Catwalk Criminal Read Online Free Page B

him and it hurt his enormous ego. Or perhaps… Stop it! She had to stop overanalysing everything. Zak Dane wasn’t worth the mental effort.
    â€œYou’re a model, right?” Becky said breathlessly. “You look like a contestant on America’s Next Top Model . Is that how you met Jessica? I don’t mean on the TV show, which you’d win, of course. I mean in real life? Modelling?”
    Jessica rolled her eyes at her friend. Honestly? She was practically hyperventilating after one kiss on the hand.
    â€œI had the pleasure of working with Jessica at the gig at the top of the Shard the other night,” Zak replied. “It didn’t go to plan.”
    That was the understatement of the year. She gazed at Zak, distracted, as he undid his coat. Hello! Had she said he could stay? What was he doing here? He rubbed his jaw. Seriously, were his cheekbones for real? They looked impossibly sculpted under the crystal light fixture; his body was lean and muscular beneath his navy jumper. It wasn’t hard to see why he was in such demand from designers across the world. Zak’s eyes flitted to hers and the corners of his mouth twitched.
    â€œWhat did you want?” she said abruptly.
    Judging by his smirk, he thought she was checking him out, which she most certainly wasn’t.
    â€œTo see how you are, of course. I’ve been worried.”
    â€œI’m good, thanks. I’d hate to keep you from whatever you’re doing. Plus I’m busy. I’m expecting my boyfriend.”
    â€œReally?”
    Still he didn’t move.
    â€œYes, really. I have a boyfriend, Jamie, and he’ll probably be here any minute.”
    â€œNo, I mean you don’t look that busy since you’re in your pyjamas.”
    â€œVery funny. Now why don’t you—”
    Mattie took a sharp intake of breath. “Jessica’s forgotten her manners and forgotten to tell me that Jamie’s visiting tonight too.” She shot her a pointed look. “Please take a seat, Zak, and let me get you something to drink while I put these beautiful flowers into a vase. Would you like tea or coffee?”
    Jessica glared at her grandma. Why did she have to prolong her misery? Couldn’t she sense that she wanted him to leave, given the profiling work she’d have done during her spy training?
    â€œThanks.” Zak flashed perfect teeth. He sat down next to Jessica on the sofa. Was it her imagination or did he deliberately brush his knee against hers? She shuffled along and placed a cushion between them.
    Another smile touched his lips. “I’d love a cup of coffee, Miss Farr. Black, no sugar, please.”
    â€œCall me Mattie. Everyone else does.”
    â€œOf course. That’s a beautiful necklace, Mattie. My mum loves pearls too. She says they instantly light up a woman’s face.”
    Mattie beamed as she touched her choker. “Thank you. It’s my favourite necklace.” She leant in and smelt her armful of flowers. “Such a gorgeous scent. You chose well.”
    Oh no. Becky was already a lost cause. Now her grandma was falling for Zak’s charm offensive too, like most women he came across. Apart from Jessica. Definitely not her.
    Her dad sat next to Becky on a smaller sofa on the opposite side of the room. They stared expectantly at her. She scowled back. Didn’t Dad have work to do? And what about Becky’s English essay? It looked like she and Zak had become the evening’s entertainment. This so wasn’t how she’d planned tonight to go.
    â€œI’m sorry you were hurt.” Zak rearranged the cushions and shuffled round to face her. “I can’t believe what happened. Neither can the other girls. Sasha was in pieces afterwards.”
    Jessica glanced across at her dad. This was a good place to surreptitiously pick up their earlier discussion: the possible involvement of a Westwood girl in the undercover mission.