Jack and Gemma ended up under the Brighton Pier, and with her back pressed against one of the pilings, they kissed. She parted her lips under his, and his tongue unhurriedly explored her mouth. Her legs trembled as desire overwhelmed her.
“I want you, Gemma,” Jack murmured against the soft skin of her throat. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted a woman before.”
“I want you, too,” she managed to whisper, and let out a soft breath as his hands slid down her waist and came to rest on the curve of her hips.
“Come on,” he said, and took her hand as he drew away. “Let’s go back to mine.”
She hesitated, torn somewhere between desire and uncertainty. She wanted him. Badly. But…
“Gemma?”
With a slow, regretful shake of her head, she let go of his hand and knelt down to retrieve her purse. “I can’t, Jack. I’m sorry. I want to,” she added as she straightened up, “I do. But I just…can’t.”
His eyes darkened. “It’s Dominic, isn’t it?” She didn’t answer.
“Gemma,” Jack said, trying – and failing – to rein in his temper, “He ran off to God knows where with that pop singer and left you – his bloody wife – behind. And you told me on the way over here that he spent last night with her! That should tell you that he doesn’t give two shits about you.”
“She’s in some kind of trouble, Jack.” Gemma met his angry blue gaze. “Serious trouble. Dom said her boyfriend beat her up, and pretty badly. That’s why she cancelled some of her concerts. And that’s why she disappeared…with Dominic.”
“And how do you know he’s not making the whole thing up?” he demanded. “How do you know they’re not having themselves a right old shag-a-thon at your expense, even as we speak?”
“I really don’t think he’d do that to me. He told me he’s only trying to help Christa. And I believe him.”
“You talked to him?”
She nodded. “He asked me to meet him at our favourite Indian place and hear him out. So I did. And he told me the whole story.”
“‘Story’ is right,” Jack bit off. “He probably made it up on the way over to meet you. I don’t believe a word of it.”
“Well, then,” Gemma said, her words clipped, “it’s a good thing it doesn’t matter what you think, isn’t it?”
“I can’t believe you’re being so gullible! He’s having an affair with Christa, and he’s covering his arse with lies to get back in your good graces!”
“You don’t even know Dominic,” she snapped. “You don’t know anything about him, or us.” Trembling with fury, she added, “I want to leave.”
“Not a problem.” Jack turned on his heel and strode away, his legs – and his anger – eating up the distance in record time as Gemma struggled to keep up.
“Jack, wait!”
He stopped and waited until she caught up. Before she could say anything more, he said calmly, “I’m done waiting for you, Gemma. I won’t waste any more of your time. Call me when you figure out what it is you truly want.”
And as they returned to the Land Rover and drove back to London, they didn’t speak. There was really nothing more to say.
“Oh, Gem – what a mess.” Natalie’s voice, so soothing and kind and bewildered at the other end of Gemma’s phone later that evening, was nearly her undoing.
“I d-don’t know w-what to do,” Gemma hiccupped, and grabbed another tissue from the box. “I’ve l-lost Dom to Christa, and n-now I’ve lost Jack, too! Why didn’t I t-take my chance and have sex with him, Nat? Why?”
“Because you love Dominic,” Natalie said firmly, “and because he loves you. This thing with Christa is just a – a misunderstanding, a momentary blip on the…on the radar screen of love. I know it.”
“Then why hasn’t Dom called?” she asked, her words bitter. “He left a voicemail and said he’d be in touch. But I haven’t heard a word since then.”
“I’m sure there’s a very good reason.”
“Yes, there is,” Gemma agreed, and scowled. “And her name is Christa.”
Just then the door buzzer went.
“Someone’s here, Nat,” she said with an aggrieved sigh. “I have to go.”
“All right. Call me later. And whatever you do – don’t get involved with this bloke Jack. He sounds amazing – sexy and dangerous – but he’s definitely trouble you don’t need.”
“You’re right. You’re always right, Nat.” Gemma sighed. “I’ll call tomorrow and let you know what happens. Promise.”
“Good. And remember – Dominic loves you,” Natalie reminded her. “You have to believe that, and trust him to do the right thing.”
The doorbell sounded again, and Gemma rang off. “Hold your bloody horses,” she snapped as she marched into the front hall and swung the door open. “I’m moving as fast as I bloody well can—”
She stared, speechless, at the sight that greeted her on the doorstep. Her husband, holding an enormous bouquet of red roses in his hands, stood beside a gorgeous almond-eyed creature.
“Christa,” the gorgeous creature offered hesitantly by way of explanation, although none was needed.
“Oh, I know very well who you are,” Gemma snapped. “What I can’t understand is why you – either of you,” she added as she glared at Dominic, “think I’d want to see you standing on my doorstep!”
And with that, she moved to shut the door.
“Please don’t slam the door in our faces, babes,” Dominic pleaded. “Can we at least come in and explain?”
“No! And how dare you show up with her! You’ve got a nerve, bringing your pop-singing bedmate here!”
“Wait,” Dominic demanded, and lifted his hand to block the door. “You’ve got it all wrong. That’s why I wanted to talk to you in person, not over the phone or in a text. Please, Gemma, just hear us out before you slam the door.”
Gemma wavered. Something – the fatigue in Dominic’s eyes, perhaps, or the shadows under Christa’s eyes – changed her mind, and she edged the door wider.
“All right, come in,” she said grudgingly. She turned and strode into the sitting room, and Dominic and Christa followed behind her.
As they settled themselves on the sofa, they declined Gemma’s desultory offer of tea or coffee and waited as she took a seat in a club chair across from them.
“Well,” Gemma said, and crossed her arms against her chest, “let’s hear it.”
“I think it best,” Dominic began, “if Christa tells you the whole thing, Gem.” He reached over to take the singer’s hand in his and squeezed it reassuringly.
Gemma eyed Christa with a sceptical expression. “Fair enough. Go on, then.”
“First of all,” Christa said quietly, “I’m sorry for upsetting you. Dominic and I aren’t involved; we never were.” She leaned forward. “But we had to make it look as though we were…for various reasons, which I’ll explain in a minute.”
Gemma said nothing.
“My cousin, Adesh Patel, and his girlfriend were kidnapped not long ago by a Turkish gang. But they escaped, thank God.”
Gemma nodded. “Jack told me all about it.”
“Jack? You mean that bloke who showed up at Nat’s wedding, the one who’s always fancied you?” Dom demanded.
“Yes,” she answered coolly. “He’s working with the police on the case. He’s been a great help to me through all of this.”
Dominic glowered. “I just bet he has.”
“My mum is Adesh’s auntie,” Christa explained. “She lives round the corner from the Patels on the Mile End Road. I got out of there as soon as I could.”
Gemma nodded. “I’ve heard you sing. You’re amazing.”
“Thanks. I offered to buy mum a flat elsewhere,” Christa continued, “somewhere safer. But she insisted on staying where she was, near her sister.” Christa paused. “I worry about her living in such a bad, gang-infested area.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” Gemma murmured. “My mum lived in a bad place for a while, too. I worried all the time. But she’s that stubborn, and wouldn’t move.”
Christa nodded. “The night Adesh and Jools were kidnapped, Mum got impatient waiting for Adesh to arrive, and walked to the shop round the corner. Two men were fleeing after robbing a cash and carry store nearby. They panicked and shot her.”
“I’m sorry,” Gemma said, and meant it. “Dom told me, and he said your mum’s making a full recovery. But… how does this tie in with you and Dominic jetting off to Corfu? And why did my husband spend the night at your house?”
Before Christa could answer, Gemma turned to Dominic with the gleam of combat in her eyes. “Unless you can explain to me why you spent last night with Christa, Dominic, you can take your roses and your pop singer and go straight back to St Mark’s Square.”