by Annie Dyer
“I’ll just say my goodbyes.” I went over to Jem, gave her a kiss and she hugged back. She hadn’t offered her number and I hadn’t asked. We’d both done each other a favour, no lose ends, no hard feelings, just a few good orgasms to remember this Christmas by.
Almost as much as I had to remember my wife with.
28
An interior design book - from Marie to Seph
Seph
The barn was decorated to look like something from a magazine, or fairy tale. If you were Eliza, it was a princess’s garden, and she pretty much had it spot on.
Ava had gone to town with the fairy lights, festoon lighting twinkling from one side of the barn to the other; then lanterns dropping or standing in various spots. Blankets and throws were scattered over seating and there was a large square area that’d had flooring put down, ready for dancing.
Wren and Callum’s quiet celebration had turned into a New Year’s Eve party, with more guests than they were expecting. The team of vets that worked for their practice, plus some of their colleagues from the Zoo had arrived, most of them bunking down in one of the outhouses, that had been converted into a bunkhouse. There were family friends, Amelie’s brothers, and even Wren’s mum and step-brother, which she hadn’t expected.
Liam Rossi, a genuinely decent guy who happened to have been the singer with one of the biggest bands going, had offered to play, so what had been meant as a small intimate affair that would take up a couple of hours of people’s time, was now still intimate, just a little more fancy.
I picked up a glass of champagne from one of the staff members that somehow Vanessa had managed to arrange at short notice for New Year’s Eve. Wren and Callum were mingling with their guests, both dressed simply and like them, but it was more obvious than I’d expected that they were the bride and groom.
“Hey, big brother.” Ava’s arm draped around my shoulders. “What you thinking?”
I hugged her back. Since she and Eli had some sort of chat, she hadn’t stopped beaming. Wedding plans were being mentioned more frequently by them, carving them round the babies that were going to arrive in the next twelve months.
“How wedding-like Cal and Wren look.”
She laughed. “What else did you expect? I made Wren go dress shopping – she was going to wear something she already had, so we had to put a stop to that.”
Callum was in a suit, one that looked very designer and probably made to measure. Wren wasn’t wearing white – it was a cream colour, lacy and fitted so it didn’t drip onto the floor, which would not be the cleanest.
“Obviously.” I was in a suit, one with a shirt that wasn’t too formal underneath. “Their ceremony starts in a few minutes.”
“Nervous?”
I shook my head. “No.” It was a lie. I was. I hadn’t been best man before and although I didn’t have to get up there with the rings, I was still giving a speech pretty much straight after. Max was also giving one, which had meant we’d both agreed to keep it short. Callum was keen to move on to the party and let everyone celebrate seeing out the year.
“You’ll be fine. You can charm the broomstick off a witch.” She pressed a kiss to my bicep. “I best rescue Eli.”
I followed her gaze to where he was stuck, listening to Maven and Immy trying to get him to agree or disagree on something he probably had no interest in.
“You go. Looks like we’re getting ready to start soon anyway.”
The celebrant was non-denominational, there literally to guide everyone through the celebration for Wren and Callum’s marriage. It was timed to be no more than about thirty minutes, including all speeches.
Max had started to ask people to sit down, so I followed suit, knowing it was one of the things Cal had asked us to do. Some guests picked up glasses of champagne on the way, some picked up their children. Bales of hay were set out around what would become the dance floor, facing a makeshift stage that Ava had decorated with mistletoe and holly and lilies.
I went to my waiting place, Max next to me. The song Callum and Wren had chosen for Liam to sing came to a natural end and the celebrant, a woman who looked smiley like a primary school teacher, came forward, introducing herself and reminding us why we were here today. It was a blessing, of such, an event to mark the occasion, not just of a wedding, but of another part of their lives. And this made me feel as if I was reaching a crossroads.
I listened as my brother, and former wing man, gave his speech, not needing any paper to read from as he talked about Wren, how they’d met and promised her everything, except maybe another dog, but we all knew that was going to happen. The words he said to her had some guests – including Max – wiping their eyes. His feelings towards her were obvious through his words and the way he looked at her, as if she was where the world began and ended.
Then it was Wren’s turn. She talked about Callum and how they met, what he was like – a player – and then how she’d seen his heart. Her speech was shorter, more direct, but every word dripped with how much she adored him. She took his face in her hands as she told him in front of everyone how she loved him, and their kiss went from sweet to scandalous in nought point five seconds, causing a huge cheer and several whistles that did enough to bring Callum at least back to earth.
There was another cheer and then the celebrant called my name. I rubbed sweaty palms over my dress pants and walked the few feet onto the stage. White and gold lighting shone around; I could see some of the audience but not all, Ava and Vanessa doing their best to stop any nerves.
I coughed, looked at Callum and Wren who were smiling, holding each other’s hands. He pressed a kiss to her hair and then shot me a grin.
“Callum Callaghan. Middle child. Mad about animals, not always mad about people. Flirt, player and my wingman. When he announced just before Christmas that he and Wren had gotten married in Morocco, none of us were surprised because for the last year, Callum stopped being my wingman and became Wren’s. My brother is a lot of things: smart, hardworking – unless you read his school reports – and loyal. He’s also irritating because he never gets hangovers, never knows when to let a topic drop and has the memory of one of the elephants he’s saved over the years.
“Being part of a big family has its pros and cons. You have an everlasting amount of people to keep you company, but at least one of them will remember everything you’ve ever done. Callum was my big brother, and we’ve been close enough in age to be friends. That’s what he’s been most of these last few years: my friend. I could tell you about the messes he’s been in, the women he’s charmed, the stunts he’s pulled, but you probably know about them anyway and that’s not who he is now.
“Wren is it for him. She was when she was first in his life and now they’re together, they’re solid. He has a woman by his side who I know will love him and look after him, and we know he’d give anything up for her.
“But we know we still have Callum too. Our brother, friend and the git who frequently takes our money at poker.
“We love you both and wish you all the happiness that there can be. To Callum and Wren.”
I held my glass up and the crowd got to their feet, toasting the almost devouring each other couple.
“I now pass you over to our eldest brother, Maxwell, who I’m sure can tell us all about how he used to wipe Callum’s backside when he was a baby.”
There was another round of applause and a few remarks shouted by Shay. I left the stage and sat down next to Payton, waiting to hear what Max had to say. We’d decided that I’d be the serious one and Max would do his best to embarrass Callum, but I couldn’t listen right now. I read Max’s speech – we’d written them together – and my mind was now elsewhere, looking at the lights, listening to the laughter of some of the people who were closest to me, revelling in having everyone I loved most together in this room.
Jackson, Claire, Max, Cal; Payton and Ava, and the people they loved most too. Eliza wandered over to me, arms held up for me to put her on my kne
e. I did, without thinking about it, my precious pocket of a niece with all of her mother’s sass and all of her father’s intuition.
She curled into my chest and we talked about everyone in low murmurs, me explaining people’s names. Her observations were interesting: the colour of people’s hair, their bags, shoes with high heels, her Unkkie Max’s beard. She was a little piece of unspoilt beauty.
I spent the rest of the evening laughing and joking with my family and the friends that were there; taking the piss out of Max, dancing with my sisters and Eliza, doing stunt dance moves with Amelie that thankfully didn’t lead to a trip to the hospital.
I told jokes, spilt a drink on Max, did a jive with my mum and toasted Callum and Wren enough times that I should’ve felt drunk.
I didn’t.
I felt stone cold sober.
Midnight approached, a new year about to hatch. New beginnings for all of us, apart from me.
I no longer wanted to be the joker, the one they felt they needed to look after. I wanted to be brilliant, to be reliable, to be thought of as serious instead of a clown.
This year I was going to make my name in my sector. Buy a house. Live alone.
Be the man I knew I could be.
It was time to grow up.
The End.
Seph’s story continues in The Partnership which is due for release January 2021. To make sure you find out at the earliest possible moment when his HEA is released, sign up for my newsletter via my website at here and join my amazing Facebook reader group
READY FOR YOUR NEXT BOOK BOYFRIEND?
Want to spend some time in Severton?
Have you read Stirred? If enemies-to-lovers is your manna, then you’ll want to stay in Severton for Stirred. Keren Leigh and Scott Maynard have been at daggers drawn for years, until their one-night ceasefire changes the course of their lives forever.
Ready for something darker?
The Tarnished Crowns Trilogy is deep, dark and suspenseful. A royal romance with a twist, start with Chandelier and enter a world where no one knows who to trust, and your darkest secret might be your saving grace.
Still not sure? Then turn the page and find a little peak into each!
STIRRED
Chapter One
“I know you wanted to finish on time, but there’s a patient who needed an emergency appointment.”
Bee Patel was Keren’s receptionist, a slender woman who had a great manner with patients, especially those who were nervous at seeing a dentist. However, she had a huge issue with saying no to anyone who said it was an emergency, which meant that Keren’s days were often extended. Not that she had much to rush home to.
“Just the one emergency tonight?” Keren raised a brow. On one occasion there had been three, so one wasn’t too bad.
“Just one. Broken tooth. I think he’s in some pain though,” Bee gave her a big smile, one with perfect teeth. “You want me to hang around to sort payment after you’ve done?”
Keren shook her head. There was no point both of them being late home. Between her and Kiefer - her dental nurse - they could manage. “You shoot. Isn’t it your son’s football match tonight?”
Bee nodded. “It is. And he’ll be wanting his lucky meal.” She rolled her eyes. “Ten-year-old boys. Who’d have them?”
I would, thought Keren. But now was not the time to dwell on what she didn’t have. Instead, she needed to think about what she did have, which was a patient in some discomfort in the waiting room. “Send him through. And wish Rak good luck from me.”
Sixty seconds later a familiar and unwelcome figure wandered through the door into her room.
Scott Maynard.
Six foot three of obnoxious, brooding muscle. His expression was pained and his eyes told her that he most definitely did not want to be here, for more than one reason.
He hated her.
To the point of where he couldn’t actually manage to be civil in public and would argue with her over anything, Scott Maynard hated her and had done since she was eighteen and he was twenty-one. And she hadn’t a fucking clue why.
“Take a seat and tell me what the problem is,” she said, pulling every ounce of professional resolve into her demeanour. She would not be sarcastic; she would not be rude. She would be his dentist and ease whatever pain he was in. And she really wouldn’t try to cause him more discomfort even if it killed her.
He sat down, looking tense and uncomfortable. “I’ve broken a tooth. A molar.”
That was all she needed. No other communication would be necessary and as soon as she got his mouth open and her instruments in there, she wouldn’t have to listen to him speak.
“Open up and I’ll see what I can do.”
He did exactly what she’d asked, which she was pretty sure was a first for fourteen years. Keren leaned into him, inhaling the musky scent that she’d always associated with him. God help a man she had a relationship with who wore the same: he’d have to change it.
She shone the small torch into his mouth and saw the problem straight away. Broken molar. Split straight down the middle and it needed extracting and he needed pain relief because right now, it would be hurting like a fucker.
“How brave are you?” she said, removing her instruments.
“Are you fucking joking?” he growled.
She shook her head. “Scott, you do not need to fuck with me right now. You’re my patient and not the person I go to war with at least two nights a week. My job is to stop the pain and treat what’s happened. Got that?”
He glared at her, total dislike oozing from his eyeballs in her direction. “Got it.”
“Okay. You know your tooth’s broken. Looking at the state of it, I’d guess you’ve been having toothache for a while.”
“I thought it would get better on its own,” he said. “I hate dentists.” His words were loaded. He didn’t just hate dentists, she knew. He hated this particular one. Her.
She took a cleansing breath. “Pain in your mouth doesn’t get better on its own. And I get you probably didn’t want to see me, but then you need to change dentists. Oral health is really important.”
“Save the lecture, princess. How can you fix it?” His words tore through the otherwise quiet air.
Her patience began to wear. She’d had a long day. She had another long day tomorrow - and the day after that. And what was worse, was that the only thing she had to look forward to was a night out in Severton, probably at Scott’s bar, and her book. Maybe with a bath bomb and a soak beforehand.
“I can’t. That tooth is beyond repair. It’s going to need to come out. It’s infected. I’ll prescribe you antibiotics and when the infection’s gone, we’ll discuss whether you’re having a bridge or a dental implant.” She was totally beyond speaking to him kindly.
“What’s the difference and how do you know I have an infection?” he said.
She noticed that he did look apprehensive and she hadn’t told him the worst. He was going to hurt like a bitch for the next few days. “I’ll give you some information on the differences. And I can pretty much see the infection. I need to get the tooth out and clean it up.”
He gave her a brief nod. She wasn’t sure whether the pain was making it difficult for him to speak or whether he wasn’t speaking because it was her. And right now, she didn’t care.
“I’ll get you prepped.” She threw her gloves in the bin and left him in the room to find Kiefer and give him the good news that they had the world’s grumpiest patient in for at least the next forty minutes.
Stone was the best way she could describe how Scott handled himself while she extracted the two halves of the broken tooth. He’d winced slightly when she’d injected the anaesthetic, clutching onto the chair like it was a lifeline keeping him afloat and then he’d closed his eyes and let her get on with it without a single flinch.
Keren knew she was good at her job. She was gentle with her hands and confident; she would reassure her patients but would also be firm in terms
of what needed to be done. And she was good with the kids. If she followed her dream, she would move to the city and specialise as a children’s dentist, even better, children with special needs. And it was a dream she was seriously considering because it looked like having her own children would be off the agenda.
Severton had a serious shortage of single, attractive men who were long-term prospects.
“We’ve done,” she said, hitting a pedal on the chair so it came upright. Scott was pale, his usual swarthy skin whiter than usual with the pain and anxiety. The procedure wasn’t nice; she appreciated that. “I want you to pop back in tomorrow morning so I can check how everything is. It doesn’t matter what time because I can see you between patients. It’s a two-minute check.”
He nodded, moving his jaw up and down, trying to get some relief after it had been in the same position for half an hour. “Tomorrow,” he reiterated. “Anything else?”
She stared at the floor. There was plenty else. Like why do you hate me? What did I do? Why can’t we be civil?
“You need a check-up and a scale and polish as maintenance. If I am the problem because you don’t want to see me, then there is another dentist starting here three days a week, so you can book in with him,” she said. “And if you have pain like I know you have been doing, you need to get it seen to. A week ago, I could’ve saved the tooth. Lecture over. There will be antibiotics waiting at the front desk.” She turned her back and listened to him leave her room, Kiefer explaining payment options although she knew Scott Maynard could afford to pay for everyone’s dental treatment this week and not blink an eye.
He was just another patient. And she needed to keep him tightly in that box.
