Engagement Rate (The Callaghan Green Series Book 1) Page 14

  "Reliant."

  He looked surprised. "On me?"

  "Yes."

  "Because I'm your lawyer?"

  "No, because I'm expecting a bill for your services so you're just doing your job, possibly not at this time on a Friday night – or, hello, Saturday morning." I inhaled deeply. "Because for the first time in more than seven years I feel as if I can pass the baton and not have to be in control all the time. And yes, you're right, Richard has controlled me to a certain extent, but I've given him that power, but he never had the power to hurt me. I never missed him when he was gone."

  Jackson's eyes grew darker. "So why do you feel reliant on me? Because you give me the power to help you not feel so alone and that you don't have to deal with everything that comes your way by yourself? Hello, Vanessa. Welcome to the normal world."

  "But what if you're not there?"

  "Then you'll manage because that's what you do. And yes, you might be upset – or you might not because I can be a complete dick at times – but life does carry on and there are other people who can help share your problems. They might not solve them, but they can support you while you solve them. Like I suppose Sophie has been doing for the past year or more," he said, finishing his tea. He stood up and removed his suit jacket, then undoing his cuff links, rolling up his sleeves to show his tattoos. "Shall I take you home?"

  I finished my drink and nodded. "I think I need to get my head around what's happened. But, Jackson, thank you."

  "What for?" He picked up his car keys from the kitchen counter.

  "For coming tonight. For making that effort to see me and see what I do. Surprising me."

  "Baby, that's what people do. I wanted to see you and I wanted to support what you were doing. It was superb tonight – and don't negate that by bringing Richard into the equation: he was there after it had finished." He paused. "Let me take you home." He still hadn't touched me and for a moment I felt bereft, as if what we'd had last weekend and during the week was over.

  I sat back down. "Do you still want to get breakfast tomorrow?"

  His face broke out into a wide smile. "Yes. I really do. After we've been to the police and you've filed for a restraining order."

  "I'll do that first thing. I've helped a friend do it before so I'll sort it straight away. I'll order a taxi and then you can relax for the night," I said, pulling my phone from my handbag.

  "I can take you home."

  I smiled. "I know. But I'm not sure I'd let you leave."

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Chapter Thirteen

  Vanessa

  Somehow, I slept, although I did wake early, hearing Sophie thudding about the apartment and not for the first time did I wish I'd stayed at Jackson's. I missed his large body curled up against mine and the lazy way he would hold me against him. I missed his house, and the space, and how comfortable I felt there, but I had done the right thing last night by coming back to Sophie's. Staying there and inevitably sleeping with him would have added to my confusion, which, in the daylight was alleviated. Sophie had listened to my tale of woe involving Richard over coffee and had then whisked me to the nearest police station before I'd even applied makeup, making me file a complaint and fill in the forms for a restraining order while we were there.

  "You should disappear for the weekend," she said while we were sat in Starbucks, drinking coffee that was nowhere near as good as Amelie's. "Get away from London. Is there any work that needs doing?"

  I shook my head. "Nothing that Alice isn't chomping at the bit to do. She's asked that if – when – I buy Richard out she could invest. I've no reason to say no. She's excellent; her creativity, especially with the events, is better than anyone I've worked with and she's good with the clients."

  "It's better than going it alone," Sophie said, and I knew she wasn't just referring to Cole Henderson. "You need to be more of a team player."

  "Do you think that's where it went wrong with Richard?" I asked, desperately needing to know.

  "No, I think it went wrong with Richard because he was a dick," Sophie said. "Move on. You're almost at the end of it now that Jackson and Seph are dealing with the legal bit and yes, Richard is going to be obnoxious about it so make yourself scarce."

  My phone started to ring in my handbag. "You're right. I hope to God this isn't him. After spending a night in the cells he'll be looking for someone to blame."

  It wasn't Richard, but Jackson. I smiled as I saw his name, relief escaping as part of me was worried that last night had scared him off.

  "Hey," I said. Sophie smiled knowingly. "What are you up to?"

  "Just finished at the gym. Do you want me to come to the police station with you?" he said. I could hear traffic in the background.

  "Sophie dragged me there about an hour ago. I've lodged a complaint against him. Do you still want to grab breakfast?" I said, Sophie, giving me the thumbs up, then checking her own phone.

  "If you're free. What are you doing for the rest of the weekend?"

  "I have no plans. Other than what you suggested the other day, if they still stand?" I still had reservations, but the greatest part of me was pushing to see where it went with this man and if I got a little burned, then it still put me another step away from the non-relationship I'd had with Richard.

  "They still stand with a difference. How do you feel about a night away?" he said, the background noise fading. I wondered if he'd just got back home.

  "Weirdly, Sophie's suggested I get away for the weekend as Richard is more than likely going to contact me." There was a dramatic hand gesture from Sophie and I realized I'd said the wrong thing. "But, I was hoping you'd still want to do something after last night."

  There was a laugh, probably at me, I realized. "Can you pack a bag for the weekend?" he said. "If you do want to get away that is."

  "Do I get to know where?"

  "No, but bring something smart casual for a meal and normal stuff for the day. And maybe something to stay at mine Sunday night, just in case. But we can talk more about that later." He was direct and I found it a relief after so long of it being just me to make decisions or arrangements.

  "What time?"

  "How soon can you be ready?"

  We had nearly finished our coffee. "Forty-five minutes?"

  "See you then. We'll skip breakfast though."

  "Looking forward to it."

  Sophie looked up from her phone. "You need to take decent underwear. And that baby doll nighty you bought in the sale. You know, the one that doesn't hide anything."

  "Let's go pack."

  I was ready in less than forty-five minutes, a small bag stuffed. Sophie sent me out of the door before I had a chance to question if I needed to pack anything else, reassuring me that I wasn't likely to need much underwear at least.

  Jackson was waiting outside the apartments in an SUV. He got out as soon as he saw me and grabbed my bag, then leaned over and kissed my cheek. "Is this it?"

  "Sophie wouldn't let me pack anymore, otherwise I'd have looked like I was taking enough for a week," I confessed. "Where are we going?"

  "Out of the city," he said, putting my bag in the boot then opening the door for me. "I'll tell you more as we drive there. It's only around an hour and a half away but we'll be out in the country."

  He started the car and London fell away as we talked about the week at work, mercifully staying away from the subject of Richard the dick. It was an easy conversation and I felt as relaxed as I ever had in recent memory. There was no need to try and impress or having to keep up the conversation to suitable topics.

  "I need to tell you about Kirsty," Jackson said as we hit the motorway. "She caught herself out on Friday." He explained how she'd tried to pass off the idea about the children attending the retirement ball at the start. I laughed at how she'd come unstuck and figured it was a better reaction than being annoyed.

  "In all honesty, Jackson, she's out of her depth," I said, trying not to feel mean. I didn't want to put the girl ou
t of a job but she wasn't doing herself any favors. "I'm not sure what she had on her resume but she's not up to speed for someone who claims to have worked fairly extensively in marketing. I'm not saying she couldn't learn, but..."

  "HR is checking her out extensively next week," he said. "We had references, obviously, but we should've double checked those as I now have my doubts about the validity. I think she may have been trying to hijack me onto a date as well."

  Now that I didn't like. "Pardon?"

  "She was desperate that we go for drinks on Friday after work so she could talk me through her ideas about the rebrand. Maxwell thinks she's interested in me as something other than just her boss." He didn't look embarrassed and I suspected it was somewhat normal for him to be crushed on.

  I laughed.

  "What? You think it's ridiculous that someone like Kirsty would be interested?" I could see by the enormous grin on his face that he was enjoying himself.

  "Well, you're so old in comparison. Maybe she has a thing for older men."

  "You're calling me old? Why am I taking you away for the night again?"

  "Erm, maybe to prove you're not past it yet and that you're not in need of any, let's say, additional medication to help you perform." I couldn't resist, especially while he was driving and powerless to retaliate with anything other than words.

  He clenched the steering wheel and his jaw at the same time. "I'll change my plans for this evening then, shall I? Make sure you know that I'm more than up for it." He glanced at me and I creased laughing.

  "Jackson, you should see yourself now. You look more determined than a child wanting the last games console in a shop. After last weekend, you have nothing to prove, but I'm happy for you to try," I said, moving my hand to his thigh. The contact sent a shiver through me, thrilling and scaring me simultaneously.

  He put his hand over mine. "I've always got something to prove," he said, intertwining our fingers. "At the moment I want to prove to you that life after your fuckwit of an ex is going to be exceptionally good, professionally and personally."

  I smiled and watched the scenery go by, content with the warmth I felt from him. My phone began to vibrate in my bag. "Shit, I forgot to turn it off."

  "Don't worry. Mine's on too. Work doesn't understand the concept of weekends," he said as I let go of his hand to get my phone.

  "It's Richard," I said, my hands shook slightly and my stomach turned.

  "Answer it and put it on speakerphone. Tell him you've applied for an injunction. Be as calm as you were last night because there's no need for anything else. Treat it like a business."

  I answered, heeding his advice.

  "Vanessa," Richard said, his voice smooth, like too sweet chocolate. "Thank you for answering; I thought you were going to play games."

  "I'm not sure what we have to discuss, Richard," I said, digging my nails into my hand.

  "These charges you've brought – I understand I may have upset you by becoming involved with Charlotte but you need to realize the damage you're doing to your own reputation and that of our business," Richard said. I recognized the tone; he was trying to patronize me into complying with him.

  "You should be aware, Richard, that I've filed for an injunction against you so I'd appreciate it if any further correspondence can go through our lawyers. As our relationship has been over for more than a year and you have not been involved in Cole Henderson for a similar period of time, there isn't any need for you to contact me whilst the courts settled ownership of the business and the sale of the apartment," I said, surprised at my level of formality and the resoluteness I felt. I could do this; I knew I could.

  There was a deep sign on the other end of the phone. "This is all very unnecessary, Vanessa. Maybe we should meet and discuss this as I tried to last night..."

  "I'm sorry, Richard, but I'd appreciate it if all communication can go through my lawyer. It isn't appropriate or needful for us to be talking. I hope you have a good weekend." I terminated the call and then took several deep, cleansing breaths. "Fuck."

  "You haven't done anything wrong," Jackson said. "And you don't need me to tell you that you handled that really well. Disengage with the situation because worrying about it won't get you anywhere."

  I nodded. "I know. But I was in a relationship with him for more than six years, Jackson..."

  "Were you?"

  I sat up in my chair as we came off the motorway. "What do you mean?"

  "What sort of relationship were you in then?"

  His question was a good one and one I had dwelled on since I'd moved out of our shared apartment. "Not a healthy one. We stopped socializing together unless it was necessary, such as dinners with his parents or extended family, basically to keep up appearances. I could go a week without seeing him as he'd be away to meet clients, or so he said. And before you ask, we stopped having regular sex almost a year before I moved out."

  "And you didn't end it sooner because of the complexity," Jackson said. "And you probably weren't ready. I'm no relationship expert but I know when I have been in a relationship and it's ended I've felt like I've failed at something."

  "That's what Sophie said. She was married for a few years; her ex-invested heavily in her spa business initially and they're still really good friends. When they split she wasn't devastated like I thought she would be; she said the relationship had run its course for both of them. I asked her if she felt like it had failed and she was, well, just Sophie," I said, laughing at the memory. "She said she was being led by Henry VIII; the sex just didn't cut it anymore and there was more to life than the missionary position once a fortnight. No one had failed and the biggest failure would be trying to resuscitate something that had less life in it than a corpse."

  Jackson laughed. "So what was last night about?"

  "You mean my midnight flit from your house?" We needed to discuss it. I needed to explain. "I'm used to fighting my own battles, Jackson. I've been doing it since I was eighteen and I left my dad and gran to go to university. I'm not used to being reliant on anyone and I worry it makes me weak."

  There was silence and I wondered why he didn't respond.

  "Where are we going?" I sought to change the subject.

  He laughed softly. "Just outside a place called Waltham St Matthew's. It's where my father and step-mother live. In fact, I should warn you about the house."

  "It's hugely big and opulent," I offered. "Remember I've done some research on your father and I might have checked."

  "It's big," he said. "The house, that is, and you know the other thing's huge..." he gave me a sly glance so I knew exactly what he was referring to. I clenched my legs, feeling decidedly warm in between them. "It's not opulent. Marie likes being comfortable and given she's got seven kids and is anxious for grandchildren at some point, it's designed for living it. There's even a games room which is where Seph sometimes hides. Not a fancy one, it's more something a big kid would be envious of."

  "I'm looking forward to seeing it," I said, putting my hand back over his. I was also looking forward to seeing the bedroom we'd be staying in. "Are they back from Toronto?"

  He shook his head, slowing down to avoid a rabbit running across the lane. "No, I'll give you due warning before you meet them. They are back earlier than originally planned though, but we have the house to ourselves this weekend."

  I wondered about meeting them. Obviously, I would do so in a professional capacity for the retirement ball, but I hadn't considered meeting them as anything other than part of Cole Henderson. Part of me thought it was far too soon to be meeting parents and that sort of thing, not that I was, but then another part wanted that and it felt strangely right. "Thank you for bringing me," I said. "What made you think to do so?"

  "Marie's had some work done in the garden while they've been away and she wants me to take photos to send her. She's had some already sent when they'd finished the work, but she wants the warts and all pictures," he said, his eyes twinkling. "She asked all of us who was
free and I thought it'd be a good chance to escape the London grime."

  "Good move," I said as we turned off the main road. Fields filled with barley and rape painted both sides of the road, picture-perfect English countryside. "How long have your family lived here?"

  "I grew up here. In fact, Payton and Seph were born here. That was terrifying," he said, sounding distant.

  "Was it a planned home birth?"

  "No. She went into labor early, about three weeks early I think. It was June and we were in the middle of this huge storm with high winds. A tree blew over and blocked the road completely so my dad had to become midwife and me and Max were the orderlies, fetching towels and the phone. He had instructions from an operator and kept his cool, although afterward he said it was the most nerve-wracking situation he'd ever been in." He went suddenly quiet and a look passed over his face that I didn't recognize. Although I was curious I didn't press. "We're here."

  He turned off the road and up a tree-lined driveway that became landscaped as we approached the house. The house was double fronted with a series of attached buildings perpendicular to it. The driveway curved round and although the house looked big, it wasn't imposing.

  "It's lovely," I said. "What a place to grow up."

  He parked the car, grabbing our bags. "Where you grew up is just as lovely," he said. "Derbyshire's so different to around here; it's far more dramatic. I've only been a couple of times though."

  "Maybe you should come with me one weekend. Visit the peaks. It's a good escape from London, although this place is amazing. My home was nothing like this," I said, picking up my handbag. I realized I'd pretty much just invited him home and mentally kicked myself.

  We headed to the main door where Jackson put our bags down and dug around for keys. "To be fair, Van, most people don't grow up in places like this. Marie especially made sure that we knew we were lucky. Dad tried, but as it was similar to how he'd grown up he wasn't as in touch with what was 'normal' as Marie."

  The door opened into a reception area, decorated in pastel blues and greys with a light wooden floor. A staircase headed upward to the left, carpeted in a thick grey carpet, the walls decorated with occasional artworks.