Rock Stars Don't Like Ugly Bras by Nikki Ashton

relishing the feel of his taught muscle under her fingertips.  “I don’t think it was a sob story. It’s terribly sad and I can’t believe how together you are about it all.”
    Jake looked down at Amber’s hand and then back to her face.  “You need to talk to me, Freckles,” he replied moving over to the sofa and dropping down on it.
    Amber’s heart stuttered at him calling her Freckles.  Yesterday when he’d been angry she’d been Amber.  She followed Jake and sat down next to him.  Neither of them spoke for a few minutes; Jake with his head in his hands, and Amber watching him closely.  Finally, Jake lifted his head and looked at Amber.
    “So, go on talk.”
    Amber wasn’t sure what he wanted her to talk about, but guessed it was her reaction yesterday.  “I got everything out of proportion and reacted badly…”
    “Yeah, I know that,” Jake said interrupting her.  “But what I want to know is why?  Who hurt you so badly that you can’t trust my feelings for you?”
    “What makes you think someone did?”  Amber looked away from Jake’s searching eyes, not wanting him to see the hurt that was in her own.
    “Because despite what you may think, I’m not such a caveman that I don’t understand emotions.  Anyway, Luke said that you’d had a bad time and needed a new start, so add that to your blow out yesterday and even a piss taking guitarist can figure it out.”  Jake folded his arms firmly across his chest, so that Amber was under no illusion that he wanted the truth.
    Amber took in Jake’s determined stare and knew that it was now or never.  She really should tell him what had happened; she had to if they were ever going to move forward.  Hugging a cushion to her chest, Amber took in a deep breath and started to talk.
    “It was my boss,” she almost whispered.  “We were in a relationship and I thought it was all going to end happily ever after.”
    Amber paused, but Jake remained silent, nodding for her to continue.
    “He told me he loved me, and wanted to marry me.  We were going to do it all, a nice house, some kids, the lot.”  Amber’s eyes fluttered with emotion as her memory wandered back to one of the worst times in her life.
    “But it didn’t work out like that?”  Jake took Amber’s hand and linked their fingers together.  The moment that she’d opened her mouth, he saw the pain in her eyes and knew that being angry with her wouldn’t help her talk.  She needed him to show her some tenderness and support.
    Amber shook her head.  “No, it didn’t.  He failed to tell me was that he was already married.”
    “Shit,” Jake hissed.
    “Yes, how thick was I?  I was his bloody P.A. and had no idea that he had a wife.  That probably makes me the worse P.A. in the world, right?”  Amber gave an empty laugh and marvelled at her own stupidity.
    “How on earth did he manage to keep that little gem a secret?” Jake asked incredulously.
    Amber shrugged.  “She lives in Scotland and apparently usually only contacted him on his mobile.”
    Jake puffed out his cheeks.  “Did you not wonder where he was when he went home?”
    “I thought that he was on business.  We worked for Blake & Harrington, the acquisitions company, so he’d have meetings all over the world and at any time, and it appears that he always took her with him.  Or he’d tell me that he’d be away longer than he actually was, and then go home to Scotland for a few days.  I should’ve realised; who the hell doesn’t take their P.A. on a business trip?”  Amber’s face coloured.  When she said it aloud, it sounded ridiculous even to her, but she honestly had no idea.  “He was always flying off somewhere.  I’d book his flight, but he’d telephone the airline and change it or book another seat for her.”  Amber laughed softly pushing the cushion that she’d been hugging to one side.  “We even moved into an apartment together three weeks before I found out.”
    “How