Chapter Four
Declan’s house was a mansion. He had the kind of rock star home that Heidi had only seen before in documentaries. They were greeted at the door by his housekeeper, who led them in. David followed them closely.
“Maud, this is Heidi. She’s moving in with me tonight,” Declan announced to the housekeeper, who had maintained a tight-lipped look until now, but turned around to stare at them with a look of absolute disbelief when he said that.
“Moving in?” the older lady exclaimed, and Declan laughed.
“Don’t look so surprised, Maud. We’ve been dating for a few weeks now and we’ve decided to take the next step,” he said, patting Maud affectionately on the back.
“Hi.” Heidi smiled sweetly at the lady, who shook her hand, still in disbelief.
“I didn’t know you lived in New York,” Heidi said in a low voice to him, as he led her into a grand living room. It was luxuriously designed with thick tapestries, carpeted floors and oak furniture. For a rock star, Declan had quite old school, classic taste in decorating.
“This is home to me. I have a few houses in other cities, LA for instance, where I have to spend time when I’m recording. But this is always home.” He touched her waist lightly, but unlike with other people, Heidi wasn’t repelled by Declan’s touch. She looked around her, trying to hide her awe as much as possible.
“So, this is the living room. I’ll have Stuart, my chauffeur, go and pick up some of your stuff from your apartment tomorrow. And we’ll also go shopping for a new wardrobe,” he said, walking over to the small bar in the corner of the room.
“New wardrobe?” Heidi asked, watching him pour whiskey into three glasses. David accepted one of the glasses gladly, but Heidi only shook her head when he offered her one.
“I rarely drink,” she said, and Declan raised his eyebrow at her.
“Anyway, yeah, new wardrobe. I’m guessing these are the only kinds of clothes you own?” He was looking at her intently, not at her body but at her clothes, and Heidi suddenly felt very self-conscious. Was he judging her taste in fashion?
“What’s wrong with it?” she asked, and David cut in.
“It won’t do. People won’t buy it. You need to have the charm of the girl next door, but also dress and play the part of a rock star’s girlfriend. Why else would Declan be attracted to you?” David was drinking from his glass, and his mood had calmed since they arrived at the house. He seemed to have made his peace with his sister’s decision.
“Exactly,” Declan said, still looking at her.
“What will I have to wear?” Heidi looked from one face to the other, still in disbelief. She hadn’t thought this through, clearly.
“Short dresses, leather jackets, high heels, makeup. Your hair needs to be done up, too.” Declan emptied the whiskey into his throat and walked over to the bar for some more.
“My hair?” Heidi glared at her brother, but David smiled.
“You asked for it, sis. What did you think this was going to be? You’ll have to be seen in public together, to really solidify the relationship. And you’ll have to look the part,” David exclaimed, one of his brows raised. Heidi realized then that her brother was enjoying this, he was enjoying the I-told-you-so moment. He emptied his drink into his mouth and clapped his hands.
“It’s been a long day. I’m off. I’ll see you, the happy couple, in the morning, then,” David said, thumping Declan on the back.
Declan had poured himself another glass and was already drinking from it.
“Leaving already?” he asked, and David nodded.
“Be good, you two,” David said, with a flourishing smile, and then he was gone.
Heidi was alone in the living room with Declan, who was polishing off his second glass of whiskey.
“Sit down, Heidi, make yourself comfortable,” he said, and she walked slowly over to one of the leather chairs. It was plush and she sank into it when she sat on it. Her head was whirling, all of this was happening too fast. Just a few hours ago, she had been fired from her job and was baking cupcakes in her kitchen. Now she was in the living room of one of the most celebrated young musicians, pretending to be his girlfriend.
“So what are we going to do for fun, Heidi Scott?” Declan was pouring a third drink, and he turned to face her, the ice cubes tinkling in his glass.
Heidi turned her eyes to him, her heart beating out of her chest with nervous excitement.
“Talk?” she suggested, and Declan burst out laughing.
“The only time I talk is either at interviews or when David and I get really stoned late at night and we have nothing else to do. Like brother, like sister, huh?” He walked over to the middle of the room. His eyes had glazed over a little. It seemed like he had drunk his whiskey too quickly and the alcohol was beginning to take effect.
“There’s not much point having a conversation now if you’re going to continue drinking like that.” Heidi crossed her legs as she sat. She wasn’t quite sure what had made her say that, but Declan raised his eyebrows.
“So why don’t you join me? We can both drink together,” he said, his eyes glittering as he looked at her. Heidi saw in him what everybody else seemed to see in him on stage. His body was lithe in his leather jacket, his fingers held chunky silver rings and his hands were large as he gripped the glass. His dirty blonde hair fell in short, spiky strands over his blue eyes. His lips were plump and glistened with the moisture from the drink. His eyes dropped as he looked at her, and of course that voice! It had a magnetic effect that Heidi couldn’t describe. She was struggling to keep it together.
“I told you, I don’t drink much,” she said, shying away from holding his gaze. Declan walked over to her, taking the leather chair facing her. He drank slowly from his glass now, conscious of the fact that he was getting drunk and she wasn’t drinking.
“And what else do you not do?” he asked. Heidi bit down on her lip.
“I don’t wear leather jackets or high heels or glittering dresses. Neither do I date rock stars,” she said. Declan raised an eyebrow and smirked.
“Noted. Who do you date, then?” he asked, and Heidi tried avoiding his gaze. This was hard, maintaining her composure under his hard stare.
“Not very many people. I’ve not been in a relationship for a very long time.” Heidi was blushing as she spoke. She knew she didn’t have to tell him any of this, but who was he going to tell? They were both in on a lie and he was forced to keep her secrets, too.
“Neither have I. I’m sure you’ve been with people since then, though?” he asked, throwing back his head as he drank the remnants of the whiskey in his glass. Heidi blushed again. This was getting too personal. But did she really care?
“Not really,” she replied, challenging him with a hard stare of her own. Declan’s eyes widened and he smiled like he thought she was telling a joke.
“Are you serious? Who were you with last?” he asked. Heidi blushed and looked away. She couldn’t look at him while she confessed her secrets to him.
“Nobody,” she said, and Declan clapped a hand to his mouth. His expression was exaggerated. She could tell that he didn’t believe her.
“You’ve never been with any man in your life?” he asked with a laugh, and Heidi bit down on her lip.
“Not entirely. I’ve fooled around with boyfriends, of course. But nothing else.”
“Why?” He nearly screamed out the question.
“It was never the right person, I suppose.” She said wistfully, looking out of the French windows. She hadn’t thought about that aspect of her life in a long time. What was making her suddenly think about it now, in the presence of Declan Xavier?
“That’s a pity,” he said, sitting back in his chair. He was still looking at her, the empty glass dangling from his hand. “You’re a strange one, Heidi Scott,” he said after a few minutes of silence. She looked back at him, a twinkle in her eye. There was a certain thrill in revealing this secret to him, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to make it public, spread it as gossip, now that they were in a fake relationship.
“Man, I can’t imagine what that would be like, having your first time now,” he said, and Heidi smirked.
“It’s not such a big deal, really. I just want to get it out of the way now,” she said, staring back at him with a smile in her eyes. Where was this conversation taking them? She wasn’t sure of it herself. All she knew was that nobody had ever looked hotter to her than Declan Xavier, and he was a guy who every girl in the country wanted to sleep with, and he was stuck in a relationship with her. A wide smile spread on Heidi’s face as she watched him watching her. What was he thinking?
“So you just want to get it out of the way, huh?” he asked. Heidi nodded her head.
“Something like that,” she said and licked her lips.
“Maybe this fake relationship can turn out to be beneficial for both of us.” Declan looked at her from under his fallen eyelids. Heidi raised an eyebrow.
“Maybe,” she said and stood up from her chair suddenly. “Maybe not. I haven’t given it much thought. Either way, it’s a business contract, and I need the money to open my bakery,” she added, and Declan stood up as well.
“So you keep saying,” he said in a drowsy voice, before he walked past her and opened the door, holding it in place for her to walk through.
“Off to the bedroom, then, so I can make sweet, homely love to you,” he said loudly. Maud stood near the stairs with a fresh towel in her hands. Heidi smirked, and then turned with a smile to Maud.
“Here’s a towel for you, miss. I wasn't sure what else you might need. Your clothes?” Maud ignored Declan as he climbed the stairs, grabbing Heidi’s hand on his way up.
It was clear to see that Maud didn’t believe them. She had no faith in the relationship. She didn’t buy that Declan suddenly had a girlfriend, someone he was in love with and serious about. Heidi breathed in deeply, the smile still on her face. She needed to do something to get the ball rolling. She needed to show Maud and the rest of the people who would be watching their relationship closely that Heidi was not like the other girls Declan brought home. She was here to stay…maybe just for a while, but they didn’t need to know that.
“Thank you, Maud,” she said and accepted the towel from the older lady’s hands. “My clothes will arrive tomorrow. And if you’d be so kind, can we have our breakfast in bed tomorrow morning?” She spoke with as much authority as she could muster.
Maud’s expression changed from boredom to a look of surprise. She clearly hadn’t been expecting Heidi to say something like that. The balance had shifted slightly. Heidi could feel it as she followed Declan upstairs and sensed Maud’s keen eyes on them.
“That was boss,” Declan leaned in to whisper in Heidi’s ear, and she smiled.
“You’re very welcome,” she said with a smile. Heidi Scott was pleased with herself.