‘Where on earth are we, Ren?’ she whispered.‘Do I need a bleeding gown?’
I laughed.‘It’s a hotel, Sunshine.No gown needed.I figured we could use some luxury after three weeks of sleeping in tents.Plus, I fancied treating you now that you’ll let me.’
Her eyes flickered, something unreadable there before she smirked.‘This is kind of sexy.’
I winked.‘I know.’
Lydia rolled her eyes as I took her hand and led her up the steps.She was still in awe, but the squeeze of her fingers told me she wasn’t mad about it.
Waiting at the entrance was Duncan, exactly as I remembered him from the last time we had seen each other in London for the British Bar Awards a few years ago.
‘Lawrence.’ Duncan threw his arms open and pulled me into a bone-crushing hug, clapping me on the back hard enough to rattle my ribs.He had a very soft Scottish lilt to his voice.‘I’ll tell you what, I never expected this call.And at six in the evening too.Thought you’d gone soft.’
His eyes shifted to Lydia and he extended a hand.‘And you must be Lydia.He wouldn’t shut up about you on the phone.I had to tell him to stop waffling and get to the bleeding point.’
Lydia raised a brow at me, then shook Duncan’s hand firmly.‘What can I say?He’s obsessed with me.’
Duncan barked a laugh.‘Now I can see why.’
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.‘I should’ve known this was a mistake.’
Lydia gave me an innocent smile.‘Oh, come on.You love it when I tell everyone how much you adore me.’
Duncan grinned, arms crossed over his broad chest.‘And here I thought you were the cocky one, Lawrence.Looks like you’ve met your match.’
‘Oh, he’s been trying to keep up for years,’ Lydia said, flicking her eyes up and down me with a slow, smug grin that set my blood pounding.‘Bless him.’
Duncan let out another booming laugh.‘I like her.’
I rolled my eyes, fighting a smile.‘Yeah, yeah.Me too.’
Duncan nodded towards the door.‘Do you two fancy a whisky?I kept the bar open.Got some cracking new bottles in.’
I turned to Lydia, running a hand down her ponytail.‘Fancy a nightcap?’
Lydia nodded with a faint smile.‘Sure.’
‘Crackin’.’ Duncan clapped.‘Leave the car.I’ll ask Brian to bring your bags up to your room.We’re quiet tonight, so I’ve put you in the Glencairn Suite.You’ll be very comfortable.’
Duncan winked and then led the way through the glass doors.The stone flags looked hundreds of years old, and the vaulted ceilings gave the space a grand, yet inviting, feel.Upholstered in the same deep green tartan as Duncan’s waistcoat, grand armchairs sat around a roaring fireplace.I ran my hand down Lydia’s arm, clasping her hand.
‘If this is what I’ll be getting used to being Ren Hunter’s girlfriend, sign me up,’ Lydia muttered.
I laughed and squeezed her hand, grinning as warmth bloomed in my chest.Girlfriend.That word sounded bloody good coming from her lips.
‘Get used to it, Sunshine.’
After a few whiskies with Duncan, his raucous laugh and stories started to wear on me and, typically, I could chat with him until the ‘wee’ hours of the morning.But right now?I wanted to be alone in a massive hotel suite with Lydia, preferably naked, underneath me.All I could focus on was the iron-like grip of Lydia’s fingers on my thigh, teasing, creeping higher than was strictly appropriate in polite company.Every accidental brush of our legs sent my blood pounding south, making it nearly impossible to concentrate on Duncan’s latest tale about his niece’s pet rabbit.
I turned slightly, catching the smug little smirk on her lips as she sipped her whisky.She was playing with me, testing my patience.Seeing how long I’d last before I snapped.
I exhaled slowly, gripping my thigh just to stop myself from grabbing her.Get it together, Hunter.But when Lydia shifted in her seat, crossing her legs, I knew she was trying to relieve some of the tension building between them.
Enough.
I downed the rest of my drink, feeling the heat slide down my throat before placing the tumbler down with a quiet thud.‘Mate, this has been great.I really appreciate it.But we’ve been sleeping in tents for the last three weeks, so we’re going to hit the hay.’
‘The very expensive, luxury hay,’ Lydia added huskily, her lips curled at the corner.She was enjoying this way too much.
