Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Gavin
I’d spent hours packing away every trace of me, but I needed a break. I hadn’t seen Nikki or Roman since mine and Nikki’s exchange. They were busy working on Roman’s schedule.
I skipped down the stairs, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, and made my way onto the patio just as a call came through from the front gate. I turned back and answered the buzzer, “Go ahead, Walsh.” I said as I pressed the button for the intercom on the wall.
“A Miss Karen Duncan is here to see Roman and Nikki.” My lips pulled into a wicked smile.
“Let her through.” I said and let go of the button.
I screwed the cap off my water and guzzled a quarter of it down; less than five minutes later, I heard the door shut, and Rhys greeted Karen.
Her sweet, gentle voice drifted down the hallway and through to the kitchen.
I wandered across the room, leaned my shoulder against the doorframe as I drank some more of my water.
I pulled the bottle from my lips, “To what do we owe the pleasure?” Her footsteps slowed just a few yards from me as she looked up.
My gaze travelled up and down her slim frame, and for some reason, I found myself comparing her to Nikki, not in a bad way.
She was all soft curves, whereas Nikki was toned and tight.
“I’ve come to see Roman. Nikki asked me to come by.” My chin lifted in acknowledgement. “I don’t suppose you’d know what it’s about?”
“Haven’t a clue, sorry.”
She lifted her shoulder in a shrug, and her head tilted towards it, half a smirk on her lips. “Well, I’m guessing it’s about some work.”
“Yeah? Whatever gave you that idea?” Her eyes searched mine as I bit back my smirk, I tried to establish if she thought I was taking the piss or not, or if she thought I was deadly serious. Why else would she be here after all.
“Well, the fact that Nikki said she would call about work.” And there you have it. She didn’t understand my sarcasm. I tried to hide my smirk, and lifted my bottle back to my lips, “Are you screwing with me?” Her eyes narrowed with her question.
I stepped closer, swallowed the water in my mouth and nodded slowly. “I’m taking the piss. I’m sorry, you were just too easy.”
“Well,” she reached her hands around her and slid them into her back pockets, her chest puffed out with the action. “Easy isn’t something I’ve been called before.” Her teeth grazed her lip as she smiled around it.
“You should know,” I whispered as I bent slightly to her height, “I pride myself on being easy.”
Her eyebrow cocked as she released her lip, “Did your mother never tell you that you’d get a reputation that way?”
“No.” I whispered back. “I got it anyway.” A smirk pulled at my mouth as her pretty eyes widened.
“Okay,” her voice was all breathy, “so I better get um…” she sighed, “...going.”
“Just this way.” I smiled confidently. She was putty in my hands as she followed closely down the long hallway. It was as we ventured through the kitchen that I remembered my manners, “Coffee?”
“Please, yeah.” I moved to the coffee pot, grabbed a cup and poured her coffee.
“Milk and sugar?”
“No, thank you.” Without anything else having to be added to it, I passed it over and smiled.
“Enjoy.” I led her through the archway and into the back room where Nikki and Gav were working.
I swung my arm out and pointed her in the right direction, announcing her arrival like some fucking butler.
“Your photographer, sir.” I bowed to him, when my head lifted, Roman was watching me with his lips pursed.
“Funny fucker.” Roman added as he shook his head. “Ignore him and take a seat.” She glanced briefly at me as a smirk played on her lips and pulled out a chair at the dining table.
As I smiled back, Nikki lifted her head and caught me, her eyes flamed like fire.
“Hey guys.” Karen greeted them both, and I left them to their meeting and went back onto the patio.
I’d been sitting out here for the last hour.
The peace was deafening. I guessed I wasn’t that comfortable with my own company all the time.
I’d get used to it, though; I’d have to since I was getting my own place now.
And like some kind of siren’s call, my phone rang, breaking the silence.
The unknown number had me frowning. I deliberated on whether to answer it or not, there was a time I didn’t answer anything that wasn’t saved in my contacts.
I huffed, sack up, dude, in for a penny and all that…
I swiped across my screen, “Hello.” I said as I held it up to my ear.
“Hi Mr Wright, this is Amber from the letting agents. It’s just a courtesy call to let you know the keys for the property are ready for you to collect.”
“Sweet,” I sat up straight, “thanks. I’ll be in this morning.”
Pushing myself out of the chair, I pocketed my phone again, and walked back through the house to get my car keys. I took them from the bowl in the kitchen and started back the other way.
“You seem to be in a rush.” I turned to look over my shoulder and grinned at Karen. “Yeah, gotta pop out.”
“Anywhere interesting?” She asked from behind. I waited for her to catch up with me, and we walked back to the front door together.
“I guess so...” Why did I feel like she was trying to get into my head? Her eyes searched mine every time I peered into them. But what a place to get lost in. “Erm, just gotta pick up some keys.”
“Oh.” I held the door open for her and I walked her across the drive to her car.
“So, all your business sorted?” I asked as I leaned against her door, folding my arms across my chest.
“It is. Roman told me about the casino job.”
“Yeah, it’ll be good. I take it you’ll be doing the official photographs.” I asked.
“Yep. I jumped at the chance. I’ve never been to a casino.”
“You live in L.A. and you’ve never been to a casino?” I scoffed. Has this woman been living under a rock, I mused to myself.
Her head shook, “Nope,” completely perplexed.
“Well, then I’ll have to take you when we’re not working.” I smiled easily. She seemed to have an effect on me, I had no idea why, though.
A shy smile graced her perfectly shaped mouth.
“I’d love that.” A blush crept into her cheeks.
God, that whole innocence thing was killing me.
Was she really that innocent? I didn’t understand, she was a total opposite to Nikki.
Was that the pull? All these thoughts in my head confused the fuck out of me.
“You know, I better get going.” I said and looked away. But I didn’t want to.
My toe kicked the gravel on the ground as I gave her a tight-lipped smile and turned to leave.
“You know, if you’re up for it,” her voice had me stopping in my tracks and turning back to her, “we could grab coffee sometime.”
“You asking me out?” My head lifted just enough to see her face, as my mouth pulled into a smirk and I lifted an eyebrow. I would never have taken her for being forward.
“Well… it’s just coffee, you know, we work together in a sense.” She dipped her head and stared at the ground; it was her turn to kick the bricks now. I’d embarrassed her, and that wasn’t cool.
I took two steps towards her and tilted my head, “Karen?” She lifted her head partially, and looked at me from under her light brows, “I’d like that.” Her lips formed a real smile this time. “Why don’t you give me your number, and I’ll give you a call later.”
She nodded, I pulled out my phone and opened my contacts for her to put her number in. She quickly added it and handed it back. “Give me a couple of hours.”
“Okay.” The smile hadn’t shifted from her face as she turned from me and unlocked her car. I went to my own car, unlocking it with the fob, and waited for her to get inside hers. The engine started and she slowly pulled away, lifting her hand in a wave as she passed me.
I got inside my own and turned on the ignition. The engine rumbled as I put her into first gear and pulled away from the house.
That was a turn-up for the books.
The letting agent was waiting with more paperwork to sign when I got there. I quickly signed on the dotted line and she handed over the keys.
Before I went back to Roman’s house to tell him I had the keys, I made my way to my new apartment, let myself in and had another look around.
Only it felt different this time. It held a whole new meaning.
Maybe it was because it was now mine. And as much as I hated the silence, I knew this would be good for me.
It was what I needed.
I needed this responsibility again.