Only You - Lord of the Manor book 1

Chapter 19

I make my way from the dance floor with Harry's palm placed in the small of my back, guiding me as he moves people out of the way with his spare arm. He leads me over to a tall table, but all the stools have been claimed elsewhere.

'Wait here,' He positions me by the table and wraps his palm around my neck, pulling me in and planting a kiss my forehead. 'Don't move,'

I watch him as he disappears into the crowd. I don't have much time with my thoughts – it's probably a good thing because I have no idea what to make of them – Beth and the others come crashing through the crowd, laughing and sweating, with Ian and Phil in tow.

Ian eyes me on my own. 'Where's Harry?'

I frown. 'I don't know.' I point in the direction that Harry left in, just as he reappears back through the mass of people carrying a bar stool over his head.

He places it down on the ground. 'Sit.' he commands, lifting me onto the stool. It's a relief, my feet are killing me. 'Drinks?' he asks. Everyone nods, throwing their orders his way, leaving him looking slightly harassed as he leans in to listen to what everyone wants.

Ian steps up to the plate. 'I'll give you a hand.'

'Yeah, I'm coming.' Phil follows Harry and Ian to the bar, leaving the three remaining pairs of eyes on me.

'What?' I ask. I know what. My head is suddenly swimming in wine.

Beth arches a well plucked eyebrow at me, folding her arms over her chest. She can get lost. It's her fault he's here. 'Looking a bit cosy.' she fires.

Tom strokes the oversized lapels of his coral shirt. 'Cosy? No, no, no. That wasn't cosy. That was guaranteed hot sex tonight, darling!' He raises both hands, and Beth and Victoria comply, slapping a hand each in unison.

I scowl at Beth. 'Me and you, later.' I threaten.

She inhales sharply. 'Oh, feisty! I love everything this man brings out in you.'

Yes, she's made it perfectly obvious that she loves this man, and I want to know what was going on in that little exchange.

'Did you see him move?' Victoria pipes up.

'He weren't bad.' Tom pouts. Oh dear, someone's stolen Tom's dance floor thunder. Harry may well have made a lifelong enemy.

'So –' I'm firing this right back at Beth. 'Talking of cosy?' I nod at Ian as he walks back through the crowd, balancing three drinks between his hands.

'A bit of fun.' she shrugs.

God, I hope so. Do I tell her what Victoria saw? 'And you?' I look at Victoria.

She looks shocked. 'Me?'

'Yes, I saw you shaking your thing at Phil.'

Tom throws his hands up in the air in exasperation. 'I'm a huffing raspberry! I want to go to Route Sixty,' He turns to Victoria. 'Darling, please!'

'No!' she exclaims, and I don't blame her. It makes a change for Victoria to be having the male attention, possibly the action too.

Ian plants the drinks on the table and Phil follows suit, brushing suspiciously close to Victoria. She giggles, fluffing her hair. She needs to lay off the fake tan.

Ian grins. 'Wine for Beth,' He bows as he hands her the glass. 'Vodka for Victoria and I've no idea what this is, but it looks camp, so it must be yours.' Ian hands Tom a pina colada on a wink.

Tom blushes a bright shade of red and flops a limp wrist at Ian. I don't believe it. For the first time in his life, Tom is rendered shy. Oh, this is too good an opportunity to miss. 'Tom, your face is clashing with your shirt!' I splutter, through a helpless fit of laughter.