200 Harley Street. Lynne Marshall

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ for a second in front of the mirror, taking a few deep breaths.

      She wanted to get of here. She needed to get out of here. She needed to find Iain and stick to their original plan. The original plan that made her knees quiver and her heart race.

      The door banged behind her and before she could even lift her head to look at who had entered she was grabbed roughly from behind. There was no time to think. No time to act.

      She was pushed against the wall, the cold tiles pressing against her back. Jack had one hand on her shoulder, the other around her throat.

      She tried to move her arms, her hands, but his full weight was on her. He leaned forward. ‘Who do you think you are? Don’t you dare speak to me like that.’

      She turned her head away, trying to avert the smell of alcohol that was coming from his breath.

      ‘Look at me!’ he growled.

      She closed her eyes tightly and shook her head. ‘Get off me, Jack. This is a public restroom, any minute now someone will walk in and see what you’re doing.’

      He snarled. ‘Who’s going to stop me?’ He lifted one hand and waved it around, laughing as she took the opportunity to try and escape his grasp. ‘There’s no one here but you and me.’

      He pressed his hand back to her body, this time reaching up and squeezing her breast. ‘You should be thanking me. Thanking me for telling you to get some shape.’ He gave another little laugh. ‘But you’ll never compare to Brandy.’

      She winced under his grasp. Jack had never been physical with her in the past, but the amount of alcohol he’d consumed—along with his bad temper—made her glad things had never been like this.

      She opened her eyes and looked him straight in the eye. She didn’t even notice the door open in the background. She was too focused on her task.

      Fight or flight. The surge of adrenaline powered through her body.

      ‘That’s just it Jack, I don’t want to be anything like Brandy.’ She leaned towards him, ignoring the stench of alcohol. ‘But you’re right. It’s just you and me.’

      She lifted her knee and hammered it straight into his groin. His reaction was instant. He released her and crumpled to the floor, clutching at his groin.

      She stepped over him in her fluttering dress. ‘Don’t you ever put a hand on me again.’

      There was a movement beside her. A dark flash of something. It took her a few seconds to register that Iain had appeared.

      And she didn’t recognise the expression on his face. She’d never seen Iain angry before.

      He lifted Jack clean off the floor and slammed him against the white tiles where he’d just held Lexi. If she’d thought Jack had been snarling at her before, he’d had nothing on Iain. The steam was practically coming out of his ears.

      ‘Don’t you dare touch Lexi ever again.’ His eyes flicked to Lexi. ‘Are you okay? Do you want to press charges?’

      She shook her head. She just wanted to get out of there.

      Jack had shrunk back against the tiles. He wasn’t so brave when confronted by a six-foot-four angry Scotsman.

      Iain spun him round, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and the back of his trousers. Jack’s feet were skimming the floor as Iain thrust him towards the door. A woman opened it and walked in, letting out a little shriek when she saw the two men in the ladies. Wordlessly she held the door open as Iain escorted Jack from the building.

      He was quietly efficient about it, stopping only once to pull out his card and hand it to an astonished Brandy. ‘Chronic back pain?’

      She nodded in a stunned silence.

      ‘Come and see me some time and we’ll chat about what’s best for you.’

      Jack was strangely silent. Any time his steps seemed to hesitate Iain just lifted him clean off the floor to help him on his way. They reached the outer door and Iain ejected him down the steps.

      Lexi cringed as he tumbled down them into a puddle outside. Iain stood next to her and slid his arm around her waist. He pointed at Jack. ‘I’m warning you, Jack. I don’t want you within fifty feet of Lexi.’

      He turned and steered her down the street, away from the event and towards the footpath to the Thames. She could see his hand still shaking slightly. She knew it was with rage. But she wasn’t scared around Iain. He was a big man, who could probably intimidate anyone in his vicinity. But the rage would never be aimed at her. She felt secure with him beside her. She felt safe around Iain. But that wasn’t all she felt and that’s what was bothering her.

      His arms swept around her as he laid her coat across her shoulders. She hadn’t even realised he’d picked up her coat for her. She pulled it around her and slid her arms into the sleeves. March was cold in London, it wouldn’t do to be without her coat.

      Iain pulled her closer as they walked along in silence. Her brain was whirring with a million thoughts that she just couldn’t even begin to compute.

      Even though she’d tried her very best, the tiny little seeds of doubt were creeping into her brain. Seeds that Jack had initially planted and which had sprouted and grown. She’d thought she’d dealt with those. She’d thought she’d doused them with the weedkiller they deserved.

      But seeing Jack again had brought them all flooding back, no matter how hard she tried. Except this time the thoughts weren’t about Jack. This time the seeds of doubt were all about her and Iain.

      It was ridiculous. Iain had only ever treated her with respect. He’d never mocked her body—quite the opposite, in fact. He’d never let her think she wasn’t good enough.

      So why were thoughts like that circulating in her brain?

      Why would Iain be interested in someone like her? She wasn’t a supermodel. She was clever but not a genius. She’d done a good job with the publicity and charitable donations for the clinic.

      A horrible startling realisation crept over her. Maybe he was just trying to keep her sweet? Trying to make sure the Hunter Clinic was known around the world?

      No. Iain would never be like that.

      He’d almost fought against the attraction between them. And he’d been more than supportive regarding her parents and her surgery.

      So why was a whole host of doubts creeping into her head?

      She leaned against him a little as they walked down the path to the Thames. It was beautiful at this time of night. The path next to the dark river twinkled with little lights leading towards the brightly lit Tower Bridge. If you wanted to find a romantic location in London at night, you really couldn’t do better.

      It was cold enough to still see their breath in the air. Cold enough to have an excuse to snuggle closer.

      But Lexi felt changed from before. The feelings of uncertainty were making her feel differently.

      There was no getting away from it. She’d fallen hard for Iain. СКАЧАТЬ