Page 13 of Hearts Colliding
Ryan stepped back and looked around him, at the large and airy hallway, at the sweeping staircase, at the abundance of original features. Alex watched, fascinated without wanting to be, at the way the younger man was taking it all in. He knew Ryan was seeing elegance and beauty where he only saw sadness and fear.
In one sharp move, Ryan shifted his attention back onto Alex, his gaze steady and unwavering. The throb in Alex’s skull turned up another notch. He should tell Ryan to go — demand he go — but he was frozen to the spot as Ryan pinned him down with eyes that seemed to see too much, cutting through the brittle armour he’d spent years building around himself. He wanted to turn away from the bright challenge in Ryan’s eyes as much as he wanted to meet it, as much as he wanted to pitch himself against this man who was not afraid to stand up to him. But he’d learnt to pick his battles.
“I suggest you study the plans in detail. The village has a lot to gain, if you can put aside your misguided sentimentality.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? There’s nothing sentimental about wanting to stop hundreds of homes being built here. What about the infrastructure? Roads and schools and all the rest of it?”
“The answer to those questions, and no doubt many more, are all there. You need to read it carefully—”
“I have.”
“Then I suggest you read it again.” Alex huffed, as impatience gnawed at his composure. “The development of the house, and the outbuildings, will appeal to those who have a lot of disposable income. The affordable homes will be built on the Jenkins farm—”
“Exactly. A farm, it’s rural land.”
“It’s called a farm, but that’s not really what it was before it was left to rot, was it? No, not really a farm at all, but a small poultry processing plant. Think of all those chicken nuggets it churned out! It’s officially designated as a brownfield site, in other words, previously developed land that’s no longer being used. Like a former poultry processing plant. It’s not the verbatim dictionary definition, but it’s good enough, which means it’s prime house building land. Houses —affordable houses— which will attract families, providing the next generation of villagers. They’ll all spend their money in the village, supporting local businesses. Such as yours.
“Are you going to tell me The Fisherman’s Arms hasn’t benefited from all the newcomers? I came into the pub, remember? It’s a far cry from what it was, which was a shabby boozer where only local farmers and fisherman drank. Don’t tell me the money that’s found its way to Love’s Harbour hasn’t benefitedyou? If you try and claim otherwise, we’ll both smell the bullshit. This proposal will add to your bank balance. If you’re a businessman, you can’t afford to deny that.”
“Oh, yes, we’ve benefited from new blood coming into the Harbour. I won’t deny it, nobody who’s seen their businesses thrive would. But it isn’t just about putting money in our pockets.” Ryan stepped in closer, stealthily, slowly, like a cat stalking its prey. A shiver ran through Alex, fear and — something else. Tall and well built, Ryan was an impressive physical presence, but it wasn’t that which unsettled him.
Ryan was so close, Alex could feel his warm, damp breath, just as he could smell the rich aroma of hops and malt and barley. Alex breathed in deep because more than anything he could smell the woodsy, heady, musky aroma that was Ryan alone, flooding his senses and making him lightheaded.
Alex stumbled back, and his back met the wall by the fireplace. He had no place to escape to as Ryan leaned forward, close enough for him to sweep his tongue across those full, ripe lips that were no more than a kiss away from his own.
“I think it’s time you left,” he croaked.
Ryan ignored him, and Alex’s heart pounded as Ryan’s gaze drifted across his face.
Slow and lazy, almost sensual, it sent shockwaves across Alex’s tingly skin as much as it sent heat to his hardening dick. Ryan’s gaze settled on his mouth, and Alex swallowed hard as the younger man’s lips lifted into a sultry smile. Alex was powerless to look away. What would they feel like, pressed hard against his own? How would Ryan taste, how would he feel, as he pushed his tongue deep—
Ryan leaned in closer, leaving no more than a hair’s breadth between them. “I can leave, but I’m not going anywhere.”
Alex’s breath hitched at the husky, gravelly words. His tongue swept over his dry lips and he raised his eyes to meet Ryan’s.
You bastard…
Ryan stared down at him with hard edged, mocking amusement. Alex’s legs began to buckle and only his will power and pride stopped him from slipping to the floor.
“None of us are going, Alex. You can put up all the planning proposals you want, but you’ve got a fight on your hands. If you think you can walk all over us, you’ve been away too long.”
Scrunching the notice into a tight ball, Ryan dropped it at Alex’s feet, throwing him one last contemptuous glance, before walking out of the house and slamming the door behind him.
Alex’s legs gave way. He slipped down the wall and crumpled to the floor as the echo of Ryan’s anger, and the out of control gallop of his heart, pulsed in the cold and empty hall.
CHAPTERNINE
“What we need is a concerted, cohesive response. The village has to act together as one if we’ve got any chance of putting a stop to Alex Love’s plans.”
Ryan looked around at everybody gathered, after hours, in Harbour Coffee. He’d stormed home, smashing into the pub like a hurricane. His nan had got to work, bringing together Joss and his fiancé Oliver, the village veterinary surgeon, along with Joss’ gran Doreen, and Charles and his senior barista and semi-secret boyfriend Declan. Start with a small group of the known and trusted, his nan had said, tapping the side of her nose. Together they’d be the generals, the war council directing the fight against Alex.
Ryan’s hot anger had settled to stone cold fury. But Alex wasn’t the only one he was furious with; he was furious with himself. He ground the nib of his pen into his dog eared notebook, making a hole in the paper.
He’d been so angry, but it hadn’t been enough to obliterate the thrill of backing the man against the wall. Standing over Alex, glaring down into his pupil-blown eyes, his dick had hardened as he’d fought his desire to taste those red, plump lips.
Fuck…Ryan shuffled his chair closer to the table as his groin twitched with the memory.
“Ry?Ryan!”
