Page 53 of Hard
‘Speaking of Robin. Have you heard from him at all?’
‘Nothing.’ And no news is good news, as far as I’m concerned.
‘Doesn’t that strike you as strange? He chased you for weeks after you left. Flowers, gifts, phone calls. The man was obsessed.’
‘I guess having his nose broken was enough to make him stay away. Or maybe the fact that I spent the night with another man was enough to turn him completely off.’
‘It’s still strange. It’s like there’s been no closure, don’t you think?’
‘I got closure enough when I saw him poke his needle dick in some other chick.’
‘I wasn’t meaning for you—that’s a given. I just think it’s strange how he stopped botheringyouall of a sudden.’
On occasion, I get the odd feeling that I’m being watched, but I keep that to myself because voicing those feelings makes me sound like a nut. Besides, I’ve seen evidence of his moving on. Pictures of him coming out of the places we used to frequent. A different girl on his arm as he attends music events.
‘Don’t you have a shoot to get ready for? I’m not supposed to be on set today. I’d intended to treat myself to a coffee and maybe mooch around some of the expensive Chelsea boutiques.
‘I’m really not looking forward to today.’
‘Do you want me to tag along? I don’t mind.’
‘You wouldn’t?’ she asks a little cautiously. ‘Only, I’ve booked a couple of rooms at the Bawdy House Hotel. We’re doing this whole bordello scene, and Jackson is only in the UK for a few more days.’
‘Sure.’ I don’t have concrete plans. ‘What time are we going?’
‘Could you meet me there? Say, around three? There are enough bodies for a hotel room as it is, but it would be really great if you could be there at the end.’
‘I can do that,’ I answer, glad that I can help her in some way. ‘I’ve heard their rooms are something else.’
‘More four poster beds than you can tie an orgy to.’
‘Then why aren’t you more excited? At least the staging won’t be a lot of work.’ As well as her PA and pimple hider, chief toy washer, and lube holder, I’m also sometimes called to help move furniture, wipe clean mirrors, and throw scatter cushions around.All in the name of setting the sexy stage.
‘I know. But there’s been an uptick in the search engine requests for anal. So that’s on the cards for today.’
‘At least it’s not your butthole that’s being pounded.’
‘Really?’ Chastity says, screwing up her cherub-like face. ‘I haven’t even eaten breakfast yet.’
‘And if you were today’s lucky starlet, you definitely wouldn’t be eating breakfast.’
‘I know. Just inhaling more laxatives than a retirement village.’
Chapter 18
KEIR
‘How come you’re free this morning?’ Will peers at me over his newspaper cup. ‘Aren’t you usually dashing around ballet recitals, playgrounds, and Brownie meets?’
‘I’m not free. I’ve already been into the office this morning.’
Sorcha is with her grandparents. They suggested they take her to ballet today, freeing up my day for more work. And that’s partly why I’m here with him. Since Will’s dad passed and he gained the houses, lands, and title of Lord Travers, among others, I’ve been helping him with his property issues. Travers Hall is now under the guardianship of The National Trust, and no longer a rotting albatross of a carcass hanging around his neck. Which leaves the castle in Scotland. It’s a dreary old place, but it’s undergoing a wee bit of a transformation. Bookings are beginning to trickle in for corporate weekends, and I’m pretty sure I’ve found Will the right team to branch out into functions.
Who doesn’t want to get married in an ancient castle? Well, apart from me.
‘Saturday morning in the office,’ Will crows, flattening his broadsheet newspaper and leaning his long frame back in the oxblood leather club chair. ‘I bet Flynn just loved that,’ he says, mentioning my assistant. Will has met him a few times in our recent dealings and witnessed our odd working relationship.The shit he gives me, and the shit I dish back.
‘I believe Flynn’s sentiments were somewhat along the lines offuck offandfuck no. But he made it in on time anyway.’ Carrying coffee, no less.
