Chapter 7 #2
‘What brings you this way on a Sunday evening?’ asked Luke, as he opened the door, running his hand through his hair.
Fenella burst in, red hair flying all over the place. ‘I’m your sister, since when did I need a reason to pop in.’
‘Well, you never usually just “pop in” without calling first. Where’s Ross?’
‘Oh, you know Ross, out fishing again, his one true love. Am I insane, marrying someone who is literally going to ditch me as a fishing widow from day one, I mean what . . .’ Fenella stopped short, ‘Oh, hi, sorry, I didn’t see you there in the corner!
Luke, why didn’t you tell me you had a guest over? ’
‘Well, you didn’t give me the chance! Fenella, this is Eliza.’
Eliza let out a laugh, all awkwardness vanishing in the face of seeing Luke cringing in front of his sister. Siblings, they really did show you at your best.
‘Hi, Fenella, nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you but I didn’t know you were a fishing widow. I used to be a wine widow, so I know how it feels!’
‘Yup, today I’m totally questioning the sanity of marrying a man who is more interested in what flies he needs for the day, than the flavour of our wedding cake!
Not that we’re into the idea of a big wedding or anything.
But it’s only three months until the supposed “big day”, and he’s off looking for trout.
’ Fenella’s eyes kept flicking to Luke, as if she was gauging his reaction.
She wondered if Fenella was used to seeing random girls at Luke’s house. ‘Anyway . . . I hate him.’
‘Isn’t that most men?’ questioned Luke casually, as he moved to sit down in the armchair. ‘Weddings are just a hassle; you don’t even really like them. Why are you being all Bridezilla?’
Fenella bared her teeth at her brother. ‘I am not turning into Bridezilla, but if we’re to get married we need to at least do something!
Anyway, ignore me, it’s fine. I’m just in a bad mood, but I’ll probably get over it at some point.
And sorry, Eliza. I wasn’t expecting to see you here!
Luke’s usually on his own on a Sunday afternoon; there aren’t many people who crack the nod to his cabin. ’
Luke looked over at Eliza, rolling his eyes in mock irritation at his sister, and she felt even Fenella turning up couldn’t ruin her day – it just made her like Luke even more. And she liked the fact that she seemed to be special enough that Luke had invited her to his house.
‘Would you like a drink, Nelly, to help calm your fury?’ asked Luke.
‘No, well maybe, I don’t know. I don’t want to interrupt your fun. I just wanted a quick rant. I feel better already.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ said Eliza, ‘I just popped over to see the puppies. Luke was trying to tempt me into having one.’
‘I’m sure he was.’ Fenella grinned. ‘Okay, I will have one quick drink. Then I’m leaving. I might join you in a glass of wine. Do you mind? It’s not often we get interesting people arriving in Farmington, Eliza.’
‘Well, I’m not sure I’m that interesting,’ said Eliza. ‘I should probably be on my way soon anyway.’
‘Are you going to hitch hike?’ asked Luke, smiling at her as he walked to the kitchen for another glass.
‘Good point!’ she responded. Then she turned to Fenella. ‘So, tell me about your wedding. I actually used to work in events, or still do, I don’t have a new job yet, but maybe I can lend a hand in bringing this wedding together. Do you have someone helping you?’
She looked away, feeling herself blushing all over, but if she didn’t sell herself, who would. And the horrifying red ￡20,000 debt on her credit card was flashing in her mind. Damn, why couldn’t debts pay themselves?
Fenella grabbed her hand and squealed, whispering urgently, ‘Really? Is it really what you do? I would love some help. It’s just me, my mum, and Ross’s awful interfering old mother who is driving me insane.
And it’s the first wedding of the family after— Well, we’re just nowhere.
But I don’t want to bore Luke, he’s not a big fan of weddings –’ she laughed nervously – ‘what men are?’
Shocked and utterly delighted, Eliza felt herself beaming. ‘Of course, I completely understand. I would love to help – I’m desperate for something to keep me busy. Where are you having it?’
‘Well, we decided to keep it casual, so we’re having it here at Stanley’s. Small family wedding, rustic – nothing too fancy.’
‘Wow, that is so cool, a wedding at home. We can have serious fun with that. From the moment I saw Stanley’s I had a million ideas. It’s got so much potential.’
Luke returned with the wine and sighed at the sight of them on the sofa. ‘I can see why Ross went fishing . . . but, I suppose I should know what’s going on, too, as it’s going to be at my gaff.’
Fenella smiled, grabbed her glass and then flopped into the big armchair.
Luke moved to sit next to Eliza, his hand subtly stroking her shoulder as he took his seat.
It felt electric. That touch, that moment, was enough to let her know that he wanted her, that he wasn’t shy about letting his sister know that there was something brewing between them.
That he felt something, whatever it was, the same as she did.
Weren’t rebounds supposed to be all secretive and hush-hush?
Oh, who cares, he was too hot to make her question anything; she’d take her rebound any way he wanted . . .
A few hours later, Eliza was fully up to date on the wedding plans, or lack thereof, and had about a hundred ideas on how to make everything come together. She was so excited. This is what she was brilliant at, and it was a great way to show Luke what she could do – and how much Stanley’s could do.
‘Okay, I really must go,’ muttered Fenella, standing up, her gorgeous mane of red hair shining in the light.
Bloody hell those Stanleys have good genes, thought Eliza.
‘Ross must be home by now, and I’m so excited to tell him that we’re really going to have a proper wedding.
I’m going to go home and bore him senseless with all our ideas.
Eliza, you are a bloody godsend. When can we meet again to action all this?
I feel like it’s going to be the party of the decade! ’
Eliza laughed. ‘Anytime – I literally have an empty diary. Apart from helping you pull this together and maybe trying to persuade Luke to let me do a few other things for him at Stanley’s. I reckon it really is an epic venue.’
‘Night, Nelly,’ said Luke, reaching over to kiss her goodbye, in what seemed an attempt to make her leave.
‘Night, and thank you – do you want a lift home, Eliza? It’s only five minutes out of my way?’
‘Um, sure, that could work.’
Luke cleared his throat, and said firmly, ‘Thanks, Nelly, but I’ll take her home. There was something she needed me to fix at the cottage anyway.’
Catching on, Eliza attempted to join in, ‘Oh yes, the plumbing, there’s something up with the shower . . .’
‘Right, the plumbing,’ said Fenella with a wink. ‘I got ya. I’ll leave you kids to it, then. Night and thank you! And Luke,’ she called from the doorway, ‘don’t you fucking dare mess this up.’ Then she wandered off towards her car, seeming much happier than when she had arrived.
Eliza laughed, but the thought vanished from her mind as soon as it arrived, when Luke shut the door and grabbed Eliza by the hand, leading her to the sofa.
Pushing her back down, he mumbled, ‘Now, where were we?’ He started kissing her with such passion and desire, she thought she might explode.
She could feel him harden through his jeans as he reached for her cashmere knit, pulling it up over her head.
He pulled her lacy bra down and then slowly kissed his way down her neck, across her collarbone, trailing down to her nipples.
She let out a moan, not thinking about anything apart from her wetness and desire for him.
She let her hands wander up his shirt, stroking his taut muscles and his insane six-pack.
He was a stupendous specimen of a man. And she couldn’t believe that in this moment he was hers.
As he reached for the button on her jeans, she felt a moment of doubt come back – it was so soon, they barely knew each other – but that was old Eliza talking.
No, she was new, risk-taking, rebound-ready Eliza and this felt so amazing, and so right. She deserved it and she needed it. Now.
He reached inside her knickers, his fingers exploring her wetness. As he touched her, he looked up, his eyes searching hers.
‘You are so goddamn wet,’ he said, stroking her clit. ‘I’m going to make you come so fucking hard.’
She didn’t want to come straight away, she wanted to wait, to savour it, but she was starting to feel out of control. She wanted to touch him, too, and as she reached for his cock, she could feel how big he was.