Chapter Twenty-Two
Oliver
O liver stood near the edge of the dance floor, a glass of champagne in hand, watching the dancing. Some of the men wore kilts and jackets like him, but a few had on jeans and shirts. Then there was Brann. He was in a tight t-shirt, showing off his biceps in all their glory. Was there any need? Oliver knocked back his champagne. Brann had better keep away from Hayley. A group of women were around him chatting, and he seemed to be lapping it up.
‘Hey.’ Finlay clapped him on the shoulder. ‘You ok?’
‘Yeah. Just watching Brann and his harem.’
Finlay chuckled. ‘Yup. He’s got them eating out his hand. I only recently found out he has a daughter in one of my classes. He wanted to bring her as his plus one. Can you imagine? No way did I want one of my pupils here.’
Oliver snorted into his drink. ‘Yeah, that would not have been good.’
‘Great place though,’ Finlay said. ‘You guys did good finding this.’
‘It was Hayley.’ Oliver swigged the rest of his champagne.
‘Did someone say my name?’ Hayley appeared at his side from nowhere, it seemed.
‘Me.’ Oliver briefly raised his free hand.
‘Singing your praises as usual.’ Finlay smirked. ‘Which reminds me, when are we going to see this hot dancing?’
‘Whenever Mr Wright is ready,’ Hayley said.
Oliver looked at Finlay and pulled a face.
‘Mr Wright?’ Finlay shook his head. ‘There’s mileage in there I’ve been missing for years.’
‘Quite surprising, really,’ Oliver said. ‘You dwell on that for a bit while we dance.’ He put his glass on a nearby table and held out his arm. Hayley took it with a smile.
‘Love you guys,’ Finlay said. ‘You’re the best.’
‘He thinks we’re doing this just for him, bless.’ Hayley beamed as they reached the dance floor and Oliver slipped his hand around her waist.
‘Fine by me,’ he said. ‘Probably best he doesn’t know the truth.’
The music was faster than Oliver would have liked. He wasn’t much of a dancer, but Hayley had a knack for it even in her gravity defying heels. Her stunning dress clung to her elegant figure, and Oliver forced himself to breathe slowly. Memories of their afternoon together nudged his brain, and he barely contained the desire to take her in his arms and drag her back upstairs. Hayley addict. That was him. He couldn’t get enough of her. Crazy, crazy, crazy. On so many levels. She tossed her head, so her hair tumbled over her back.
‘It’s so hot in here.’
‘You’re not kidding,’ he muttered.
Remember, nothing can happen. You’re going to London. A little voice scratched at the inside of his brain. He didn’t want anything to happen anyway! Because you don’t believe in lasting love, do you?
Love? Where had that thought even come from? Love? He didn’t love Hayley. Yes, you do . You do and you know it. You told her you did. Bloody hell, he had. But he’d said it so quietly and at such a heated moment she thankfully hadn’t noticed. Lust had driven him to say it. Lust was to blame.
‘I need to thank you.’ Her eyes met his, and he was momentarily lost in her liquid brown irises.
He raised an eyebrow. ‘For what?’
‘For the speech. I didn’t expect that.’
‘You deserved it. Credit where credit’s due. You’ve put a lot of effort into this. And with pretty much no help from me.’
‘Well, I appreciate what you said, especially after all my bullying.’
‘Which I deserved. I’ve been a total arse.’ He glanced away.
‘You made up for it this afternoon.’
‘Did I?’
‘Totally. That was pretty special, wasn’t it?’
‘Yeah. It was.’ He raised his hand to her face and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. ‘More later. If you want.’ Even as the words left his lips, he cursed inside. How stupid was he, encouraging this? He should be stamping on it. But he couldn’t. His desire was too powerful.
‘Of course I do.’ She ran her hand along the shoulder of his jacket, flicking off a tiny piece of fluff as she did so.
He spun her around and pulled her closer. She let out a squeal and a giggle. ‘I want you so badly it hurts,’ he murmured. ‘And I mean really hurts, like everywhere.’
‘Me too. But we need to be patient. Too many people are watching here… Or could be watching.’
‘Yeah. I know. But Finlay wanted us to be nice to each other and I really don’t think I can be much nicer than this.’
‘You’re very nice indeed, but I also like it when you’re naughty.’
‘You’re the naughty one.’
‘Well, we can be naughty together then.’
The whole day had been so much better than he’d anticipated, and he wouldn’t let anything ruin these last few hours together. If true love didn’t last, what was he worried about? This weekend could be a happy memory to take to London with him. No regrets.
After a few dances, they sat at a table with Genevieve and Finlay, and some other guests, including Hayley and Finlay’s dad Sam, and Liz, his partner. Sam was possibly a closet comedian. He certainly had several funny stories to tell, and it was clear where both Hayley and Finlay got their laid-back personalities from.
Oliver was glad not to have to talk. Listening to the conversation was so much easier and no one would notice if his eyes strayed once too often to Hayley. Except her. She caught his eye more than once and flicked him a cheeky smile.
Eventually, people drifted up to bed. Oliver couldn’t wait for either Finlay or Genevieve to say they were heading up. Once they went, he wouldn’t feel bad about following. Midnight had come and gone before they moved.
‘Night and thanks again,’ Finlay said as they reached the top of the stairs. ‘You two are the best.’
‘It’s been brilliant,’ Genevieve said.
Finlay hugged Hayley, then she and Genevieve embraced. Finlay eyed Oliver for a moment and Oliver quirked a little grin. Everyone knew he wasn’t a hugger, but Finlay looked on the verge of embracing him. And why the hell not? This was his best mate, after all.
Like he’d read his change of heart, Finlay opened his arms and gave Oliver a man-hug, including a substantial wallop to the back. Oliver returned it.
‘Thanks, mate.’ Finlay pulled back, grinning. ‘I know it’s not exactly your thing, but I appreciate you going the extra mile for us.’
‘I hardly did anything.’
‘You’re here,’ Finlay said quietly. ‘And I know that can’t have been easy.’
‘No worries. You’d have done the same for me. You have done, many times. I should be the one thanking you.’
‘Bugger off.’ Finlay burst out laughing and clapped Oliver’s back again. ‘Since when did you get so sappy?’
‘Since now. Because I’ve never really thanked you for sticking by me, even when…’ He shrugged.
‘That’s what friends are for.’
Oliver nodded. It certainly was. And he was lucky to have found one of the best.
Genevieve sidled over and gave him a brief hug too. Hayley had moved away and was hugging her mum a little way off. She caught Oliver’s eye over her mum’s shoulder and winked.
He headed to his room, firing off a quick message to Hayley.
OLIVER: See you soon.
Leaving the bathroom door open, in case she came by, he gave himself a quick wash, brushed his teeth and got into his pyjamas. His phone was on the end of the bed and he lifted it checking for a reply. Nothing. He sat down with a sigh. What if she’d changed her mind?
Why am I so desperate?
A sharp knock on the door made him jump. He got to his feet and opened it. Hayley almost fell in.
‘You’re here.’
‘Of course I am. Just had to pick up a few things.’
‘What is all that?’ he asked. She had her arms full of what looked like clothes and toiletries.
‘Stuff. In case I end up staying here all night. Not that I’m making assumptions, but I’d like to be prepared just in case.’ The words tumbled out at a hundred miles an hour.
Oliver took her face in his hands and kissed her. ‘Stay all night. Please.’
Stay forever…
Really? Did he want that?
She smiled and her beautiful lips shimmered in the soft light. ‘Ok.’
He scooped her up, and she squealed. ‘Let’s make this a night to remember.’
‘Yes, please.’
He set her down gently on the bed and lay down beside her. ‘You…’ He kissed her. ‘Are just beautiful.’ He carried on the kiss, finding her tongue with his and indulging in long, lingering kisses. This was going to be slow and oh so enjoyable.
Hayley nestled in the crook of Oliver’s arm with her eyes closed, her long hair splayed across his chest. Oliver ran his hand over her locks, coiling a strand around his finger, then leaning his forehead on hers. Moments like this wouldn’t come often in his life, so he had to cherish this. Maybe love didn’t last, but what if it existed for a short time in his life? Like this moment.
‘Morning, Mr Wright,’ Hayley murmured without opening her eyes. She trailed a finger down his chest. ‘How are you?’
‘Very well. You?’
‘Never better.’ She opened her eyes and smiled. ‘What time is it?’
‘Early yet.’ He pressed a soft kiss to her brow.
Thistle lodge was theirs right up until midday, so there was no rush to leave. They had a little more time before they had to get up.
‘I’ve got some games for this morning,’ she said.
‘I assume you mean for the party and not for you and me.’
‘Ha ha, yes.’ She peered up at him. ‘Though you and me could play some of our own before they start.’
‘I like the sound of that a lot more.’ He pulled the covers over them and kissed her. Got to kiss her like there’s no tomorrow, because there isn’t.
Party games weren’t his thing. He sat sipping coffee, watching Hayley sort everyone out, recalling the kind of games he’d played with her just a few hours before. His brain jumped from wishing he could get the hell out of here as soon as possible to not wanting these last couple of hours with Hayley ever to end.
He couldn’t just sit here like a plank, not when he’d done very little to help her in the run up.
‘I’ll be quiz master.’ He raised his hand when Hayley announced her own version of a ‘Mr he sensed it. ‘They gave me a pot plant for my new house in London, but I don’t have a new house yet. I’m renting a short-term apartment while I work my induction period, so the plant will probably die off.’
Hayley put her head in her hand and gave a wry chuckle. ‘You are a funny guy. I’ll go round and water your plant, if you like.’
‘I’m not sure it’s worth it.’
She smiled at him then gently ran her hand over his thigh, almost putting him off the road. ‘Won’t you miss your job? I know I would miss mine. The girls I work with are so lovely.’
He gave a little shrug. ‘I thought it had grown stale, but maybe it was just so familiar I didn’t find it challenging. I can’t deny I’m happy to get away at this point. You should have seen the case that came in last week. A woman who cited her reason for divorce as, after spending twenty years systematically getting rid of all the tinsel her husband had accumulated, when he came home with a bag of brand-new tinsel, that was the last straw.’
Hayley laughed. ‘Oh my god, that’s hilarious. And you don’t think you’ll get tinsel-hating wives in London?’
‘No doubt, but sometimes it’s just…’ How could he explain when he wasn’t sure himself? ‘It’s like something is missing. The job feels kind of flat.’
‘Sounds like you need a change of direction. Can’t you go into another branch of law?’
‘I could, but this is where my experience lies, so going elsewhere wouldn’t be that easy. Regalia are great for working across the whole of Britain and internationally, so I’ll get a broader experience.’
‘Guess so. Just make sure you avoid the tinsel-phobes.’
‘You couldn’t make it up sometimes.’
His father’s farm, Tullybrae, was a short drive south of Glenbriar. Oliver pulled onto the farm track, passing two large barns and continuing until he reached the traditional old stone farmhouse. Chickens roamed around the yard at the side door and Oliver parked beside his dad’s Landrover.
‘Cute house,’ Hayley said.
‘It’s falling apart, and it’s a total mess inside.’ Oliver popped his seatbelt. ‘And watch the chicken shit when you get out. It’s everywhere.’
‘Not exactly a glowing review.’
‘Just an honest one. I was never going to follow in my father’s footsteps. Farming isn’t my thing at all.’ He got out, heeding his own advice and taking care of where he put his feet as he made his way to the front door. His knock echoed round and a few chickens stopped pecking to see what the disturbance was.
Carla opened the door and peered out. ‘Oh, it’s you. Hello. And Hayley. I didn’t know you were coming.’
‘Just tagging along. How’s Neil?’
‘Getting better, though not able to walk as well as he’d like and still not working.’
‘Did you find someone to cover for him?’
‘We’ve got an arrangement going with some nearby farmers. It’s not ideal, but it’s the best we can do.’
Oliver let her talk and lead the way. He followed as Carla headed through the kitchen into the hallway towards the living room. The house still held vestiges of what had once been Oliver’s home. At the sight of the old stairs, a pain struck him square in the chest. When he was little, his mum had hung his Christmas stocking there with him. Why did it make him want to cry? Not just cry, but have her there to comfort him, just like she would have done when he was tiny and had hurt himself. Those memories were too old to know if they were real or if he was simply imagining what he hoped his young life was like. He knew it had been happy. He knew his mum had loved him. If she hadn’t, it wouldn’t have hurt so badly to lose her.
Hayley turned and smiled at him. ‘Hey,’ she said. ‘Are you ok?’
‘What?’ Oliver focused on her face, those beautiful dark eyes, her long glossy hair, and blinked away the memories.
‘Come here.’ Hayley moved closer and slipped an arm around his back. With a sigh, he put his around her and placed his hand on her shoulder. ‘Everything’s fine,’ she said, gently.
His father was sitting close to the woodburner, laughing at something on the television.
‘Neil. Oliver’s here,’ Carla said. ‘With Hayley.’
Neil fumbled for the remote and turned off the TV. ‘Ah… What’s this visit for? Are you finally going to tell us you’re settling down? Is this the unlucky lady?’
‘No.’ Oliver removed his hand from Hayley’s shoulder and stepped away from her.
‘Any woman who got to settle down with Oliver wouldn’t be unlucky,’ Hayley said with a smile. ‘He’s quite a catch, don’t you know?’
‘Is he now?’ Neil grinned at Hayley as though she’d been flirting with him.
‘He certainly is.’
‘Then why aren’t you taking him off my hands?’
Hayley eyed Neil, then turned to Oliver with an appraising look. Her expression was still playful, but something in her eyes told Oliver she wasn’t enjoying this as much as she was making out. ‘I’ll leave him for the fancy London girls.’
‘Pah,’ Neil said. ‘Are you still going to London?’
‘Yes. That’s why I’m here. I’m leaving tomorrow. I’ve come to say goodbye.’
‘Oh, right.’ Neil pulled his lips down in an expression of mild surprise. ‘Well, I’m sure we’ll see you as much as we ever did, whether you’re in London or here. It’s not like you’ve ever been a frequent visitor.’
Oliver’s jaw set and he controlled his breathing. No point in getting angry or trying to argue with his dad. Neil would never see it. He blamed Oliver for being distant but wouldn’t understand how shut out Oliver had felt ever since his mum had died.
‘Ava and Sofia are very excited to have a brother in London,’ Carla said. ‘They hope you’ve got a two-bedroom house so they can come and visit.’
He bit his tongue. They wanted to visit him in London? Clearly it was London they wanted to see and not him, as they’d never visited him in his Glenbriar house. Also, he wasn’t sure Carla had ever referred to him as their brother before.
‘I haven’t got a house yet, so I’m not sure what size it’ll be.’
‘There’s a long list of people wanting to visit him already,’ Hayley said.
‘Are you top of the list?’ Neil asked.
She glanced at Oliver. ‘Probably not.’
He locked his gaze with hers, hoping to impart his reply. Yes, you are. Because he couldn’t say it out loud.
‘I just want to say goodbye,’ Oliver said. ‘And… Well, that’s all.’
‘I can’t get up.’ Neil nodded at his leg. ‘But we can shake hands.’ He thrust his out and Oliver shook. That was about as demonstrative as his dad ever got with him. Oliver turned to Carla and went to shake her hand too, but she took him by surprise and gave him a quick hug and a peck on the cheek.
‘Safe travels,’ she said.
They returned to the car and Oliver sat quietly for a few seconds as Hayley strapped herself in. ‘Was that all really weird?’ he said. ‘Or are all families like that?’
Hayley gave a little shrug. ‘All families are different. My mum was beside herself when she thought Finlay was leaving for Dubai, but my dad was totally ok with it. Your dad seems more like that.’
‘I don’t think he’d have cared if I left and didn’t bother to say goodbye.’
‘But you did, Oliver. That’s what’s important. He might accuse you of never visiting or whatever, but he’s wrong. He sees what he wants to see because it makes him feel better. You keep going back. Maybe not frequently, but you do it. You said he’d never been to visit you?’
‘He hasn’t.’
‘Exactly. So he’s the one in the wrong, but it’s easier for him to blame you. And if your sisters want to come to London, let them. Show them and your dad that you’re not the problem. Even if they only come for free accommodation at first, then so what? They’ll remember you let them stay and as they grow up, they’ll realise what that means.’
‘What does it mean?’
‘That you’re a good person.’
‘Am I?’
‘Yes, Oliver.’
He turned his head to face her. ‘You really are top of my list to come visit me in London. In fact, you’re top of my list for everything.’ He leaned forward and placed his lips against hers. The soothing warmth instantly carried him away. A voice inside his head spoke, and it sounded like his mum… or what he thought he remembered her sounding like.
Don’t let her go. What’s more important than love?
But he couldn’t love Hayley. He didn’t believe in love… love that lasted. As he kissed her, his resolve faded further. Was he really doing the right thing?