Page 6 of Take the Plunge

“Yeah, they’re not all bad.”

“I’m sure they were drunk too.”

“They can’t have been. Rufus is many things, but he’s not dumb enough to drink and drive.” I lower my hand. “In case there’s any doubt in your mind, I had nothing to do with this.”

I don’t want him thinking I’ve abducted him so I can have my wicked way with him. I mean, two guys trapped alone in a house in the middle of nowhere would be a great starting point for a hot and steamy weekend. But not with Jett. In all the time I’ve known him, he’s only ever dated women. That doesn’t mean he’s straight, but on the balance of probabilities, he likely is.

He huffs as he moves his elbow and puts his head on the pillow. “They’ve taken my laptop, haven’t they?”

“I think so. We can have a proper search after a nap. I haven’t seen my phone anywhere either. Not that it would do us any good.” There’s no mobile phone signal out here. We’re too far from a mast. “There is a landline in the study downstairs, though.”

“Great, we can call Rufus and tell him to get his arse back here to pick us up.”

“Do you think he will?”

“If he doesn’t, I’ll call the police and tell them he’s stolen my car.”

“That’s harsh.”

He glares at me. “And trapping us here, isn’t?”

I hold my breath while I think of a response. “Maybe he thinks he’s doing you a favour?”

“Some favour. I have work to do.”

“Exactly. Now don’t take this the wrong way, but you never take a break. It’s all work, work, work with you.” Or it has been since he broke up with his last long-term girlfriend. I have no idea what happened, but the break-up must have been bad to send him into a tailspin of work obsession and grumpiness. At least he’s sexy when he’s grumpy. “Maybe some rest and relaxation will do you a world of good.”

Jett narrows his eyes into a cold glower. “I’m going to make that phone call.” He gets up. I pull him back.

“Is there any harm in waiting an hour or two? I’ve never felt so awful in my life.”

Jett’s expression softens. “You’ve never had a hangover before?”

I close my eyes. “No.”

“Not even when you were at uni?”

“Nope, this is a new experience for me. One I don’t like one bit.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. You weren’t the one conniving to get me paralytic.”

“I’d never do that,” he whispers.

I smile. “Good to know. But if you don’t mind, I’m going to take a little nap. You can call Rufus and shout at him when my head is no longer being split in two.” I jangle the cuffs. “If we weren’t stuck together, you could go and yell at him to your heart’s content. But we are, and I really, really need a nap.”

“Okay.” It’s been a long time since his voice has been so soft. My heart quivers, but my stomach dips with sadness. Where did the old Jett go?

“Thanks.”

He lies on his back too. We rearrange our joined wrists so our hands rest on the pillows between us.

“I’m sorry you got caught up in your brother’s crackpot schemes,” he says.

“I’ll survive.” I nudge him with my shoulder. “So will you.”

I’m not sure Rufus will, though. Jett is mad, and I’m not exactly happy about it either.