Page 8 of Lost In Someone

“Yeah, that good.” I shrug. “The one that got away and all that shit. Add Kate into the mix, and I’m staying away from any drama.”

Drew’s phone rings, stopping me from saying anything else about my fucked-up life. By the soft smile on his face, I’m guessing it’s Merrick. “I can ask him.” He holds his phone away from his ear. “Would you like to come to dinner tonight? Nothing fancy, just a few drinks and some good food.”

Do I? Can I put myself back in their lives again? Only one way to find out. “Yeah, that would be good, thank you.”

Drew confirms to Merrick and ends the call. “Seven thirty tonight. Willow will be asleep by then.” He grabs his coat and runs back out into the rain.

At just after half past seven, I knock on the impressive oak door of Mill House. Drew opens it. “Come on in. You’re the last one.”

The last one? How many people have they invited? I follow Drew through the beautifully restored house. Credit where it’s due, Drew has done an exceptional job. He’s an extremely talented builder, and Merrick obviously has amazing taste and style. And money. Nothing here has been done on the cheap.

We enter a stunning kitchen, where Merrick is talking to Merlin, a new guy I met briefly in the pub on my first night back. “Ivan, it’s great to see you again. You know Merlin, don’t you?”

I nod and shake his hand. “Thanks for the invite. It smells amazing.”

“It’s only lasagne, but thank you.”

I hold out a bottle of wine. “This is for you.”

The hairs on my arms and neck stand up, and footsteps approach me from behind.

“She’s fast asleep, Merr.”

Every synapse in my body is on alert. I recognise the voice. It’s one I’ve had on repeat every night for the last three months. I spin around.

And there he is.

The offer of Merrick’s lasagne is enough to get me out of the house in this terrible weather. I haven’t had it for way too long, and he knows how much I love it. I think he wants some backup because the mysterious Ivan is coming too. Apparently, he’s been back a few days.

The door to Willow’s room clicks quietly shut as I leave the room and head back downstairs. In the kitchen, a man with wavy, dirty blond hair stands with his broad back to me. That must be Ivan. As I get closer, the air seems to crackle, and goosebumps spread over my arms. What the heck?

“She’s fast asleep, Merr.”

The broad back stiffens, and he turns around. Everything comes to a screaming halt.

In front of me is the man I’ve been dreaming about, the man who made my body sing in a way no one ever has and whose calloused hands brought me to climax as many times as his impressive dick. How? How the hell can it be him? I saw him in the pub garden in the summer. Has he known? Did he recognise me, and had he planned this? Is it his way of hurting Merrick?

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

“You must be Brodie.” His face is expressionless. He doesn’t recognise me. How’s that possible after everything I’ve dreamt about? I’ve lain awake, wondering what it would be like if we ever met again. I imagined us being thrilled, overjoyed at the chance to get to know each other.

I hold out my hand, proud that it’s strong and sure, nothing like the frantic panic in my head. “In the flesh. It’s good to meet you, Ivan.”

As our hands touch, the spark that hit me in the club is back. It tingles up my arm and spreads warmth through my body. “And you, Brodie. I’ve heard great things about you. I’m sure it’s not been the same for you.” He smirks. The fucker. He does remember, but he’s not going to do or say anything. For him, I was nothing but an easy lay. He probably did it every weekend. For me, it was everything I’d been missing. I’d found who I am and who I want to be because of that night.

When he lets go of my hand, I step past him farther into the room. “Thanks, Brodie,” Merrick says. “She should be down for the night now. Beer or wine?”

“Whatever everyone else is having.”

Merlin walks over to Ivan. Is he going to tell him about me? But no, they’re talking something about forestry conservation.

I tune them out and accept the beer Merrick hands me. “Thanks. What happened? He apologised?”

“Yeah, Drew went round just as Ivan was coming here. They talked it over. Something else happened, but Drew hasn’t told me what. Said something about not his story to tell. I hate that, don’t you?”

“What do you think it is?” I take a long swig of my beer, my eyes on Ivan. He’s looking at me. Does he think Merrick’s talking about him? Or that I’m telling Merrick about us? I’m hardly going to say Ivan is my mystery man. That he gave me the best night of my life, that just looking at him has my dick pulsing. I don’t want to think or talk about him again. I’m a fool for ever thinking it was something special for him too.

“Brodie.” Merrick’s voice breaks my gaze. “You okay?”

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