didn’t happen with Jess.
“I’ll walk you out,” she said and saw disappointment flash in Mitch’s eyes, but relief followed it, which she found strange. Mitch was turning into a complicated man!
He rose, and Jess led him to the door. He opened it and stepped outside.
“It’s better to ask forgiveness,” Mitch muttered and reached out and pulled her gently to him. His lips descended against hers, and a rush of warmth swept through her as he kissed her. Mitch held her close but loosely, so if Jess wanted to pull away, she could.
Instead, Jess pressed closer, relishing the feel of his body against hers and allowed Mitch to deepen the kiss. When they finished kissing, Jess knew she wanted more, but her head was screaming warnings. Mitch smiled against her lips and pulled back.
“Tomorrow,” Mitch promised and walked down the path to his vehicle.
Mitch
“So, you’re richer than I thought if you can afford this,” Jess said as she checked out the luxury car Mitch was driving.
Mitch stiffened. What was Jess saying? In an effort to keep his voice light, he asked, “You recognise this?”
“The Bugatti La Voiture Noire, yes, I do. And I’m aware it’s one of a kind as well. A cool eleven and a half million pounds. But I thought someone else bought it.”
“They did and didn’t drive it. A car like this is meant to be driven,” Mitch replied.
A concern hit him: why did Jess know how much the Bugatti cost?
Her comments about being poor came to him, and Mitch frowned.
Was she a gold-digger after all? Had she been given her house by an ex or in a divorce or something?
Bitterness rose as Jess turned her head and stared out of the window.
“This belongs to Diar,” Mitch said, the words tasteless in his mouth. Would Jess now set her targets on his best friend?
“Lucky man, she’s a smooth drive.” Jess smiled.
Mitch returned it, but he wasn’t feeling it.
Instead, a sinking sensation was settling into his gut.
Self-doubt was roaring in his head. Was Jess playing a long game?
Then again, she couldn’t have arranged for the boat to explode knowing he’d be there.
Those were impossible odds. But it wouldn’t be amiss for Jess to take advantage.
“Yes, she is. I forgot to ask last night, is there any food you avoid?” Mitch asked, pushing the negativity away for now.
“Nothing apart from mushrooms and pistachios.”
“And you laughed at my choices?” Mitch teased, but he was uncomfortable and on guard. Luckily, Jess didn’t seem to be picking that up.
“Mushrooms are just wrong. Mind you, I won’t eat snails either, or frog’s legs, or jellied eels. Actually, there’s a lot I won’t eat,” she mused.
“Looks like you’re going to starve,” Mitch quipped, and Jess turned to him with her mouth open. “Joke!”
“You’re not funny!” Jess poked her tongue out, and Mitch found himself distracted once again. Jess captivated him despite his misgivings.
“Yes, I am.”
“A little bit,” Jess said, making a small space between her thumb and index finger.
“You wound me!” Mitch howled.
“I’ll do more than wound you if you packed snails,” Jess retorted, laughing.
“Haggis?”
“Ew, no!”
“You’re becoming high maintenance, Miss Mayhew. I don’t know about this change of personality,” Mitch teased, and she laughed.
“You love being a whipping boy!”
“I love being whipped!” Mitch shot back, and Jess broke out into gales of laughter.
“You’re cute,” Jess said as they drove into the car park and grabbed a spot. Mitch got out and walked around to her side. He noted that Jess waited. She’d expected Mitch to open the door for her.
Mitch held his hand out, and Jess reached out and took it, exiting smoothly from the car.
Once again, that pinged with Mitch. It was those actions that spoke of a higher standard of living for Jess. She was certainly a puzzle. She hooked her arm through his as they ambled towards the dock where Diar’s yacht was moored.
“Do you know how to sail?” Jess inquired.
“I’ve been out several times with Diar. He likes to escape from real life and makes sure to take a break to improve his health. Diar can be compulsive about work,” Mitch said. Silently, he winced; he worked harder than Diar and maybe should take a leaf out of his friend’s book.
“You and Diar are on a whole other level. I think I might be out of my comfort zone, Mitch,” Jess admitted softly as she stared at the yacht. It wasn’t one of the biggest, but it was certainly an expensive, luxurious toy.
“You’re fine, Jess,” he said, reassuring her. Jess smiled, but there was a glint in her eyes he couldn’t decipher.
Jess