Lucky Stars (Ghosts and Reincarnation #5)(136)

His face went hard and he crossed his arms on his chest. “How did you know about our conversation?”

His question confusing her, she leaned back and crossed her own arms on her chest, asking back, “What conversation?”

“Jack and my conversation. At Mum’s party. How did you know Jack said he wanted a crack at you?” Miles explained and Belle felt her own face get hard.

“He didn’t say that,” she returned.

“It doesn’t matter who said what. It matters how you knew. Jack thinks I told you and we both know I didn’t.”

“None of this matters now at all, Miles.”

“How did you know?” he pushed.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Did Yasmin tell you?”

“It doesn’t matter!” she cried and Gretl woofed again.

Miles stared at her then muttered, “She told you. And why do you think she told you, Belle?”

“She didn’t tell me,” Belle denied, shaking her head and in the heat of the moment admitted a moment of rudeness. “I overheard her and Joy talking.”

“And you think that wasn’t planned?” Miles sneered.

She felt her eyes grow round.

“You are,” she whispered. “You are beyond belief.”

Miles shook his own head. “Think about it, Belle. She was done with Quincy then and she wanted a free run at Jack. Or, more to the point, she wanted Jack to have a free run at her since she likes being chased. She saw how he reacted to you so she didn’t delay in making that so.”

Belle ignored the wind whipping her hair across her face and uncrossed her arms so she could plant her hands on her h*ps before she asked cuttingly, “You’re telling me that Yasmin finagled Joy into a hallway she would have no idea I was walking down at the precise time she could have no idea I was walking down it to orchestrate a conversation that would put me off Jack. Is that what you’re telling me, Miles?”

“You’re getting to know her,” Miles retorted. “She’s very clever.”

“Yes, she is. You know who isn’t?” she queried but didn’t pause for an answer although she did thrust finger at him, “You!”

“Belle –”

Belle cut him off, “This is absurd, purposefully hurtful and I’m sorry to tell you, Miles, I’ll not keep it from Jack. What you’ve said to one woman he cares about, about another woman he cares about cannot stand. You’ll deal with him and, what’s worse, he’ll deal with you.”

On that, she bent, snatched up the rug and began to stomp past him but he caught her bicep, bringing her up short.

Goodness gracious, not this again.

She snapped her head back and hissed, “Take your hand off me.”

“Don’t be a fool, Belle. With the loss of that baby, your hold on him has slipped,” he clipped back, not having convinced her to believe any of his venom, he went in for the kill.

And she could not believe he did it or the way he did.

Therefore, with a vicious twist, she pulled her arm free, shouting, “Take your hand off me!”

She took one step away, he began to lunge toward her but stopped and both their heads whipped around when Jack’s voice cracked through the wind like a whip.

“Miles, right now, step the f**k back!”

Both Jack and Yasmin were coming their way, Jack’s face thunderous, his strides wide and Yasmin was racing on high heels on the uneven path to keep up, her face pale.

Belle just stared at Jack who she hadn’t expected to be home for at least another half an hour and who, as usual, was right there when she needed him.

She did this while her breath came fast and the rest of her attention focussed on not screaming bloody murder.

“I arrived at the house ten minutes ago,” Yasmin called. “I saw Miles going to you. I called Jack right away but he told me he was nearly here,” she puffed. “Now, he’s, well,” she stopped next to Jack who stopped three feet away from Miles, eyes glued on his brother and she threw a hand out at Jack lamely before she finished, “here.”

“Belle, you and Yasmin go to the house,” Jack growled, his enraged eyes still on his brother.

Before either of them could move, Miles informed Jack, “Yasmin was the one to tell Belle that you wanted a crack at her,” and after he spoke this semi-lie, Belle watched Jack’s back shoot straight.

“I did not!” Yasmin cried.

Miles looked at Yasmin. “She overheard you talking to Mum in the hallway that morning.”

When he imparted this information, Yasmin’s eyes flew to Belle, light dawned, her face paled and she whispered, “Oh God, no.”

“It’s okay, Yasmin,” Belle stated swiftly then added truthfully. “It was rude for me to eavesdrop.”

Yasmin clearly wasn’t thinking about Belle being rude. She sounded horrified when she replied, “I’m so sorry, Belle.” Her eyes moved to Jack. “And Jack, I had no idea –”

She didn’t finish.

Miles had looked back to Jack who never tore his gaze from his brother and spoke over her. “You thought it was me. It was not me. It was Yasmin.”

“And who told Yasmin it was me who wanted a crack at Belle when those words, Miles, came from your f**king mouth?” Jack asked, his voice low, rumbly and very, very angry.