by Nikki Ashton
“No way am I sharing,” he said, shovelling a handful of popcorn into his mouth. “Anyway, if you don’t want to eat it we can always throw it at people in the dark.”
Martha couldn’t help but laugh. When he was like this, he was great company, but when he was in a flirting mood it unnerved her. Maybe if he cut the flirting out she’d get used to being around him, and stop crushing on him – but God he looked so sexy tonight in his battered jeans and leather jacket, he had day old stubble and his hair all sexily messed up from the beanie hat that he’d worn to try and disguise himself somewhat. As for his smell, it was just…she had to stop before she combusted.
“Oh by the way,” Luke whispered as the opening music started. “I hate scary films.”
“Why did you suggest this one then?” Martha hissed.
“Because if I get scared I can cuddle up to you.”
Martha slapped him playfully on the arm and gave him the death stare.
Chapter 10
After the film, Luke took Martha for an Indian meal in a quiet restaurant on the outskirts of town. It had been quite late and she had work the next morning, so she declined the invitation at first, but Luke was insistent. So, she finally agreed, feeling slightly naughty going out for dinner at ten-thirty in the evening, and even as the thought crossed her mind she realised that yes, she really needed to get a life.
They’d chatted amicably, both of them laughing at the way Luke had screeched with fright during the film. He hadn’t flirted once during the film, and Martha had enjoyed the evening immensely.
“Morning Martha,” Luke said breezily as he padded down the stairs. “Have you got much on today?” he asked.
Martha stopped polishing and thought about his question. “No, not really. I’ve already prepared your dinner, it just needs to go into the oven. I’ve got this polishing to finish and then have some ironing to do, why?”
“Ah stuff the ironing. Come out with me this afternoon.” Luke sat down on the stairs and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I need your help.”
“My help?” Martha said. “What with?”
“It’s Mamma’s birthday next week and I need to buy her something. To be honest I have no idea what to get her.”
”I’m not sure how much help I’d be, I hardly know her,” she replied.
“Please,” Luke nodded. “I would ask Gabriella but she’s too busy with work, and Noah is worse than I am. That little shit suggested that dirty book, Fifty Shades of Filth or whatever it’s called.”
“Definitely not suitable for Lucia,” Martha giggled. “Will it be okay with your mum if I go out for the afternoon?”
“Yeah, I already mentioned it last night and she thought it was a good idea.”
Luke’s stomach gave a little flip as he thought about spending the afternoon alone with Martha. He really enjoyed her company, and she made him feel happy and lighter somehow. When he was with her his stage fright never entered his head, he didn’t think about the responsibility he felt towards ‘Since Day One’, the new band that he’d signed, and he certainly didn’t think about Rachel, the on/off girlfriend he’d been seeing over the last year, when she was in the country and not off on some fashion shoot somewhere. She was a great girl: beautiful, smart and good in bed, but she didn’t make him laugh. She didn’t make him feel the way Martha did.
“Well as long as it’s okay with Lucia, then yes I’d be happy to try and help,” Martha said, running a hand over her hair and wishing desperately that she’d washed and styled it this morning instead of just pulling it into a ponytail.
Luke beamed at her. “Excellent. If we get going in about an hour we can have lunch while we’re out.”
“Can I nip back home to get changed first?” Martha asked, not wanting to be seen in her current attire.
Luke looked at her hot little body in the short denim skirt, Scooby Doo t-shirt and leather cowboy boots. There was no way he was letting her change out of that sexy little outfit. Feeling a slight stirring in his jeans, he stood up and surreptitiously adjusted himself.
“Oh, you’re fine as you are,” he said turning away from her. “In fact you look great.”
As he walked towards the kitchen for breakfast, Martha took in a shuddering breath. God his being nice was just as unnerving as his flirting. Well it wouldn’t work as falling for Luke would only ever lead to humiliation and heartbreak.
The late spring sun was high in the sky, and cast long shadows down onto the city street, as Martha threw her head back to enjoy the warmth on her face. Luke held back a groan as he gazed at her slim neck, and watched as she licked her lips, moistening them against the heat.
“I love spring,” Martha said as she looked back up at Luke. “I think it’s my favourite time of year.”
Luke smiled. “Yeah, I think it’s mine too.”
Martha blushed. She guessed that there was a wicked glint in the eyes hidden behind Luke’s Aviator sunglasses. “Anyway, thanks for lunch,” she said, quickly changing the subject, “but I wish you’d have let me pay.”
They were sitting outside a pub that was down a cobbled street that appeared to lead nowhere, until it eventually opened into a courtyard in which stood a beautiful, double fronted, black and white building with colourful baskets of flowers that were hanging along the front.
“Nope, that isn’t happening,” Luke replied. “I asked you to come, so I pay.”
“Well, if you insist,” Martha said. She looked at her watch. “I suppose we’d better get started on the shopping though.”
“We’re fine for a little longer,” Luke said. He took a sip of his drink and eyed Martha over the rim of his bottle. He knew exactly what he was buying his mother, he always had, but it had been a good excuse to get to spend time with the little hottie sat in front of him.
Almost two hours later, Luke wasn’t sure that he could pretend any longer that he wasn’t sold on any of Martha’s ideas for Lucia’s present. Martha had great taste, and everything she’d suggested had been something his mamma would have loved. He’d bought a silk scarf that Martha had picked out, but insisted that he needed to get something else to go with it, so led her towards a jewellery shop where he’d seen a beautiful silver locket that he knew Lucia would love.
Martha gasped when Luke showed the necklace to her.
“Oh,” she breathed. “It’s perfect for her. She’ll love it.” The locket was a dainty oval shape with a pierced out filigree detail on both sides, inlaid with Marcasite stones, on the side was a small buckle to open it up and it hung from a delicate curb chain.
“Yeah?” Luke asked, smiling widely.
Martha nodded. “Definitely.”
“Well wrap it up then, please.” Luke handed his credit card over to the assistant and turned to Martha. “I think we deserve a treat after all that searching, don’t you?”
Martha glanced at her watch.
As if reading her mind, Luke said, “If you’re worried about Betty, we won’t be that late. I was just thinking about a lovely tea room that I know of on the way back. They do fantastic puddings.” Luke cocked his head and smiled. “Go on,” he grinned, “say yes; their sticky toffee pudding is the dog’s.”
Martha sighed, how could she resist that smile and and such a highly recommended sticky toffee pudding? “Oh okay, I’ll just give her a call to say I might be late. I’ll wait outside for you.”
“Okay, I won’t be long.”
Once outside the shop Martha called Betty’s number. After a couple of rings she answered.
“Hey Mumsie, whatcha doing?”
“Hi sweet pea. I’m in Manchester with Luke.” Martha paused waiting for a scream or some sort of smart comment.
It was a smart comment. “OMG Mum, are you booked in as Mr & Mrs Smith?” Betty cried.
“Betty we are not in a hotel.”
“Not yet you’re not, give him time. From what I’ve read on the internet he’s a bit of a man whore.”
“Betty, don�
�t be so rude. We’re shopping for a present for Lucia.” Martha grimaced imagining the barrage of questions that there would be when she got home.
“Okay, if that’s what they call it. So what has he bought her then?”
“We picked out a beautiful necklace for her,” Martha said. “She’ll love it...I hope, and now we’re going to have a coffee and some cake and we’ll be back later.”
“Lovely,” Betty said somewhat sarcastically. “Anyway, you be careful and remember what happens when you sleep with boys Mummy.”
“Betty!” Martha cried, but the line had already gone dead.
Suddenly Luke appeared at her side, carrying a little black bag. “Everything okay?” he asked placing his hand on Martha’s shoulder.
“Fine thanks,” she said. “Just my smart mouthed daughter.”
“Trouble?”
“No, just too cheeky for her own good.”
“Oh well,” Luke said leading Martha by her elbow. “At least now we don’t have to rush back. You never know I might even persuade you to have dinner out too, which might even lead to…well let’s see what happens shall we?” Luke said with a wink as Martha rolled her eyes.
Chapter 11
After the trip to Manchester, Luke and Martha fell into an easy friendship. When Luke wasn’t in London dealing with his businesses, he would hang around the house and chat to Martha while she worked. There was some flirting on his part, mainly because he loved to see the blush that crept up her neck from her cleavage, but he kept it to a minimum knowing that Martha wasn’t totally comfortable with it. Luke had also tried to persuade her to go jogging with him a couple of times, but Martha had declined. Not only was she worried about keeping up with him, but she wasn’t sure wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep a level of professionalism if she had to run behind his tight backside.
Luke was at the supermarket with Martha, which was turning out to be quite an experience. He had tried to get her to do it online, but Martha much preferred to go in person, but then she didn’t usually have a rock star pushing her trolley. Luke was wearing his sunglasses and his beanie hat to try and disguise himself, but it hadn’t really helped.
“I told you to leave the rock star gear off, all you’ve done is draw attention to yourself,” Martha muttered, as a female shopper reached across Luke to feel a packet of bread rolls for freshness, and brushing her breasts against him at the same time.
Luke grinned, his perfect white teeth gleaming against his olive skin.
“You’re not jealous are you Martha?” Luke smiled at the woman and passed her the packet of bread rolls. “There you go sweetheart, a lovely set of fresh baps.”
“Oh thank you,” she gasped, practically drooling. “Are you, Luke Mahoney?”
“Me?” Luke said, as he pointed to himself. “Nah, I do get mistaken for him a lot, but no, I can’t sing a note.”
Her furrowed brow evidence that she wasn’t sure whether to believe him or not, the woman smiled and nodded. “Right, my mistake.”
As she pushed her trolley away, with a last glance over her shoulder, Luke started to laugh.
“There you go,” he said. “Easily solved.”
Martha shook her head. “Luke, there’s a line of about ten women behind us that have been following us for almost fifteen minutes. Are you telling me that they’re doing that just because they like the look of you?”
Luke looked behind him and saw each of the women quickly turn away. “Yeah, why not, it’s a pretty nice arse that they’re watching, or so I’ve been told.”
Martha rolled her eyes. “You have an ego the size of the Grand Canyon, Mr Mahoney.”
Luke wiggled his eyebrows. “Not just my ego either.”
Martha grunted and stormed off towards the drinks aisle, with a little smile on her face.
When they got back to the house, Luke insisted that he carried all the shopping inside, while Martha put the kettle on. Finally, heaving the last bag onto the kitchen table, Luke groaned.
“Did Mamma ask you to buy the whole supermarket?” he asked.
“I think she wants to stock up for Noah for when you’re in Italy.” Martha turned to Luke. He was frowning down at his mobile that had just buzzed in his pocket.
“Sorry, forget about tea for me.” He didn’t even look up but strode out of the kitchen.
“Oh, okay,” Martha replied, suddenly feeling lonely without his presence in the room.
Martha had unpacked all the shopping, and was taking a cup of tea in to Lucia when she heard Luke’s raised voice from inside the study.
“Shit Jake, what did you do that for?”
There was a pause.
“Yeah, well it’s not like that.”
As Martha hurried past the study door Luke saw her and slammed it shut.
“Oh don’t mind him,” Lucia said as Martha entered the lounge. “I think Jake has upset him somehow.”
“Jake from the band?” Martha asked, handing the cup to Lucia.
“Yes, Luciano said something about them all coming to stay for a few days. They tend to land on us unexpectedly from time to time.”
“Oh, they’re all still good friends then?” Martha asked.
“Like brothers, especially Luciano and Anthony, sorry Skins. I don’t like calling him that; Anthony is a perfectly good name.”
Martha smiled and sat in the chair opposite Lucia. “So, who’s coming then?”
“Oh the whole band, I think. You don’t mind the extra work do you?”
“No of course not,” Martha replied, secretly quite excited at the prospect of meeting one of her favourite bands.
“Oh that’s good. Luciano said that Jake texted him to say he and Tom were flying in tomorrow. I imagine Stacey and Anthony will stay for a few days too. To be honest, I enjoy it.” Lucia smiled wistfully. “It’s been a while since they all got together, but I think it’s an excuse to try and persuade Anthony to get the band back together.”
“They haven’t performed together since his collapse have they?” Martha asked.
Lucia shook her head. “No, I think he’s worried about falling back into old ways, and now Stacey is having a baby he probably won’t want to leave her.”
“That’s a shame, they made some good music,” Martha replied with a smile.
“We certainly did.” They hadn’t heard Luke come into the room. He’d heard the conversation and felt guilty that everyone still thought it was Skins who was stopping the band getting back together, when in reality it was he who was being weak and couldn’t hit a note in front of an audience.
“Oh I didn’t see you there.” Lucia smiled at her son. “So, when do they arrive?”
Luke sighed. “They’re all arriving tomorrow evening and…” Luke paused and glanced at Martha. “And Rachel is coming too. Jake invited her when he saw her in LA last week.”
Martha held back an involuntary gasp. It could only be Rachel Donovan, the model, whom Luke had been linked with on and off for the last year. She shot a glance at Luke, but he was staring at the floor. Surely that wasn’t jealousy thudding in her chest and making her stomach roll over?
Lucia’s eyes narrowed. “Rachel is coming?”
“Yes,” he said without looking up. “Rachel is coming.”
Chapter 12
Luke hadn’t spoken to Martha all day, and she was a little pissed off by it. She understood that he was her boss and his girlfriend was about to descend upon them, but there was no need to be so rude. They were supposed to be friends, and he was treating her like she didn’t exist, and that they hadn’t spent the last couple of weeks having fun, chatting and getting to know each other.
Still feeling disgruntled, Martha heaved a sigh as she knocked on Luke’s bedroom door. It was the last place that she wanted to enter, but much as it pained her, she had to put clean sheets on his bed in readiness for his hot nights of passion with Rachel. She hated the fact that she felt sick to her stomach thinking about the two of them rolling around on the bed, and
seriously wondered whether she could actually poison Rachel – just for the time of her stay, not to kill her of course, just some serious diarrhoea maybe.
“You stupid woman,” she muttered to herself. “You were the one that wanted to keep it professional,” No one had answered her knock, so Martha let herself in.
Immediately, Luke’s scent filled her senses. The citrusy, crisp, clean smell was intoxicating and it made her feel warm inside. It was a fragrance that she’d grown to love over the last couple of weeks. It always meant that he was close by and that within minutes she would be smiling or laughing, but not today. No today he’d just given short, one word answers, if anything at all.
Stripping off the existing bedding, Martha wondered whether things between Luke and Rachel were serious. She knew from the gossip columns that they were more off than on, but he always seemed to go back to her. He obviously couldn’t live without her, and if she was back on the scene if Luke’s behaviour today was anything to go by, it evidently meant that their friendship would stop and they would revert to professional boss and employee relationship.
As usual, Luke’s super king sized duvet cover was proving to be pretty difficult to manage. Martha puffed and panted, as she grabbed hold of the edges of the duvet and pushed them into the cover. She then took the corners and tried to shake it out, but it was heavy and barely left the bed, so with a sigh Martha practically climbed inside, filling out the cover with the errant duvet. Martha finally appeared from within it with her hair dishevelled and all over her face.
“Stupid bloody duvet, don’t know why he can’t have a normal size one like everyone else,” she muttered blowing up at the hair in her face.
“Having trouble Cousin It?” Luke’s laugh rang out.
