“You can’t. My sources have told me he’s boarded a plane for their honeymoon. The wedding details were kept secret, and all the guests were told to be at a certain place by a certain time. No one knew what was going on.”
“You could have told me earlier than this.”
“This is the earliest I knew.” I wanted to call bullshit. He still had time to prepare for that interview, and it wasn’t live. “Now look. Let’s focus on what you can control. That’s your music.”
“I’m not ready yet. I have no equipment. Nothing here,” I say. “You were saying the other day that you haven’t had any phone calls from anyone, so have you had people wanting to work with me?” I wait for an answer. “Your silence says plenty. If no one is rushing to work with me, I’m not rushing to work with them. Simple. I’ve been pushed and told what to do all the way through my career before this and look at where it’s got me. From now on, I’m making the decisions. I’m the one calling the shots. My priority is to check in with the taxation department and to hear from Sean.” I take a breath but launch into my next outburst before David can speak. “How long’s the honeymoon going to be? A week? A month? A year? Girlfriend? I never even knew he had a girlfriend. Where is he? Has he been in contact with you before this?”
“Her name is Hannah. She’s a lovely girl. You probably remember her, you tried to hit on her copious amounts of time even though he told you to stay away from her.”
The face looks familiar, but I didn’t know they were dating. “I thought she was his PA.”
“She was, and she still is. They’ve been together for over a year. I know this is pissing you off, but I didn’t want you to hear it from the news first. I’m sorry. What are you planning Reece?”
Something I should have done a long time ago. “You just get a message to him through your sources and let him know I’m eager to talk to him.”
I hang up the phone while taking a deep breath.
I tap my phone back to life and open up my camera, flick it to video and hold it out in front of me. I force a smile and say, “Congratulations to the newlyweds”. Within minutes, the video is loaded and has received over a thousand likes. Comments such as ‘where you hiding?’ ‘don’t forget about your fans’, even threats towards any prospective bride of mine join the comments.
Returning from my shower, I check in on the video. Trawling the comments, there’s only one reply I want to see. I prayed a silent prayer that he sees it. I turn the notifications off so the sound of the chiming doesn’t drive me bonkers and turn on the TV. My video is now playing on the national news.
“Band member Reece Ashton posts this four-second congratulations to the newlyweds and has pretty much broken the internet. Fans have erupted and so thankful that their idol has come out of hiding. The short clip shows a relaxed and content looking Reece, whose trademark locks are getting much longer. The video doesn’t give much away to his whereabouts and his short message has even been made into a ringtone.”
I press the ‘off’ button on the remote and turn back to my phone. Still no response from Sean. David’s rung me a few times, but I’ve taken his advice all the way along, and this is where it’s got me.
Time to take control of my life again. First step. Come out of hiding just a little. Just to let them know I’m still alive and hopefully this will be a better way to make contact with Sean ‘cause my other tactics sure as shit haven’t been working. The other focus is to spend more time with Madelyn. While scrolling through the newly updated pins, I come up with a plan and this plan means I’ll have to head out in the daylight and risk being found out, but she’s worth it.
Chapter Twenty-Two
MADELYN
It took all my being to walk away from him. I kicked my own arse all the way home and all around my shoe box. “Why?” I asked myself. “There’s no harm in a little fun. He’s obviously into you if he kissed you like that.” My dreams were plagued by that kiss and then some more. I woke with my hand between my legs and my hair all over my face. I let out a groan of frustration while squeezing my thighs together sending delicious sensations coursing through my body. I had to resist the temptation of texting him my address and getting him to come over, so then he could come over me.
I check the cupboards again even though I know they are bare. I was hoping I’d overlooked a tiny morsel that would make do at being breakfast. Downing another glass of water and hope that will keep the hunger pains away just long enough for me to get to Trent’s. I hate having to rely on him for food because it’s not as if he’s rolling in money either, but these last few days before payday are always a killer.
Trent and I need to have a little talk about what happened yesterday. Driving over to the pub and find him in the cellars checking the taps.
“Why did you have to do that?” I put my hand on my hip and cock my head.
“And good morning to you too.”
“Good morning, now, why did you do that?”
Trent wipes his hands on his apron, and we walk up to the bar area. “I was testing him. Making sure he’s a decent enough guy worthy of you. Kinda surprised me if I’m honest with you.”
“Surprised?”
“Celebrity. Bad boy. Haven’t you played that game before?”
It felt like he’d slapped me. “How dare you.” I turn on my heel and head towards the front bar to start vacuuming the floor.
“Hey.” Trent grabs hold of my arm and stops me from taking any more steps. “I’m only trying to save you from being hurt again.”
“Reece is nothing like him.”
“How do you know that? You’ve known him for what? How many days have you known the infamous Reece Ashton? The guy who claims to have bedded over six hundred women?” What? Wow. “The Reece Ashton who has professed to the world that he would never settle down.” Well, I knew from the start that his time here was fleeting. “The Reece Ashton who is currently meant to be hiding out in Fiji recovering from a broken heart.”
“See, there’s your answer right there. That last one is obviously false, so how do you believe the other two.”
“I believe that he could hurt you. I believe that he could do irreparable damage. I believe he could undo all the progress you have made in the last two years. Has he said anything to you?”
“What? About me?” My stomach gurgles so loud even Trent can hear it. He leaves me for the kitchen. I join him to see that he’s setting up to make bacon and eggs.
“When was the last time you ate, Madelyn?”
“Yesterday.” I don’t see the point in lying. He will badger me 'til he gets his answers. Trent shakes his head in disappointment. “It’s payday in a few days.”
“And what are you going to eat over those few days? You shouldn’t be going without food, Madelyn. And unless he’s been living with his head up his own arse and by all accounts, he has been, then he would know all about you and your story. I just don’t want you to be used as a scapegoat for when he can’t deal with his own circumstances. I just don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
“This is not like before. Reece is clearly only here for a short time, and then he’s going to go back to his world. I’m just helping him out,” I say and will myself to believe it. “Nothing’s going to happen.”
Trent huffs and shakes his head at me. “You keep telling yourself that. Either tell me what’s going on or put the phone away,” Trent says to me as he leans over to look over my shoulder to see my phone. Still no messages from him. I’m actually starting to get worried about him. “It’s not like you to be hanging by the phone. Especially waiting for a guy to ring you.”
“I’m not. I’m just worried. You pulling that bullshit the other night. He’s had a really hard time adjusting, and he was going so well with the driving, and you had to strip him down.” I tuck the phone into my back pocket. “He’s actually a nice guy once you get past the celebrity bits.”
Trent laughs at me as I check my phone again. “Always taking in the strays.�
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“Stop talking like that. He’s a nice guy.”
Trent stops and looks straight at me. “He has an expiry here.” I was well aware of that fact. Every time I thought about him—which was more than I wanted to admit—I chastised myself for getting carried away. “I’ve looked him up.”
I scoff and throw my hands up in the air. I shake my head and purse my lips together. “Oh, Trent no. Fucking hell. Don’t. I don’t want to know. I don’t want to hear it,” I start. I feel sick on Reece’s behalf. Trent goes to start up again, and I raise my hand. “No. Not listening.” I cram my fingers in my ears and start to hum so that I can drown him out. I do this 'til he yanks on my forearms so my fingers pop out of my ears.
“I think he’s bad news. I think he’s going to hurt you. I don’t want to see you go through this again.”
“It’s different.”
He lets go of my arms but doesn’t budge. “How is it different?”
“I know what I’m getting into this time.”
“Oh, Maddy. You deserve more than to give yourself away to a guy that just wants to bide his time and warm his bed 'til he sorts his shit out. You are a fantastic woman and the guy that gets your attention is a lucky man.”
I mull over his words. I’m at a crossroads. Do I keep Reece at arm’s length or do I allow myself to go into something I want with my eyes wide open to the consequences?
I just have to figure out a way to show him that I’m genuine.
By the time I reach the halfway mark of my shift, Trent is giving me my marching orders, but I refuse. I have mulled over his comments and decided he’s right, not that I’m going to tell him that, but he’s right. I do want to spend more time with Reece, and if anything comes of it, I’ll just have to take it as it comes.
“Go. If you think you are making the right decision, I will support you, but if he hurts you, I will be intervening.”
“Thanks big brother, but I have got this. He hasn’t said anything to indicate that he even knows who I am, so even when I do tell him about myself, and he goes and looks me up, then I will know what kind of character he is.”
“Just remember, I can’t give you any wriggle room on the next shift. You need to be here to open up. Have to get that tap fixed or the locals will have my head on a platter and burn the place down. Have a good week and let me know if you need money for food.”
I hang up my apron and wave him off. I wasn’t going to tell him I needed money for food. I’ve been able to pick up a few more shifts, but it’s taken a chunk out of my study time. My schedule was pretty packed before Reece. My phone vibrates in my pocket and see his name on the display. Speak of the devil.
“Hey, was beginning to think you were avoiding me.”
“Never.” That deep, gravelly sexy voice of his brings out a smile. “I just needed to get some stuff done.”
“Did you get it done?”
“You’ve obviously not been watching the news,” he says with a laugh that’s devoid of humour.
I shake my head, not that he can see me. “Not if I can avoid it.”
“I love how you are in the media, yet you act like you are allergic to it.”
“Selective is more like it.” I’m tossing up on asking him about what’s on the news or ignoring it when he talks again.
“So I thought I might make you dinner. Nothing fancy, just a little thank you.”
“Sounds great. What time?”
“Anytime you like. I’m even about to tackle the laundry.”
“See, look at you go. Striking things off the list left, right and centre.”
“What are your plans? Haven’t interrupted anything have I?”
“Just finished with the pub, heading the shop to do a short shift there and then I have to hit the books. Have an assignment due in a couple of weeks that I need to get cracking on.”
“You could study at my place.”
A laugh barks out of me. “I don’t think I’ll be able to get much studying done if I do that. I have a few things to get done, and I’ll be over.”
“Can’t wait.”
He hangs up the phone before I can reply with, “Me either.”
Tucking my book under my arm as I walk into the supermarket, I’m not sure if I’ll be on registers or on stock duty. If I’m registers, I can get some reading done, but if I’m stocking, I’ll have no chance to get a head start on my assignment.
Thankfully the shift goes quickly thanks to the store TV being on, and I see what Reece meant about having my head stuck in the sand. My shift is saturated with Reece. They have old footage, new footage, that damned ringtone with his message. The Reece on the TV seems to be a polar opposite to the Reece I have spent time with. Up there, he’s arrogant and rude. Even on the first night I met him and that incident at the pub, he was nothing like what I’ve seen. Drunken behaviour, violent and aggressive behaviour. He hasn’t shown any of those qualities, and I’m not sure how I’d react if I did. Learning about this side of him without hearing it from him is making me feel uncomfortable. I promised that I would ask him if I had any questions, but I haven’t gone searching for this information, it’s being streamed into my workplace.
His bandmate Sean seems to be getting equal air time. He seems to be off the radar too. It’s nice he’s got married but from what the reports say, it’s all been at the expense of Reece and his career.
I’ve seen enough and search for the remote to turn it down or change the channel. Reaching into my pocket to count out the change, I have enough to get my washing done tonight when I finish at Reece’s, and I should be able to get him a bar of chocolate as a thank you.
My feet are starting to ache when it’s the end of my shift. I show Mr Clementine that I’m buying a single bar of chocolate and put the money in the till.
“Just take it, my dear, I insist. You know you’re worth more than a candy bar,” he says as he tries to fish the money out to give back to me. I scoop up my book and my bag while shaking my head.
“No way, I pay my way.”
“That you do. No one could ever accuse you of being dishonest. Hope that boy of yours is looking after you.”
Trent? “Trent’s got enough to worry about.”
“I’m not talking about Trent,” he says while pointing to the television as Reece’s face shows up again. “He was in here this morning. Asking for weird ingredients. Things like truffle-infused oils. Weird. Just weird.” I’m about to say something about protecting Reece’s privacy when he taps the side of his nose and points at me. It’s his way of saying our secret is safe with him. I bound over and give him a small hug. “Tell him his infused oil will be here tomorrow from Dareton.”
For the town gossip, ol’ man Clementine can sure keep a secret when he needs to.
Despite my aching soles, I have a spring in my step and I’m excited to see Reece.
Chapter Twenty-Three
REECE
God, she’s a sight for sore eyes. I know she’s been working all day, yet she still looks fresh and genuinely happy to see me. I’m excited to see her actually. As much as some of our interactions have been strange, I’m happy that I have a friend.
“I come bearing a gift.” I lift an eyebrow in the hope of more information. “Yes, just gift. Singular. You just have to guess which hand?” She holds her hands behind her and shrugs her right shoulder. “It’s not the truffle oil, that should be in tomorrow.”
“Hmm, if I didn’t know any better, you’d be saying go to the right hand as you seem to have some kind of tick going on there but you could also be trying to trick me—”
“Ahh, could be all part of my plan. Which one will you choose? Take the risk.”
“Well, I’m going to have to go with the right one.”
“But the left could be the right one—”
“Give up the goods,” I say as I lunge for her. My arms wrap around her body, and I playfully grab for her hands. I’m not going to lie when I say I’m not hating the fact that she’
s squirming and pressing up against my body. Her laugh sounds so good as she drops the chocolate bar on the floor.
“Lucky there’s a wrapper on it,” she laughs.
“Nah, I’d eat it anyway,” I say with a laugh and pick it up. “Thank you. Wanna share?”
Her eyes go wide. “You’d share it with me?” I watch her for a minute before she talks again. “No. It’s okay. I got it for you.”
“Of course, I’d share it with you. So, I hope you’re hungry for dinner? Are you hungry? You can get started on your studying, use the office at the front of the house. I can get a bit loud in the kitchen.”
“What are you planning on making us? Need any help?”
Holding onto her shoulders and turn her around before pushing her into my office space. “If I need help, I’ll ask for it. You sit down and relax, fill that brain of yours.”
Relishing the feeling of touching her as her fingers curl around mine and give them a little squeeze, but I laugh at the salute she gives me and I wave her off. I start unloading the dishwasher. Madelyn was right. Spend time getting one thing down pat, the confidence blossoms. About twenty minutes later, dinner is served. Smashed avocado, tomato, olives, and cheese on chunks of toasted bread. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar and voila.
I place the plates on the table that I’d set. I even ducked my head in to check on her as I made a quick trip out the front to pinch a few of the neighbour’s blooms. Pulling the chair back from the table ready for us to sit, I’m about to go and tell Madelyn it’s all set up when I turn, and she’s right in front of me.
Before I can say anything, she gives me a gentle shove, and my knees knock into the chair causing me to topple back. Her hands cup the sides of my face and the next thing I know, not only are her lips on mine, she’s crawling onto my lap, and her legs drape over my hips. She takes the opportunity when I gasp in surprise to slip her tongue into my mouth while her lips seal over mine. My body melts from her touch as one hand slides in behind my head and through my hair. She’s got the tension right as my tongue snakes with hers. My arms wrap around her waist, and I pull her closer to me. My fingers dig into her thighs before I move my hands up over her hips and up her sides. She wriggles from my touch and grinds down on my lap causing me to break this mind-blowing kiss. I’m going to lose all control and come in my pants at this rate. I’m worse than a teenage boy.
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