Page 31 of Game Changer

Chapter12

Zara

Iarrive at Buckie’s apartment building a little after six in the evening. Gemini stayed very busy today after he left, and my stand in manager got caught in rush hour traffic. I ended up staying a bit later than I expected. The staffing disaster didn’t end up being as bad as I thought it was going to be though. Buckie saved the day. His appearance right at the moment I needed him was like divine intervention. And his cocktail making skills are still as good as ever. I can picture him in his lavish Malibu home making drinks for all his famous friends. It’s something I’ll need to get used to I suppose.

I press the button for his apartment and his voice comes through the speaker.

“Hey sweetheart, c’mon up.”

The door buzzes open, and I step inside. The building is an old blonde sandstone tenement building, typical of the park area of the West End. The developers of these new homes have been very sympathetic to the old façade of the building. But inside it’s modern and sleek. A lift takes me to the top floor and when I emerge, I realise there is only one apartment up here. Of course, he has the best he can get here. With his money who wouldn’t want to live in luxury, even if it is only for a short stay. I can’t even begin to imagine how much the rent is on this place considering they sell for almost a million.

Pushing down on the handle of the door and giving a light knock I let myself in.

“Hello,” I call out, my voice echoing in the long hallway. The music playing in the background makes me smile. The Drifters. He has such an old soul.

“Hey babe,” Buckie calls back and then he appears from one of the rooms off the hallway. “I’m glad you made it.”

He walks towards me, cocooning me in his arms and kissing me. I can taste whisky on his lips. It’s a smoky, leathery one.

“Mmmm,” I murmur against his mouth as he sways me to the music.

“Fancy a dance?” he asks, spinning me out of his arms and back in again.

“Do I have a choice?”

“Nope,” he says with a huge grin on his face.

I laugh at his enthusiasm and go with it. The song playing isSave the Last Dance for Me.As we dance with each other, the playfulness of our youth comes flooding back to me. We used to do crazy shit like this all the time whenever we were out. And it wasn’t only in a club or a pub. Anywhere there was music became our own private dancehall. Buckie is a bit of an extrovert so it’s no wonder he ended up in Hollywood. I used to be very shy until I met him. Somehow, he helped me let go of many of my inhibitions and I know that’s one of the reasons I missed him so much when he left. I missed who I was when I was with him.

The song comes to an end, and he pulls me in close to him, resting his forehead on mine.

“I’ve missed this so much,” he whispers.

“Me too.”

“I’m so glad you’re here. Even if it’s only for a few hours.”

“This place is stunning.”

He loosens his grip on me and takes my hand. “Tour time,” he says.

I’m guided through all the rooms on the main floor before we head up the stairs to the master suite. “Woah, this is something else.” I look around the huge bedroom, sparse as it is with the lack of Buckie’s personal touch.

“Nice, eh?”

“That view would sell this place alone.” I head to the large windows and look out over the rooftops of the west end and the park. The setting sun casts a glorious golden glow over the city, and it makes me smile. I love the sunshine and I was envious of Buckie when he moved to California. I long for sunny summer days and when you’re Scottish you tend to appreciate the warmer seasons more.

“I do like it. This is a rental right now, but I might end up keeping it. This could be my permanent base here.”

“Hmm nice and close to me.” I stalk over to him, forcing him to move backwards until he has no choice but to sit on the bed.

“Ooh aren’t you being a little minx tonight. What happened to you?”

“You.”

Hiking my dress up, I straddle his lap and sit down on his thighs.

“I’ll take the blame for this any day.”

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