The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (not Croft)

Chapter Nineteen

In the taxi on the way back to the Palais Royale, Lara sat with her shoes off, exhausted and happy. Rachelle had been true to her word and with exclusive VIP access to the club they had danced until three am. Jamie now had his arm around her shoulder against the leather seatback and Lara leaned against him, feeling completely at ease and all sorts of warm and fuzzy.

‘I’ve had such a great night,’ she said turning to him. It really was crazy how much she was starting to like him. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this way about Carlos. She’d fallen in lust with Carlos and then straight into a relationship, without ever stopping to consider what they had in common, besides an addiction to MAC make-up.

Jamie stroked a finger softy along her cheekbone and she felt the answering thrill all the way through her body. He was staring at her intently now, a look of desire etched on his features and his mouth slightly open, as though he was on the verge of asking her something, or pressing his lips to hers. But Lara couldn’t quite ignore the glittery flashbacks to her afternoon Twisome. If only she hadn’t been so despicably behaved. If only she’d waited till now.

When they pulled up outside the hotel, Lara swallowed hard. Turning to Jamie she said, ‘I really want to invite you in – but I don’t think I should.’

Jamie surprised her by smiling and leaning forward to kiss her on the cheek. ‘I understand,’ he whispered, ‘let’s take this slow.’

Lara’s insides melted like a Toblerone on a hot dashboard. This?  So it really wasn’t all one-sided. There was something to take slow?

Jamie walked around to open her car door again and Lara felt another burst of butterflies, followed by a pang of lust as she stepped her Topshopped feet onto the driveway in front of him. Dammit. Perhaps she should just drag him back to her room – make the most of the whirlpool bath and the two fluffy his ‘n’ hers bathrobes. It would soften the blow of her credit card bill.

But no. No. She had to stick to her guns. She couldn’t sleep with three men on the same day. She wouldn’t even be able to tell Lucy if she did that. Plus, she was knackered.

Jamie placed a hand on her hip and she looked up into his beautiful eyes. He leaned forward, pressing her back against the car. Placing her hands on his chest, Lara closed her eyes, waiting for his lips to meet hers. But the kiss never came.

‘Bella!’

 Lara’s eyes flashed open. Jamie’s face hovered inches from her own. His lips were mesmerizingly, tantalisingly close. She thought about darting back inside the cab, pulling him with her and yelling at the driver to go, go, go, but it was already too late. Blaine was running towards them, his shirt flapping open.

‘Bella! Where have you been?’ he shouted, pushing Jamie roughly aside and grabbing her around the waist. ‘I’ve been waiting over a century for you.’

Lara grimaced over Blaine’s shoulder, looking at Jamie, who was staring between them in bewilderment.

‘Blaine, I’ve only been gone a few hours.‘ she told him, annoyed. ‘I sent you a text telling you where the car was. Didn’t you get it?’

‘Lara who is this guy?’ Jamie suddenly asked, stepping forwards.

‘Um, this is Blaine,’ Lara answered, trying to wriggle free of his steel grip.

Blaine just clutched her tighter. ‘Edward! My name is Edward!’

‘Sorry. Edward,’ Lara corrected, shooting Jamie a helpless look that she hoped would translate as RESCUE ME!