Hooked Up: Book 3 Read Online Free PDF

You’re not lying to me, are you? It’s not true, is it?”
    “What do you think? Of course bloody not.”
    “I didn’t think so. We bonded, Alexandre. For the first time ever, Pearl was open with me. She was crying and everything—she’s so distraught and brokenhearted. I felt so guilty for having been such a bitch to her. Poor thing, she’s really hurting right now. She’s so in love with you, Alexandre. So in love.”
    I felt an ache in my solar plexus. Poor Pearl. She must be confused out of her mind. “Well I’m going to hail a cab right now and go up to Hampstead.”
    “She won’t be there now. She just zipped by the house to get her suitcase and say goodbye to Daisy’s mother—I told my driver to take her to Heathrow Airport.”
    “Where’s she going?”
    “New York.”
    “Do you know what time?”
    “I do, actually. She’ll be leaving about ten thirty. She’s flying with British Airways.” All Sophie’s information was computing in my brain. There was no point going to Hampstead now. I’d get on a plane myself to New York—get there first, and wait for Pearl at her new apartment—the one I’d rented for her. Ha! I even had a spare set of keys. She wouldn’t be able to avoid me.
    I called the airline and got her upgraded to First class, with special instructions to take extra care of her. That was the least I could do.

PEARL
    S OPHIE MUST HAVE called the airport because when I boarded the plane I found I’d been upgraded to First Class. The irony was not lost on me. Finally, she and I had a chance to be friends. She was making so much effort, but our friendship had come too late.
    I mulled over everything that Laura had said about her, and envisioned Laura clicking her slim fingers and the hot, passionate embrace that she and Alexandre must have shared, knowing that their relationship was back on course. A rush of jealousy flooded through me, and for a moment I felt the urge to plot some kind of Sicilian revenge on her, but then I sank back into my plush airplane seat and appreciated the fact that she met Alexandre first. In her mind she had priority, and however strongly I felt about him was neither here nor there. It was Laura he had chosen, not me.
    Traveling First Class reminded me of how my life would have continued had I been the wife of a billionaire. That word, “billionaire” sounded ridiculous—out of my league—even out of Alexandre’s league, because he was just a young guy in T-shirt and jeans who liked to surf and rock climb. But he was a billionaire—that was a fact—and Laura was claiming him for her own because of it. His wealth was letting our love down. I thought of the tree house option in Thailand, and wished I had snapped it up there and then; away from Laura and her treacherous, gold-digging claws.
    Alexandre didn’t love me, it was clear. He didn’t even pick up the phone anymore.
    It was over. I would just have to go back to how things were before: back to The Desert. Because the only person I wanted was him. I could not even imagine kissing anyone else, let alone sex.
    I stretched back on my comfortable seat and closed my eyes. I could feel his touch; the way he stroked my inner thigh, brushing his finger lightly against my panties, which were always soaked by the time we make love because he waited until I’d beg him . . . scream for him. He was always rock-hard, even when he just kissed me, even when all he did was look at me. Stop, Pearl! Stop torturing yourself!
    “Would you like a beverage, ma’am?” I jolted myself out of my reverie and a pretty flight attendant was looking at me sweetly.
    “Yes, please. Bring me a Bloody Mary with extra horseradish, and one of your best Russian Vodkas—you choose.”
    “Certainly.”
    Perhaps I could drown my sorrows, one last time, before I landed in New York and started my life afresh. I had already arranged things with Daisy. She and Amy would be moving in with me. I’d be back working on