Page 11 of Together in Harmony
“My name is Lennox,” he says.
Lennox.
The liquid feels warm in my stomach. The look this man, Lennox, is giving me makes me warm in my stomach and other places as well. I’ve never had such a physical reaction to someone. My chest feels tight. I look away. Asa moves onto my next hand.
When I dare to look up at Lennox again, he moves closer and gently clinks glasses with me.
“To us.”
His eyes are the most amazing forest green, and currently full of heat. I feel a blush take over my face again. Of the three men, he is the most beautiful. A beauty almost alien.
The tattoos, the arctic blonde bleached hair. The…body glitter?
I hold the glass in front of my lips but don’t drink. Asa dries my palm, gives me a reassuring look. “Nearly done,” he says.
Lennox waggles his glass. “To us,” he repeats.
I mime the action of drinking, but don’t actually take a sip. Asa laughs. “Good girl,” he says, making me blush again. I worry Lennox will be annoyed I didn’t drink ‘to us’, but he just grins at me. “All in good time, babe,” he says, winking.
Waldo arrives back with the ice pack, some more clean towels and a mug of tea. Hugo glances at me, then around at the housekeeper.
“Thanks. You can go now,” Hugo says abruptly.
“Don’t you need my help?” Waldo asks.
“No,” Hugo replies. His eyes bore into me, like he can see straight to my soul. “Are you nearly done with the Florence Nightingale act?” he says to Asa, while still looking at me.
Asa ignores him and continues to talk to me gently. “Your left ankle is pretty banged up and swollen, but I’m pretty sure nothing broken and no permanent damage is done.”
OK. That’s not too bad. “Thanks,” I say. Now the adrenaline has worn off, I realize I’m exhausted. “What time is it?”
“Just gone nine,” Asa replies.
I should get going.
When I swing my legs around to get up my ankle kills, and I let out a moan. No way I can walk back to the cabin, at least not without a pair of crutches. I’m completely vulnerable and I hate it. I can feel my eyes filling with tears and there is nothing I can do about it.
Asa takes my elbow, and helps me stand.
“I’m fine,” I tell him, blinking like crazy.
“Nonsense. Bring your car round to the front, Hugo. I’ll carry her down the steps.”
Hugo nods and disappears
Asa picks me up and moves towards the front door. I glance at Lennox, he returns my look over the rim of his vodka glass and lifts it in another salute.
“To us,” he mouths, with that beautiful mouth.
As Asa cradles me, waiting for Hugo to draw up, I realize how truly weary I am. Not just from the day. Or even from the last few weeks, but from the last few years. So tired of always having to look over my shoulder.
A dark blue Porsche pulls up, and Asa walks down the steps and places me into the passenger seat. I feel chilled without his huge, warm and earthy body around me. Taking the belt, he buckles me in. I watch his giant hands gently clip in the seat belt.
“Thank you,” I say again.
Hugo gets out of the driving seat and passes Asa the keys. “You take her.” He then goes back into the house, not turning to look at us again.
“Hugo is always a grumpy ass,” Asa laughs. “Don’t take it personally.”
