Jessie Slaymaker's Non-Existent Love Life (The Jessie Slaymaker Series) Read Online Free Page B

and he obviously didn’t want to talk about her. So Jack moved into safer waters and got a recap of all the FA Cup Finals he’d missed while he’d been in China.
    Jack clocked her before Charlie did. The green goddess herself. He knew she’d come over, and he smiled at the thought of Charlie having to finally admit that there was some sort of romantic entanglement between the two. Jessie entered the hall alone and just stood there looking gorgeous while she planned her next move. To Jack, she seemed to be illuminated by her own private lighting. Wherever she went, she looked like she was on a film set. He followed her eyes around the room whilst he continued a half-hearted football conversation with his brother. First, her intelligent eyes found her friend Tom. She seemed to start moving in his direction, then stopped herself and searched out the hall again.
    Then she clocked him looking at her, and her face dropped a fraction of a millimetre. She grabbed a drink and seemed to take a big swig before she started towards them, as though on a mission. It wasn’t the most graceful Jack had seen her look today, but he couldn’t help but notice that she looked damn sexy. Jack licked his lips, looking forward to the prospect ahead.
    ‘Here she comes,’ Jack muttered to Charlie under his breath. Charlie’s expression barely registered any emotion as he turned to see Jessie coming towards him. He had turned into a cold fish, Jack found himself thinking.
    ‘Hi Charlie,’ she began, confidently smiling directly at Charlie.
    ‘Jack,’ she then said, more out of politeness, giving him only a cursory glance. Jack tried to contain a smile. It was blatant that she didn’t want him anywhere near her.
    ‘Hi Jessie,’ Charlie replied, giving her an awkward kiss on the cheek. ‘This is my brother, Jack. I think you’ve already met though,’ he continued. Shock and surprise flashed across Jessie’s face. Jack gave her credit for recovering so quickly. She obviously hadn’t been expecting that in a month of Sundays.

Chapter 10
    Jessie felt stuck between a rock and a hard place. Here she was, right in the middle of her moment to shine, and Charlie had thrown her seriously off-kilter by introducing his brother to her. She tried to rearrange her face to one exuding calm and serenity, but feared she was failing miserably. So far, the plan wasn’t going to plan. Not at all.
    ‘Oh, I didn’t realise you had a brother,’ she said to Charlie lamely, purposefully avoiding Jack’s gaze.
    As if on cue, the band suddenly came to life playing ‘Mambo No. 5’. Not exactly romantic, but it was better than nothing.
    ‘Charlie, would you like to dance?’ she asked, trying to keep her tone light. Please say yes , she silently begged.
    ‘I’m pretty sure the bride and groom are supposed to have the first dance, Jessie,’ Charlie laughed. ‘Oh, there’s Nadia over there. I must just check on the… going-away preparations,’ he quickly added, before vacating his seat. ‘Hey Jessie, keep my brother company for a bit, will you?’ he called back over his shoulder, before striding off towards Nadia and her horrendous dress.
    ‘Yes sir,’ she muttered to herself as she took Charlie’s seat at the bar and stared into her half-empty glass. She couldn’t believe he’d just walked away. He’d barely acknowledged her presence, never mind seen the full glory of her dress or anything. Jessie kicked herself. How could she have been so bloody stupid? She was absolutely mortified. She was going to have to resign and move to Alaska for a decade, she was so embarrassed.
    ‘You okay?’ Jack asked softly, pressing his shoulder to hers.
    ‘This isn’t how it was supposed to be,’ she answered, feeling utterly deflated, unable to bring herself to look at him.
    ‘Oh, right. How was it supposed to be then?’ he asked, signalling for the barman to top up her champagne glass.
    ‘Well, he wasn’t supposed to walk off and palm me off on you