Starling greets us all and we make our way into the dining room. Flamed ghosts dance on the wall from the amount of candles lit, the ambience of the room intimate. A record player had been moved in here from the music room and a Han Zimmer track plays. Phin has always been obsessed with movie scores, even as a child he knew he’d one day follow in his idol's footsteps. His room was always filled with records and soundtracks from his favourite movies.
Before I trail in after them, someone grabs my hand and I’m curious to find it’s Jay touching me. He’s in his usual tight jeans, but has a smart shirt fastened to the top button. His dirty blonde hair is combed, but still has an effortlessly messy style.
Removing his hand, he takes a step back but motions for me to step to the side away from the doorway.
“Hey, Robin. You look lovely.”
Not what I was expecting, so I just give him a friendly smile. “Thanks, Lil did a number on me. It’s nice because I never get to wear anything like this.”
“You should, it makes you look…decadent.” I think he means it as a compliment, but the word seems foreign to him and he fidgets slightly. I’ve barely spoken with him during our stay, so I’m pretty sure he’s just making small talk.
“What’s up? Do you need anything?” I assume he needs help with something in the hotel and doesn't want to bother the guys making dinner, but I’m unfortunately mistaken when he says the last thing I expect.
“I overheard Phin asking questions about the weekend and something about a suspect board? I’m not sure exactly what he meant, but he mentioned you and how the detectives are idiots. Going down the wrong path.” He leans in closer so as to notbe overheard, his eyes nervously flashing over my head as he speaks.
I could kill Phoenix and his big mouth.
Before I can explain myself, he shakes his head. “Don’t worry he was only speaking with Wren. Look I don’t want you to over think anything, but can we speak later? After dinner. I saw something a little weird by the guest house and well, I’m going to look into it but I think you should know.”
Well now he’s piqued my interest.
“Why can’t you tell me now?” I ask, but he looks nearly frantic when he checks over my head again in the direction of the dining room.
“Not around the detectives. Wait until they leave. When they go to bed we’ll talk.”
All I can do is nod, pointing to the room as I start to walk back. “Come in with me?”
“I’ll be in soon. Gonna grab a bottle of red—plenty in the cellar.” Giving me a gentle but strained smile, he disappears off into the heart of the house and I finally join our friends in the dining room like nothing had happened. Goldie is loitering by the record player, Starling is helping Lily into her seat and everyone else is distracted with small talk.
The same name cards from our party Friday have been placed around the table and this time I’m sitting with my back to the conversatory. Over the music, rain hits the glass roof hard, a rattle running through the room as the storm picks up. It shouldn’t have been dark yet outside, but the sky is a harsh grey that's stolen all light.
“There she is.” A voice now frighteningly comforting purs, making me turn to see Wren walk into the room carrying two big bowls of salad. Grinning, he looked gorgeous with his curls tamed back and of course he’s made a knit polo work. It fits his toned chest so well and makes me notice his upper arm muscles,as well as the gold necklaces layered against his tattooed throat. He’s so tall, but underneath those baggy t-shirts he’d worn so far, he was hiding some seriously gorgeous abs that had been all over me in the lake. Honestly, it was hard to refrain from running my tongue along them.
Placing the bowls down, he walks around to my side and whistles, before planting a kiss on the top of my head. “You look fucking delicous.” He whispers for only me to hear and when he pulls back, I see the heat in his gaze. Definitely the reaction I wanted and I tell myself it’s not just the dress, Wren complimented me when I wore just a Larks t-shirt and had bed head.
“You don’t look bad yourself.” I tell him, not saying how I really feel because he doesn’t need his ego inflating. His grin widens, like he can read my thoughts and knows I’d let him have his way with me right here on the table if he asked. Looking down his frame shamelessly, I snort as I spot his pink socks with little cats on them and point down. “Wren, where are your shoes? Seriously, cats?”
“In honour of our cat baby that is waiting to be adopted.” He says with such confidence, shrugging like it’s the most obvious statement in the world.
My mouth pops open but I don’t even know where to begin. “Our cat baby?”
“Yeah, when I was getting ready I couldn’t stop thinking about Thistle stealing her neighbour's pet. Then it got me thinking if you had pets, if you’d like a pet, if you were a cat or dog person. I went with a cat, so I’ll get you as many as you like. I’d be a fucking great cat Dad.”
Taking my hand whilst I’m still gaping, he pulls out my chair for me and after I sit, pulls out the chair next to me and frowns at the place card. I swear I’m having Deja vue.
“Now this is just rude. Why are you constantly separating me from my wife?” he exclaims at Phoenix as he walks through the door. My best friend wears a simple white sheer shirt, tucked into a pair of grey smart trousers. How in the world have I surrounded myself with effortlessly good looking people? Next to walk in is Cardinal, broody in a black smart shirt and slacks. My heart sinks to look at him. I’ve debated all day whether to tell him I found his secret, but now that Lily knows, it’s a matter of when because her mouth gets a little loose after only two glasses of champers.
Wren launches the place card that was Phins across the table and crosses his ankle over his leg. Placing his arm along the back of my chair, and grins at me.
“You’re hot and cold games are giving me whiplash.” I tell him, smirking as he sits up straight but realises I’m teasing him.
“I will apologise as long as you see fit Lovey.” He leans in to whisper into my ear and I inhale sandalwood and mint. “I’m very good at saying sorry with my tongue.”
Heat spreads across my skin and I press my thighs together, meeting his eyes that glint with mischief and are bright emerald. His palm runs up my leg and squeezes, fully aware of what he’s doing before releasing me and sitting straight like he hadn’t said a thing. People take their seats, including both detectives, but there might as well have only been him and I, because everything always just falls away whenever we’re together. Apart from our imaginary cat child, they’re front and center of my mind as I still gape at this insanely charming rockstar.
AFTER devouring a three course meal that the guys are all taking praise for, some of us linger at the table to eat chocolate dessert, whilst another group sit in the conservatory and pop open perhaps the fourth bottle of champagne. It doesn’t surprise me in the slightest that the guys had the hotel fully stocked forthe weekend, I could swear it flowed through the Claythorne family veins. Both Wren and Phoenix have brought in guitars from the music room and sit in two bucket chairs by the open double doors, the relentless rain pouring onto the patio as an almost soothing backing track. The way they both play their instruments together shows how many times they’ve done it before, fingers beautifully in sync. After a few notes I recognise the song,Blackbirdby The Beatles.
I’m so transfixed in watching them both through the doors, that I don’t notice that Cardinal has slid into the chair next to me, stretching out his long limbs.
