Page 24 of Doubting Hearts

Chapter Eight

RAIN

I LOOKED at Lucas in horror. “What the hell are you saying? You’ve been watching us?” I stood in the bar room, feeling the earth shifting beneath my feet.

My best friend had just laconically told me he knew about my and Toby’s little “fuck nest”—his words, not mine—in the garden. Apparently he and Tammy had been “protecting us”—again, his words, not mine— from curious onlookers wondering why the hut seemed to move and shake with such regularity. I couldn’t believe that story. I was sure he was baiting me. But Lucas had always been a very good poker player.

“No, mate, not watching you,” he explained patiently. “Watching out for you. Keeping the beasts at bay, so to speak.” He smirked. “Although I think the beasts were probably in the hut, not on the outside, if the rumors of the amazing shifting hut are anything to go by. How the hell did you two actually manage to fuck each other in such a small space, anyway? Are you both double-jointed or something?”

I was speechless, something which didn’t happen often. This all-too- frank discussion of mine and Toby’s supposed sexual exploits was a conversation I’d never envisaged having with anyone else outside the two of us.

“But, honestly, really? People saw the hut moving?” I knew that was probably the lamest thing I’d ever said. I watched Lucas’s face crease as he let loose, his mirth too much to hold in any longer. I watched with a face I imagined looked like thunder, if my mood was anything to go by, as my friend howled in laughter. His large body shook, and he held his sides as the tears streamed down his face.

“Oh, God, Rain, your face. You should have seen it. I bet Toby’s looked the same when Tammy told him the same thing.” He lost it again, and I stood, fuming, my arms folded in front of me, as I waited for his little bout of fun to end.

Finally, he got himself under control and stood up, his chest heaving, his face crinkled with laughter. “Rain, I was joking. Nobody saw the bloody hut move, mate. Christ, you can’t be that bloody good!” He chuckled, and again I watched him enjoy himself at my expense.

“You’re a bastard, Lucas, you know that?” I growled when I could finally be heard above his merriment.

He nodded his agreement. “But it was too good an opportunity to pass up,” he sniggered. I finally gave a smile. He had definitely got me. “So are you and Toby getting serious?”

I fidgeted a little. “Not serious, no. God, it’s only been two weeks. But I like the guy, and we have fun together so….” I shrugged. “Let’s see what happens.” I scowled. “But now we’ll have to find somewhere else to go to be alone. The hut is definitely a no-no.”

“Rain, you have a cottage. Take him there. It’s comfy and private.

For God’s sake, let your guard down and let the guy in a little.”

I sighed. “He’s such a bloody workaholic. Toby’s life is that hotel. He lives it. But I suppose my place is going to need to become the next fuck hut if I want to see any action anytime soon.”

Lucas looked at me knowingly. “Is that all he is to you—a fuck buddy? I would have said he was a little more than that.”

I looked at him. “Christ, I hardly know the guy yet. Don’t go marrying me off to him or making more of this than it is.”

Lucas shook his head in resignation, picking up his treasured plane and making his way over to the frame we were building for the bar. “Right, now we’ve established all that, Mr. ‘I don’t want to get involved ’cause I’m fooling myself,’ we’d better get back to work. This bar isn’t going to build itself.”

I picked up my drill and followed him, his words echoing in my ears. I’d only been working half an hour when my mobile rang. Thinking it was Toby, I answered. “Hey, hotshot. I’m glad you called. I wanted to ask you something.”

“Rain, I’m impressed. How did you know it was me?”

The teasing tone echoed down the phone, and my jaw dropped. “Tommy? What the hell are you calling me for?”

My ex-boyfriend’s voice was a little colder when he spoke again. “Nice welcome, lover. If not me, then who were you expecting?”

“It doesn’t matter.” The familiar sound of his voice did something to my insides. “Where are you calling from—are you back in the UK?”

He laughed. “God, no. I’m still in Monte Carlo. But I’m coming over for a visit in a couple of months, and I wanted to see you. I don’t have much time right now. I’m due back on the floor in a few minutes. Just wanted to touch base, tell you I’ll be over in September sometime. I’ll give you a ring closer to the time or text you my flight details. Don’t worry about picking me up. I’ll make a plan to get down to you in that godforsaken place you’ve moved to. I’m looking forward to seeing you, Rain. I’ve missed you.” I stood, gobsmacked at the one-sided conversation. It was so like Tommy to take charge and simply tell me what he was doing. “Anyways, I’ve gotta go. See you soon. Keep your cockles warm for me.”

There was a chuckle, and then the phone went dead. I stared at the phone as if expecting him to materialize out of it at any time. He had sounded so close, so familiar. I didn’t quite know how I felt, knowing he was coming over. Part of me was feeling pretty good; another part felt torn apart. I needed to focus on what I had now, which was Toby. The chances were Tommy would have changed his mind by the time September came around. It was another habit of his to change his plans at a whim.

Later that evening, after Lucas had left for the day, I hung around to try to catch up with Toby. I had no intention of telling him about Tommy’s call. There was no point in worrying anyone unduly. I hadn’t seen my lover all afternoon, not since the session in the hut. He normally finished at seven, but knowing Toby, he’d still be wandering around, unable to let go. I finally tracked him down in the Orchid Lounge, where he was trying to placate some woman who’d found out her coffee hadn’t been caffeine-free after all. He looked harassed and tired. Seeing me lurking, he gave me a weary smile. He managed to soothe the woman’s ruffled feathers with the promise of another definitely caffeine-free coffee and cake and then ambled over to me. I wanted to kiss the strain of his day away and make him smile. That emotion alone made me worry about what I was getting involved in here with him.

“Hey.” He nodded. “What are you still doing here?” “Waiting for you.”

He smiled, and my insides jellied. “What’s up?” he asked.

I looked at my watch. “Aren’t you supposed to be off duty now? It’s almost eight. Don’t you have that other guy taking over for you?”

“Chris? Yeah, he’s here. I was just sorting out some stuff. Then I was going to head upstairs. Have a shower and get into bed.”