Page 33 of Oz (Finding Home #1)

Chapter

Fourteen

I’m quite sure this never happens in crown green bowling

Oz

I shoot up from my chair and race over to Silas, grabbing his arm and dragging him to face Shaun.

“Shaun, this is Silas,” I say and grin at Silas. “This is my best friend.”

His expression clears slightly and he smiles at Shaun. “I’m so pleased to meet you. Oz has told me a lot about you.”

Shaun hesitates because Silas’s voice when he’s feeling awkward is very cut glass, but he looks closely at the man. He must see the gentle eyes and kind smile that I see because he relaxes and puts out his hand to shake. “I hope not too much.”

Silas smiles. “You know Oz. The line between those two is very thin.”

Shaun throws his head back and laughs loudly and I see Jasper’s eyes narrow on Silas, speculation on his face.

I turn quickly to Silas. “Can I talk to you?” I ask urgently.

He stares at me, his brow furrowing. “Of course,” he finally says. “Study?”

I nod and with a quick “I’ll be back” to the men I race after him, trying to catch up with his long strides. He walks into the study and I follow him, turning to face him as he shuts the door.

“You’ll never guess–” I start to say.

“Who’s that man?” he asks, interrupting me with a very focused look on his face.

“Oh. Oh shit. I forgot to introduce you. That’s Jasper and he’s from–”

“Is he an old boyfriend from London?”

I stare at him. “Sentences usually end with a full stop and a pause. You’re usually better at conversation than this.”

He doesn’t smile. “Well?”

I fidget. “Well, I wouldn’t say he was an old boyfriend.”

“He’s a current one?” His voice rises. “I thought you were single.”

I gape at him. “I am single,” I say slowly.

He flinches slightly and my eyes narrow.

“What the fuck?” Then I realise what I just said.

“I mean I’m not sleeping with anyone else.

” His shoulders relax slightly but his eyes are still turbulent.

“I knew him at uni, and yes we have slept together, but that’s old news. ”

“It looked to me like he wanted the old news to wrap his hot chips in.”

I stare at him. “That is singlehandedly the oddest euphemism I’ve ever heard.” I jerk. “You’re jealous.”

He shrugs awkwardly. “No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. You’re totally jealous.”

“And if I am?”

Without even thinking about it I step into him and hug him, resting my head on his chest and feeling his arms automatically come down to hold me. “Then it’s adorable,” I say softly.

His body stiffens, and he puts me back enough to look at me. “You don’t mind?”

I shake my head. “Why on earth would I mind?”

“Well, it’s not very attractive. You’re not a piece of meat and I don’t own you.”

“Who said it wasn’t attractive? Oh, Silas, cut yourself some bloody slack. You aren’t beating him up or shouting and swinging from the beams. A bit of jealousy shows you care.”

“I do care,” he says slowly. “Oz, I–”

“I can’t wait anymore. I have something amazing to tell you,” I exclaim and shove him into his chair. I then immediately climb into his lap and straddle him. “That’s better,” I say happily. “All our meetings should be like this.”

He swallows hard and it seems like he’s going to say something, but he hesitates and then smiles. “I’m not sure an employment tribunal would approve.”

“Pshaw. We don’t abide by silly things like that.”

He grabs my arse and lifts me into him. “You’d be amazing in Brexit negotiations.” He looks at me. “Okay, tell me, now that you have me captive.”

“Come closer.” He leans in and I whisper into his ear. When I come to the figure his eyes widen. I lean back. “Well? What do you think?”

He looks at me and I can’t read his expression fully. There’s excitement there and happiness but something else.

“You did this for me?”

I stare at him, something in the atmosphere killing any joke I’d make. “Yes,” I say simply. “I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want to get your hopes up.”

“And you’re not interested in Jasper?”

“Are you not happy?” I ask uncertainly but he looks at me stubbornly, so I shake my head. “No,” I say firmly. “Not at all. That ship set sail a long time ago. It’s probably docked and sold for spare parts by now.”

A smile spreads across his face wider than anything I’ve seen. “Okay, now I’m excited. Jesus Christ, Oz. This will cut a huge wedge out of the debts. I could probably clear one of them.”

“And Jasper says once one production company comes calling they all sniff around, and think of the tourists.” I pause. “Oh my God, we should totally stock the books and any other memorabilia they have in our shop.”

He shoots me a curious look, but I ignore him. I try to wriggle off him and his arms tighten. “Where are you going?”

“To get my diary. This is amazing.”

“No. When I blow you it’s going to be amazing. Notes in your diary are just meh.”

I grin at him and trace one finger over his eyebrow. “You’re going to blow me? Why, Lord Ashworth. When you have guests here too. What a cad you are.” I laugh as he dumps me off his lap. “What are you doing?”

“Locking the door,” he says. “But maybe don’t do your impression of someone from A Woman of Substance until we’re finished. It’s a bit off-putting.”

It’s hard to laugh when someone has your cock in their mouth, but for a full few seconds I manage it.

Later that evening we sit over dessert and coffee. Silas and Jasper are talking intently about provisions for livestock and restrictions around the estate, so Shaun and I are footloose and fancy-free.

Shaun’s looking at Silas contemplatively and I can’t stand it anymore.

I nudge him. “So, what do you think?”

He turns to look at me. “I really like him.”

I sag a bit in relief. They’d talked and laughed over dinner, but you never know with Shaun because he keeps a lot close to his chest. “Oh, that’s good.” He shoots me a knowing look and I flush. “Because obviously he’s my boss and I like that you think he’s okay.”

“Yeah,” he says, elongating the word, so I poke him. He snorts with laughter and Silas and Jasper look up. Silas gives Shaun a wide smile, but he and Jasper instantly return to their conversation.

I sip my coffee. “So, does that mean you’re not going to lecture me?”

“When do I ever lecture you, Ozzy?”

I shake my head. “You lecture that much you should work at a university.”

He laughs but then falls silent, staring across the table at Silas who has his head bent over some plans that Jasper has. “I don’t think I’m going to lecture you this time.”

“Why?” I hesitate. “Not that it means anything. I mean, I’m only here for another few weeks and then I’ll be back home with you.”

He turns to me and there’s something almost sad about his face. “Sure, you will, Ozzy. Sure, you will.”

I open my mouth to argue but the waitress comes with the bill. As we stand up he seizes my arm. “Did you say you were coming up to London soon?”

“Yes. I need a dinner suit for the party and Silas needs to look at some deeds at his solicitor’s office. Why?”

“Why don’t you show him around, take him to some of your old haunts.”

I stare at him. “You want me to take the Earl of Ashworth to the Pig and Fiddle in Tottenham and then maybe to Mungos for Bear Night?”

“Why not?” There’s something challenging in his eyes that I can’t work out. “After all, you call him Silas and that’s who you’re involved with. So why not show Silas your old life?”

“It isn’t my old life. It’s my actual life. I’ll be back in a few weeks.”

“Then it won’t hurt, will it? It might show you something that you’re happily ignoring at the moment.”

“What am I ignoring?” I’m totally bewildered and it shows in my voice.

He shrugs and hugs me. “What’s staring you in the face. The difference this time around.”

“You’re so cryptic today I think it’s time for you to read The Da Vinci Code.”

He laughs and nothing more is said.

Later on, I wander out of the house and into the gardens with Chewwy at my heels.

The heatwave is slowly cooling as we head into September and the night has a delicate bite to it now, a harbinger of autumn.

I look around at the gardens which are a riot of last-minute blowsy colour and sigh.

I won’t be here when the trees turn colour and the winds roar around the house.

I’ll be in London, working in another office.

I wonder fancifully if a part of me will stay here and roam the halls with Lionel.

Maybe we’ll become drinking buddies and look critically at Silas’s next choice of bedmate.

My stomach twists and I rub it absentmindedly.

I’m not thinking of that now. I have a few weeks left with him and I’m going to make the most of it.

At the thought of him, I wonder where he is.

Then on the breeze I hear a faint thud and a clinking coming from the far end of the gardens.

This is a much wilder, isolated area where the apple orchard can be found along with an overgrown grassy area where, according to Silas, the Home Guard used to do their drills during the war.

The sheep are often in the fields nearest to it, so their bleating and complaining drifts in.

The old bowling green is also there, and I smile when I step onto the grass and see that my guess was right.

Silas is just standing up from straightening the rows of skittles that are now as orderly as a military parade.

He’s drinking from a bottle of Jack Daniels and dressed in a pair of denim cutoffs, their ends white with age, and a faded red Edinburgh University t-shirt.

He looks like a student and completely at home.

He smiles widely when he sees me and holds one arm out in invitation. I wander into his embrace immediately and feel his arm close around me. Chewwy slumps down under a blackberry bush and gives a gusty sigh of contentment.

Silas grins and kisses the top of my head before handing me the bottle. I take a sip, the alcohol heating my throat, and sigh happily.

“Have they gone?” he asks.