Fauxmance (Showmance #2)(13)

“How very interesting,” Suze said, fingering the rim of her cup.

Elodie frowned. “Does that mean you use your looks to trick people?”

“Not at all. Just that you sometimes you’re forgiven more easily for poor behaviour. For instance, you could be in a bad mood, or say something surly, and nobody would call you on it. Little things like that. I don’t agree with it, but it definitely happens.”

“So, you live in ‘the bubble’,” she stated, miming bunny ears before folding her arms. All of a sudden, I felt like I was being interrogated. Where had that steely look come from?

“Don’t you? Surely men are rendered babbling fools in the face of your beauty all the time.”

“That’s different. I never use my looks to get what I want.”

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. “Nor do I.”

“That’s not what you just insinuated.”

“Hey! What’s put a bee in your bonnet?” Suze interjected, shooting Elodie a baffled look. “Has that pilot not returned your calls?”

Elodie blinked, then frowned, then worried her lip. I got the sense she hadn’t meant to challenge me like that. She shook her head, her expression apologetic. “I’m sorry. I’m feeling a little catty today. And no, I never called the pilot. If you must know, I’ve moved on.”

“To?” Suze asked, grinning now. I could see she was hoping for a story. Truth be told, so was I. Elodie’s stories never failed to entertain.

“Actually,” she said, glancing between the two of us. There was an odd sort of calculation on her face before she continued. “I’ve started seeing a male stripper.”

“What?!” Suze exclaimed. “Okay, tell us everything.”

Elodie emitted a theatrical sigh. “I’ve just been a little insecure reconciling the reality of his job with the fact that I have feelings for him. He strips in front of women every night for money, gives lap dances. It makes me unreasonably jealous, but then, the sex is incredible and he’s such a sweet person.”

“What’s his name?” Suze asked.

Elodie cast me a quick, speculative glance before replying. “Sebastian. He’s from Northern Spain.”

“Oh, what a sexy name!” Suze enthused. “I bet he’s gorgeous. Do you have any pics?”

Elodie shook her head. “No, but I’ll bring one to show you next time. You’re going to die when you see him.”

“I already can’t wait.”

Something about Elodie’s story niggled at me, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Still, the idea that she was insecure about dating a stripper made me certain she wouldn’t be able to handle going out with me. It was definitely best that I look at her as a friend and nothing more.

Elodie was regaling us with details of her last date with Sebastian when my phone rang. I saw it was Rose, so I stood to answer.

“I’m just going to take this outside,” I said and headed for the exit.

I emerged into the mild London morning and hit ‘answer’. “Hello, darling.”

“Julian, I thought you’d be at the flat. Where are you?”

“Just having a coffee with some friends.”

“Oh, well, I was hoping we could go for lunch. I also wanted to pay a visit to the bookstore. Damon’s filming until late and it’s my day off so…”

“So, you were hoping for some company. Not a problem. I’ll meet you at the flat when I’m done here. We’ll do Greek for lunch then go to the bookstore after, how does that sound?”

I heard the smile in her voice. “Perfect. See you soon.”

I’d just hung up when the door to the café opened and Elodie walked out. I stood off to the side, so she didn’t see me as she buttoned up her coat and headed down the street. An odd urge struck me to follow her. My feet started moving before I could stop myself. I had no clue why I didn’t call out to her, but then, maybe I did.

There was just something about Elodie that didn’t add up. I’d sensed it the first time we spoke, and the more time I spent with her, the more I suspected something wasn’t quite right.

It was just a feeling I couldn’t seem to shake.

I walked a good distance behind her for about five minutes, then she turned and went inside a small, independent bookshop. I couldn’t see too clearly, but it looked like she retrieved a key from her bag to unlock the door. When I got closer, I saw her flip the sign from ‘Closed’ to ‘Open’ then disappear inside the shop.

Huh.

Did she work there? I distinctly remembered her telling me she was an accountant. Plus, she’d mentioned it several times during the conversations I’d listened in on. Was she lying about her job?

I didn’t go inside, not wanting her to know I’d followed her, and instead continued on to my flat. I’d walked by that bookshop a million times but never thought to go inside. Rose normally shopped at the larger chain stores because they had a bigger selection, but I was struck with the urge to bring her here after our lunch.

I rejected the idea. Elodie’s business was none of mine, and if she was lying about her job, well, it was hardly my place to out her.

“My goodness, I’m stuffed,” Rose groaned as we walked arm in arm out of the tube station. We’d shared a delightful lunch in Soho, before heading back home. I’d managed to convince her to check out the bookshop Elodie had gone inside earlier.