Read Online What the Lightning Sees: Part Two by Louise Bay - Free Book Online Page B

had been about my feelings for Haven. I was angry at Romano and what he had done to my sister, but I was angrier at myself. I’d let Haven go so easily. Beth had been right, I’d not fought hard enough for her and now I didn’t know how to get back in the game.

 
    Haven
    In the back of the cab with Jake, on the way back from my date with Romano, I couldn’t figure out why Jake was behaving so out of character. It was confusing but at the same time, I loved that he was so determined to protect me.
    “I’m sorry,” he said softly.
    I continued to stare out the window, acutely aware of the space, or lack of, between us. He’d seemed to grow physically bigger during his interactions with Romano. “It’s okay,” I said eventually. “I do trust you.” Jake had been so spooked by Romano it was difficult to ignore his concerns, even if I didn’t know exactly what they were. I wanted him to tell me; I wanted to know everything about Romano . . . but also about Jake. I was hungry for information, hungry for him. “But I need to get this article written. Robert is relying on me.”
    “Haven,” he whispered. I turned to him, watching his full lips try to say something.
    The cab jolted to a halt and the driver sounded his horn.
    I clambered out and turned back to Jake. “I’m sorry, too,” I said. Did he know I wasn’t just talking about today? Did he realize that I regretted pushing him away?
    His eyes widened and he drew a breath. I closed the door, my eyes still fixed to his and the taxi sped off.
    As the cab drove into the distance, I watched, a thousand things I wanted to say and no one to listen.
     

     
    The next morning I was on speakerphone with Ash while I got dressed for work. I was bored with my work wardrobe and I couldn’t decide what to wear.
    “You still like him,” she said.
    “And you’ve been dreaming about Channing Tatum. It doesn’t mean you’re going to do anything about it.”
    “If I knew Channing Tatum and he wasn’t married, I would totally do something about it.”
    “This conversation is ridiculous. Can we change the subject?”
    “It’s early. That’s what’s ridiculous. So how was the millionaire Italian?”
    “Short. A little over the top. But I have to have the Saturday date with him because the other two aren’t available and we need to get this story in.”
    “You’ll have licky Jake there though, won’t you?” Ash asked.
    “Yeah, but Louis is pretty pushy. I think he’ll try and get me on his own, away from Jake. I can handle him, though. And Jake won’t let anything happen to me.”
    “That’s so shady. Do you think he was going to try to shag you?”
    I shrugged as I held up two skirts that looked almost identical. “I don’t know. I guess. It doesn’t matter—I wouldn’t fall for all his over-used charm. It’s weird that Jake would think I would.”
    “Be careful and make sure you’re always in a public place with him. Who’s tonight’s victim?”
    “Mark from Brentwood in Essex is my date tonight.”
    Ash started laughing. “Are you kidding me? You’re going to have to hoist those boobies past your ears to keep up with the girls he’s used to.”
    I giggled. Girls from Essex had a reputation for making the most of their assets. “I think I might have to have a boob job before this evening.”
    I was being careful about what I was wearing today. I was going straight from work, which was a bit of an issue as my work outfits were, well, drab. I was also aware that I would be seeing Jake again today. Other than saying he would meet me at the office at six this evening, I’d not seen him since he dropped me off after my date with Romano. I was looking forward to seeing him, despite knowing that was against my better judgment. I wanted him to forgive me for pushing him away. It was too much to hope for anything else.
    “What about my black shift with the chiffon sleeves?” I asked Ash. I wasn’t dressing for Mark from Brentwood—I