“You have a knife?”
Way to go, idiot. Now she thinks you’re a knife-wielding stranger.
“I have a Swiss Amy knife on my key ring that has a small pair of scissors.”
“Oh! I see…” she said, after a few seconds had ticked by.
Jason could almost hear the wheels grinding in her mind as Antoinette tried to work out whether to take his offer for help or not.
Finally, obviously having decided on her fate, she continued, “And yes, Jason, I am from Australia. I guess your plan is the only one I’ve got. I hope I don’t get arrested for undressing in public, though.”
The look on her face was priceless—she really was adorable and that was a word that Jason did not normally associate with women. Hot, fast or sexy were more the kind of words he liked to use when he thought of the opposite sex. Antoinette Grimaldi was sexy in her own way, he decided much to his own horror—the last thing he needed was to get emotionally involved with a client—especially one that was unaware of his employment. It was a major rule breaker in his line of work.
“I think we can pull this off without drawing any unwanted attention, luv. If you stand with your back to the tree trunk I can block the view from the front while we do the swap.” Jason hoped that his idea would make her feel a little better about shedding her top in public. He wasn’t a huge guy but he was big enough to block her small frame from passers-by.
“Well, if you’re sure you don’t mind lending me your shirt, I suppose it’ll be okay.” Jason could still hear the note of trepidation in her voice as she gingerly stood and started backing her way up to the tree. “Just try to make it quick and keep your eyes shut,” she added.
“I think it’s probably better if I keep my eyes open while I’m cutting off your clothes, honey. I wouldn’t want to hurt you.” If she didn’t smell so bad and look so miserable, the whole episode would have been funny. Jason took the Swiss Army knife out of his pocket and flipped it open. Pulling the neckline of her shirt away from her body with his other hand, he quickly cut the fabric right down the middle, being careful not to let the sharp blade come into contact with her skin.
As the material split in two and fell away, Jason was left staring at a view of her breasts. She was clad in a simple white bra. Two perfectly rounded swells of creamy flesh peeked over the top of the cups and all the humor he had been feeling prior to that moment fled. In its place was a heart-hammering burst of hunger. The reaction was so unexpected that Jason had to stop and reel in his own imagination, which had taken off on an erotic journey that involved touching and tasting the luscious bounty in his sights, while he pressed Antoinette back up against the tree. He’d only have to move a step or so closer—just lower his head and capture between his lips one of the berry-colored nipples that were pressed against the virginal white fabric of her bra. The idea certainly had Jason’s dick interested, as it swelled a little uncomfortably inside his jeans.
“Can I have the shirt now please…?”
Antoinette’s plea shook Jason back to his senses. He grabbed the shirt that he’d slung over his shoulder while he’d had both hands full and held it out to her. A mixture of relief and disappointment fought for supremacy inside his head as she slipped into his shirt and fastened the buttons, removing the vision of her body that had rocked him.
“I don’t know how to thank you enough for your help, Jason. Can I pay to replace your shirt?”
“Coffee, what do you say you buy me a cup of coffee?” Jason should have accepted Antoinette’s offer or declined and moved on quickly, but before common sense had had a chance to influence him, he’d replied. He didn’t really expect that the feeble attempt to stay in Antoinette’s company a little longer would work, but it was worth a try. Following her around had left him feeling like she could use a friend. Jason was used to being in his own company—preferred it most days—but he could not comprehend why such a lovely young woman would be traveling on her own by choice. Surely there was a list a mile long of available suitors that would have given their eyeteeth to spend some time with the heiress to a fortune. She was way out of his league but it was only a coffee invitation after all. He tried to convince himself as he waited for her reply.
“Umm… I’m not sure that’s a good idea…”
Antoinette’s rejection affected Jason more than it should have. He felt the weight of disappointment in his gut.
“Why is that, luv?”
“I smell pretty bad. I’m not sure I should inflict this aroma on you or anyone else, for that matter.”
Even though Antoinette had tried to laugh it off, Jason could tell that she was embarrassed. If he were honest with himself, he had to admit that the goose droppings stench was still very strong on her. But he didn’t want to say goodbye yet and resume the impersonal act of following her around undetected. A job made more difficult now that she would recognize him.
“I can smell that your point is a valid one,” Jason began, trying to add a jovial and friendly quality to his voice. “What say I accompany you back to your hotel and wait for you in the lobby while you get yourself cleaned up? Then we can have that coffee in comfort and without either of us having to shove a peg on our nose. I don’t think I have one of those on my Swiss Army knife.”
Jason waited, trying to portray an easy-going persona as Antoinette thought over his proposal. He’d pasted a friendly smile on his face to mask the desperation he was feeling. It was ridiculous. There had never been a time in Jason’s life that he could remember when he’d wanted anything as much as he did the chance to have a lousy coffee and the opportunity to get to know this girl better.
“My hotel is quite a long way away,” she finally replied. “I’m staying in Earls Court. I caught the bus here but I think I might need to catch a cab back. I can’t travel on public transport smelling like this. Maybe I can get your number and we can do coffee another time?”
There was no way Jason was letting her off the hook that easily. “Typical Aussie. We all stay in Earls Court. I’m at the Ibis. Where are you?” He knew she was also at the Ibis, had been surprised when given her itinerary that she’d booked such modest accommodation. The more he’d watched and trailed her, though, the more it had made sense. Antoinette Grimaldi did not advertise her wealthy upbringing.
“Seriously, the Ibis? That’s where I’m staying. But you must have had other plans for the day. I don’t want you to miss out on anything because of me. If we are both staying at the same hotel, I could meet you any time.”
Jason couldn’t miss the touch of pink that colored Antoinette’s face as she made her offer. She was just so gorgeous. So shy and unassuming, nothing like the prima donna he’d been expecting when first lumped with this assignment.
“It would be my utmost pleasure to share a ride back to the hotel with you. To be honest, I’d really love the chance to chat with a compatriot, I’ve been missing the Aussie accent and feeling a bit homesick. You’d be doing me a favor. But there is one thing I need from you right now…”
The look of apprehension was plain as day on Antoinette’s face, and Jason felt a little guilty as he watched her take a few steps away from him. Finally she looked up and faced him, those brown eyes of hers as big as saucers.
“And what would that be?” she asked him, her voice soft and sounding a little unsure.
Jason smiled broadly before he continued, “Your name, luv. You never told me what it was—I figure I deserve to know the name of the woman who takes the shirt off my back.”
The sound of Antoinette’s giggle was one of the most beautiful things Jason had ever heard. It wasn’t loud and embarrassing or high-pitched—the type of noise that grates on your nerves—it was sexy, and her eyes took on a shine he hadn’t noticed before. They sparkled back.
“Toni. My name is Toni, and I’m pleased to meet you, Jason.”
Chapter Two
Toni didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Maybe Jason was right when he’d said being the recipient of a bird’s dropping was actually lucky because she was not in the habit of receiving attention from men that were so drop-dead gorgeous. Yes, she’d had invitations from men before, but they were the ones who knew about her family’s wealth. Toni had never been under the misconception that any interest directed her way from members of the opposite sex—or the same sex for that matter—were more about what she had to offer than how she looked or her personality. But Jason didn’t know her and yet he seemed to be interested in her. Yes, she was feeling lucky—it was a terrible shame she smelled like a septic tank.
And what were the chances they were both staying in the same hotel? Yes, Aussies tended to stay in and around Earls Court—she didn’t know why or when that had begun but it was fact. There were, of course, hundreds of hotels in this area, so it had to be a wonderful act of kismet, not just coincidence, that Jason was staying at the Ibis as well. Toni was not going to knock back this display of luck that had been sent her way.
“Okay, we share the cab fare back. I go up and wash away this poo… I know it’s in my hair and thank you for not mentioning it,” she said and smiled, before continuing. “Then after I’m all shiny clean and smelling like a human again, I buy you lunch in the restaurant.”
She was acting bold, forward even, but the excitement of what she was suggesting had Toni feeling empowered. She had just invited this sexy man—one she didn’t know from Adam—out to lunch and she had done this while covered in goose poo!
Who knew I had it in me?
Full of nervous anticipation, she waited for Jason to reply.
“That sounds like a plan. I’ve been looking forward to riding in a famous London black cab and I can’t think of a better excuse to mark that off my to-do list. Let’s go,” her sexy hero replied.
Relief washed over her as Jason agreed to her idea. She might have felt empowered by her boldness but she was still Toni, and opportunities like this didn’t happen to her. So, when Jason held his hand out to her again, she didn’t know what to do. This whole thing was starting to feel like some perfect dream come true. Handsome knight saves in-distress princess from disaster.
What the heck! I might as well make the most of it. My good luck must have a time limit. That’s how it always goes in fairy tales.
Toni placed her hand into Jason’s, trying hard not to think about the fact that his height put his nose right above her smelly, goose poo perfumed hair, and headed off to locate a cab rank.
Jason’s hand felt warm and solid around hers. Toni fell into step beside him. The idea that she would follow him straight into hell if he asked crossed her mind as they made their way from the park to the main road. Squirrels ran across the path in front of them, unperturbed by their presence, reminding Toni of some sappy children’s movie with singing and dancing wildlife. She was being fanciful and she was enjoying every moment of it.
They found a cab on Buckingham Palace Road and Jason held the door for her as she climbed in. He sat opposite her in the back, facing her. As the driver wound his way through the congested roads of London, Toni couldn’t help thinking that for someone who had said they wanted to take a ride in a black cab, Jason did not take much time looking at the scenery or enjoying the ambience. Instead he chatted to her non-stop, their conversation easy and comfortable. He had a way of making Toni feel safe and like she was the full focus of his attention. This experience was new to her—in one short taxi ride, Toni felt more alive and comfortable being herself than she could remember feeling in a long time.
“I can’t believe we’re here already,” she said as the driver pulled the car up to the door of the hotel. “I don’t think I looked out of the window once.”
The sound of Jason’s deep, throaty laugh had her insides melting. It distracted her long enough that she didn’t have time to complain as he pushed the twenty pound note through the window to the driver saying, “Keep the change, mate.”
“I thought the plan was that we were to go halves on the fare?” Toni finally managed to say after her insides had solidified again, as Jason helped her from the taxi and ushered her toward the front door.
“I guess I’m just a chauvinist at heart.”
Toni laughed at the playful tone in Jason’s voice. But the cheeky grin on his face as he waited for her to respond to his comment was enough to make her go weak in the knees.
“Well, Mr. Chauvinist, I’ve been warned and won’t let you get the better of me again. I’m paying for lunch. Give me twenty minutes and I’ll meet you on level one.”
Toni didn’t look back or wait for a reply as she scurried toward the lifts. “Twenty minutes? What was I thinking?” she muttered, as she stabbed at the lift call button more than once. “And what the hell will I wear?” As the elevator doors opened, she was mentally going through the articles of clothing still sitting unpacked in her suitcase, wishing that she had hung at least some of them on hangers when she’d checked in a few days before instead of just living out of her suitcase like she usually did. “Shower, wash hair, dry hair and iron something to wear all in the space of twenty minutes—this is going to be a hell of an achievement.”
Jason watched her race away—he could see she was muttering to herself but he couldn’t quite catch what she was saying. He’d decided to let her go up alone—he wasn’t sure how she would react when she realized he had the room right next door.
Yes, there was such a thing as coincidence, but he figured that bit of news might push even that concept to its limits, so decided to take the stairs instead. It would be good for him to check out the stairwell one more time, and the exercise would do him good. Not to mention that being in such close proximity to Antoinette in the taxi had taken its toll on his self-control. He needed time to pull himself together.
The whole journey had been spent in a silent battle with his own desire. Her full lips, perfect for kissing, such a temptation. He’d tried distracting his war of wills by chatting about the places he’d visited. Of course, it had been a little unfair considering that Jason knew Toni had also visited them. He had followed her to each and every location—seen the points of interests she’d paused at the longest. But when he thought about it, they were also the places he would have been interested in if, in fact, this trip had been a vacation.