Page 47 of Short Stack 3

“Of course he wasn’t, Lord Ashworth,” he says in a clipped voice. “When we booked this place, we did specify that we would need to film uninterrupted. You really should learn to control your animals,” he finishes disapprovingly, looking me up and down as if I’m a naughty child.

I raise my eyebrow but refrain from saying anything because he’s not wrong.

However, Oz stiffens. “Accidents happen,” he says sharply, and Rob falters. I don’t interrupt because my boyfriend is now firmly engaged in protective mode, and there’s no stopping him when he gets in this mood. “And your group would know that since they filmed in the far field yesterday despite being denied permission to do so and trampled down some crops. Your lead actor also spilt rum over a priceless rug.” He arches one black eyebrow. “So, let’s just say accidents happen.”

“What?” I say, dismayed.

Oz glances at me. “Niall dealt with the field.”

“With rather a lot of bad language,” Rob says, and I repress a grin.

Oz leans close. “It was the rug in your study.”

I gape at him.Why is he going on about this when we both know that rug is a cheap knockoff?Then I catch on.

“Ohno,” I say in a sad voice. “I believe Henry the Eighth walked on that piece.”

“I’ve given them an invoice for the rug,” he says, offering me a subtle wink that makes me want to laugh. “But let’s leave off the lecture about priceless historical artefacts.”

“It was such a beautiful piece too.” I give a sigh. “But like Oz said, accidents happen, and we’ll say no more about anything.”

Oz bites his lip, and I slide my arm over his shoulder, drawing him close and feeling his body tighten with repressed laughter.

Rob’s eyes narrow as Oz snuggles into me. “I have to go, but we’ll continue our conversation later, Oz,” he says softly to him, shooting me a look as if wishing I was in some faraway land.

I tense, but the look of incomprehension Oz gives him quickly relaxes me. Incredible, but Oz has no idea that Rob is flirting with him. I guess that’s not surprising, as Oz is a creature of forward momentum. He’s constantly looking onward to the next challenge, and Rob is firmly in Oz’s workday category, whether he knows it or not. Oz is also fiercely loyal. He wouldn’t look at another man, and I know it. His following words prove it.

“I don’t think that will be possible, Rob. Silas is home now, so I’m off the clock. You know my time with him is non-negotiable.”

Oz looks at me, smiling, but his eyebrows rise a fraction as he studies my face.

Did he notice my jealousy?I hope he knows distrusting him is the furthest thing from my mind. It’s my insecurities at play here. Not his.

He gives me a cheeky wink. “We have plans, so we’d better be going,” he says briskly. He glances at Rob. “No doubt you’ve got the cast supper to go to.”

I straighten. “Of course we should go. Don’t let’s keep you, Rob.”

Oz gives me a wry grin. “I’ll just put these boxes away in recycling, and then I need you for something.”

I hope it’s sexual.For a wild second, I think I’ve said the words out loud, but Rob carries on staring at my boyfriend obliviously.

The amusement on Oz’s face says he knows exactly what I was thinking, and he approves. “Two seconds,” he says throatily, and gathering up the mess of cardboard, he disappears into the back of the shop, leaving Rob and me standing in uneasy silence.

I offer Rob a bland smile and move behind the counter, gathering Oz’s black puffer jacket and catching the scent of his spicy ginger cologne. “Supper will be getting cold,” I say smoothly.

Rob watches me with a stormy expression. “You do know that you won’t be able to keep him?” he says sharply.

I blink. “Oz?” He nods. “He’s not a bicycle, and I haven’t been naughty.”

He frowns. “Burying someone like him in the depths of nowhere is crazy. He’ll be on his way soon.”

I eye him. A few months ago, his words would have hit at my inner worries — that Oz was too vibrant to be stuck in a house that was falling apart. However, I’ve been with Oz long enough to quiet that voice, so I smile, knowing it will irritate Rob.

“You don’t know Oz at all, do you?” He starts to protest, but I talk over him. “You can’t possibly know how happy he is, how much this place is home to him.” I shrug. “We mustn’t keep you,” I say again, nodding towards the door. “Enjoy your supper, and I hope my estate is working well for you.”

I make my tone impossibly posh because I don’t need an idiot like this trying to tell me about my own boyfriend. His only response is a scowl.

Chewwy shifts at my feet and utters a low rumble. It’s the noise he makes when he wants his dinner, but Rob goes paleand backs up a few steps as if he’s encountered a werewolf. “You keep that bloody dog away from me,” he says, pointing a shaking finger at me. “He’s a fucking menace.”

---