‘All the better for hearing your voice, Ryans.’
He laughs, a manly and attractive sound. ‘Your purposeful attempt to make me uncomfortable is failing, Charlie.’
A very girly giggle fills the car.
‘I’m bringing someone to meet you today.’
‘Yes, I’ve heard all about yourgirlfriend.’
Gregory shuffles in his seat. She’s succeeded in her goal. A laugh escapes from my stomach.
‘Hi, Charlie,’ I say.
‘Oh, shit, sorry! I didn’t realise I was on speaker.’
‘Mouth, Charlie!’ Gregory snaps.
‘Fuck, sorry!’
I laugh harder now, my head thrown back against the seat. The feeling is a relief from days of angst.
‘Charlotte, that’s enough,’ Williams says, though his smile obvious in his voice.
‘Charlie, can you just show Scarlett the ropes today?’
‘Yes, of course. I’ll keep her away from the pack hounds; that’s what you’re actually asking, isn’t it?’
He relaxes. ‘She can look after herself but you know what it’s like when a new hound infiltrates the group.’
My jaw hits the floor in shock. ‘Am I a hound in this scenario?’
‘I think we’ll go. See you both soon.’ Charlotte’s amusement is clear in her tone.
‘That didn’t come out right.’
‘I should hope not, Mr Ryans.’
He shoots me a sideways glance and a smirk. ‘You’re hot when you’re angry.’
I fire him my fiercest playful pout. This is better than fighting.
We round another tight bend and the top of a most extravagant stately home comes into view.
‘Wow.’
The stone building is as big as a palace. Maybe even bigger. The top of each pillar is decorated with a small, gold dome andeach of the multitude of windows is framed in gold too. The courtyard veers off to rows of stables and a huge fountain trickles in the middle of the open space. I look right as water shoots high into the air and sprays down into a lake beside the house.
Gregory drives up to large, iron gates. ‘Ryans,’ he says into the intercom. We drive a gravel path, passing stone gargoyles and lions, climbing towards the magnificent building. ‘Welcome to your home for the night.’
‘We’re staying here?’ I gasp, my head still turning around the huge expanse of grounds and the enormous structure towering over us.
Gregory pulls the Range Rover into a spot on the gravel then stretches his arms back over his headrest. The exposure of his toned chest draws my eyes away from our surroundings.
‘Like what you see?’ he asks on a grin.
I nod and my dry lips part. He grabs my chin between his index finger and thumb and brushes his lips over mine on an inhale. His familiar scent and the feel of his soft, smooth flesh drive my senses wild.
‘I don’t want to fight with you, baby. I just want to spend time with you, away from London, the apartment, all of it.’ He nuzzles his brow against mine, our noses melting.
