“Now, let the show begin. Please welcome my models to the stage and watch until the end for a special surprise.”
Sonja moved off the runway like she was floating rather than walking. The band kicked up, and the beautiful female models began strutting their stuff. I studied the clothing as they passed by, and while it wasn’t outrightly hideous, none of the garments took my fancy. A fact I would never reveal to my best friend. She was proud to work for this company, and I was proud of her.
Maybe she’d never come back to Wayborough Shores. The thought jolted me. It was a realization that rang true. All of the men she was involving herself with were English, including Ruben.
“She’s not coming back.”
Eric leaned toward me. “What was that?”
I didn’t realize I’d spoken the words out loud. It was too late to take them back now. “Sienna. She’s never coming back to Wayborough Shores. She belongs in England.”
I spotted my friend at the edge of the stage with Jeremy and watched how she stood close to the hulking man while she admired Cruz in all his rocker glory. I noticed the way she pretended to be put out by Augustus’ behavior, but somehow, I could tell she adored him too. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him as he unbuttoned the top two buttons on his suit and finally stepped out onto the catwalk to the cheers of the women and not-so-straight guys in the crowd.
Sienna had followed me down the rabbit hole. She had multiple lovers, and I doubted she would give any of them up for a mediocre life back in her hometown.
“I think you’re right.” Eric looped his arm around my shoulders and kissed my hair. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
What would happen to our bond if we were on separate continents?
Would we eventually lose contact for good?
My heart ached as I forced myself to watch the viscount strut his stuff.
ChapterEighteen
Harris
“And that, as they say, is that.” Simon threw down my five-hundred-dollar fountain pen and grinned at the contract on the dusty, stainless-steel workbench in the kitchen of the brand-new Oblivion, Canary Wharf.“The space is ours, Rawlins.”
I nodded once. I hadn’t seen Simon this happy for a long time. After Louisa’s query about him being a partner, I’d decided he deserved a chance to be more than simply my employee. “It’s about damn time.”
“Congratulations, lads. I think you deserve a drink or two.” Lamar’s own smile was broad as he gathered up the final paperwork for the change of ownership of the new space for Oblivion.
“Join us, Mr. Tuck?” I revealed the expensive bottle of scotch I’d bought on my way to the restaurant to celebrate the handover of the keys to the space. I enjoyed the feel of the weighty bottle in my hand. Sadly, it was a bottle I’d be leaving here since Lou had banned all alcohol from any premises in which my alcoholic older brother inhabited.
“Is that twenty-five-year-old Glenlivet scotch?”
I smirked at how Lamar’s eyes widened at the alcohol that had cost me six hundred pounds. “I’ll take that as a yes?”
“You can call me Lamar. I’ll limit myself to one.” Lamar held up an index finger. “I certainly can’t skip a glass of this. But I’ve got a sweet young thing at home waiting for me, and I’m excited to give her something extra special for Christmas Eve.”
Simon chuckled while I poured the scotch into the crystal tumblers I’d also brought along. “That sounds like a promising evening.”
“I have no fucking clue what she sees in me. Who am I to question it?”
I narrowed my eyes at our hulking, brown-skinned estate agent. “How young?”
“Twenty-nine. A twenty-nine-year-old woman is into this old sack of bones.” Lamar indicated himself.
I had a hard time locating any of his bones, given his significant bulk. “Come on, man, don’t sell yourself short. Whatever she sees in you, don’t question it. I’ve had to learn not to question Lou, either. Because whenever I do, she near on castrates me.”
Simon and Lamar both bellowed with laughter.
“That lady of yours, Harris…” Simon shook his head. “She’s changed you, mate.”
“How so?” I didn’t think I’d changed too much.
“She tempers your anger. She doesn’t put up with your shit, and you do almost anything to please her. Time was, you’d throw everything to the wall if anyone tried to control you in any way.” Simon sipped the scotch.