Saturday night. They’ve got way more on their hands to deal with than a house break-in. Is it alright if I stay here?’
Scott was nodding even before she finished speaking. ‘Yeah, of course. Just let me sort things out for you upstairs first.’ He flicked his gaze to the roof of the living room, directly under his bedroom.
A suspicion worked its way to the front of Amy’s mind. There was something about the way he’d mentioned sorting things out. ‘Scott?’
‘Yeah?’
‘I’m not interrupting anything, am I?’
‘Nah, Ames. It’s all good. Just . . . just let me sort some stuff out.’ His flushed cheeks, visible even under his dark olive skin, gave him away for sure.
‘Oh bugger. You’ve got a lady here, haven’t you? I’m so sorry, sweetie. Let me call a hotel and I’ll book in for the rest of the night.’ Amy was out of her chair and halfway to the front door by the time he caught her around the waist. His hold was gentle but indicated he meant business.
‘You’re staying right here, or I’m gonna call Jo. You know she and Stephen will be in a car driving back to Perth even before she hangs up the phone. How’bout you start us on another pot of tea and I’ll be back in a sec.’ He firmly spun her back around and pointed her towards the kitchen.
Amy nodded, giving in but still feeling awful. ‘Alright. Tell your friend that I’m really, really sorry, yeah?’
‘Be right back.’ He gave her a quick, reassuring smile, then turned on his heel. Moments later she heard the heavy thud of his feet on the stairs followed by muted conversation.
Amy didn’t even try to peek at the lady as he saw her out the door. Scott was notoriously discreet and it was a rare woman that he introduced to his friends. Amy kind of understood his reserve but she had a feeling Jo understood it better, since she’d been just as secretive about her love life until she’d met Stephen Hardy three years before.
Travelling internationally on a regular basis was hell on relationships and rather than getting embroiled in something long-term that would inevitably leave a partner feeling abandoned half the year, Scott opted to keep things casual and private.
‘Did you apologise for me?’ Amy asked as he strode back into the kitchen, pulling on a loose white T-shirt.
‘Nope,’ he said firmly in a tone that let her know the topic was closed, then took the teapot she was holding, setting it by the electric kettle. ‘There’s a T-shirt and a pair of my old shorts on the spare bed if you want to get changed.’
‘Thanks, sweetie,’ Amy said with a relieved smile. As much as she liked the memory of Ben appreciating her dress tonight, it felt tainted by everything that had happened afterwards.
‘Go on. I’ve left stuff up there for your contact lenses too.’ Scott spoke over his shoulder while he sniffed the milk in his fridge to see if it was fresh despite having just used it. It was an automatic gesture that pointed to just how often he was away from home. ‘You’ll be able to see good enough without them tonight won’t you?’
‘Yep.’ Amy felt a rush of warmth and walked over to Scott, hugging him tightly from behind. ‘Love you,’ she said against the smooth black hair hanging down his back.
‘Love you, too. Go get changed,’ he commanded. ‘Then you’re gonna tell me what the hell happened tonight in full detail.’
Amy gave him another tight squeeze. ‘Tomorrow. I’m exhausted. Let’s just have the tea and go to bed. The rest will wait.’
She smiled at Scott’s grunt of reluctant agreement and tottered up the stairs to bed, feeling extremely safe and very sleepy.
The feeling lasted until the next morning, when she shared the reason she’d returned home so late.
‘You went out with Ben Martindale? Seriously? Ben Martindale? The bloke we saw in the Norfolk last week? That Ben Martindale? Do you know who he is, Ames?’ Scott’s expression was dumbstruck. A glob of French toast
Scott was nodding even before she finished speaking. ‘Yeah, of course. Just let me sort things out for you upstairs first.’ He flicked his gaze to the roof of the living room, directly under his bedroom.
A suspicion worked its way to the front of Amy’s mind. There was something about the way he’d mentioned sorting things out. ‘Scott?’
‘Yeah?’
‘I’m not interrupting anything, am I?’
‘Nah, Ames. It’s all good. Just . . . just let me sort some stuff out.’ His flushed cheeks, visible even under his dark olive skin, gave him away for sure.
‘Oh bugger. You’ve got a lady here, haven’t you? I’m so sorry, sweetie. Let me call a hotel and I’ll book in for the rest of the night.’ Amy was out of her chair and halfway to the front door by the time he caught her around the waist. His hold was gentle but indicated he meant business.
‘You’re staying right here, or I’m gonna call Jo. You know she and Stephen will be in a car driving back to Perth even before she hangs up the phone. How’bout you start us on another pot of tea and I’ll be back in a sec.’ He firmly spun her back around and pointed her towards the kitchen.
Amy nodded, giving in but still feeling awful. ‘Alright. Tell your friend that I’m really, really sorry, yeah?’
‘Be right back.’ He gave her a quick, reassuring smile, then turned on his heel. Moments later she heard the heavy thud of his feet on the stairs followed by muted conversation.
Amy didn’t even try to peek at the lady as he saw her out the door. Scott was notoriously discreet and it was a rare woman that he introduced to his friends. Amy kind of understood his reserve but she had a feeling Jo understood it better, since she’d been just as secretive about her love life until she’d met Stephen Hardy three years before.
Travelling internationally on a regular basis was hell on relationships and rather than getting embroiled in something long-term that would inevitably leave a partner feeling abandoned half the year, Scott opted to keep things casual and private.
‘Did you apologise for me?’ Amy asked as he strode back into the kitchen, pulling on a loose white T-shirt.
‘Nope,’ he said firmly in a tone that let her know the topic was closed, then took the teapot she was holding, setting it by the electric kettle. ‘There’s a T-shirt and a pair of my old shorts on the spare bed if you want to get changed.’
‘Thanks, sweetie,’ Amy said with a relieved smile. As much as she liked the memory of Ben appreciating her dress tonight, it felt tainted by everything that had happened afterwards.
‘Go on. I’ve left stuff up there for your contact lenses too.’ Scott spoke over his shoulder while he sniffed the milk in his fridge to see if it was fresh despite having just used it. It was an automatic gesture that pointed to just how often he was away from home. ‘You’ll be able to see good enough without them tonight won’t you?’
‘Yep.’ Amy felt a rush of warmth and walked over to Scott, hugging him tightly from behind. ‘Love you,’ she said against the smooth black hair hanging down his back.
‘Love you, too. Go get changed,’ he commanded. ‘Then you’re gonna tell me what the hell happened tonight in full detail.’
Amy gave him another tight squeeze. ‘Tomorrow. I’m exhausted. Let’s just have the tea and go to bed. The rest will wait.’
She smiled at Scott’s grunt of reluctant agreement and tottered up the stairs to bed, feeling extremely safe and very sleepy.
The feeling lasted until the next morning, when she shared the reason she’d returned home so late.
‘You went out with Ben Martindale? Seriously? Ben Martindale? The bloke we saw in the Norfolk last week? That Ben Martindale? Do you know who he is, Ames?’ Scott’s expression was dumbstruck. A glob of French toast
Similar Books
