Page 31 of Companion Required

Chapter Fourteen

Kieran

Kieran recognised Patrick immediately from the online photograph he’d seen of Kennedy and another man at a social function. Both dark-haired, Kennedy always appeared well turned out, with wisps of grey at the temples of his well-groomed hair, his chiselled features, and those stunning deep Atlantic blue eyes. Patrick’s hair sat in tight curls on his head like a helmet, and his almost black eyes burned into Kieran like accusations. Three other men stood with him, a younger one who appeared a little uncomfortable and two others standing unsmiling behind Patrick like personal bodyguards. Perhaps they were. But what the hell was Patrick doing on the cruise? And more importantly, why would he want to gate-crash this party? Unless he had been invited or was here to make trouble? Kieran felt instantly uncomfortable. How was he supposed to deal with this?

“It’s okay,” came Kennedy’s voice, as he approached the door, stopped next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Let them in. They’re friends too, and—even if unexpected—more than welcome.”

Kieran could hear an immediate change in the tone of Kennedy’s voice, a cold, business-like formality. That alone irked Kieran, who had noticed that before this intrusion Kennedy—the real Kennedy—had finally surfaced, had started to relax, laugh and enjoy himself.

Patrick and Kennedy shook hands like heads of state, the stern gaze between them unfathomable. Kieran wanted to intervene, to say something, but no words came.

“You know Richmond and Mike,” said Patrick, indicating the henchmen dwarfing him, then turned to the nice-looking guy a few years younger than Kieran. Something in his discomfort told Kieran he’d also been an unwitting bystander in the decision to invade the party. “This is Joey. He’s accompanying me this year.”

“And this is Kieran, my plus one,” said Kennedy. “Everyone else here you know. Come in and make yourselves at home.”

Kieran’s twinge of pleasure at the label ‘plus one’ was short-lived. On their way in, only Joey made an effort to smile and shake hands with him. The other three ignored him, and one of them actually brushed into him without a word of apology. Kennedy escorted the four new guests over to the bar, leaving Kieran standing alone. He looked around for Steph and Laurie, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Finally, Pete came to his rescue and dragged him over to where his rosy-cheeked father was sipping on a large glass of wine. Considering they were father and son, they could not have looked more different—chubby Pete with his wild chestnut hair exploding from his pear-shaped head, and Eric, carefully groomed with a full head of straight white hair and matching handlebar moustache. The perfect double act.

“Don’t worry, Kieran. None of this has anything to do with you. I asked Patrick if he wanted to join us this year, wanted me to book him a cabin, and he categorically declined, after what happened last year. As did Richmond and Mike, which was no biggie. They’re like the Three Musketeers, joined at the codpiece. And now they even have a fourth, their very own d’Artagnan, the young, handsome hero. Although I’ve no idea who he’s supposed to be here with.”

“Patrick. Accompanying him.”

“Whateverthatmeans. You know, even after they split, both Kennedy and Patrick used to come on the cruises—separately, of course. Until last year. Did Kennedy tell you what happened?”

“No, he didn’t mention anything.”

“So, a word of warning. Don’t get sucked into being sweet-talked by Richmond and Mike—I call them Rich and Poor, by the way, because Mike’s last name is Porter—unless you want Kennedy to throw a wobbly. Last year, they had a three-way with Kennedy’s then boyfriend, Ewan. Caused one hell of a stink, I can tell you. Honestly, I still believe Patrick put them up to it, to get back at Kennedy. So, you know, just watch yourself around them.”

“Trust me, Pete, that’s not going to be a problem.”

“Yeah,” said Pete, assessing Kieran. “I believe you. Can’t quite make you out yet. You are not like the usual vacuous twink he brings along. Is our man over there finally growing up and moving on?”

When he followed Pete’s gaze, to where Kennedy stood at the bar, Kieran’s heart wrenched a little to observe Kennedy’s discomfort, even though he appeared to be putting on a brave face. Leonard must have sensed the tension too, because he immediately stepped in to join Kennedy in support. At almost the same time, they noticed Steph and Laurie descending the staircase from the bedroom mezzanine level. They’d clearly been having a sneak peek around the cabin. Steph’s face was a picture when she noticed the group at the bar. Frozen mid-staircase, with Laurie almost bumping into her back, her mouth dropped open. Looking over at Pete, she mouthed the words ‘what the fuck’, which even had Kieran grinning. But troopers to the last, they descended and went straight over to the new guests, liberally providing theatrical hellos, hugs and kisses.

“Why doesn’t Leonard bring anyone on these cruises?” Kieran asked Pete, absently. When Leonard laughed, his eyes sparkled and the goatee revealed deep dimples in his cheeks.

“Good-looking bloke, isn’t he?”

“Had he been here, my friend Cole would have been all over him.”

“How old is he? Your friend?”

“In his early twenties, I think, but very good-looking.”

“Not Leonard’s type, dear. Leonard’s into Daddies.”

“He’s—what?”

“Yes, I know. The man’s forty-four. But his late partner was twenty years older. Passed away years ago. We all just assumed it was one of those things—they met young, connected, stayed together. Until the first time I brought Dad along on the cruise four years ago, and Leonard tried to jump his bones.”

“No!” said Kieran, stifling a laugh.

“Flattered,” slurred Eric. “But I’m afraid I’m a bouncy boobies ladies’ man.”

“Christ, Dad!” chastised Pete. “Gross, or what?”

After Pete offered to refill his drink, Kieran made a point of circumventing Patrick and his minders, and escaped to the safety of the outside balcony. Only then, as he stood there, did he sense the motion of the ship, and realise the vessel had left the port and was heading out to the open seas. After ten minutes standing at the sea rail, he sensed someone come and join him, and turned to see Joey standing there. More than likely, he too wanted to get away from the tension in the room. After nodding a welcome, they swapped stories about each other. Interestingly, they both lived south of the Thames river in different towns in London. Joey worked for the NHS, doing his foundation training on the way to becoming a doctor. Kieran found him entirely genuine and explained candidly about his own work-study situation before asking how Joey knew Patrick.

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