“Yes, yes, let’s hope,” said Renfield, tipping his glass to his mouth with a vague look of disappointment. This was so weird.

Renfield left my side and went to return the Scotch bottle to the cabinet. While his back was turned Stu plucked my still-full glass from my hand and downed it in one. When he was done he gave it back to me, and I had to admit I was impressed by his ability to down it so quickly. I was also glad not to have to drink it myself.

When Renfield brought his attention back to us I placed my empty glass down on the table and thanked him for the delicious drink.

“It really has been a pleasure to meet you,” I said.

“We’ll be in touch with dates and times for the transportation,” said Stu as Renfield led us to the door.

“Very well. And it was a pleasure to meet you both, too. Rebecca, if you ever get bored with that husband of yours, you know where to find me,” he said, casting a final appreciative glance my way. It made me feel a little ill, if I was being honest, and it wasn’t until we got to the car that I felt like I could breathe again.

Eighteen

Stu pulled away from the house as I undid the first two buttons on my blouse, feeling too hot. I also leaned forward, using the overhead mirror as I carefully removed my contact lenses, because they’d started to itch. After that we were quiet for a couple of minutes and my nerves slowly subsided.

“I can’t believe we pulled that off,” I said finally.

He didn’t respond, his jaw firm as he stared dead ahead. I thought maybe he was just trying to concentrate on driving, but then I noticed the stiff line of his shoulders and the way he fisted the steering wheel.

“Stu, are you all right?”

It took him a moment to answer. “Pervy old bastard had his eyes all over you,” he grunted.

My stomach tightened at his tone. I didn’t like it when he was angry.

“Well, you did say you hoped he’d be distracted by my outfit, and it worked to our advantage in the end, didn’t it? He believed us.”

“Doesn’t mean I’ve not still got half a mind to go back there and punch him in the face for coming onto you like that. I mean, I was sitting right there.”

“Stu. It’s not like I could do anything about it. We needed to keep him sweet.”

“You kept him a little too sweet, if you ask me.”

“Oh my God, now you’re just being ridiculous. And what was with you slugging back all that whiskey? Didn’t we agree we weren’t going to accept any offers of drinks?”

“It would’ve come across dodgy if we said no. You have a drink once the deal is done, that’s how it works.”

“But you didn’t just have one drink, you had at least three. I’m not even sure you should be driving.”

He scoffed at this. “I’m nowhere near drunk, luv. I would’ve had to down the entire bottle for that.”

His dismissive tone got my back up, and I folded my arms across my chest. Stu’s eyes followed the movement, lingering on the open buttons on my blouse. I made a show of doing them back up. His jaw worked as he focused back on the road.

“If I hadn’t cut in, would you have taken him up on his offer?” he asked gruffly.

“Are you being serious right now? He’s old enough to be my father.”

Stu shrugged. “Some women are into that. I’m sure Renfield would be more than happy to pay off your debts in exchange for a few nights with you.”

I gaped at him, outrage building. “That’s it. Let me out of the car. I’ll make my own way home.”

He ignored me and kept on driving.

“Stu! I mean it. Stop the car right now. I won’t sit here and listen to you talk to me like that.”

“No.”

I huffed out a breath. “Why are you acting so jealous? You don’t honestly believe I have any interest in Renfield, do you?”

“He can offer you a fuck of a lot more than I can.”

Was that insecurity behind his aggression?

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m not interested in people for what I can gain from them. Although the fact you think I can be bought says a lot about how you see me,” I replied, my voice hard. His insinuation seriously infuriated me.

At this he let out a long, exasperated sigh. “That’s not . . . shit, Andrea, that’s not how I see you.”

“Then why did you say it?”

He ran a hand over his jaw. “Because I’m a dickhead.”

I didn’t say anything to that, because quite frankly I agreed with him. Stu continued driving, our argument at a standstill. I honestly couldn’t tell if he really believed I was flattered by Renfield’s interest, or if it was simply his jealousy making him speak out of turn. After a few minutes I realised he wasn’t going in the right direction for my flat.

“This is the wrong way. Where are we going?”

“Said I’d take you for a spin.”

“Well, I don’t want to go for a spin anymore. I want to go home.”

“Too bad.”

“Stu, turn this car around right now or I’m going to start shouting.”

“Just relax.”

“No, I won’t relax until you apologise for how you spoke to me just now.”

We were driving through a leafy area, one of London’s many parks, but I wasn’t familiar with the neighbourhood. Stu let out a growly sigh and pulled the car to a stop in an empty spot, shrouded from view by a number of bushes and tall trees. I didn’t see anyone about, but I imagined there’d be dog walkers and joggers happening by sooner or later.

“I’m sorry. I just . . . I hate it when other men look at you.” He sighed, and it sounded like it took a lot for him to admit it.

I was sure my expression portrayed my bewilderment. “Well, it’s a good thing men don’t look at me very often, and when they do it’s only because my outfit is so tight it’s fit to burst, and I’m wearing a blonde wig.”

I thought injecting some humour into the conversation might lighten things up a little. I was wrong.

“That’s bullshit. Kian’s constantly staring at you in class like a lovesick puppy. Gets on my nerves.”

“Not this again. Kian likes me as a teacher and I like him as a student. There’s nothing more to it. Besides, I thought you two were friends.”