Page 60 of Love Thief

“Didn’t think that was your style. Is your marriage true then?” he quizzes.

“Yep, she’s here somewhere, oh there she is.” I point to Evie coming across the grass with Tommy.

“Wow, I can see why you’re not interested in them. I also spoke to Becker,” he suddenly puts in, “and he said she’s amazing.” He stands as Evie comes over.

What the fuck? Becker again, the prick.

“Hi, I’m John,” he says, grabbing Evie’s hand, “heard all about you.” She looks at me. “Not from him,” he thumbs at me, “from Kasey Becker. Said your place was amazing and he wants you to go to LA to sort his house out.”

“Over my dead body,” I put in.

John smirks at me, then turns his full charms on her, “Could you come look at my place in London? I could do with a makeover, and Kasey says you’re the best.”

“She can’t,” puts in Xan, “she’s busy.”

Evie looks at us both in amazement. “Hey John, nice to meet you,” she emphasises every word. “Yes of course I can come look, but I’m not in London for a bit. I’m travelling around with my husband for the summer. But I can let you know some dates in between and come look even if you’re not there.”

She has taken his hand and is shaking it, but he pulls her in for a hug, grinning at Xan and I. He knows we’re pissed, and she doesn’t get it. These are not nice guys, they’re not friends.

I throw my hands up. “Whatever. John, we’ll see when we can fit you in.”

The girls pick this moment to elbow their way forward and push in between Evie and John, turning their backs to Evie.

“John Clayton, we love your music, I’m Clara, and this is Trace, you probably know Becky.”

“Errr, no, sorry,” John stammers, stepping back as one of the models is so far in his face he can’t see her properly.

“She’s with Levi,” the other one clarifies.

“Oh okay, well, hi ladies. Can I buy you a drink?”

“It’s a free bar,” says model two.

He grins and chuckles. “No shit.” Turning his back on them completely, he focuses his attention on Evie and turns on the charm. “Evie, let me get you a drink, and we can talk dates, darlin’.”

I’m about to grind my molars into dust. The fucker. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He pulls Evie to him and chivvies her to the bar. I see the girls look at each other, envy and pure hostility are written across their faces.

What the hell is wrong with these women? She hasn’t even spoken to them yet, and they dislike her already. Oh, boy.

Gabe and Levi shrug when I turn my frustration on them. I can’t wait to fucking leave. And John Clayton can go fuck himself.

“If he thinks he’s coming to fucking Devon to record and stay at Cornhill, he’s fucking crazy,” I tell Xan an hour later.

“Calm down, Marcus. She never invited him, he invited himself. Becker told him about the place there, be pissed at him.”

Clayton sticks to Evie like the leech he is, grinning at me as he says, “I’ll look after her when you’re on stage, Marcus. Don’t you worry about a thing.”

I look at Tommy and hiss, “Stay so close to her you can see the whites of her eyes. He’s a twat.”

Gabe is grinning at me. “Don’t think you’re gonna survive this brother,” he says. “Funny to watch you get uptight over a woman.”

I turn on him and practically shout, “She isn’t a woman, she’s my fucking wife, dickhead.”

The trio of women all stare at me with hunger in their eyes. Obviously marriage does not put them off, it’s practically an incentive.

“Marcus,” one of them coos, “come have a drink while you wait to go on. Then we’ll wait for you to come off stage. We want to see if the rumours are true and you get so horny you fuck whoever’s nearest the stage.” Her voice escalates on every word until she’s practically shouting the last few.

I see Evie look over and I scowl back at the loudmouth cow. Bitches. They need to butt the fuck out.

---