London Dusk (A Dawn to Dusk Novella) by Leigh K. Hunt Read Free Book Online Page A

ones, had never really been my style. The most I ever took was paracetomol.
    Smoking was something I never ever thought that I would take up again , but I dragged on the cigarette as I looked over the client file. His name was Darren Kennedy, and apparently he was some sort of entrepreneur in the steel industry. He wasn't bad looking. Kind of weedy, but definitely not ugly. The photo showed him dressed in a suit, with cunning eyes and a secretive smile on his face. As I analysed it, I wondered what this chap had that was so secretive that he was smiling about.
    Was it the fact that he was going to get laid?
    I flicked the remainder of the cigarette out the window and turned to Jax. "How did you even do this?"
    She smiled , and grabbed my hand. "I just imagined someone else. That, and I was usually fairly intoxicated as well." She gave my hand a squeeze. "You'll be fine."
    " Intoxicated huh?" I paused. "Guess that's always an option."
    She laughed . "Look if you're worried about your performance in bed, don't be. There is no point. Just have a few drinks, and who knows – you might actually really like the guy. Think of it like a one night stand that you're getting paid for, and if you don't like him, just have a few more drinks until you do. It's as simple as that. Especially if you're not going to take anything to help you relax a bit."
    I shook my head . "Alcohol will do."
    She smiled . "Okay, well if you change your mind, I might just have something that will get you through." She opened up the car's centre console, and rifled around it there with her hand while keep her eyes firmly on the road ahead. She pulled out a small brown bottle with a rubber end and handed it to me. "It's rescue remedy – homeopathic. No bad stuff in it. If you think you need to calm your nerves, take a few drops and it should help settle you down a little."
    I turned the bottle over in my hand . "I can't overdose on it, right?"
    " Nope, that's the beauty of that stuff." She chuckled. "I mean – everything in moderation, right? But no – you can't knock yourself out. So take some now, and then keep it in your handbag and just have a few drops every time you go to the bathroom or something."
    I lifted the dropper to my mouth and squeezed. It tasted kind of yuck , but it wasn't unbearable. Did I feel the immediate effects of calmness wash over me? No, but as we drove closer to our destination, I did actually start to relax just a little. If anything, the rescue remedy had taken the edge off. Now I just needed a glass of wine or something to really help relax me. I hadn't thought I would be drinking so soon again after my night with Jax last night, but I was actually craving a little alcoholic relief.
    The sight of the Thames greeted me , and my stomach rolled. We weren't far from the Savoy now, and I desperately wanted to lock the car doors and instruct Jax to drive me home. But my pleas were stuck in my throat. It wasn't going to happen. I just had to think about the fact that this was the quickest way for me to make the money I needed, not just for me, but for Elsie too. She'd done so much for me, it was time to return the favour. "It's just a one night stand," I muttered under my breath. I drew in a big lungful of air, and let it out slowly.
    Jax pulled up to the brightly lit Savoy in the dusky London light. "Now, you're meeting at the American Bar inside. You know what he looks like, and he should have been sent a photo of you too. They have great cocktails." She winked. "Good luck."
    I was about to say something along the lines of ‘I don 't want to do this' but someone opened my door and reached for my hand to assist me, and before I knew it, I was getting out of the car. Even though I desperately wanted to, I couldn't bring myself to wipe my sweaty palms on this white dress. Jax passed me my matching handbag, and gave me a small wave before she drove off.
    " How may we assist you," the man who'd opened my door asked. He was suave looking