Catwalk Criminal Read Online Free Page A

total wreck. I told him I’ll see him in a few days’ time when my face has healed up a bit more.”
    â€œYour face isn’t that bad,” Becky said. “Admittedly, you look like you’ve had a fight with a brick wall and come off worse, but Jamie won’t mind. He can see past that into your beautiful soul.”
    â€œVery funny.”
    Jessica stumbled to the mirror above the fireplace and scraped her hair into a ponytail. Yikes. The bruise on her forehead was purplish and green, making her skin look even paler than usual. She looked terrible, like some kind of zombie straight from the set of The Walking Dead . No way could Jamie see her like this. She’d have to pile on a ton of concealer first. Where was her make-up bag?
    â€œIf it’s Jamie, don’t let him in. Tell him I’m too ill to see him. Please.”
    â€œYou want me to barricade the door?” Becky snorted. “With cushions?”
    Footsteps clattered in the hall and the door opened.
    â€œYou’ve got another v isitor, Jessica.” Mattie held the door open and beckoned.
    It was too late to find a hiding place. Anyway, how lame would it look if her boyfriend found her crouching beneath the table? Her heart beat rapidly as a tall figure strode into the room, clad in jeans and a long black coat. He clutched the most enormous bouquet of flowers she’d ever seen – lilies, roses and sweet peas – tied with a silver ribbon. Her jaw dropped as the bouquet lowered. Her visitor had curly dark hair, not blond; green eyes and a thin, chiselled face.
    â€œZak!”
    He looked her up and down. “Geez, you’re a mess.”

Jessica pulled her robe tighter, her cheeks reddening. “ Geez . Thanks for coming all the way here to tell me that. You shouldn’t have bothered, especially since you’re so busy, you know, with your zillions of modelling contracts.”
    â€œSorry.” A smile hovered on Zak’s lips; his eyes glinted with amusement. “I didn’t mean it to come out that way. You look gorgeous, obviously , because you always look absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. I was talking about the bruise on your forehead. It’s hard to miss, sadly. As is your sarcasm.”
    He crossed the room in a few bounds, handed her the bouquet and planted a quick kiss on her cheek before she could protest. How embarrassing! She immediately flushed scarlet.
    â€œEr, thanks, but I’m not sure…”
    Out the corner of her eye, she could see Becky mouthing, “Ohmigod.” Her blush deepened.
    â€œWe haven’t been introduced.” Becky almost fell over the pile of magazines as she lurched towards Zak, hand outstretched and eyes shining with excitement. “I’m Jessica’s best friend and I’m single.”
    â€œZak Dane. Also single. It must be catching.” He kissed Becky’s hand instead of shaking it, rendering her speechless.
    He looked up at Jessica expectantly as her dad joined Mattie at the door. This was beyond excruciating.
    â€œYou’ve obviously met my grandma, Mattie Farr,” she said through gritted teeth. “And this is my dad, Jack Cole.”
    â€œIt’s quite the party,” her dad observed, smiling.
    â€œHh-mm. If you say so.” Zak might be Becky’s ideal party guest, but he certainly wasn’t Jessica’s. He’d probably want to play charades, making everyone guess which modelling contracts he’d won. She slumped back down on the sofa. Pins and needles were travelling rapidly up her legs.
    Zak sprang forward to shake her dad’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. I’m Jessica’s friend.”
    â€œThat’s pushing it,” she murmured. They’d met for the first time at the rehearsals for the fashion evening at the Shard. He’d made a point of catching her eye. Maybe it was because she was the only girl who didn’t immediately swoon over