Ryan puts his drink down and accepts the canapé Conor hands him. ‘Thanks.’
Wow. He almost sounded civil.
‘You know, I could do it…’ he says, before taking a bite.
My head whips up to check if there’s a stupid grin on his face, because surely he has to be joking. The man is a fucking rockstar. People pay hundreds for a single ticket to see him in concert. I’m pretty sure I can’t afford his prices, no matter how much revenue his visit is bringing to the castle.
As if he can read my mind, he says, ‘No charge, of course. It’s the least I can do for intruding on your Christmas.’
‘Too right.’ Conor huffs.
‘Are you serious?’ The tickets will fly off the printer. It would certainly ensure we didn’t have a repeat of last year’s disaster. And it would justify a substantial increase in ticket prices.
He steps closer to me again, his hand brushing over my arm in a reassuring gesture. ‘I’ve never been more serious in my life.’
‘Well, in that case, you’ve got yourself your first Irish gig in what, ten years?’
‘Looks like it.’ He smirks.
Conor steps between us again. ‘What about Matt? Will you need a band?’
My shoulders tense. Performing with a world-famous artist on stage would give Matt and the other young lads the biggest boost of their life. I don’t know Ryan well enough anymore to know if he’s the kind of man to do that for them.
Ryan glances thoughtfully at me, before turning his attention to Conor. ‘I will. Apart from anything, I’ll need breaks to steal a few dances myself.’
Is it possible Ryan’s arrival might be the one thing to save us all?
In the rush of excitement, I throw my arms around him in a spontaneous gesture. ‘Thank you so much. This will mean the world to the lads. And to Victoria and Chloe. Honestly, I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.’
Strong, muscular arms envelop me in a crushing hug that feels like home. Warm wine-scented breath brushes my ear as he whispers, ‘Meet me in the pantry before midnight and I’ll show you.’
A nervous, excited burst of laughter escapes from my chest and I slap his arm in gentle chastisement.
‘Been there, done that. I’d be a fool to do it again.’ Though with three glasses of red wine working their magic, I’m beginning to wonder if I’d be a fool not to. Even if it results in getting my heart broken for a second time.
The coldest months of the year are shaping up to be exceptionally hot.
CHAPTERTWELVE
RYAN
1stDecember
Pierce’s shaven head pops through the doorway of the penthouse suite. ‘You need anything, boss?’
Placing the guitar on the couch beside me, I flip my notebook closed. My unruly scrawling’s finished for today. Being back here’s allowed me to dig deep. Every lyric emerged from some profound unfathomable source within. I’ve got feeling these words will resonate with millions.
Jayden was ecstatic when he listened to what I sent him. So much so, he begged me to fly back right away, but I can’t. And it has nothing to do with the second album, and everything to do with Sasha Sexton. Slowly but surely, I’m breaking down her barriers and I’m nowhere near ready to stop.
‘No thanks. Are you going out?’ I glance out the window where the winter sun rapidly plummets from the sky, sinking into the Irish Sea.
‘I was thinking about hitting the city for a couple of hours, if that’s ok with you? Frank and Archie are here and there’s six more security lads downstairs.’
‘You don’t have to justify it to me. I don’t expect you to hang around twenty-four seven. Go see the sights of Dublin.’
I wouldn’t mind seeing them myself, but nothing in this world would tear me away from this castle tonight. With it being Friday night, I’m planning on making a visit to my two favourite Sexton sisters.
The urge to call in has plagued me all week, but it’s not fair to distract Victoria too much when she has school the next morning and Sasha mentioned she was up to her eyeballs running the estate.
