"Rhys Reid." I shake his hand and it's calloused and rough. Warm. Our hold on each other is firm, like we're sizing each other up.
"Are there people who don't actually know you when you give your name?"
Another surprised laugh tumbles out and my chest warms. "Not usually, no."
"Crazy." He mutters as he walks back to the little two door car and opens the trunk.
I help him move the four suitcases over to the Range Rover and follow him around into the back seat.
"Where to sir?" Our family’s driver, Greg, asks. I turn to Duncan and raise my eyebrows in question.
"Ah, to Lorna Paisley's house please. She's just a few miles ahead."
Greg nods and we pull out onto the road.
"So you're here visiting your grandmother?" My voice rises too high at the end of my question. I have no idea how to conduct small talk with a stranger that isn’t supervised by my team.
"Yep. And you're here running away from the spotlight?"
"Yep." This time I swallow my laugh.
"Cool."
Our eyes catch for a fleeting moment, long enough to register it, short enough that I want more. Then he turns to look out the window and I do the same.
Duncan brought the scent of the rain into the car with him. And something else, something spicier.
We hit a pothole in the road and I'm jostled to the side. My hand lands on his thigh when I try to catch myself and we both stop to look at it.
I'm about to open my mouth to apologize when I see a wide grin spread across Duncan's face.
"The old, whoops I slipped move. Really?" He shifts and my hand slides a little further up his rock solid leg. The urge to explore warms my palm but I don’t know what to do with it because lust isn’t something I’ve chased. Ever. "Rhys, I'm a sure thing, you don't have to work so hard."
"Maybe I like working hard." I say and the flirtatious line surprises me. His eyes sparkle behind his glasses and my entire body heats as his gaze darts from my face to my hand to my body tilting dangerously toward him. I pull back before the flames engulf me. "Sorry Duncan."
"Why? That was a great line." He insists with a smile that consumes his entire face.
"Yeah, but, I'm, well…" I don't do casual hook ups. Does it get lonely? Yes. Do I crave physical intimacy? Yes. Am I willing to risk someone exploiting me? No. "I'm not looking for a relationship right now."
He scoffs. "Same bud. I'm not looking for a relationship…ever."
"Ever?"
"Nah, I mean, where's the fun in that?"
"Well," I start but he holds up a hand to stop me.
"Don't bother. I've got buddies in their relationship era and I've heard their arguments. But it's not for me." His jaw ticks as he looks out the window.
"Alright, fair enough." I concede. It's oddly refreshing to talk to someone who doesn't seem interested in locking me down. Every fan who gets a one-on-one tends to be overly flirty and suggestive.
It's taxing.
I left home to make music, the fame just sort of happened. I’m a quiet, reserved man who loves to write songs and now I also sing them on stage for thousands of fans.
Coming home to Scotland is a reminder of how different my life is now than it could have been.
"It's the next drive on the left." Duncan says to Greg who nods.
