Read What the Lightning Sees: Part Two for Free Online

hadn’t. I navigated my way gingerly into the car. I felt stupid dressed up like this for what was essentially a work meeting.
    “It’s the weekend, give me a break,” he said, then closed the door as I got in. He rounded the hood and slid in the other side.
    His proximity was more than distracting. I’d never been so aware of him physically. His denim-covered thighs tensed as he braked before a traffic light and I couldn’t pull my eyes away. He turned up the air and all I could think about was stroking his hand. The smell of him—that clean, warm, masculine smell—was all around me, making my skin buzz wherever it was exposed. I had to work to control my breathing, to stop myself reaching for him, to hold myself back from asking him to kiss me.
    I needed out of the car.
    “This feels weird,” I said, breaking our silence as we drove along Edgware Road, stopping at more traffic lights.
    He nodded but didn’t say anything. Maybe it didn’t feel odd to him.
    My phone buzzed. It was my date, Gerald, texting to say he’d arrived and was looking forward to seeing me. It was nice.
    “That him?” Jake asked.
    “Yeah. It’s work,” I said, for some reason, needing to explain getting a text from another man while I was with him.
    “It is what it is,” he replied.
    What did that mean? We drove the rest of the way in silence.
    The nearest parking space was a block away from The Holly Club. Jake offered to drop me off, but I didn’t want to go inside and meet this guy on my own.
    “Aren’t you going to struggle to walk in those?” Jake asked.
    My cheeks heated as Jake glanced at my feet. The last time he’d noticed my shoes was in Paris. He’d told me he was going to fuck me in my heels. He’d made good on his promise. Jake’s eyes met mine and I quickly looked away.
    “I’ll be fine. They’re not that high,” I muttered.
    “The club is fine with me taking some shots?”
    “Yes, Jenny checked.”
    He held the door open for me and I stepped inside an oak-paneled hallway. A hostess stood behind a dark wooden table toward the rear of the space.
    “Good evening, Mr. Harrison. Nice to see you,” she said, looking directly at Jake and ignoring me. Anger seared through me. Of course they would know him. I wondered how many women he’d brought to dinner here. “Are you planning to have a drink in the bar before going upstairs?” the hostess asked.
    “Mr. Harrison is here to take some photographs. I’m here with Rallegra . My assistant should have arranged something?”
    The hostess seemed confused.
    “I’ll be having dinner afterward, Belinda. Please let me know if my guest arrives early,” Jake said.
    Belinda smiled warmly. “Oh, I see. That’s fine. Let me take you through. So you’re Ms. Daniels?” she asked, looking at me. I nodded curtly.
    “You’re eating? Here?” I whispered. “With Millie?” Was he trying to sabotage things, or make me jealous? The pieces weren’t fitting together properly.
    “Yes to the dinner part and no, not with Millie. We broke up, I told you that. This is my Saturday night, Haven. There’s no reason I should waste it because I have to spend ten minutes taking some photos of you on your date.” He sounded exasperated and I hated myself for creating that in him. I wanted to be the cool, sexy girl he wished he hadn’t let get away.
    Belinda led us down a dark corridor, where old satirical cartoons were displayed on the walls on either side of us. I turned back to Jake. “Why do you have to bring her here?” I said it before I realized that doing so gave away that it bothered me. I didn’t want to see Jake dating other women.
    “What’s the problem? I’m a member here,” he replied.
    I didn’t respond. I didn’t want to reveal anything else and Belinda was showing us into the bar.
    “Hi, Gerald,” I said as I extended my hand to my date. I recognized him from the picture I’d seen at Glass Introductions. He was quite a bit older than me, but still