Dirty Little Secrets: A tempting friends to lovers romance

“I’m glad our esteem for each other is mutual.”

“Indeed,” James said as the waiter brought over a basket of bread.

Megan tore off a piece and dipped it in olive oil. “I understand completely if you want to tell the world I’m a bitch. You have my blessing.”

“I’m not going to write an article about you being a bitch. I would never let my personal feelings cloud my professional judgement.”

“Of course you wouldn’t.” The sarcasm penetrated her saccharine smile.

“You really hate journalists.”

“I really hate people that violate trust and take advantage of vulnerable people.”

“Let me get this straight, journalists provide no benefit to society?”

She finished chewing before she answered. “In theory they do, of course. They have the opportunity to inform and enlighten. But in practice they stalk pregnant celebrities and print stories about how fat they’ve become. That’s hardly a public service.”

“I think you are confusing paparazzi with legitimate journalists.”

Megan put down her bread and leaned in. She spoke slowly and softly. Her long lashes kissed her cheeks when she blinked. “Have any of your papers or news stations printed a photograph that was obtained from a paparazzo?” Her gaze was direct, her smile never faltered.

James shifted in his seat. Christ, this is what defendants must feel like under cross examination. She was cold; no wonder she was called the ice queen. She struck him as the type who would do her homework, toil through reams of microfiche just to make a point. And James Emerson did not lie. Ever. “We have.”

“I rest my case.”

“What case is that exactly? I’m kind of like you, I like my insults direct.”

She sat back in her chair. “I think you pretend to have integrity, but you don’t give a rat’s ass about anything beyond the bottom line. You would sell out your granny to get a story. You are more like your father than you admit.”

He ran a hand through his hair. She had gone for the jugular. She was either incredibly lucky in her aim or very astute in her judgements. There were few things he liked less than comparisons to his father, but he refused to be baited. “I give the people what they want.”

“Child pornographers say the same thing.”

“Did you just compare me to a paedophile?”

“Certainly not. I was just taking your argument to its logical conclusion.”

“Unbelievable.” He shook his head. The day had been too fucking long to deal with this. “Look, clearly we have gotten off to a bad start.” It crossed his mind that it may be impossible to get off on the right foot with such a caustic woman. “Perhaps we should reschedule when your husband is available.”

“Perhaps we should,” Megan said through a static smile.

James turned his head to the commotion at the entrance to the restaurant. A waiter was pulling at the arm of a man, trying to stop him from coming into the dining area. The man shook the waiter off and marched towards their table.

“Why don’t you return my calls, bitch?” His eyes bulged and the snake tattoo on his neck pulsated with his heartbeat.

Megan stood up. A look of defiance flashed in her eyes. Her back straightened like she was ready to pounce. “Mr. Dixon, I suggest you turn around and walk out of here before I have you charged with criminal threats and stalking.”

“Listen, you fucking bitch. My wife admitted she lied when she made that statement. The cops wouldn’t let her go until she signed that fucking paper.” He shook his fist in her face.

Megan did not blink; instead she stepped further toward him, standing her ground or taunting him? “I am well aware that Mrs. Dixon has recanted but the jury will have to decide who they believe, an ex con who has already served time for battery and rape, or the doctors, nurses, and police officers that tended Mrs. Dixon after she was brutalised. I know who I would believe.” Her voice did not falter.

A sense of admiration shot through James. Megan was one tough woman; shit, she would make a tough man.

“Fuck you, bitch!” the man said as he lunged at her.

On reflex James stood up and grabbed him. He did not think, he just acted, preventing the man’s punch from landing squarely on Megan’s face. He would give her her due, she flinched but still she did not step away. She was quite possibly the bravest or stupidest person he had ever met. If James had not been there, she would be nursing a black eye but she was completely unfazed. Her pointy chin jetted out in defiance. He had to admit he kind of liked her. She was abrasive as hell but she had a backbone of steel.

James leaned down and said into the man’s ear. “Leave her alone. Or I’ll hurt you.”

“Get the fuck off me. That bitch is crazy. She’s trying to jam me up.” The man struggled against the tight hold but he was going nowhere.

“I am going to let you go but if you even look at her before you walk out of here, I will tear off your balls and shove them down your throat.” To prove he meant business James increased the pressure of his hold until the man was gasping for breath. “Are we clear?” he asked. The man tried to speak but nothing came out. “Are we clear? Nod your head if you understand.” The man’s head wagged up and down like an eager puppy.

“Good,” James said as he released him.

“Nice friends you have,” James said to her when the man was out of the building.

A look of annoyance crossed her face. “I wish you would have let him hit me. I could have had him on a felony assault.” She shook her head.

“Excuse me?” James said incredulously. Who was this woman?

Megan stared into his moss-green eyes. She hadn’t meant to say that aloud. Suddenly she realised what a bitch she was being; so much for maintaining her public persona. She was taking all her frustration out on James because he had the piss-poor luck of being in her firing line. She was having a shit day but she did not have the right to take it out on him. “Sorry. I mean thank you. I really appreciate you doing that. It’s just my case is shot to hell because his wife recanted and he is going to walk. He raped her and shattered her eye socket with a baseball bat, but she has forgiven him so it’s all better now. He bought her flowers so he must be sorry. God, I wish I had something else to charge him with.”

“Shit. I thought I had a bad day.” James shook his head.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have been such a jerk.” She let out a stream of air.

“So you don’t really hate journalists?”

“I do, I just usually have better manners than that. I am really hungry. Low blood sugar does not agree with me, I’m a real asshole when I’m hungry.” Megan held her hand out for him to shake.

“I’m Australian, I don’t need an excuse to be an asshole.” He returned her handshake, his long warm fingers curving tightly over hers. She could feel his power through the simple action.

“You use your nationality as an excuse for a lot of things,” she laughed.

“You don’t know the half of them,” he assured her.

She tore off another piece of bread and dipped it in balsamic vinegar. If she didn’t know better she would think he was flirting with her again.

“Shall we get dinner? We’re already here.”

Megan shook her head. “I should get home. I am liable to go off on another rant. I just need to go home, have a bath, and eat Lucky Charms from the box.”

“I’ve had worse nights.” When he smiled this time, it reached his eyes. Yes he was flirting with her. What was that about? She shifted in her seat before she stood up.

“Here, let me take you home then.”

“No I’ll just get a taxi. Stay and have something to eat. I am really sorry for the way I went off on one. Not my finest hour.” She had warned Ben not to send her. She had disappointed herself; normally she could keep her public mask on, no matter the provocation. She was an expert at it, no one got to see the real her. Unfortunately for her, she had just shown James a side of her she did her best to keep hidden. In reality she kept most of herself hidden.

“Not a problem. At least it wasn’t dull. I can forgive anything as long as I’m not bored.” He stood up beside her. “I’ll reschedule with your husband’s secretary. Let me take you home.”

Megan nodded. “Thanks, that would be nice. I’ll speak to her; tell her to fit you in tomorrow. She likes to pretend he’s busy 24/7 but he goes to the gym from seven to nine. I can get you in then, if it’s good for you.”

There was a slight hesitation before he said, “That would be great.”

Megan took another piece of bread and shoved it in her purse while James paid the bill; it was a waste to let good carbohydrates go uneaten.

Megan made her way to the car while James went to look for the waiter who had tried to stop Steve Dixon from coming in to Albi’s.

The night was dark and unseasonably cold. Megan hugged her arms to her chest. She had almost reached the car when she heard someone shout. A low growl of a voice pierced the silence. “Hey, bitch. Nobody here to protect you now. Not so fucking brave now are you?”

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