TWO

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Alex Pattison couldn’t have planned a better introduction if he’d tried. He’d watched Jessie since the moment he’d sensed her enter the room. And it had been his sense that alerted her, though he had one up on her in that he KNEW she’d be there. And he’d looked forward to this moment for a long time.

Jessie Summers...she had grown up so much, but there was still so much of the teenager he remembered shining through. And time had only improved her,  he had to admit she looked divine, a little awkward, but then he’d never seen her in heels that high! From the minute she’d walked into the room he had tried to decide when and how he would present himself to her. He’d toyed with paying for her drink anonymously, confusing her before walking up to her in front of everyone, and then there was the decision about whether he’d just kiss her, but he’d seen her wolf that canapé into her mouth, wrapping those lush scarlet lips around a morsel of food and his body had almost exploded. She still had that affect on him, but that wasn’t unexpected either.

In the end Eve had led her to him, and it was perfect. She had no idea that he was there. There was obviously surprise in her eyes as he turned to face her, but as he spoke, as she recognised him, digested that it was him stood in front of her, anger and confusion won out, but first, much to his pleasure he’d seen that hint of happiness, it had been a fleeting appearance, but it was there nonetheless, she wasn’t immune to him either. That pleased him a lot.

He’d decided to kiss her, overwhelm her; it would stamp his authority on her, show everyone that she was still his, but also humiliate her, as no one there had a clue that he even knew her. Then she fainted, forcing his hand.

Catching her and scooping her into his arms, he smiled at the confused Eve, hating for a split second that he’d caused the bewilderment on her face, he’d liked her, though she’d been a little overenthusiastic towards him, and that probably hurt her more, knowing that all along he was only interested in her links to the woman in his arms.

She’d tell people he was a bastard, a manipulator, but it wouldn’t be the first time those words had been uttered from the lips of a scorned woman. Giving a slight bow, he strode out of the room and away from the myriad of stunned faces.

Blackness everywhere and a smell...such a familiar smell. Jess shook her head, trying to open her eyes, becoming aware of her face resting against a chest; a strong heartbeat pounding against her cheek, the smell was the aftershave that she remembered from SO many years ago.  As her eyes opened she realised that he was carrying her, one arm under her knees, the other around her back. She looked up into those questioning blue eyes, remembering every inch of those sculpted cheek bones, he’d aged, the stubbled jaw was more dense, but his blonde hair fought the controlled style imposed on it as it always had. She fought the wave of nostalgia, the feeling of content that his smell, his arms created. She hated Alex Pattison, she hated her husband.

His face broke into a smile, and he murmured, “Hey Mrs Pattison! Long time no see!”

Just like that he waltzed back into the life he’d desecrated, smashed into a million pieces, acting as though he’d been away for five minutes. She felt her blood boil, and she wanted to lash out but she felt so weak. She’d never fainted before in her life, but then she’d never been confronted by the estranged husband that even her best friend knew nothing about, in the presence of her new employer...because that was what Michael Webster was in effect.

            “Put me down Alex!”

He shook his head as he looked down at her with those piercing ice blue eyes, “no. You fainted, you need to rest.”

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