Josephine Cox 3-Book Collection 1: Midnight, Blood Brothers, Songbird. Josephine Cox

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СКАЧАТЬ thought of Jack in some other woman’s arms made Molly even more determined to keep her temper under wraps. That way, he would soon realise that she was still the same old Molly he had loved for so long.

      Unaware that he was being spied on, Jack made time to do the rounds, chatting to everyone in turn, and making sure they were well taken care of.

      ‘You’re definitely the man for the job, we have no doubts about that.’ Oliver Mason, Curtis Warren’s second-in-command, had risen in the ranks from salesman to manager, and was now one of the most important men in the business. ‘I don’t mind telling you, Redmond, we gave a lot of time and thought to who we really needed up there, and at every turn your name kept coming up.’ Reaching out, he gave Jack a pat on the back. ‘It’s no more than you deserve,’ he told him. ‘I know you’ll do us proud.’

      Jan overheard, and was quick to agree. ‘You couldn’t have chosen a better man, Mr Mason,’ she said, smiling at the big man. ‘But you’re taking him away from us, and that’s not fair, is it?’

      Ignoring the fact that she seemed a little too merry, and definitely livelier than usual, he gave her his friendliest smile. ‘Hello, Jan. Sounds to me like you’re here to give me a ticking off?’

      Jan giggled, ‘No, ‘course not. Why would I do that?’

      ‘Well, because I’ve stolen your best boy, of course. But that’s the way it is. We needed the best and we found him in Jack.’

      For a time, the three of them chatted amiably, before Mason excused himself. ‘I’ve got less than an hour to do the rounds before the presentation. After that, I’d best be away – long journey back to London and all that.’

      He looked up, as though searching for someone.

      ‘That reminds me. I’d best find out if the driver’s had anything to eat. I hope he’s not been helping himself to the booze. I don’t want to end up in some ditch this side of London, do I?’ Concerned, he hurried away.

      When he’d gone, Jan held out her hand. ‘Hey, Jack. Let’s you and me dance, eh? Celebrate.’

      ‘I’m not sure I feel like celebrating, really,’ he said. ‘I’ve got other things on my mind right now. Like selling my house, and moving from one end of the country to another. Then there’s the scary business of being responsible for the success of a brand-new showroom – or, as Oliver put it, “the company’s showpiece”. It’s a lot to live up to, don’t you think?’

      Jan had no doubts whatsoever. ‘You’ll make a huge success of it,’ she said tipsily. Flinging her arms round his neck, she whispered in his ear, ‘I love you to bits, Jack Redmond!’

      Jack gently eased her off. He had avoided the booze, and thought it best to humour her. ‘And I love you too,’ he said kindly.

      He had not expected her to take his comment literally, so when she got him in a headlock and kissed him passionately on the mouth, he was taken completely by surprise – as were their fellow workers, who began shouting and clapping, ‘Woa! Looks like the party’s started.’

      Outside, hidden from sight, Molly saw them through the window, and misconstrued the whole thing.

      Turning away in anger, she did not see Jack desperately separating himself from Jan. When she looked up again, she saw how Jack had his hands on the other woman’s shoulders, and his head bent to her, as though in tenderness, when in truth Jack was telling Jan she’d had too much to drink and he thought it might be a good idea if he got a taxi to take her home.

      ‘Dance with me, Jack . . . please?’ Jan was not ready to leave.

      With a great deal of care, Jack got her to the other side of the room, where he sat her down, while he went away to phone for a taxi-cab. ‘Don’t you move!’ he said. ‘I’ll be back in a minute.’

      ‘Promise?’ Reaching up, she caught hold of his hand and pressed it to her face. ‘Sorry, Jack. I’ve been a naughty girl. I expect the big boss will give me the sack now, won’t he?’

      ‘No, he won’t. This is a party, after all. But you’ve definitely had one too many, so just you wait there. I won’t be long, I promise.’

      Once he was out of sight, Jan waddled to the bar and got herself another gin and tonic, which she knocked back in one choking gulp. ‘I am not drunk!’ she announced to the bartender. ‘And I am not going home yet, because I want a dance with Jack!’

      The young bartender had been hired in order to leave everyone else free to enjoy themselves. He acknowledged Jan’s comments with a smile and a nod.

      ‘What’s your name?’ Hoisting her generous boobs onto the bar, she leaned towards him.

      ‘David.’

      ‘Well then, David – I don’t suppose you’d like to dance with me, would you?’

      Blushing a fiery shade of red, the young man wasn’t really sure how to deal with her. ‘No. I mean – I would like to dance, only I can’t, because I’m on duty.’

      In truth, the last thing he wanted was to be dragged round the floor by a drunken woman, especially as he wasn’t been being paid for tonight, was only doing this job as a favour for a friend, who was just starting up in the party-bar business. This was his first contract, but yesterday he took ill and couldn’t do it.

      ‘You little liar!’ Steadying herself against the receptionist desk, Jan shamelessly teased the young man. ‘You’re really nervous, aren’t you? Is that because I’ve got big boobs, or because you think I’m about to drag you away and ravage you?’

      Laughing, she slithered down the bar out of sight, then popped up again. ‘Don’t be such a party-pooper! Let yourself go!’ Catching hold of him by the collar, she yanked him across the counter, her face mingling with his. ‘Listen to me, David, my lovely. Like Jack Redmond said, this is a party, and everyone should be on the floor dancing.’

      ‘I can’t. I’m on duty.’ He had to stop himself from smiling at her comical antics, Please, can’t you find somebody else to dance with?’

      ‘Oh, I will!’ Casting him aside, she confided with pride, ‘D’you want to know my secret, David?’

      ‘If you like.’ Anything to just get rid of her, he thought.

      ‘I’ve made a decision. There might be some misery-guts who won’t like it, but that’s tough titty, mate! ’Cause when they do the announcement, I’m gonna stand up there and tell everyone what a wonderful man Jack is.’ She paused. ‘Except he won’t dance with me! And I don’t think that’s nice, do you?’

      ‘No. That’s a terrible thing.’

      ‘What would you call a man who refuses to dance with a woman?’

      ‘I’d call him a rotter.’

      At which she collapsed in fits of laughter. ‘You know what, David!’ she screeched. ‘You just called yourself a rotter. What are you like?’

      She didn’t even notice as he made his getaway. Tomorrow, he fully intended to tell his friend that he would never do another staff party! Though when he glanced back to see Jan fawning СКАЧАТЬ