Chapter 18
Zara
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at Drew’s reaction to finding Laura in the apartment. I can understand why he was angry, but what I didn’t expect was for Drew to be instantly besotted by a puppy, even to the point where he took it and bathed it.
The man who has a hard as steel shell is complete mush on the inside. I know he treats me well, and he often speaks kindly to Carlos, but it’s rare to see him smile at anyone other than the people who are really close.
Laura and Carlos went into town to find the other puppy, but the guy was nowhere to be seen, which pissed Drew off so much, I spent much of the afternoon in the apartment tidying round and doing laundry. I know he is capable, and he also has helped a couple of times a week, but I want to feel useful.
The team is preparing some of the horses for a big race at the weekend, and it means we’ll all be travelling up to Scotland. I wasn’t expecting it, as we were supposed to be in America, but as we are here, Drew wants to go and keep a really close eye on things.
I’ve just finished making everything tidy and putting all the dishes away when Drew walks through the door.
“Mom and Dad have just landed at the airport,” he announces.
“Already? I thought they weren’t coming for a few days?” I reply, looking around the apartment anxiously.
“Zara, the place looks amazing. They’ll be staying in the house anyway.”
“But they will be coming up here at some point. I don’t want them to think I don’t know how to keep house.”
“You’re not my maid, and I don’t expect you to do anything other than your own laundry. Your underwear would be far too distracting for me to deal with.”
“I can’t help it. I don’t want them to look around and judge me.”
“Stop it!” he snaps. “My parents won’t judge. You saw the state of Braxton’s apartment. Fucking diapers and bottles and shit everywhere.”
I understand what he’s saying, and I’ve not been here that long to be able to make any changes. The apartment is beautiful, but it’s very masculine, and after all, me staying here is only temporary—until I can afford somewhere of my own.
Our relationship has gone from arguing to having the hottest sex ever to spending every single moment of the day together. I don’t want it to change, but if and when things get settled with my father, it’s bound to happen. Drew will no doubt get sick of me hanging around him. The thought makes me sad inside, and I secretly hope that isn’t how our story ends.
I give the bathrooms another once-over, and then it dawns on me that I’m cleaning the wrong place. They’re staying in the main house. I start piling up all the cleaning products into a bag.
“What are you doing now?” Drew asks, watching me.
“I need to go and make sure the house is okay.”
“It’s fine. It always is.”
“But what if it’s not? What if Devil Dog has left a present for them somewhere?”
“Then someone will clean it up, but that someone isn’t you!”
“Drew, you don’t understand. If they see the place is a mess, they—”
“Zara, they will be staying there for a couple of nights, and then they’ll go and see Carter.”
“Won’t his girlfriend be freaking out, too?”
“I don’t think she’ll really give a shit. Her whole world revolves around my brother.”
“Hey, can I come in?” Laura shouts from the doorway.
“If you must,” Drew replies.
“No need to be fucking grumpy . . . I’ve brought you a present,” she says, holding a pup in her arms.
“I thought you said you couldn’t find the guy.”
“I didn’t want to leave it like that, so I went back into town. He was just about to sell it to another woman, and I got into a bit of a bidding war.”
“Over a pup?” he bites.
“You said you wanted it!” she snaps back and thrusts the filthy pup into his arms.
“How much did it cost?”
“One hundred quid. I would have said it doesn’t matter, but I’m pretty skint until payday.”
Drew fumbles in his pocket and pulls out his wallet and hands Laura a stack of twenty-pound notes.
“This is too much!” she says, fanning them out.
“We’ll need proper puppy food, some toys, and real shampoo. You can keep what’s left but get the best stuff.”
He picks up the pup and looks it straight in the eyes. “You stink worse than your brother,” he mumbles and heads towards the bathroom.
“Don’t you dare, Drew! I’ve only just finished cleaning!” I call after him.
“It’s a bathroom! It’s where you have baths. Where you get clean. I’m sure my mom will understand, even though she won’t be seeing my bathroom anytime in my lifetime.”
He disappears, leaving me and Laura in the lounge. “So, you and Carlos?” I raise my brow in question.
“He’s nice. It’s nothing serious—well, I don’t think it is, but you never know where things can go. What’s the deal with you and Billy Billionaire?”
“Don’t call him that, Laura. He’s been really good to you,” I snap at her, but Billy Billionaire is quite funny. “We are getting along fine. I don’t know what’ll happen in the future. I wish my father would leave us alone, though. It’d be nice to see how things could work without Drew having to protect me twenty-four seven.”
“I hate to say it, Zara, but I can’t see a time where he’ll be okay with any of it. My mum called me this morning asking if you were okay. Uncle Thomas called her shouting and bawling because he’d found out I’d come up here, too.”
“How the hell did he find out?” I ask, shaking my head. “Is someone feeding him information?”
“They better fucking not be,” Drew says, coming into the room. “But I hate to admit, it has crossed my mind. The two horses that were favourites in this weekend’s races, both put out of action . . . It’s more than a coincidence.”
“What are you going to do?” I ask.
“I’ll be watching and if I find out anyone on my team is stabbing me in the back, they better fucking immigrate before I get my hands on them.”
He holds out the puppy, which is now white and not as smelly. It still smells of wet dog, but it looks a lot better. “What do you think?” he asks.
I smile and nod. “He looks much better. What are you going to call him?”
“Don’t know yet. It won’t be anything relating to the fucking Devil that for sure.” He brings the pup back to his chest and kisses it on its head. “Snow suits him. But I want to see him in action first.”
“You can’t call him Snow . . . it doesn’t match with Devil.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you call your dog, but I’d definitely be rethinking your decision. Unless it develops red eyes and breathes fire, Devil is a pretty shit name for a pure-white dog.”
“I’m going to help Carlos,” Laura says, stomping out of the room. “Wish I’d never fucking bothered,” she mutters as she closes the door.
“Why do you have to be so snippy with her?” I ask, straightening the cushions for the hundredth time.
“Because she doesn’t understand the boss employee relationship. She might be your cousin, but she isn’t mine. I hired her to do a job, not rehome puppies.”
“You asked her to go and get him.”
“Yes, because I’m the boss, but I don’t need her to advise me on names. I name racehorses all the time.”
I shake my head and wonder if they will ever really get along.
We both look at the cameras at the same time as a car pulls up outside. My stomach drops when I see it’s a black Mercedes, just like my father’s.
Please don’t let it be him . . . Not when Drew’s parents are so close.
We stand and watch for a moment, and then both back doors of the car open, and familiar figures step out.
Drew’s parents have arrived.
He puts the pup on the couch, opens the door, and heads down the stairs. I follow, making sure I close the door properly, my heart flutters, and I feel more and more sick. I desperately don’t want to disappoint them.
“Wow . . .” his mum says. “This is some setup, Drew. You’ve really done an amazing job. It’s a lot bigger than I remember.”
“It’s four times the size. I’ve been expanding every year.”
“Son . . .” his dad says, pulling him into a man hug, “I’m really proud of you.”
Tears fill in my eyes, and I try to hold them back. The emotion hitting me hard is a mix of happiness and envy.
“Zara . . . you’re looking tired, my sweet. Is everything okay?”
“We’ve had a rough few days, and I’m still not over the jet lag.” I look at Drew’s mother. She looks perfect. “How do you do it? You look like you just stepped out of a beauty salon.”
“That’s very kind of you to say, sweetheart, but these days, it takes a lot more to keep up the act. I did sleep for a few hours on the plane over here.”
“And the rest of the time she spent nagging me,” his dad jokes as she elbows him in his side.
“I don’t nag. I simply advise,” she replies. They both look at each other, and you can see the love still flowing between them. They look like they’re still very much in love. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my parents look at each other that way.
“So, what do you want to do?” Drew asks them.
“I’d like a cup of tea. With real English tea bags and English milk. You wouldn’t believe how I miss the small things.”
I laugh, understanding exactly what she means.
“Let’s go upstairs. We can talk more up there,” Drew says, leading the way.
As I walk in the door, I instantly notice a smell that wasn’t here before. “Oh god . . . Drew . . .” I groan.
“What?” he asks, walking straight into the kitchen.
“Your pup has . . . erm . . .”
“Oh shit!” he moans, walking back into the room.
“Exactly . . . and the other.”
“You have a puppy?” his mother asks me.
I laugh and point at Drew. “It’s nothing to do with me. He was adamant that he was having it.”
His father bends down and picks up the ball of fluff. Its coat has dried out a little, and it looks more like a pompom. “It’s a cute little thing.”
“It’s not cute,” Drew snaps. “Okay, it’s cute. But it’ll grow out of it, I’m sure.”
I look at his mom, and we’re both holding in laughter. “He’s always been the same . . . always looking out for the injured and strays,” she says, and my skin prickles.
Is that what he’s been doing with me? Looking out for me because I was a stray that had nowhere to go?
I rush into the kitchen before anyone sees me upset. Half of me knows that she wasn’t having a go at me, but the other half knows that she’s right. He is generous to those who need him. But what will happen when he’s fixed me? Will he let me go like he does his horses?
I make the tea and coffee and put some biscuits on a plate and carry them through to the living room on a tray.
The pup is running around and nearly trips me over, which would have been disastrous.
His mum sits back with her cup and a digestive biscuit. “You don’t know how much I miss these. I get tea sent over, but it’s not the same. The water and the milk just don’t work like they do here.”
“I bet there are a few things you miss living in America, Mrs. Blackmoore.”
“Please, call me Meredith, and you call him anything but late for his dinner.” She laughs and points to Mr. Blackmoore, and it eases the anxiety I’m feeling a little, but I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Drew laughs and says, “I didn’t get chance to tell you that we have some horses racing in Scotland this weekend. I should have told you, but—”
“Scotland . . . Oh, Frank we’ve not been to Scotland in years. This is going to be such a perfect trip,” Meredith says, taking Frank’s hand in hers.
“It always rains in Scotland,” he says, not looking as enthusiastic.
“We came here to spend some time with our son, and if he’s going to Scotland, so are we,” she says, putting her foot down.
“Yes, my love,” he replies, rolling his eyes. “I could argue, I could say no, but what’s the point? If it’ll make you happy, you know I’ll do anything. It’s a bonus that there are a few really good golf courses there, too.”
“You and your damn golf,” Meredith snaps and shakes her head.
“Why did you think I brought my clubs? It wasn’t to show them off at the airport.”
Meredith takes a large sip of her tea and puts her cup down on the coffee table. “I think it’s time we had a look around. The temperature in the room has gone a little frosty don’t you think?” she says, looking at me. I smile and then look at Drew, my eyes widening in a plea for him to speak.
“Absolutely,” he says, standing up. “Follow me, and Dad . . . bring the pup.”
Drew walks us through the stables, out to the paddock, and then out to the yard.
“Do you want to go for a ride?” he asks.
“Can we?” Meredith asks excitedly.
“Of course,” Drew replies and sends a text to someone. “I want to introduce you to Jasmine though. She’s the one that brought me and Zara together.”
“This is that horse they said should be shot,” Frank says briskly.
Drew’s head turns so fast to face his dad, his eyes dark and angry. “Don’t ever say those words in the stables. These horses are not stupid, and we certainly don’t talk about that.”
“Drew! I don’t think he meant it as it came out. You know your father. He doesn’t always think before he speaks,” Meredith says, glaring at her husband. The loving couple that sat upstairs is changing before my very eyes.
Jasmine is her normal charming self. She rubs her face on Drew’s head, and he scratches her hard behind her ears. “If she was a human, I’d get jealous.”
“I don’t think he has eyes for anyone else, sweetheart,” his mum whispers.
“I can hear you.” Drew huffs and pulls out his phone. “The horses are ready.”
As we exit the stables at the far end, four horses are ready for us. He helps his mum up and fixes her stirrups, then he does the same with his dad, and finally, I hoist myself up and settle in.
Drew leads the way down a small track and then out into a large field. I haven’t been down here before. We walk slowly for a while.
“If you want to go a little faster, don’t let us hold you back,” his dad says, looking really uncomfortable.
Drew looks at me, his eyebrow raised. “Fancy a race?” he asks, a cheeky grin on his face that I’ve never seen before.
“Not really . . ., but I’ll try and keep up.”
He shakes his head at me. “Never had you down for someone who gives up before they even start. You’ve disappointed me, Zara.” His tone isn’t serious, and I know he’s trying to get under my skin.
Game on, Billy Billionaire.
I squeeze my legs hard and give Cherry some encouragement, and she sets off into a trot, and a lot quicker than I knew was possible, we’re galloping through the grass. My heart is racing. I’ve never been this fast before.
“You’re doing well!” Drew shouts as he comes alongside me, his posture completely different to mine. His stirrups are a lot shorter, his knees are up against his chest, and his head is so close to the horse’s neck.
“Thanks!” I shout back, but the speed I’m travelling at is becoming too much. I can’t get back the control. “Drew!” I cry out I push my feet forward and pull gently on the reins. “Woah, woah,” I call softly, but she doesn’t want to slow.
Drew comes back alongside me and takes one side of the reins. “Give up, Cherry.” His voice is strong and commanding. He pulls twice on the reins, and the horse begins to slow.
“She wouldn’t stop.” I pant.
“It’s because she’s used to running for a lot longer. She didn’t want to stop because she didn’t want to lose.”
He’s holding both sets of reins in his hands as we trot back to his parents, who haven’t really moved much.
“But did you enjoy it?” Drew asks.
“It was fun, until it wasn’t, but I’d like to learn how to be in full control.”
He smiles widely and nods. “I’d like that, too.”
***
The horses are loaded into the transporter. Drew has insisted on driving, and Carlos and Laura are following behind in Drew’s car with his parents in the back.
It’s nice to be alone for a while. His parents are really lovely, but when Meredith said she wanted to spend some time with her son . . . she really did mean it. The only time we’ve been alone is when we’ve been in bed, and that’s only been in the evenings. The spontaneous sessions have been impossible.
Nine hours later, we arrive at the racecourse. Drew and Carlos unload the horses whilst the rest of us go to check into the hotel.
We take our room keys, and it’s not surprising that we are all on the same floor. The top floor.
I’ve just unpacked our suitcase when I get a text.
Drew: I’m staying down here for a while. We are going to take it in turns keeping watch until the rest of the team arrives.
I’m a little disappointed, but I also understand why. By 9:00 p.m., I’m starving, and I haven’t seen or heard from Drew, or anyone else.
Zara: What are you up to?
Laura: I’m watching TV. Just had a bath and waiting on room service.
Zara: What have you ordered?
Laura: Beef stroganoff. Why?
Zara: Because I’m starving, and I didn’t want to order without Drew.
Laura: I couldn’t wait. Carlos hasn’t been back, even though he said he was going to be. Do you think they are okay?
Zara: Don’t put ideas in my head.
The idea is there, and it isn’t going to go away, so I pull up Drew’s number and click call.
It rings out for a while, but eventually, he answers.
“Hey, are you okay?” he asks.
“I’m fine. Are you okay? Laura and I were getting a little worried.”
“Yeah, everything is fine. The team arrived a while ago, so we’ve been chatting to them and trying to work out if any of them are the ones betraying us.”
“Oh, yeah, sounds good. I’m going to order some food. I was trying to wait, but I’m so hungry, I could eat a h— Hippo.”
“Good save, Princess . . . Get some food and some sleep. I don’t know what time I’ll be there, but ring me if you need to.”
“Okay, well . . . night then.”
“Good night, Princess.” And then the line goes dead.