CHAPTER FOUR

 

My feet are killing me, and I’m pretty sure that, even after using factor 50, I’ve caught the sun. My skin is stinging and as the sun sets, my body is starting to shiver from the light breeze.

“Never again am I going sightseeing with you.” I curse as we step out of the car, glaring over the roof at my friend.

“Hey, you had the best experience of your life,” Alison mutters as she hands the keys over to the guy we met last night.

“I’m pretty sure you were out to kill me, Alison. In the worst possible way.”

“Oh come on, that sushi place was something you had on your bucket list,” she argues, but she seems pretty distracted.

“Yeah, whilst I’m in Japan, not in London. I don’t even like sushi.” I’m so grateful I decided to skip and just watch Alison stuff her face.

“I feel sick,” she grumbles.

“I did tell you not to eat it, but you didn’t listen. I’ve heard stories about sushi,” I scold, shuddering as we step inside.

“You had it on your bucket list, Pagan.”

“Yeah, because having boring stuff that I’ve already done sounds lame. I also had ‘eat snails in France’ on that list. Doesn’t mean I’m gonna do it.”

“I think I’m gonna be sick.” She holds her hand over her mouth, looking rather green for someone who’s been out in the sun all day.

“Are you okay?” Pam asks as she walks into the main foyer, accompanied by a sweet old lady. I’m guessing this must be Ada, Pam’s mother.

She doesn’t seem so scary.

“She looks like she’s about to spew,” the old lady comments, grinning. It takes me by surprise because the smile looks downright terrifying.

“Let’s get you to bed,” I tell Alison before turning to Pam. “She had bad sushi.”

Alison makes a gagging noise and quicker than I thought anyone could move, let alone a small old lady, Ada grabs a bronze vase from the table. She tips the flowers and water out all over the floor and rushes over to Alison, holding it in front her face. Within seconds of holding the vase, Alison is throwing up.

I gag, looking away from Alison and breathing through my mouth so I don’t have to smell it.

“Wow, you had the rice sushi? That sucks to throw back up,” Ada mutters. Alison groans in agreement, throwing up more.

Who is this woman?

“Mother,” Pam scolds.

“Oh shush, Pammy. I got this. Come on, dear, let’s get you upstairs. I’ve got something to make you feel all better.”

“Do not go giving her that godawful drink, Mother.”

“What drink?” I ask, looking between Pam and Ada.

“It’s not even a drink. It’s a bunch of expensive alcohol mixed together. Grams drinks it like it’s pop, but to the rest of us, it makes us vomit,” Drake says, walking out of the kitchen.

“It’s better she gets it all out of her system.” Ada defends. “Now why don’t you and Pagan here go watch a movie in the theatre?”

“Theatre?” I ask, then remember the cinema room down the hall from the kitchen on the tour this morning.

“Please,” Alison groans between puking and gagging.

“Come along. Just don’t go getting any on me. Now that expensive rug outside your room—go for it. Ugly thing.” Ada shudders, helping Alison up the stairs.

“Mother,” Pam shouts, shaking her head.

“Is she going to be okay?” I ask, my eyes following Alison and Ada.

“It’s probably food poisoning, which might take a few days to get over,” Drake says, looking down at me.

Wow, I didn’t realise how tall he is.

“I meant Ada with Alison. Will she be okay to look after her?”

“Oh.” He chuckles, turning to his mum for an answer.

“I’ll go hide her stash of alcohol,” she mutters before rushing off.

“So would you like to go watch a film?” Drake asks, turning back to face me.

Shifting on my feet, I look away. “I should go check on Alison.”

“She’ll be fine with Grams. Plus Grams will only send you away. Come on, I’m sure we’ve got some movie you like.”

I don’t get a chance to refuse as he takes my hand and drags me up the tall staircase.

“I thought the cinema room was downstairs?” I ask, breathless as we turn right on the staircase.

This side of the house seems more like a maze than a home. There are so many corridors, stairs and doors.

“It is. I’m taking you to my old room. It’s been turned into a games room now. I got fed up of going up and down to get to the gym when I couldn’t sleep.”

“Oh.” We hit another flight of stairs, these thinner and longer. He places his hand on my back, letting me go first. Cautiously I do, noting the paintings on the walls instead of family pictures.

My mum and dad’s house is filled with family photos. Hell, the reception lodge is filled with photos of us with guests who are regulars. But one thing I’ve noticed in this huge home is that they don’t have many family portraits hanging, unless you count the mammoth-sized photo above the grand fireplace in the main room.

Drake sees where I’m looking and speaks up. “Mum has a fascination with famous artists. The house is filled with various works and antiques, as you can see, but her love of art will forever adorn these walls.”

“They’re beautiful. I can’t help but compare it to my parents’ home is all. Theirs is full of family photos hanging on the walls. We have a few paintings, but more for decorative reasons.”

“Ah, I see,” he mumbles.

I hit the top of the stairs and my eyes widen. Shit, both of my brothers would have a field day up here. Not only do they have a state-of-the-art television hanging on one of the main walls, but there are gaming chairs, a sofa, a pool table, a ping-pong table and, if I’m right, an arcade-style Pac-Man machine against the farthest wall.

“Holy crap, this room is amazing…. Wait, is that a balcony?”

Drake chuckles. “If a roof counts as a balcony, then yes. Do you want a tour?”

“Does a priest pray?” I ask, giddy as I rush to the glass doors.

Before he’s fully pushed the doors open, I look out onto the back of their house, my eyes widening further. Holy crap, I thought my parents owned a lot of land, but these guys… they don’t mess around.

Large greenery as far as the eye can see in the dim moonlight spreads out before me, settling into a forest with trees so high it almost looks magical.

“What do you think?” he asks. The amusement in his voice would normally ruffle me, but I don’t care with a view like this. I can even forget I touched his dick accidentally this morning because nothing could pull me out of this fantasy.

“It’s breathtaking. What I don’t understand is why the hell you gave up this room for the one downstairs. I’m not saying it’s shabby or anything, but this one… it’s everything,” I breathe, gazing up at the stars.

“That it is, but when you’ve walked the length it is from here to the gym a few times, you’ll understand. Plus it was much harder to sneak girls up here,” he says, chuckling.

“I bet.” I giggle, looking over the side of the house.

Holy crap, that’s a long way down.

“Come on, let’s put a movie on. Do you have any preferences?”

“As long as it’s not horror, I’m fine.”

“No to watching The Blaire Witch Project, then?”

I shudder. “God no.”

“Duly noted.” He laughs and walks over to a door I hadn’t seen before.

I follow, curious as to where he’s going, when I see the rows and rows of DVDs stacked high in a room the size of my bedroom back home.

“You got enough films?” I ask sarcastically.

“Meh,” he mutters absently, looking along the rows of movies.

“I’ll just get comfy, then.” I take a seat on the largest, deepest sofa I’ve ever seen. The minute I plant my arse, I get sucked in and sigh, lost in heaven, wondering if this too would go unnoticed when I leave.

I seriously need to get a start on that list.

 

*** *** ***

 

I’m tipsy.

Yes, tipsy, and I’ve only had three beers.

I giggle again when Roman tells Mia to hide the baby oil in Fast and Furious 7, but the minute Hobbs tells Roman to hide his big forehead, I fall to my side, laughing my arse off.

No matter how many times I’ve watched it, it never fails to make me laugh.

“I love this film,” I tell Drake, hiccupping. I wipe the tears of laughter from under my eyes as I sit back up.

“I can see,” he murmurs. I turn to find him doing the whole staring thing again, and I give him a small smile. His lips twitch as his expression warms.

He reaches out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. A nervous flutter swirls in my stomach and I freeze, wondering what he’s going to do next. But he just turns back to the television, ignoring the emotions he’s stirred inside me.

We’ve spoken a lot during the two films we’ve watched, and I’ve found out a lot about him. He’s currently between jobs since he left his practice, wanting something more. He’s a doctor, working between two hospitals as a step in.

We’ve talked about my family, his family, and managed to keep the subject light and fun. He also told me all about the manor’s history, which I found fascinating. Apparently the house has been in his family for generations, being passed down to the firstborn ever since his great-great-great-great-grandfather built it.

Knowing something has been passed down to each generation, keeping the family alive, is kind of special. I can see my dad doing that for us.

My granddad owned Cabin Lakes before he passed away and left it to my dad. He plans on passing it down to Dean when the time comes. It’s only a start for us, but I kind of like knowing that in years to come, our great-great-great-whatever will own Cabin Lakes, know where it started, and will add their own touch to it. I’m actually thinking about talking my dad into starting a journal or a family one of sorts so it can be passed down.

A yawn escapes me. I try to hold my hand up to cover it, but I’m too late.

Drake hears and turns to me with a smirk on his face. “It’s only nine, you lightweight.”

Pouting, another yawn starts but this time I have chance to cover my mouth. “I was also pranced around London by my best friend, who I might add acted like she had never left Winchester before. Therefore she dragged me to every shop she laid eyes on, eating everything from liquorice, candy floss, burgers and, heaven help me, sushi. I’m dead on my feet, and I also think I’ve got a little sunstroke. Oh, and I’m a teeny bit tipsy.”

His eyes widen and I can’t help but giggle at his expression. I didn’t mean to bite his head off.

“Can I have my head back now? I’m kind of fond of it.”

I giggle, shaking my head at his meaning. “Whatever. I’ll leave you to it. Thank you for keeping me company tonight. I’ve had fun.”

“My pleasure.”

His eyes warm and I look away, trying to hide how much he affects me. I get up from the sofa, stretching my back when I do and trying not to sway. I hear a groan and look to Drake to find his heated gaze on me. And that’s when I realise my dress has ridden up and he got a good view of my arse.

I blush, ducking my head as I hear him chuckle darkly. “Well, you’ve seen mine. It’s only fair I get to see yours.”

“Asshole,” I mutter before moving towards the stairs.

“You’ll come to love me, Pagan,” he says, and the heat behind his words causes a shiver to race down my spine.

I don’t turn around, leaving him with a quick “Goodnight” before rushing down the stairs.

In my haste, I don’t really watch where I’m going, so when I come to another turn five minutes later, I sigh in frustration, knowing there weren’t this many turns when we went to the games room.

“Seriously, they should have maps on the walls in this place,” I grumble, walking down another corridor, one that looks far too familiar.

Just as I turn the next corner, I slam into a hard body, my hands going to their waist. “I’m so sorry.” I look up into Drake’s eyes and huff out a breath when I see his amused and cocky expression.

Asshole.

“Did you come looking for me?” He grins.

Not wanting to admit I got lost, I straighten and take a step back. “Yes. I thought it would be decent for you to walk me back to my room like a true gentleman.”

“We’re not on a date,” he points out, grinning wider now. “And have you really been waiting down here for me for ten minutes just so I could walk you back?”

That’s when I notice the stairs to the game room on the left of me and I growl, frustrated.

At least I was heading in the right direction.

I think.

“Yes, I just didn’t think you’d be this long,” I say rather snottily.

“You got lost, didn’t you?” he chuckles.

I sigh, defeated. “Yes,” I snap. “If you could point me in the right direction, or even walk me to the stairs, I’ll be able to find my way.”

He laughs. “Come on, princess. If you ever get lost again, follow the paintings of landscapes to the stairs. And if you need to check that you’re going in the right direction, just lift the painting a little and on the bottom left-hand corner there will be a tiny arrow pointing the way.”

“Are you serious?” I ask, peeved and kind of impressed. Not that I’m willing to admit that to him.

“Yes,” he laughs. “As a kid, I’d get lost all the fucking time, and our favourite games to play were ‘hide and seek’ or ‘murder in the dark’. It wasn’t fun not knowing where you were. Scared the shit out of me.”

“But you’ve lived here your whole life,” I point out, confused.

“Yeah, but I swear the walls move in this place.” He shudders. Warily, I look around, hoping he’s not insinuating that the place is haunted.

“So you drew underneath expensive artwork just so you could find your way around?”

“Yep.”

“Wouldn’t it have been easier to get a map put up down every hall?”

He laughs. “You’ve seen the place. You really think my mother would have a map of the building hanging up? Plus if we’re ever robbed, which is highly doubtful, the robbers wouldn’t know where to go and would end up getting caught.”

“Wait,” I say, as we reach my door. “On the wedding itinerary, it says ‘hide and seek’ or ‘murder in the dark’ is due in three days. I thought it was just a joke.”

“Nope. We loved it as kids. Even as teens we would get our friends around to play. Best fucking game ever, especially when you’re drunk.”

“So, what’s the difference between the two?”

“Well, both are the same, except we play ‘murder in the dark’ in, well, the dark. ‘Hide and seek’ is for any time of day, lights on or off.”

“Oh my God, it says murder in the dark. Which means we’re gonna have drunken adolescents running around in this huge house… in the dark.”

“Um, yeah,” he says, looking confused.

“I have to play that game as wedding planner. Oh my God! I’m gonna get murdered first, and then I’ll be the one on, and I won’t be able to find anyone in this godforsaken house. You’ll all end up falling asleep or passing out waiting for me. I’ll ruin your fun. Or worse, you could all die from starvation while waiting for me to find you. The staff will find your corpses a week or two from now.”

“One, it takes a lot longer for a body to die of starvation and a lot longer to turn into a corpse. Plus we know our way around now. Sort of. But in any case, I’ll make sure you don’t get caught first and, as groom, my brother Jesse will be on first, so I’ll show you the good hiding places,” he chuckles.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

“Okay, whatever. It’ll be fine,” I tell him, taking a deep breath. “Thanks for walking me to my door.”

“My pleasure. And I’ll see you for breakfast. My brother and everyone else won’t be arriving until the night, so we won’t see them until the party.”

“Okay. See you in the morning.” Once again I stare at his handsome profile as he walks to his door. I watch him go, ogling his fine arse.

“Oh, and Pagan?” he calls once he reaches his door. “If you need to drop by again in the morning, feel free.” He winks, then saunters off.

I stare in astonishment at his closed door, my mouth opening and closing like a fish as I try to come to terms with what he said.

Was he flirting with me?

No, surely not. Not someone as handsome as he is.

“Oh God, I’m in so much trouble,” I mumble before I let myself into my room.