AllFreeNovel
Share Us
At least we had lunch together in ten minutes, even if that meant spending it in the beloved company of Luke and talking business. I didn’t care. If it meant I could see my man, touch him and calm my longing for a little while, soothing the insecurities that were running through my mind, I’d take it.
* * *
Itook the elevator up toThe Wilden Barand headed straight in, ignoring the calls from the new guy on the doors and waved at Luke.
“You’ll get used to Isobel, she’s part of the furniture,” he chuckled to the guy hot on my heels, probably wondering who the hell I thought I was storming in here like I owned the place. “When Christopher arrives, send him across too.”
I waved at Robert as I spotted him behind the bar. He grinned back at me and gave me a wave before he turned his attention to a waiting customer.
“So…” Luke waggled his finger as he set a bag of chips down in front of me and slid a glass of coke across the bar-top. “I want all the gossip before the man of the hour arrives.”
“What gossip?” I admonished him. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“Of course not. I’m just the guy who controls your bestie and ensures he doesn’t go all Hulk-like. Fuck, that could be fun actually. I could…”
“La de da…” I interrupt Luke whilst in full flow as he smirks. “I don’t need to know.” I pause and open up the bag of chips and curl my finger for Luke to lean over the bar towards me. “A good girl never tells.”
“Good thing you’re not a good girl then, isn’t it?” He chuckled, reaching for a pile of documents he had stored under the bar. “I’m just saying, you need to talk about anything, don’t ever hesitate to call me, okay?”
I nodded back, unable to speak, feeling the emotions rush through me as I choked them back, not wanting the tears to expel. It meant so much to me that Luke had said that. I knew he was always there for me since he stepped into Freddie’s life but him stating the words just cemented that he understood how much I was intertwined into his life too.
I sensed Christopher come up behind me. I didn’t need to see him to know it was him. My senses came alive whenever he was near. My breath increased as Christopher rested his hand at the back of my neck. His suit jacket rose at the arms as he dipped his head into my neck and kissed my pulse.
“Is he upsetting you, pretty girl?” Christopher growled. It was like he could sense the feelings rolling inside me as he pulled the stool to my right closer to my side. “Do I need to have words?”
Luke and I took one look at each other and fought the laughter as long as possible before I slapped Christopher’s chest and shook my head from left to right.
“No, he’s safe for now. Just having a chat that was all.” I winked. “Trust me, I think there would be a queue if I was upset.”
“Yeah. Everleigh, Chrissie…” Christopher said as he began to count on his fingers.
With each name he said, Luke huffed and raised his brow. “I get it. Don’t ever upset Isobel.”
“What am I going to do with you two?” I questioned. I reached forward for the folded documents in Luke’s hand and he slowly began to hand them over to me. I reached for them but he quickly yanked them away at the last minute and gave them to Christopher. “Men.” I grabbed my glass and took a sip of my coke before placing the glass down. “I have an eye for detail, too.”
“I never said otherwise,” Luke commented as Christopher unfolded the architect’s floor plans across the bar length and I rolled my eyes upwards. “… It’s just I want it to have the same feel as the bar back in London.”
“And I haven’t seen it,” I mumbled, allowing the punch to the chest to hit.The pain of knowing it was a part of Christopher’s life I knew very little about.“I…”
“It’s okay…” Christopher grabbed my hand and pulled it up to his mouth, keeping his gaze trained on mine as he kissed my knuckles. “You will one day. I promise.”
“I think it’s the placement of the bar. Could you maybe move it here?” Christopher pointed to a section and Luke scrunched his eyes as he took in what he said. “Then you could move the booths to this part which would give a better flow-through.”
“That could work. I like it.” Luke grinned like Christopher had made his day. “Thanks man and Isobel…”
“Yeah?”
“Do you fancy giving me your opinions on some of the trending colors of Brooklyn’s party lifestyle?” Luke asked.
“Of course I wouldn’t.” I squealed before jumping out of my seat and rounding the bar to give Luke a hug. I didn’t care that I shouldn’t have been behind there. I mean, was someone going to tell Dawson and he’d yell at me? I chuckled, thinking Everleigh would sit back and laugh at the situation.
* * *
The afternoon crawled by at a snail’s pace. To pass the time I spent my riveting afternoon doodling multiple interlocking words involving Christopher’s name and the words soldier boy over the paper note-making mouse mats. It was a real piece of art if I did say so myself.
“So, are you ready to go?” The smooth, deepened tone hit my ears and I quickly ripped the sheet off the pad and gazed up into his eyes before noticing the clock.Fuck yes!“You seemed to be lost in your own world. I could come back later if…”
“No!” I bellowed. I winced at the loud shout I’d let out. “Damn, sorry. I’ve been counting down the time all day but the last thirty minutes… Forget it. I’ll grab my bag and coat and we can go.”
