The Rock Star's Wedding

Part 8

EIGHT

"So where are we going again?" Jay grumbled as he fastened his seatbelt. To give him credit, he actually looked decent, dressed up. He wasn't wearing a tux or even a suit, but in a shirt and chinos he seemed...almost civilised. Maybe it was the shoes. After seeing him barefoot or wearing thongs, she'd wondered if he actually owned any other shoes, but he'd managed to surprise her again. If all her efforts failed and she did have to attend the doctor's wedding as his date, at least he'd look good.

"We're going to a private party to celebrate the reopening of the Mangrove Hotel, after all its renovations," Xan explained patiently. "We have an arrangement with them where they send their guests to us for a day trip or weekend package, and we send ours here on the nights when there's Staircase to the Moon. Like there is tonight, for example. It's likely to be the last one this dry season, which is why Steve wanted to have his party tonight. He said the public will get one part of the lawn, but we'll get a cordoned off area for VIPs, because it's a private, invitation-only party." One she hoped Jerome wouldn't manage to get into.

"So why d'you need a date? Don't you want to socialise a bit, maybe find a friend for the night?" Jay asked, too damn perceptively.

"Not everyone hooks up with random strangers for one night stands," Xan snapped. "Some of us have standards. Want to be sure of our feelings before we get into bed with someone, though sometimes even that's a huge b****y mistake." She clamped her lips shut before she said any more.

"What's his name?"

"What?"

"What's his name?" Jay repeated. "Mr b****y Huge Mistake?"

Damn him to the underworld and back. With harpies, just like in his namesake's legends. "It doesn't matter."

Jay peered out the window at the islands below. "It does if he'll be at the party tonight, and you want a pretend date to scare him off, and maybe make him feel inadequate. What'd he do? Make the mistake of thinking you wanted more than one night, when you just wanted a quick f**k?"

Xan clenched her fists. "Gods help me, Jay, if you weren't my boss, I'd punch you for saying that. Is there no filter on your mouth at all?"

"Nope," he replied cheerfully. "Look, sorry if it's offensive. But I know how these things go. I've watched movies and read books. Things go wrong when the fake date doesn't know s**t. I figure I know you, but I don't know him. So, help me not f**k this up for you. Do you want me to help you get him back, or to leave you alone? Is he a stalker?"

"No, he's not a stalker. He's not a one-night stand, either. He's the wanker I was engaged to marry, before he cheated on me. I found out just before I got the job at the resort. He's...he says he wants me back, but like you said, cheaters never get the girl. Definitely not this girl. But he was there when Steve told me about the party, and he sort of invited himself along as my partner before I could stop him. If I arrive with you, I figure that'll mean he can't get in."

Jay frowned. "So you don't need me to make him jealous."

"No." Though it couldn't hurt if Jerome thought she had moved on to someone better.

"So no normal date-like behaviour? You don't need me to kiss you breathless, or invent pet names for you, or know what your favourite position is?"

Only in books did people have favourite positions. Honestly, most men only knew two or three – on top, on the bottom, or from behind. The rest were invented for the p**n industry, Xan was sure of it. "No," she repeated. "We are what we are. Colleagues from Romance Island Resort, helping another hotel manager celebrate a special occasion."

"Fine," Jay sighed, pouting. "If you change your mind, let me know. I figured it was the only chance I'd ever get to kiss you. Maybe not, then."

Xan clenched her fists again, but then she caught his grin before he turned his face away. "You're baiting me, aren't you?"

"Yeah," he admitted. "You're funny when you're pissed off. Bit scary, too, but where's the fun if there isn't any danger?"

"b****y rock star," she muttered under her breath. It was too late to back out now, but she heartily wished she'd never asked him to the party. She crossed her fingers, hoping he could behave himself enough not to get chucked out of Steve's party. Maybe she'd have been better off alone.