Love Thief: The Greystone Family: Stolen Hearts

Chapter 2

Chapter

Two

This place is amazing. I can see why she loves it here. Why her shoulders dropped and she relaxed more and more the nearer we got. I can see and feel Evie in every brick, nook and cranny. Can’t deny I love the fact that Pinky appears to know me, and love me. And now that I”ve seen him, I remember Marshall. A quiet man, tall at six foot two, rangy build, dark brown hair, grey-blue eyes with lots of creases around them when he smiles. A big slow smile never far away, especially if Evie was around. Always stood in the background, watching. I realise now, watching out for Evie.

The parental Greystones I remember. Pete and his wife Pat don’t look any older. And Jake is just an older version of his brother, Jude. They’re polite but distant with Xan and I, finally warming up a bit when we start talking about my cousin Anthony and his trips to see them here in Devon.

We all troop into the large open-plan kitchen. A large table similar to the one at Greystone house in London sits comfortably in the middle of the room. Large windows look out towards fields and also down towards the sea. From every window, a different vista.

Marshall is manning the grill, and I smile as I remember Jackson being touchy about the job when we were in London. Evie moves towards the cabinets and collects whiskey glasses for us all. Putting them onto the large table we’ve all seated ourselves around, she pours four fingers for everyone. Pete raises his eyebrows at her, but she just smiles to herself and carries on.

Once we’re all armed with our glasses, she stands and faces the group. When I go to her side, and she brushes my hand with her fingers, my heart rate picks up. How the fuck am I going to last six months if she continues to touch me?

Jake looks at Pete, the Greystone silent chat in full force.

“Thanks for coming over on short notice.” She’s smiling, a little bit of trepidation settling on her face at the unsmiling Greystones.

“It’s hardly far, lovey,” Pete says, glaring at me.

“I know, but I know you’re busy. It’s just I,” she gestures to me, “we have an announcement.”

I step forward and look directly at the Greystones and Marshall. I can see Evie is worried about telling them, and the urge to protect her is overwhelming. My confidence may border on arrogance, but I’m past caring. It’s done, they can’t undo it. But I know how important the Greystones and Marshall are to my wife and sons, so I infuse some humility in my tone as I tell the group, “I asked Evie to marry me and she thankfully said yes. We got married yesterday, with my sons and best friend as the witnesses.”

“I cried,” puts in Xander to no one in particular. “And the kiss was epic.” He’s grinning like a lunatic at Evie and the boys. They all smile back at him, grateful I think to detract from the tension that’s building around the table.

“We’d like your blessing, your love and support. I’ve vowed to Evie to look after her and the boys.” No one says a word.

“I thought it wasn’t real,” Pat mutters, looking around the room in confusion.

“My boys told me you had to get married because of issues with your title, Russell.” Pete’s voice drips with contempt. “If James wants it, fair enough, we’ll support that. And of course we love them all. But mark my words, boy, you hurt my Evie, James or Bucky, what I did to your Dad back in Yorkshire will seem like child’s play.” Pete stands, the chair sliding out forcefully behind him.

Jake wastes no time standing next to him, staring intently at me. Fucking Greystones. Always trying to intimidate me when it comes to her.

“My intention is to treat all three of them with love and respect,” I state with genuine conviction and confidence. “I love my sons, I won’t hurt them,” I finish off softly.

“The agreement is for six months,” Evie adds. “We think James’s position should be set by then, and we should be okay to…move on.”

She’s worried. I can see the frown on her face as she looks at them all. The only person not scowling is Marshall. He’s looking directly at James and Bucky.

“James, Bucky, are you happy with this, boys?” he asks them, looking from one to the other. “Are you both certain this man will treat you and your mother well?”

“Yes, Marshall, I am,” James states with absolute certainty. Bucky nods, also in agreement.

“Then alright with me, Evie.” He picks up his glass and looks around at the rest of the family. “Pete, I think we should trust Evie’s judgement on this,” he advises.

Pete nods his agreement, but doesn’t smile. If looks could kill, I would be a corpse by now.

“To us, then. To my wife and sons.” I tip the glass towards them and then drink my glass dry. Putting the glass down on the large kitchen table with a thunk, I smile as I take Evie’s hand, and glare back at the Greystone men. There’s no fucking way they’re going to make her feel like shit for doing something for her son. They better get fucking ready if they think they can.

“Has Nikki been here?” asks Evie. “The food smells amazing,” She’s obviously trying to distract them, as she looks over onto the work surfaces piled with food.

“He came this morning, and he’ll be back tomorrow to do breakfasts and lunches. He’s over at Farm Cottage cooking a last evening dinner for the holiday let.” Marshall takes her hand, his face alight with love. “It’ll all work out midarlin’, don’t you worry so much.”

The Greystones leave after the most awkward meal in history is finally done. And it’s not soon enough in my view.

I’m giving Xander the we need a chat eye as Evie asks us, “Shall I show you your rooms?”

I can see she’s tense, her whole body stiff and jerky, and she needs to move. As Mick and Tommy have knocked off for the day, I grab all our bags, and Xan and I follow her upstairs.

Xander’s room is glorious, with double doors that open out onto a balcony that overlooks the fields towards the sea. “I’ve added balconies to all the rooms on this side. Do you think it works?” She looks at me, trying to disguise the tension radiating from her.

“It’s stunning, baby. One of the best houses I’ve ever seen.”

Her smile is tight, forced. Those fuckers have made her overthink what she’s done.

I walk over to her, standing up close in front of her, and ask, “Do you want me with you?” I brush my fingers into her hair and it feels like silk sliding through them. “I know today was hard for you. I can sleep separately here if you prefer, just for tonight.”

Pulling her closer to me, I murmur, “Don’t overthink it. They’re just pissed at me, not you. I’ve put you in a position they don’t like. I get it. But it’s not you. All you did was support your son’s wishes.” I put two fingers under her chin, lifting it to look into her eyes. “Don’t let them make you doubt yourself. You were in the room when James gave his reasons, not them. Don’t let them get to you.”

I’m staring intently into her eyes, trying to telegraph my innermost feelings. Hoping she sees how much I want to protect her. How my fondness for her goes beyond the ruse I’ve created to keep her close.

“They only want what’s best for me and the boys,” she says quietly, looking down.

“I know. And that was, in this instance, marrying me. It’s six months. By the time the harvest is in, you’ll be over halfway there.”

She smiles up at me at that, a genuine one, and she takes my fucking breath away. I hate saying those words ‘six months.’ I want to end the sentence on ‘marrying me’ full stop, end of story.

I lean in and kiss her on the cheek, but god knows I want her mouth on mine, forever. I rest my lips on her cheek for a fraction and ask again, “Do you want me with you?”

She looks into my eyes and nods. “Grace and Kenny should be coming down, I think, so you had better, I suppose. And the boys have people coming so…” she trails off. “I’ll show you my–our rooms.”

Xander, who’s stood watching us, has the most curious look on his face.

“All alright, Xan?” I lift my eyebrows at him.

He seems to come out of a trance at hearing his name. “Yeah, all good. James is going to show me a local recording studio. Says it’s just around the corner. Bit out in the sticks for us, but worth our while to take a look whilst we’re here. Might be worth booking it out even if we don’t use it fully. If we’re going to be up and down here throughout the summer months, that is. Gabe and Levi can come down from London. Would that be ok with you Evie?”

“Of course. It’d work well, if it’s available. It’s usually fully booked, to be honest. You could drive up the road or walk, depending on where you’ll be. You’re welcome to stay here, Xan.”

She turns and picks up her bag, but I take it from her. “Lead on, Kitten.” I look over my shoulder at Xan, who’s grinning like the proverbial cat that got the cream. She hasn’t kicked him out. He thinks he’s well and truly back on the friends list.

In the end, all of us boys go to look at the studio. James calls it ‘The Farm Cottage.’ More like a fucking mansion. The huge structure has outbuildings with the best equipped recording studio I’ve seen in a long time.

The ‘Cottage’ is due to come empty tomorrow, but when Xan rings the agents, we find it’s fully booked. He basically outbids all the bookings, offering so much money and blatant bribes and inducements—free tickets, backstage passes, you name it—that we wind up taking it for the summer right through to the end of September.

I can hear Xan on the phone, calling Levi and Gabe to come straight away. Things are working out great, the studio is near everyone, and we can record until we head out early June.

James and Bucky drive back to Evie at Cornhill to hit the books. Evie is nattering at them to buckle down and study, reminding them they still have a responsibility to their education, regardless of their economic standing. I’ll take them back to London tomorrow for school exam prep and stay at the apartment with them. I know she’s not ready to leave Devon, yet.

Xander decides to stay with Evie, as he’s not needed for recording. “You better fucking behave, Xan, or I’ll have your balls, brother,” I warn him, giving him a push on his shoulder.

”Don’t you worry, I won’t touch your wife. Mr. Tubbs looks like he’s going to kill me. I think he loves Evie more than he loves Pinky. No wonder Pinky’s gone for you, she’s trying to annoy Evie.”

“Are we still talking about ponies?” I ask him, as he’s rambling now. “Talking about annoying Evie, is Gabe bringing his entourage? Do you know who and how many he’s bringing over from America? I’d better warn her about them. I don’t want her thinking I’m fucking them.”

“Well you have in the past so…”

I grimace. “Well that was before I got married, so it doesn’t count.”

“You’ve only been married a day. It’s hardly a trial at the minute,” he points out.

“Don’t count on that. It’s fucking killing me. I just wish she’d say yes to the sex, to every fucking thing that being with me actually entails.” I blow out a breath of frustration.

Xan starts to laugh. “Mr. Tubbs size balls coming your way brother.”

We pull back into the driveway of Cornhill, the manor house practically gleaming at us both. Xan looks up and says seriously, “She’s putting down roots, Marcus. Not sure you’ll be able to move her soon.”

I look at him incredulously. “Why would I want to? It”s six months, Xan. That’s all. We love our son, it’s all she wants.” My heart sinks as I say those words.

He’s staring at me intently. “Is that all you want?”

“It’s irrelevant. She doesn’t even want to actually sleep with me. She’s practically running the other way.” I grab the back of my neck rubbing at my hair. So fucking gutted.

He continues to look at me. “Have you spoken to her about France? What happened? How she made you feel.”

“Fuck off, no way. Why would I do that? So she can tell me I’m the world’s biggest douche? Remind her of how much she can’t trust me and hates me? No, staying clear of that one. Why? Have you?” I lock eyes with him.

He nods vigorously. “Yes. I told her how she made me feel, when I saw her with you. That I definitely wanted her, but I knew you wouldn’t want to share her. She doesn’t believe you didn’t want to. She needs to hear it from you.”

I look away from him, sighing, feeling my fate is already sealed. “She won’t believe it, Xan. She thinks I have no boundaries, that everyone is fair game, so it’s pointless. I’ll just be hanging myself out there for no reason. She’s fixed in her opinion of me.” I shrug, dejectedly, my stomach in knots.

“I don’t think she is. If you’d just tell her, Marcus, it might be different,” he pleads with me.

“I fucked it up, I know that. I wanted something—something I couldn’t have. And to be honest, on reflection, she was right. I would have regretted fucking her in front of everyone. Hell, anyone. But I can’t take it back. I can hope for friends, which is as much as she’ll give me, if I’m lucky.”

I drop my head back onto the seat headrest. Will I get a chance to make things right? I just need one.

Iload up my boys and a list of instructions that I chuck onto the back seat as soon as we’re out of shouting distance of the house. With Mick driving us back to London, we talk about music, festivals, and even their exams. The lads have a schedule from Evie to follow. Not sure how she’ll know they’re sticking to it, but James assures me she will. Bucky is trying the old line of ‘A level geography is no use in a band.’

“Irrelevant as breathing, Bucky, I reckon, if you don’t sit it.”

He rolls his eyes at it all. “I bet you don’t have any qualifications,” he tries to jab at me.

“Cheeky fucker, I do. I have a degree from Oxford in Classics. Unlike your mother—who’s reasonable and realistic—mine made me go to university. You’ve two, maybe three weeks max, and then you’re done. Knuckle down and shut up.”

Fuck me, I actually sound like a parent.

I’ve got a bit of a sweat on by the time we get back to the apartment, and it only gets worse over the next few days when they’re both looking at me to make decisions about food, and logistics for school runs. I look at Mick, who is pissing himself with laughter at my lack of decision making. I’m sure James is doing it on purpose, as the boys suddenly seem unable to make any decisions, and are constantly asking me to make them.

“Have you got any other answer than, ‘Ring your mother?’” he asks at one point. “Because, to be fair, you’re a bit shit at this Dad thing at the minute, not gonna lie.”

“Well, I’m off back to Devon to use the new studio and re-record some stuff tomorrow, so you can go stay at your uncles’. I’m sure food, showers, and clean clothes will all magically appear.”

I’m knackered by the time I dump them at the Greystone house. James is laughing at me as I shove all their gear at Jonno.

“Dad’s glad we’re eighteen. If we’d have been eight, he’d have died. Look after him, Mick,” he tells the man, who is still enjoying this way too much.

They see me off, with lots of smirking, back to Devon. I look out the back window in time to see James and Bucky high fiving and then rolling with laughter. “Fucking kids,” I chuckle to myself.

Jesus, back to tranquillity. It’ll be really late by the time I get there, but I don’t give a shit. It’s hard work dealing with teenagers. I need the peace and quiet of the countryside.

It fleetingly crosses my mind that it’s her I need, but I can’t go there. I just need to get back into the studio to work on my distractions.