Second Chance Lane (Brockenridge #2) - Nicola Marsh Page 0,81
gallantry was part of his assumed French persona, but the fact he had made her want to hug him all the same.
‘Thanks.’
‘That’s it?’
‘What do you want me to say?’
‘A little insight into why your mother has a vendetta against her only child might be nice.’
‘Why?’ She gestured at the empty space around them. ‘Her opinion has nothing to do with my work here, as you so kindly reiterated to her.’
An awkward silence stretched between them, before he finally said, ‘Because I can’t fathom why a mother would go to such lengths to badmouth her daughter.’
‘Betty is an amazing mum, sweet and non-judgemental. In fact, I’ve offloaded to her at the bakery more times than I can count and she’s been more supportive than Gladys. So you wouldn’t understand what it’s like to grow up with a mother who doesn’t care about anybody but herself, who only values appearances, who thrives on the adulation of those around her and if she doesn’t get it … let’s just say it’s not pretty.’
‘I’m sorry,’ he murmured, taking a few steps towards her to bridge the distance between them. ‘It’s none of my business, but I didn’t want her sabotaging your work here.’
‘Because it’s all about the patisserie, right?’ she snapped, immediately embarrassed, because he didn’t deserve her bitter retort.
‘You’re wrong,’ he said, reaching up to cup her face with his hand.
Her breath hitched as his thumb swept along her jaw, then her cheek, before coming to rest at the corner of her mouth.
‘This is about you,’ he whispered, a moment before his mouth covered hers in a searing kiss that scorched any lingering sadness and made her reach for him, clinging onto his polo shirt for purchase so she didn’t slither to the floor in a swooning heap. She may have fantasised about the way he’d kiss after seeing him in that towel but her imagination didn’t do justice to the reality.
He kissed like a dream. Strong and commanding, sensual yet tender. Alternating the pressure, sweeping his tongue into her mouth, challenging her to meet him halfway. And she did. For a blissful few moments she gave herself over to the pleasure of having a guy she lusted after fancy her right back.
But this was wrong. She couldn’t fall into old habits. She wouldn’t. Rebuilding her self-esteem depended on it.
So she broke the kiss with reluctance, opening her eyes to find him staring at her with a startling mix of desire and pity.
That’s when it hit her.
He hadn’t kissed her out of any grand passion—he’d felt sorry for her.
And the realisation made her knees wobble more than his damned kiss.
‘I need to go,’ she said, gathering up her things. ‘I’ll be in touch about the contractors.’
He tried to grab her arm. ‘Jane, wait—’
‘No.’ She spun out of his grip and strode to the door, determined not to cry in front of him. ‘We’ve got work to do, so let’s forget that damn pity kiss and move on.’
He stared at her, open-mouthed, before she barged out and slammed the door.
CHAPTER
29
‘I’m really glad you girls talked me into a bridal shower.’ Alisha held up a champagne flute filled to the brim. ‘Here’s to me being pampered like a maharani.’
‘To you,’ Tash and Ruby echoed, clinking glasses with the bride to be. ‘Though technically this isn’t a shower, with only three of us,’ Tash added.
Alisha waved away her concern. ‘I don’t want a bunch of hangers-on who don’t really know me celebrating my upcoming nuptials. It’s better with just us.’
‘I agree.’ Ruby tipped half the champagne down her throat in one go. ‘Though I can’t believe you wouldn’t let us organise a stripper, especially after Brenda couldn’t make it because she’s unwell.’
‘And a penis cake,’ Tash said, tut-tutting. ‘What’s a bridal shower without some crass weenie paraphernalia?’
Ruby laughed and Alisha rolled her eyes. ‘I’m getting married at forty-three. That corny stuff’s for innocent young things with hearts in their eyes, blinded by unrealistic expectations and dreams of happily ever after.’
‘Cynical, much?’ Tash slugged Alisha on the arm, spilling her champagne in the process. ‘We see the way you look at Harry and there are definitely hearts in your eyes.’
‘Maybe.’ Alisha’s goofy grin belied her tough words. ‘Doesn’t mean I want to see any fake dicks.’
The three of them laughed until tears streamed from their eyes. Tash needed this, some bonding time with her friends, far from rock gods and the memory of a kiss she couldn’t forget no matter how hard she tried.