Page 83 of Wounded Soul
And I’m about to ruin all of that.
Jesse had no doubt that the news he was about to deliver was going to shatter her world. If she believed him. Ian might be more alive to Jesse now than before, but Cate wouldn’t feel that way. The Ian she knew and loved died in that alleyway.
The last thing Jesse wanted to do was walk over to her bar, but everything depended on him doing just that. Steeling himself for the hate and blame about to come his way, he squared his shoulders and walked towards her.
He knew the moment she noticed him. Her initial smile faltered, brow furrowing and confusion obvious as she glanced over his shoulder probably looking for Ian. When she failed to spot him, her expression darkened.
She thinks I’m here to pick up someone else. If only it were that simple.
Waiting until there was a lull in customers, Jesse took a seat at one end of the bar.
Cate eyed him warily. “Evening, Jesse. What can I get for you?”
“Whisky, please.” Might as well try and look like a normal guy out for a drink.
He watched her retrieve a glass and pour out the required amount. When she set it on the counter in front of him, he went to grab her wrist, but thought better of it at the last minute. “I need to talk to you about Ian.”
She eyed his hand, and Jesse wondered if she’d sensed his intention.
“Please, it’s urgent.”
Now she took a small step back, survival instinct taking over as her eyes darted around nervously.
Fuck, she’s gonna bolt any second.
“I know you think he’s away in St Austell on a business trip, but he’s not.”
“And how would you know?” She still looked at him like he might make a grab for her any second, but at least she was still talking to him.
“Because he’s been staying with me.”
She eyed him for a second longer, then sighed. “Look, if Ian wants to throw a sickie to hole up with you for a few days, then that’s his business. I think he’s a twat for pissing work around like that, but it’s his choice.”
Jesse grit his teeth. He couldn’t tell her the truth surrounded by people, but how did he get her alone when she was already wary of him. Short of slinging her over his shoulder, he was coming up blank.
“He could’ve at least told me though,” Cate muttered. “He knows I worry about him driving down there. The M5 can be a nightmare.”
And just like that Jesse saw his opening.
Pulling out his phone, he sent Ian a quick text.
Tell her you’ve been staying with me. Tell her I need to talk to her in private. That it’s urgent. Tell her she can trust me.
Instead of a reply, he heard a text alert sound behind the bar.
“You should read that, it’s from Ian.”
“How the fuck do you know that?” Cate backed away from him.
“Because I just asked him to send it you.”
After a few agonising seconds, she finally relented and reached for her phone, just as a group of lads approached the bar.
For fuck’s sake.
Cate slipped her phone in her pocket, message unread, and turned to serve them.
Jesse briefly entertained the thought of eating them all to make things go quicker but remained sat on his stool, not so patiently waiting for Cate to finish.
