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‘Don’tworry about it.You’rehere now.’Gabrielpatted the man on the back and squeezed his shoulder.
Jessrealised who this must be: the third person kidnapped along withFatimaandGabriel.Shecouldn’t remember his name.
Gabrielpassed by her and opened the door to the building, almost like he’d forgotten she was there.Witha raised eyebrow aimed atJessand an intrigued half-smile, the man asked, ‘Andthis is…?’
Fora moment,Gabrielclosed his eyes and shook his head as though trying to remember her name.Shestruggled to keep the friendly smile stuck to her face. ‘Johnson…this isJess.Jess,Johnson.’
Thatwas it:JohnsonLee.Sheremembered now.Shespotted the bump halfway up his nose where, according toGabriel, it had been broken during the kidnapping.Otherthan that, he had a handsome, open face with a ready smile.
Jessreached out to shake his hand.Frenchpeople normally greeted each other with abise,but this man was a fellowBritishcitizen.Ahandshake felt more appropriate. ‘Pleasureto meet you,’ she said.
‘Thepleasure is all mine,’ saidJohnsonas he kept hold of her hand and brought it to his lips for a chivalric kiss to her knuckles.
Gabrielglared at him. ‘Down,Johnson.Thisone’s mine.’Sheknew she shouldn’t like it—because it was a little bitNeanderthal—but she loved thatGabrielreferred to her as ‘mine.’Itmade her think that maybe there was a chance for them, despite what he’d said earlier.Hopeflared in her chest.
Johnsonlaughed. ‘Forgiveme.I’vebeen living in a cave for a month, starved of the company of beautiful women.’
Shetittered politely because she knew that’s what she was supposed to do.Butinside, she wasn’t in the mood for his flattery.Allshe wanted was to spend her last evening alone withGabriel, and now it looked like they would have to share it with this man.Notonly that, but surely he would dredge up memories forGabrielthat they’d spent the past few days putting to rest.Inaddition to howGabrielhad reacted in the aftermath of the car accident, it gave her an uneasy feeling and lodged a stone of worry in her stomach.Shehid her concern behind a thin smile.
Asthey waited for the lift to arrive,GabrielandJohnsonchatted about the assignments that he had been on since they saw each other onFatima’sprevious birthday.Somewere war zones; some not; some were placesJesshad never even heard of before.Listeningto him made her feel unworldly.Well, one thing was for certain: he’d definitely been busy.Anotherphotographer married to his work.Shesqueezed into the lift with them, just managing to get her suitcase across the line.
Gabrielflicked on the lights in his flat andJohnsonsaid, ‘Doyou mind ifIcrash on your sofa tonight?’
Jess’seyes widened.Thelast thing she wanted was for this stranger to listen in on her final night of sex withGabriel.She’dbecome much more vocal with him and planned to gofull opera singer tonight.Nochance she’d have thisLotharioeavesdropping.
Sheturned toGabriel, speaking up for the first time since his visitor arrived. ‘Whydoesn’t he stay in the rental flat?Ican go and clear out my stuff…?’
‘Goodidea.You’llbe more comfortable there,’ saidGabrielwhile he chose a bottle of wine from his rack.Phew.Atleast they were on the same page with that.
‘Thankgod,’ saidJohnson, eyeingGabriel’splant collection. ‘Sleepingin here makes me feel likeI’mtrapped in theAmazonagain.Hey, speaking of which, remember that time inPeru, with the girl from theBritishembassy…’
‘…and the green anaconda?’Gabrieladded, popping a cork on a bottle of red.
‘So, she’s stationed inCaironow.Shesays hi, by the way.’
Jessdidn’t missJohnson’swink or the quick glance thatGabrielthrew her way, as though this was a story he didn’t want her to hear.
Frankly, she didn’t want to hear it either.Theuneasy feeling of being a third wheel grew inside her.Maybethey just needed a few minutes without her hanging around. ‘Itell you what,’ she said, already heading for the door. ‘Whileyou two reminisce,I’llgo downstairs and sort out the flat.’
‘Areyou sure?’Gabrielasked.
‘It’sno problem.’Shesmiled, glad to be getting away. ‘Justtell me where the clean sheets are.’
Gabrielpoured wine into three glasses. ‘Ihave no idea.You’llhave to askElodie.’
‘Okay,I’llcall her.’Jessalready hadElodie’snumber plugged into her phone from the booking.Sheescaped into the hallway and leaned against the door for a minute.Withouther there, she heardGabrielandJohnson’smuffled, deep voices falling into a comfortable pattern of conversation.
Whydid he have to turn up tonight of all nights?
Takinga deep breath, she hitElodie’scontact button on the phone.Itonly rang once before she picked up.
‘Allo?’
‘Hi,Elodie, it’sJesshere.’
Elodiedidn’t miss a beat. ‘Jess!Greatto hear from you.Iseverything okay?’
‘All’swell.Ijust need to know where you keep the clean sheets for the bed in the flat.’Hervoice echoed in the empty hallway.
