The Ruby Riot Series: Box Set Part 111

I sigh. "Communication, Nate."

He approaches and looks down. My heart skips as he fixes me with the open look he did in Yorkshire, and runs his rough thumb across my bottom lip. "I missed you this week." His words surge relief through me as he rests his lips briefly on mine. "I don't give a s.h.i.t about anybody's reaction. My life is my own. Since when do I care what anybody thinks?"

"Right. Same. Don't give a c.r.a.p."

He grins. "As always."

Nate moves to one side, and my resulting view of the kitchen doorway includes Tegan. She blinks at us, eyes widening as the penny drops.

"Oh. So you didn't b.u.mp into each other on the way in?"

"No." Nate and me say the word almost at the same time, and I nudge him in the side with my elbow.

He crosses his arms. "Nice place you bought, Tegan."

Tegan's surprised lines break into an excited smile. "Thank you! I'll give you a tour later."

"No, thanks. Is my brother around? Need to talk to him."

"I'll take a tour," I say in an attempt to smooth over Nate's abruptness. "I'd love to see the place. This is amazing, Tegan."

"Isn't it? I love the original features." She indicates the ornate cornices and the art deco light hanging in the centre of the kitchen. "And wait until you see upstairs! We had an interior designer help..."

Nate mutters something and rests against the counter beside me, drinking, as Tegan continues to enthuse about her new home. To be honest, I have no interest in where she bought her rugs and what const.i.tutes the best quality fabrics for furnishings, but I nod in the right places.

The only thing on my mind right now is walking into a room full of people with Nate.

"Tegan, show me the lounge room," I say. If I walk in with both of them, we can have a quiet word with who we'd like, the minimum number of people.

"Drawing room!" she says with a giggle. "Sure thing! I'm so happy you came, I haven't seen you for weeks." She toasts her wine gla.s.s against mine.

The doorbell rings again.

"Oh! Two secs. I'll be right with you." Tegan gives me a gentle shove towards wide-open, stained-gla.s.s-panelled double doors.

I hesitate.

"Come on. I hate hanging around kitchens at parties." Nate wraps an arm around my shoulder and pivots me in the direction of the noise. He's right though, what business is this to anybody in the room?

Because he's Nate Campbell and if anybody's judged, it'll be "stupid Riley."

My hope the room is filled with people who won't notice new guests is dashed. Will, at the opposite end of the room, beneath a framed Ruby Riot tour poster, immediately spots his brother and waves. In a cla.s.sic Will and Nate move, his wave stops dead in the air as he stares at Nate's arm around me.

Will points between us mouthing. "You two?"

Frozen in the moment, I don't see Nate's reaction, but I hear Will's next words with excruciating, crystal clarity.

"Dude! I knew it! Why didn't you tell me you were s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g Riley? I asked you enough times!"

Heads turn, equal numbers of surprised and amused expressions. .h.i.t me. Worse still, I know half of these people professionally. I can't move or I'd beat a retreat to the kitchen.

"Will. Shut your mouth or I'll kick your drunk a.r.s.e!" Nate calls back.

Sure, the room is larger than average, but their conversation is at a volume suited to a b.l.o.o.d.y concert hall. Fleur pushes past a couple of people, her distinctive blonde hair visible amongst the groups as she grabs Will's arm.

"OhmiG.o.d, I don't believe it. I mean the s.h.i.t you've said about her in-" He stops abruptly and looks down at Fleur. "What?"

Fleur and Will have a muttered conversation and Will gestures at Nate and me.

"Wait there," Nate says and shoves his way through the partygoers until he reaches his brother. I sidestep against the wall, but tip my chin upwards and meet the curious onlookers' eyes, despite wanting to crawl behind the large leather sofa. Most turn back to their conversations, show over, and I alternate my focus on Tegan's beloved cornices and the cherished, admittedly beautiful, rugs.

Coming here tonight was a stupid idea.

I have one option as far as I'm concerned. I drain my gla.s.s and head back to the kitchen for another. With shaking hands, I pour a generous serve and slump down onto a kitchen chair.

Will. Why did he need to be such an a.s.shole?

A tall guy with a crew cut, who I thankfully don't recognise and won't be forced to talk to, heads over to the stack of alcohol with two empty gla.s.ses. We both look away as we catch each other's eyes.

"You okay?" asks Tegan as she appears and sits opposite me. "Did you want another drink?"

I look up in surprise then at my gla.s.s. c.r.a.p. Emptied again. How did that happen? "Uh. I think I've had enough."

"It's a party!" Wine sloshes into my gla.s.s and I vow not to drink this one as Tegan enthusiastically slurps hers.

"Will's subtlety never fails to amaze me," I mutter.

"You know what he's like when he's drunk. Fleur will shut him up. She and Nate will, anyway."

"I know, but I wanted a more subtle introduction to the fact I'm with Nate." Tegan's silence and attempt to hide her disbelief says everything. "Yes, we're together. Don't look like that."

"You don't expect everybody to be surprised?"

"Yes, I do, but there's casually mentioning our situation to a few people and there's... that. Will."

Tegan pours herself a gla.s.s and shuffles closer. "How?" she whispers. "This is crazy. What happened?"

"Four days stuck in the same building happened."

"And other things I presume." Tegan smiles slyly. "I always knew you guys would get together again."

"We were never together before. Not really. And we're not together properly now."

"Yeah, right. Nate came here with you. Nate Campbell who holds people at arms' length, not around their shoulders. There was always something weird between you both though. Right from when I first met you." I don't reply. "Admit it."

"I guess..."

Tegan pushes me. "I can't believe you waited two years. You're idiots."

"We hated each other, Tegan."

"Two years obsessing about each other rather than letting how you feel go? Call it hate if you want; I call it unresolved business." She arches a brow. "Which you've clearly resolved."

I blow air into my cheeks and my drunk mouth spills words I wouldn't. "More than once. Often."

Tegan giggles. "Good, then?"

"G.o.d, yes." Why did I decide to drink before I came here tonight? "You know. Like mind-melting, b.l.o.o.d.y amazing, addictive."

"Ah. Yeah, I gotcha. Changes a girl's mind about a guy, doesn't it?" She smiles to herself and drinks. "That's worth hanging onto."

I bite my lip. "Sorry, ignore me. A bit drunk."

"I bet you two are explosive," says Tegan with a giggle, then puts a hand over her mouth. "Inappropriate."

I twist the wine gla.s.s in my hand. Ah, what the h.e.l.l, I finish the contents. "I bet this is usually the other way around. Nate talking about his conquests."

"I doubt anybody could conquer you."

I bite my lip at her opinion. Right, but so wrong. "Are you and Jax coming to the charity gala next weekend?"

"Is that the Cole Daniels one? You bet!"

"This is the biggest thing I've worked on. I'm really nervous."

Tegan's brows shoot up. "I've never heard you say that before. Is this the wine talking? You'll be absolutely fine!"

"I know..."

"I totally understand, but at least you're not doing everything on your own. That hot American guy I met the other night is helping, right?"

"Mitch.e.l.l? Cole's his client."

"Ah. Well, he'll have as much under control as you. He seems the type."

"What type?'

"Riley type."

"He is not my type!" I protest.

Tegan giggles. "Obviously, since you're with Nate. I meant he seems the in control, confident, take no c.r.a.p type."

"Oh. Okay." I smile. "He's relaxed compared to me, which probably helps."

Tegan stands. "You'll kill it! The gala will be a-mazing. I'm excited, especially as people there will be more famous than me, and I can relax and be left alone."

I shake my head at her words. "An advantage, definitely."

Tegan holds out a hand. "Forget about work and come back into the party with me."

"You've invited half of the London celebrity crowd, Tegan. Some of them are agency clients. I'm mortified."

"And most of them don't care. Seriously. Don't stress about it." Tegan beckons me to take her hand. "This isn't like you. Come on."

I allow her to pull me to my feet.

"Top your wine up." She fills my gla.s.s to the brim. "Let's go."

I pull on my confident stance and walk in poised, ready to deal with Will if his drunken mouth shoots off again. I'm not a big drinker, and I've had enough now to guarantee I'll give Will a mouthful in return if he continues his d.i.c.kish behaviour.

Tegan's right. Aside from a couple of glances, most are too busy with themselves, than bothered about seeing Nate and a girl. Not exactly an unusual situation, and only a few people know mine and Nate's background; I'm overthinking. I follow Tegan to the group in the corner, where Jax has now joined the twins and Fleur.

"Hey, Smiley!" says Jax.

"Jax." The stern tone to Tegan's voice is accompanied by an apologetic look from Jax sent in my direction.

"You okay?" Nate asks me.

"Fine." I stare straight at Will.

"Sorry, Riley," says Will in a low voice, looking up at me beneath his fringe. His eyes rea.s.sure me he's drunk; I'd be furious if the earlier performance was a sober Will.

"That's okay," I lie.

"I know, but seriously... you two? This is messing with my head," he continues to Nate.

I startle as Nate takes my hand and Will's expression shifts from confusion to what I'd uncomfortably term as horror. His voice rises again. "What is this? Are you together together or just s.h.a.gging?"

"Will..." growls Nate.

"You and parties!" snaps Fleur and grabs Will's bare arm. "Come and sit with me."

"But look," he gestures at us. "Riley. Seriously? I need to know. Dude, spill. I get you probably hooked up with her on your winter retreat but what's happening?"

"I'm warning you, Will. Shut your mouth," says Nate.

Will stumbles as Fleur tugs him by the arm in the direction of the kitchen.

My reason for avoiding the band in Newcastle sharpens, and stabs.

Nate drops my hand and slides an arm around my waist. Jax watches and I ready myself for a similar comment to Will, but he stays quiet. Is he as shocked by the surreality of this as I am?

"Enjoying the break from touring, Nate?" asks Tegan.

"Kinda."

"We stayed with my family while the new place was renovated," she replies.