I nod, and his strong arms band around me. He pushes me out through the crowd with Alec and Cameron at his side. Camera flashes blink behind us.
It’s lightly drizzling rain as we all step out into the dark car park outside the club. I pull free from Fraser and stride up to Cameron. His usual jeans and plaid shirt look out of place against the concrete of the city.
“Are you okay?” I demand.
He looks at me like I’m speaking Martian. “AmIokay?”
His hand flexes as I take his arm, examining the nail scratches in his skin. I’m boiling with rage. “She grabbed you.You hate getting touched. And she forced you to take a picture. Who does that?”
My peers. That’s who. The people I call my friends. I suddenly hate them. I hate this job. I hate my life. I hate all of this.
“’S fine,” Cameron says roughly, watching me.
“It’s not fine, it’s a violation. She just took those pictures like you belonged to her. And you’re…” The words die in my throat.
“Yours,” Cameron says simply. The amber light from a nearby streetlamp glows down over his face. “Aye. Body and soul. I’m yours. ’Bout time you realised.”
I stare at him, breathing fast. I think I’m about to pass out. “What?”
He doesn’t answer. Just looks at me.
I drop his arm and back up a step. “What are you all doing here? What’s happening?”
Fraser gives me a hopeful grin. “We missed you,” he tries. I just stare at him, shivering in the night air.
Alec pulls off his jacket. “Here. You must be cold.” He steps forwards to drape it over my shoulders.
I stumble back, almost tripping in my heels. “Don’t!”
Dismay spreads over his face. “Okay,” he says. “Okay. Sorry. I won’t touch you.” He tugs a hand through his hair. “Shit.”
Muffled music pounds through the alley. Rain slides down the back of my dress.
“I reckon we need to talk,” Fraser declares. “Want to go back to ours?”
“Yours?”
SEVENTY-FOUR
SUMMER
It turns out, the men have booked into a hotel suite just minutes down the street. I’m silent with shock as they let me inside. It’s a sleek, three-bedroom suite with cream furniture and a view over the city. A couple of suitcases have been hastily shoved by the front door. It looks like the guys dropped off their bags and immediately went to find me at the club.
“What’s going on?” I ask as Fraser leads me inside. “Guys, how are you here? What about the farm?”
The men exchange a look.
“We called in some help from the village,” Alec says roughly, watching as I step out of my heels. “We’re planning to stay here a while.”
“What? Why?”
Fraser grins. “Well, we need a place to stay while we woo you.”
“Woo? Me?” I don’t understand. People don’t woo me.
“Aye. I reckon we have some apologising to do.” He nods to the sofa. “Here, why don’t you sit down? You want something to drink?”
I shake my head and plop onto the squashy sofa, rubbing my fingers against the fabric to try to ground myself. Fraser lookslike he wants to join me, but he doesn’t. Just stands and watches me, longing all over his face.
