Gareth.
Jagger watches me for a moment, his eyes latched to mine, and then he turns on his heel, heading back into the modest hotel room, lifting up the room phone and speaking in his husky, sexy American drawl. I pull the glass doors shut, separating us and, with a heavy sigh, press Gareth’s name in my phone.
I don’t want to talk to him. Frankly, I wish he’d get stuffed. But we’re business partners and I’m not going to let the fucked-upness of our personal lives get in the way of business.
‘Gracie.’
I dig my nails into my palms. ‘You called?’
‘Yeah. Hang on a second.’ There’s a scratchy noise, sounds like he’s covered the receiver, then his mumbled voice and the closing of a door. ‘You there?’
I count to five. ‘Did you want something, Gareth?’
‘How did it go today?’
I count to ten. ‘Why are you checking up on me so much?’
‘It’s a big deal,’ he says straight away. ‘I feel like I left you in the lurch with no support...’
I count to fifteen. I resist the urge to point out he left me in the lurch when he walked out on our relationship and proposed to another woman. ‘I’ve got it,’ I say firmly. ‘I know what I’m doing.’
‘I know that. I just feel like I should be there...’
‘You’re on your honeymoon,’ I snap, wishing I’d counted a few seconds before answering. I soften my voice. ‘And I’m all over the material. There’s nothing unfamiliar to me here. It’s just another property, another deal. It’s what I’m good at.’
I hear the doors slide open behind me and turn, facing Jagger as he saunters onto the small balcony.
‘What’s the investor like?’
He walks towards me purposefully, a glint in his eyes I can’t understand. His hand finds the hem of the floaty dress I pulled on before leaving my hotel room, lifting it up my legs, his fingers glancing across my pussy—naked, because why bother with underpants when I know we’re going to come together again any minute?
‘He’s smart,’ I say as Jagger’s fingers separate my seam.
‘But is he interested?’
He slips a finger deep inside me, his eyes laughing, crinkled at the corners as I bite down on my lip.
‘In the golf course?’
‘Yeah. And the resort. The whole deal.’
‘I don’t know.’ The words come out strained. He lifts his spare hand and presses a finger against my lips, urging me not to moan as he moves his finger deeper inside me and then pulls it out, thrusts it in again, as though he’s fucking me. My hips buckle, pushing me forwards.
‘You must have a sense...’
My breath escapes on a sharp hiss. ‘I think the course is an incredible investment and he’s smart and moneyed.’ He drops his hand from my mouth and lifts it to cup my arse, digging his fingers into my flesh, pulling me forward, against his hard dick. I have to bite down hard on my lip to stop from groaning.
‘So he’ll buy it?’
‘I don’t know.’ The words quiver.
‘Are you okay, Gracie?’
‘I’m fine, Gareth. I have to go...’
Jagger shakes his head, drops his mouth to my other ear and whispers, ‘Don’t hang up. Not yet.’
My heart rushes against my ribs.