Page 34 of Not My Little Drummer Boy
It’s like Christian’s been waiting to trap me where I can’t escape. With Donovan fussing at my ankles—pins clenched between his lips—I don’t dare move. For once I might be taller than Christian up here, but the serious look in his eyes says I don’t have the upper hand.
“So, you and Rachel, eh?” he says, pretending to supervise the man at my feet.
No point denying it. Haley’s onto me, and she tells Christian everything.
“Yeah,” I say. “Not that much has happened between us. But I really like her.”
He huffs a laugh. “And there’s no doubt she really likes you. She’s all over you, mate.”
Heat climbs my neck. I’m not used to feeling off-balance—shy, even—over a woman making the first move.
“Listen, it’s none of my business—shouldn’t be sticking my nose in. But she’s Haley’s friend…”
“Sure. I get it. And Haley doesn’t want her hurt.”
“Two months ago she had a breakup. Pretty brutal.”
“I know. She told me.”
His brows jump. “Well, she took it hard—him walking out like that. And replacing her. She hasn’t been herself. Not until she arrived here.”
“Being with her friends probably helps.”
“Yeah. But I think it’s you, too. So that’s why you need to be careful.”
“I am. Believe me. I’m not working to my usual rules with her. Not just because of her breakup, either. She’s not like the others.”
“Good.” He shifts, thumbs in his pockets. “I know I’m not one to sit and talk feelings and shit like Garrett, or for the best-mate heart-to-hearts like Ollie. But I can give you some advice.”
“I’ll take any I can get if it helps me not fuck this up.”
“Last year, when Haley and I first got together, she wasn’t in a great place. The bloke who dumped her had just married her best friend. She was hurting. Like Rachel.”
“So how did you handle it?”
“I just let her know that she was enough—more than enough. That to me, she was extraordinary, exactly as she is. That I’d stand beside her through whatever came at her, or at us. That she could trust me to be there.”
“That’s what I do?”
“That’s what you do.”
“There. All sorted, thanks, Teddy.” Donovan rises to his feet.
Christian ambles off. Conversation over. I know what I need to do—and it scares the hell out of me. I’m doing it anyway.
Chapter 11
Istifleayawnbehind my hand as Daphne, the seamstress, zips me into the bridesmaid’s dress for a final check. Even balancing on this stool while she scrutinises the hem is tiring. Bloody work, keeping me up far too late, but there wasn’t another option.
I crawled into bed only after sorting the Hong Kong contract, and still my phone kept pinging. Marcus, of course, copied me into every email he fired off, banking on me being asleep so he could show me up. Not a chance. I added my tuppence-worth to each one, and our client can see who’s doing the thinking in this pairing.
Now I’m paying for it. This must be what having a newborn is like: you finally drift off and they’re demanding you again. First thing, my boss wanted another set of documents—because out in the real world, it’s just another Monday.
Then the weather packed up overnight, so I missed my ride on Solly. I feel out of sorts—not just because I crave the feel, scent and rhythm of being on horseback again. I missed being with Teddy, too.
By the time I arrived at breakfast, Ollie had already hustled the band off into rehearsal because their schedule is as tight as mine. Like me, they have things that must happen this week, wedding or no wedding. Once Christian and Haley return from their ten-day honeymoon, Stellar Riot dives straight into the studio to cut their album plus a stack of promo for their Christmas single. I know they’re under pressure, but damn, I’d still have loved to start my day lost in Teddy’s coffee-brown eyes. That brief glimpse of him through the doorway earlier—before Samantha, the little spoilsport, shut it down—only poured petrol on the fire.
We stepped over a line out in the stable last night—okay, maybe just dipped a toe in the water and yanked it back when we found it too hot—but it still felt significant. Not only did I get another fix of his hands on my bare skin before Poppy interrupted our fun, I saw even more of the man behind those come-play-with-me eyes and tousled bed hair.
