The Wrong Date

pping into a sharp, incredulous whisper as she stared across

he situation hit her like a bucket of ice water. The £2,000 in her account, the emerald dress, the absurd speech about her mother-and

her leather clutch off the table and pressing it against her che

could stop it-a tiny, helpless sound that echoed

ropping into a low, uncompromising bari

up from his chair. Broad shoulders filled out the dark, custom-tailored suit, and at

to hers with an intensity that held her glued to the floorboards. "

"Right now? Are you insane? It's nin

liberate strides. He reached out, his long fingers gently catching her by the elbow-not

mahogany double doors swung open, and they stepped out into the quiet, carpeted corridor. The polished waite

owed to his head respectfully, handing

card onto the leather tray without even

softly against the marble floor of the reception as Jeremy guided her past t

alt. Waiting right at the kerb, idling quietly with its amber runnin

niformed driver stepped out into the drizzle,

sir," the drive

king down at Celine with a sm

jawline in the streetlights. Every instinct told her to run toward the nearest tube station, but the sheer, magne

, heated leather seat of the Maybach. Jeremy slid in right beside her, the heavy d

inted glass, casting long amber beams across the soft leather interior. Beside her, Jeremy Brown sat with an

r heart hammering a fierce rhythm against her ribs. She co

posed to explain to her best friend that instead of sabotaging a blind date, she was currently sitting in the back

. I'm not here to negotiate a marriage. I'm here on a

stantly, his dark eyebrows lifting in sharp int

d dismissively. "The point is, you are supposed to be terrified of me right now. You're supposed to be cal

st, looking utterly at home. "Well, to do that, I'd first have to care a

him, her eyes wide. "I am a disaster. I spend money recklessly, I have t

with suppressed laughter. "My life is usually entirely predic

ry cliché sabotage tactic she had planned, was bouncing off Jeremy Brown like water off gl

slightly lower in her chair, crossing her arms

me like I'm an u

er, darker register that commanded the space around them. "A very loud

g right next to her with an irresistible, terrifying charm

ays to sneak a glance at Jeremy's strong, sculpted jawline. Instead, I'm stuck in a

k in her chest, her leather clutch v

ghts. Celine gasped softly, snatching the bag

shed in big, bold

teady her voice, before hitting accept

risp, loud, and tinged with frantic impatience. "Where are

glanced nervously at Jeremy, who slowly turned his head to

ing for me?" Celine asked, her voi

echoing as if she were pacing around their flat. "He texted me two minutes ag

... I am literally inside Room Four. I've

utter horror. "Celine! It's Ro

e shattering completely. "How did that happen? How do you not c

tton to end the call before Kylie could offer another excuse. Panic, embarras

de, her crimson lips parted in sheer shock a

er body fully toward him on the leather seat. "Take me back! The

sunderstanding

please ta