Read Online Twelve Days - The Beginning by Jade Reyner - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jade Reyner
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a moment and then continued “but surely you know that if people phone you, it doesn’t actually cost you anything. Unless they’re phoning from another country of course.” Yes, definitely very observant.
Elise knew that. Of course she did! Even her limited grasp on technology recognised that fact. However, she wasn’t able to admit to anyone that Dale monitored her phone and, as such, she never gave the number to anyone. On the one occasion she had given it to a girlfriend, Dale had found out and had been convinced that she was plotting to leave him. He had then proceeded to make her stay. Pay. Forcibly. The only way he knew how.
If Vaughn picked up on her hesitation, he didn’t let on as she stumbled through a response.
“Erm.. well.. I really only use it for emergencies. It’s not even charged most of the time.”
“Not much use in an emergency then.” He stated wryly and arched his brows at her as she began to wither under his gaze. Instantly she knew how he had got to the position in life that he was evidently now in. One carefully arched brow was all it took to make her feel like she had two left feet and a dunce’s cap. She pitied anyone he went up against in business. She decided on a change of tack.
“Look...thank you for what you did today. I understand what a difficult position this puts you in but I would appreciate it if we could keep all of this as quiet as possible – although with Annabel things may not be all that quiet.” She murmured ironically as she continued. “I need to get to the hospital to check on Dale and see what is happening. I would appreciate it if I could take the rest of the day off to... sort things out and then hopefully by Monday, this will have all blown over.”
For a moment Vaughn looked like he wasn’t going to respond but then he released his grip on her arm. Watching as she absently rubbed it where he had been holding her.
“Of course you can take the rest of the day to .... sort things out. I hope that your husband is soon feeling better” he intoned with a complete lack of sincerity.
“Thank you. I’ll see you on Monday.” She turned to leave. It sounded glib but what else could she say?
“Oh, and Elise,” at the sound of his voice, slightly deeper now, she turned back to face him again.
“This,” he gestured to the sofa, clearly referring to their earlier interlude, “this did happen and it will happen again – and I can promise you that neither of us will be quiet then”. He emphasised the word that she had used only moments before, giving it a completely different meaning. “Don’t forget.”
Mortified, she scrambled for the door, feeling the colour rush through her body. Why did he have to mention that kiss again? She had tried really hard to compartmentalise things once Celeste had come in and she had been trying really hard to put it in the “do not disturb ever again” compartment. The fact that she was having serious trouble forgetting about it herself was beside the point. Her arousal begin to stir again at the intention in his sentence, the undoubted emphasis on certain words and realised that she needed to get out of this room fast before she did something that she would regret. Like, jump him. Big time.
As she turned the door handle another thought struck her and, unable to ignore it, she swung back to him to find him watching her with hooded eyes, a lingering of something she strongly suspected was desire, in his heavy expression.
“Vaughn, don’t you want to know why Cole was so mad?” she asked. She had found it strange that he had not questioned Cole’s actions either then or now. He had simply dealt the final blow to Dale, effectively defending Cole, and then almost moved on as if what had happened today was an everyday occurrence.
Vaughn continued to regard her steadily and he looked almost sad. For a while, Elise didn’t think he was going to answer her. When he did his voice was soft and gentle, almost breaking,
Elise knew that. Of course she did! Even her limited grasp on technology recognised that fact. However, she wasn’t able to admit to anyone that Dale monitored her phone and, as such, she never gave the number to anyone. On the one occasion she had given it to a girlfriend, Dale had found out and had been convinced that she was plotting to leave him. He had then proceeded to make her stay. Pay. Forcibly. The only way he knew how.
If Vaughn picked up on her hesitation, he didn’t let on as she stumbled through a response.
“Erm.. well.. I really only use it for emergencies. It’s not even charged most of the time.”
“Not much use in an emergency then.” He stated wryly and arched his brows at her as she began to wither under his gaze. Instantly she knew how he had got to the position in life that he was evidently now in. One carefully arched brow was all it took to make her feel like she had two left feet and a dunce’s cap. She pitied anyone he went up against in business. She decided on a change of tack.
“Look...thank you for what you did today. I understand what a difficult position this puts you in but I would appreciate it if we could keep all of this as quiet as possible – although with Annabel things may not be all that quiet.” She murmured ironically as she continued. “I need to get to the hospital to check on Dale and see what is happening. I would appreciate it if I could take the rest of the day off to... sort things out and then hopefully by Monday, this will have all blown over.”
For a moment Vaughn looked like he wasn’t going to respond but then he released his grip on her arm. Watching as she absently rubbed it where he had been holding her.
“Of course you can take the rest of the day to .... sort things out. I hope that your husband is soon feeling better” he intoned with a complete lack of sincerity.
“Thank you. I’ll see you on Monday.” She turned to leave. It sounded glib but what else could she say?
“Oh, and Elise,” at the sound of his voice, slightly deeper now, she turned back to face him again.
“This,” he gestured to the sofa, clearly referring to their earlier interlude, “this did happen and it will happen again – and I can promise you that neither of us will be quiet then”. He emphasised the word that she had used only moments before, giving it a completely different meaning. “Don’t forget.”
Mortified, she scrambled for the door, feeling the colour rush through her body. Why did he have to mention that kiss again? She had tried really hard to compartmentalise things once Celeste had come in and she had been trying really hard to put it in the “do not disturb ever again” compartment. The fact that she was having serious trouble forgetting about it herself was beside the point. Her arousal begin to stir again at the intention in his sentence, the undoubted emphasis on certain words and realised that she needed to get out of this room fast before she did something that she would regret. Like, jump him. Big time.
As she turned the door handle another thought struck her and, unable to ignore it, she swung back to him to find him watching her with hooded eyes, a lingering of something she strongly suspected was desire, in his heavy expression.
“Vaughn, don’t you want to know why Cole was so mad?” she asked. She had found it strange that he had not questioned Cole’s actions either then or now. He had simply dealt the final blow to Dale, effectively defending Cole, and then almost moved on as if what had happened today was an everyday occurrence.
Vaughn continued to regard her steadily and he looked almost sad. For a while, Elise didn’t think he was going to answer her. When he did his voice was soft and gentle, almost breaking,
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