21. Robbie #2
My laughter quietens as we hit the familiar roads towards my parents house. “Well, wait until you meet my family. They’re more than Welsh enough to make up for what I lack. We’re nearly there anyway.”
I turn down the road, and Cassie presses her nose to the glass as I finally pull into the driveway.
The house isn’t massive, but it’s the end of the cul-de-sac and has a sprawling garden to the back.
If you stand at the bathroom window, you can just about make out the sea from above the trees.
It was a project when my parents bought it before I was born.
Four bedrooms that were always in a state of renovation until I was able to bring home a paycheck big enough to start over.
I cut the ignition. “Come on.”
I grab Cassie’s small bag and my suitcase out of the boot and round the car. She’s still sitting inside, pulling each ring off her finger and putting them back on again.
I open the door and rest my hand on the roof. The sun is now almost completely set bathing the driveway in a bluish hue. “The lights are off, no one will be awake anyway. Come on, we can do introductions tomorrow.”
At least it will give me a few hours to come up with what I’m about to tell my mother.
Like a baby deer learning to walk, Cassie cautiously climbs out of the car, following me across the driveway and hovering behind me as I unlock the door with my key.
From the entrance, you can see the study, the living room and the hallway, all of which are pitch black. Except there’s a line of light peeking under the kitchen door, and I bite back a groan.
I have a fleeting idea to smuggle Cassie upstairs, hide her in my bedroom and lock the door, but a familiar voice shouts from the kitchen, “Robert King, I saw you on the doorbell camera.”
Even in the dark, I see Cassie’s wide eyes.
“Bet you’re wishing you dropped me off at Hotel Gwesty right about now,” she mutters.
I bite my cheek. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Hi Mum,” I say as I push the door open. She’s standing next to the kettle, the light from the extractor fan bathing the room in a dim glow.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Mum asks, pulling me down for a hug.
She only comes up to my pecs, but she always insists on squeezing me with the strength of a much taller woman.
Her brown hair is pulled back in her usual clip, the same one Iwan and I got her for Christmas when I was ten that she’s never replaced.
She smacks an audible kiss on my cheek and rubs my arms.
“I had a weekend off and a lift, so I thought I’d come spend it with you,” I tell her.
Mum beams. There was a time I’d only see her twice a year and only call her twice more, but since my injury, we’ve become so much closer.
Mum peers around my arms. “And who’s this?”
“This is my—” I’ve never brought anyone even resembling a girlfriend home, and I didn’t even take a plus one to Iwan and Gwen’s wedding, so god knows what my Mum will think. “—my friend. Cassie.”
“Hello, flower,” Mum beams, pulling Cassie in for a hug of her own. “I’m Sian.”
Cassie shoots me a wide eyed glance over her shoulder. “I’m so sorry to intrude. It seemed a good idea at the time but now, well…” Cassie trails off. “I can call a taxi or—”
Mum waves her hand. “Don’t be silly. I would never kick you out of the house in the middle of the night.”
“It’s only 10:30,” I say.
“Come and sit down and have a cup of tea. Your dad’s already gone up. You can probably hear him snoring from down here.”
Mum ushers Cassie onto a stool at the island and flicks the kettle on.
“Robbie got me a giant selection of posh teas from Fortnum and Mason, and it’s taken us six months to get through them.
I’ve half a mind to make him take them home with him.
” Mum pulls out the box that I spent quite a bit of money on, and she and Cassie spend time flipping through each one until they find a nice flavor.
My dad always says Mum could talk for Wales, but Cassie keeps up with her well.
By the time the teas are drunk and Cassie’s hiding a yawn behind her hand, they’re almost as thick as thieves.
“Your room’s all set up. Lucky really that I just put fresh sheets on the other day.
Though we have been using it as storage.
Your dad is clearing out the attic, you see.
I’ve been finding things he was supposed to throw away twenty-five years ago.
” Mum rolls her eyes at Cassie. “But there’s still room for both of you to move in there. ”
“Oh,” Cassie squeaks.
I suddenly forget to breathe. “Mum,” I hiss. “We’re just friends. I’ll sleep in Iwan’s room.”
Mum puts her hands up. “Okay, okay, I get it. Just friends. Iwan and the family are coming down tomorrow for a few days, so we’ll not have enough spare rooms for everyone. But we’ll figure it out.” Mum winks at Cassie. “Right I’m off to bed,” she announces. “Lovely to meet you, Cassie. Sleep well.”
“Thank you Sian, you too,” Cassie replies softly, curling her hands further around her mug.
I wait until I hear Mum climb the stairs and close the door behind her before turning back to Cassie. Seeing her sitting at my parents’ kitchen island in the middle of the night almost makes me think she belongs there.
“Come on.” I tilt my head for her to follow me as I grab her bag and climb the stairs.
I push open the door to my room and gently place her bag inside. She slides past me as I hover in the doorway, and I have to stop myself from following her in and closing the door behind me.
“Bathroom’s across the hall. There’s some of my clothes in the top drawer.
I left them last time I was here, so help yourself.
” I clear my throat. “I’ll just be next door.
” Probably didn’t need to add that one. Images of her creeping into my bed wearing one of my shirts in the dead of night flit through my head. I need to leave. Now.
Cassie puts her hands in her back pockets.
“Right.” I turn to pull the door closed. “Goodnight then.”
“Robbie.”
I almost fall into the door in my haste to swing it back open. “Yeah?”
“Thank you,” she says softly as she crosses towards me. “For getting me out.”
She’s so close, I could easily sweep her into my arms and kick the door closed behind me. My fingers twitch with the desire to wrap my hands through her curls, tilt her head back, and take her lips in mine. “You’re welcome,” I say instead.
I close the door softly and leave my boss’s daughter in my childhood bedroom, the ramifications of what I’ve done finally sinking in.
Cassie Hamilton is going to be in my house for the next few days. And I’m going to have to stay away from her.