Read Online Second Hand Jane by Michelle Vernal - Free Book Online

be to
God he didn’t get a chance to perform anything on her! Jess
thought, because after a sip of the glass of water Nick was holding
to her lips, the coughing subsided. By the time the steaming pan of
rice and seafood appeared to take centre stage at their table, she
had managed to regain her composure—well, almost.
    By the time the third bottle of wine was
opened, she, too, could see the funny side of Miguel and his
“hymen” manoeuvre and she found herself relaxing and enjoying Nick
and Ewan’s company, though she did wish Nora would stop going on
like she was the stunt woman out of the Matrix .
    From there on
in, the evening passed in a jovial wine-addled blur and before they
knew it, they were the last patrons in the restaurant. It was time
to go but not before they’d given Miguel a generous tip. As they
led the way down the stairs and out the doors to the car park, Nick
made one last joke about Miguel’s Spanish accent and as she laughed
the darkness in front of her was suddenly split by blinding flashes
of light. She felt her mouth form a startled “Oh!” as Nick took her
by the elbow and herded her over to the car.
    “Who’s the
mystery blonde, Ewan! Does Tessa know you’ve called it quits?”
Several different voices called and by way of reply Ewan growled,
“Fecking paparazzi!” as he and Nora ducked inside the little car
just as Nick began revving the engine. They exited the car park in
a blaze of burning rubber.
    “It’s okay,
Nick, man; slow down—nobody’s following us,” Ewan urged a moment
later. “I’m sorry about that, ladies. The fecking pap get
everywhere.” He had turned around in his seat but he only had eyes
for Nora as he added, “And Tessa and I broke up amicably aeons
ago.”
    He was referring to his stunning Suburban Man co-star Tessa Adamson. Jess
felt Nora relax next to her as she reached over and stroked his
arm. Her eyes, in the darkened interior, were still glittering from
the adrenaline rush of what had just happened and Jess had to
concur that it had been rather exciting. She could see how the
novelty would soon wear off if it happened every time you went
anywhere, though. Imagine being photographed doing something as
mundane as going to the corner shop for your morning paper or just
collecting your post? A mental picture of herself in the elephant
suit with pink slippers gracing the cover of The Women’s Friend sprang to mind and she
shuddered, pushing it aside.
    Nick proved to
be the perfect gentleman when they pulled up outside Riverside
Apartments five minutes later. He got out of the car and, opening
her door, helped her out before walking her to the main doors.
While she fished around in her purse for her keys, he told her that
he had really enjoyed the evening. “I’d like to do it again
sometime.” He looked at her expectantly.
    “So would I.”
She blushed, all too aware that Nora would be sitting in the car
with her face pressed up to the window, phone at the ready to text
Brianna should there be snogging.
    “So it’s okay
if I get your number off Nora and give you a call?”
    “Yes, I’d like
that.”
    “Great.” Nick
leaned in and she felt his lips airbrush hers before he stepped
back, waiting for her to head inside. It was all she could do not
to drag him in behind her.

Chapter Four
     
     
    The phone
trilled bright and early the next morning—ridiculously early for a
Saturday, in Jess’s opinion—but nevertheless she forced herself to
get out of bed and stumbled through to the living room to answer
it.
    “Hi, honey,
it’s Brie—okay if Harry and I pop round shortly? Because there’s
something I think you need to see.”
    Jess’s brain
gave itself a feeble kickstart. Bloody Brianna—what was she doing
phoning at such a godforsaken time of the morning? Honestly, just
because Harry always ensured she was up at sparrow’s fart didn’t
mean everybody else had to be. “What’s so important you’re ringing
me at the crack of dawn