Lily
“Really? I’m sure I can manage to stay safe at my own father’s birthday party, Harrison!”
The man was driving me insane. With the amount of privacy he allowed me, I was surprised he didn’t want to guard me while I took a piss. I was getting desperate now. I’d managed a few lines, but I had to be so careful. His constant interference was becoming ridiculous, even down to the small knock on my bedroom door at night to check on me.
Kit stood by my side, trying desperately to hide her fits of laughter. “He's just being cautious,” she chuckled, now used to Harrison’s signature line of ‘Just being cautious, Miss Cole.’
“Well, yes, but there’ll be plenty of security. It’s virtually a Room 103 concert, just with me there. My parents won’t allow me anywhere that hasn’t had sniffer dogs and the fucking bomb squad check it out first.”
Kit’s humour disappeared and sadness crossed over her pretty face. “They’re just scared, babe. It’s understandable.”
I nodded, relenting. It was understandable, but it had been eight years. Although I hadn’t exactly gotten over ‘it’, I refused to let it control my life. I valued my freedom and my independence. But, even if I had escaped from the people who had kidnapped me, my parents were now becoming the ones to hold me hostage.
“Miss Cole?”
I blinked, pushing away my thoughts and looked to Harrison. “Sorry?”
“Will you please wear this tonight?”
My gaze dropped to his outstretched hand. A lump formed in my throat as I stared at the thin platinum bangle he was holding out to me. It was delicate and pretty, with three tiny diamond studs situated to the small heart in the centre. Totally me, and that shocked the hell out of me. “What? Why?”
“There’s a tracking device embedded into it. It will allow me to give you some freedom and space tonight. I know how much you value time with your family and friends. So, I thought I could meet you halfway.”
Okay, that stunned me.
His brow puckered for a moment and his stare on me became hard, his cold blue eyes piercing me. But his tone was soft. “Please don’t remove it, Lily.”
Another shocker. For the first time in two weeks, Harrison Cole called me Lily.
Taking the bangle from him, I snapped it into place on my wrist and smiled widely. I needed him to know I was grateful for his thoughtfulness. “I promise. It will remain on my wrist all night.”
He nodded stiffly and turned to Kit. “Please save my phone number to your contacts. If you lose sight of Lily, or anything feels wrong, you ring me straight away.”
His trepidation made the beat of my heart stutter with worry. I knew he was ‘just being cautious’ but shit, the man needed to take a chill pill.
Kit grabbed my hand after doing as Harrison ordered and tugged me towards the stairs. “Come on, Princess Fiona, let’s go make you beautiful. After all, tonight could be the night you meet your Shrek.”
“I don’t do green, Kit. It doesn’t suit me!”
She laughed, yanking me harder when I added, “Unless it’s in cocktail form.”
***
“I thought you didn’t do green?” Harrison spoke softly in my ear when we walked into the vast room. It was decked to the rafters with balloons and all kinds of partywear. The atmosphere was electric, the excitement and love of each person for my dad making me grin. He’d always been popular, and even though he wasn’t the most sociable person, he was still a damn good man. That was reflected in the many gifts stacked high on a table and the amount of cheer in the air.
“Sorry?”
“When your friend said about finding your Shrek. You said green didn’t suit you.” His eyes unhurriedly roamed down my body, the usual cool blue swirling like a deep ocean. “I think green suits you very much.”
“Oh.” I giggled, looking down at the figure-hugging silk green dress I wore. “This dress was Kit’s idea. It’s one of hers and she was adamant I wear it tonight.”
“She was spot on.”
Being with Harrison was like watching a tennis match that lasted for weeks. His actions, attitude and conversation were so back and forth and up and down I felt like I had whiplash. I couldn’t keep up with his moods, yet, I also found myself warming to him a little. He was persistent, I’d give him that, but I felt safe with him. My protection was his priority, and apart from my parents, I’d never felt that kind of total dedication from anyone. I knew it was his job, but it still made my core feel warm.
“Well, thank you,” I expressed with a smile.
He held onto my wrist, an act I was now accustomed to, while his scrutinising stare swept over the room. “All clear.”
I rolled my eyes. I knew Harrison used to be a special agent, and sometimes I was sure he saw me as one of his squad. “Aye, aye, Cap'n.”
His head snapped left towards me and his angry eyes glowered at me. “I’m not a fucking pirate, Lily!” The scandalous expression on his face caused a bubble of laughter to creep up my throat.
“Always so serious. Take a night off,” I suggested. “I have my bangle on. I’m surrounded by people who love me. Go grab a drink – a strong one - and socialise!”
“Socialise?”
Dear God.
Blowing out a breath, I patted him softly on the cheek and nodded. “Socialise: To mix socially with others. To mingle. To spend time with other people.”
The fury I always managed to provoke from him gave me a sense of smugness. His blazing blue eyes narrowed at me. “I know what socialising means! However, I’m on duty! I’m not here to mingle or even drink fucking whisky!”
Digging my teeth into my lip to stop myself from laughing, I nodded firmly and disciplined the hilarity on my face that must have been mocking him. “Okay, then go and find a corner to stand imposingly in, and I will go and get absolutely slaughtered. You come in handy for making sure I get home safe, so I may as well go drink lots of alcohol and socialise for you.”
I turned and walked away, leaving his mouth gaping open and his fierce glare fixed on my back.
***
“I fucking love you all!” Tap drunkenly saluted as we did another round of tequila.
“And you love fucking all!” Cage remarked with a smirk.
“Yep,” Hayley giggled. “Even Kit’s had a go on that!”
“Do you mind!” Kit mumbled, a dribble of tequila running down her chin. “Once. Once!” She held up a finger, not that anyone could focus on it. “Don’t condemn me for that!”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Tap snapped, apparently offended.
“Well, put it this way,” Kit stated with her finger now pointed at Tap. “One night with you was more than enough!”
They continued to squabble and I closed my mind off to them.
The dancefloor was packed. Romeo, Zoe and their new partner, Noel, danced in a circle. It always warmed my heart to watch them be so open about their relationship. A while ago the media had gotten a hold of their ‘secret’. However, they had both been open and candid, making an official statement about their sexuality to the press. Their honesty had been accepted and embraced by their fans, and they were now ambassadors for an organisation that supported people struggling with their sexuality.
Boss and Jen were stood with Bulk and Spirit, laughing, and doing shots of their own. But it was the sight of my parents that made my smile turn into a grin. My mother had her legs wrapped around Dad’s waist, her tiny body in the cocoon of his strong arms as they danced slowly. I couldn’t ever express how much it meant to me what they had done for me over the years. They had chosen to adopt me, yet they loved me with every fierce fibre of their bodies and hearts. My life could have been so very different, and the opportunities given to me from the very first day I became theirs would never be taken for granted.
“Can I get you a drink?”
His voice from over my shoulder made me jump and I spun around.
He was handsome. His broad smile and the hue of his mahogany eyes were vaguely familiar, and intrigued, I found myself nodding my head. “Sure. Thank you.”
His grin grew wider and I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of it, his joy contagious. “Mark,” he introduced himself when we reached the bar.
“Lily…”
“Lily Cooper,” he declared, cutting me off. “I know who you are.”
Hiding the cringe from him, I locked eyes with the barman. I didn’t want him to see the disappointment on my face. Perhaps he was a legitimately good guy; however, this life wasn’t usually that easy. The number of guys that came on to me because I was the singer for Quantum Rock and not because they genuinely wanted to get to know me was disheartening.
“Grey Goose, neat, please.”
The barman nodded, and after taking Mark’s request for a beer, he wandered off down the bar to fix our drinks.
“Do I know you?” I asked after finding myself staring at him with a deep frown; he must have thought I was so rude.
He chuckled. “Maybe. Mark Denver.”
“Oh, my God!” I placed a hand on my chest. “You must think I’m so full of myself. You’re the lead singer of Denver!” Denver was a fresh indie group that had stormed the charts recently.
Pulling out my phone, I fired up Spotify and showed him the top playlist I had saved. It was Denver’s newest album. “See.”
He laughed and showed me the top album on his playlists. It was Quantum’s latest release too. “I came to the gig in Birmingham when you backed Room 103. Great fucking concert.”
“Thank you. It was a little overwhelming.”
“I can imagine.” Narrowing his eyes, he twisted his lips and playfully scowled at me. “Although your hit, Take it to the wire, knocked us out of the top ten.”
I grimaced. “Sorry about that.”
He shook his head, waving off my apology. “It must be an amazing feeling to have a number one hit.”
Nodding, I smiled at the barman when he placed our drinks on the bar and took a sip. “I couldn’t describe it to you. Although, I’m sure one day soon you won’t be able to describe the feeling to me either.”
He snorted. “I don’t see Denver reaching that milestone in the near future.”
“Don’t be so negative. There’s lots of hype about Denver out there. I’ve read loads of blog posts about your band and all of them gush about you.”
He laughed, his eyes sparkling on me. “Me specifically, or the group?”
“Would it make your head big if I said both?”
“Absolutely not,” he smirked. “I’m quite a modest guy.”
“Of course you are!” I laughed.
“That’s a lovely bracelet.”
I followed his stare to my wrist, surprised to find I was unconsciously fiddling with the shiny piece of metal, my thumb stroking lightly over the three diamonds.
“It’s obviously from someone special,” he remarked as he lifted his piercing stare back up to my face.
“Not really.” Reminded of Harrison, I searched the room with my eyes. He was stood to one side of the dancefloor; his firm stare fixed on Mark. He looked so uncomfortable, his sharp suit and rigid form sticking out like a sore thumb in the middle of the partygoers.
His gaze moved from Mark to me, and his fierce glare softened. His stiff shoulders visibly relaxed and his clenched jaw loosened. I couldn’t look away from him. He trapped me in the confinement of his attention. It was only when he looked down to my wrist and he also found me twiddling the bracelet that I snapped my hand away and focused on Mark again.
“Who’s the guy?” he queried, flicking his eyes to Harrison. “Do I have competition?”
“Competition?” I laughed. “No, he’s just my security guy.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “So then you’re free to go for a drink with me one night?”
Caution made me pause, but forcing myself to bite the bullet, I smiled. “Okay.”
“Awesome!” Thrusting his phone at me, he told me to put my number in his contacts. “I’ll ring you then?”
“Sure.”
The room swayed slightly as I watched him walk away, his abrupt departure quite astounding. I hadn’t realised I had drunk so much and I steadied myself with a hand on the bar.
“I think you’ve had enough, Lily Cooper,” Harrison uttered quietly in my ear from behind me when I ordered another drink. His hot breath on my skin made me shiver. I was frozen to the spot, my eyes closing as each of his heavy breaths on my cheek magnetised me and I inclined backwards towards him. He was so close that I could smell the deliciousness of his aftershave on his skin and the sweet scent of orange on his breath. The strength of his firm chest on my back felt too good, and I allowed myself to relax against him.
Warmth stirred in the pit of my stomach when one of his large hands lightly rested on my hip, the subtle touch burning through the thin material of my dress.
“Harrison.” I flinched, mortified by the sound of my breathy voice. Heat poured over my body as my skin flushed with embarrassment and I dropped my face to hide the severe blush.
I’d just had too much to drink. However, I found myself needing another to calm the storm that was twisting away inside me.
“Lily,” Harrison warned when I repeated my order to the barman.
“I need to get drunk tonight, Harrison.” I was angry at him, except I couldn’t understand why. “You promised to leave me alone. So do it. Leave me alone.”
He was silent for a second, but eventually, I felt him move away.
God damn it!
Downing the vodka in one, I slammed the glass on the bar, wordlessly demanding another. And another. And another.
It wasn’t until Harrison’s scent, once again, filled my nostrils and the bulk of his arms around me when he scooped me up that I realised, too late, I had drunk way too much.
“I’ve got you,” he said softly as my eyes closed and I allowed him to, yet again, take care of me.