Hawk & the Lady - Elizabeth Stevens Page 0,45

what the hell I was about to walk into, because Patrick had a firm hold of my hand and was pulling me down a hallway.

“You did not!” I heard someone shout humorously. “I am so getting you back for that.”

“Eat my dust, Rollie!” came a female voice and I heard the smile in it.

It was like walking into an arcade, and I saw why when we got to the end of the hallway.

“Hawk, mate!” one of the guys called from the couch.

I was feeling a touch stunned. There were four grown men and a woman sitting around playing video games with more enthusiasm than I’d seen in Sara and her friends.

One of them got up and I definitely recognised the face of Christopher Grayson.

It wasn’t the Christopher Grayson I recognised though. This one wore tracksuit pants and a hoody with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His dark hair was messier than usual, though the word that sprang to my mind was ‘natural’. And he had a slight smattering of stubble.

“Leah, hi,” he said, extending his hand. “Kit.”

I nodded. “I recognise you. Hey. Thanks for having me.”

“No. No. No. No!” the guy who’d called out to Patrick said, his butt rising off the couch in what looked like panic. He had auburn hair and looked to be the smallest of the group.

“That’d be Rollie,” Patrick explained. “Ryder.”

“You piece of shit!” Rollie snapped as he dropped his controlled onto the table. “Well played, little Grace.” He shook his head. “Well. Fucking. Played.”

The woman, who had to be Amber, laughed. “Why, thank you.”

“You’ve caught us at a…” Kit paused and looked around. “Welcome to our home.”

I smiled at him. “Thanks.”

“That’s Tank. Gavin,” Kit said pointing to the biggest one with the warmest smile.

“Hey,” he said with a nod.

“Nico’s the one with the glasses.”

Nico nodded to me.

“And I’m Amber,” she said as she hopped over to us.

I saw the family resemblance between them in the facial structure and the sandy blond hair but, whereas Patrick’s eyes were brown, Amber’s were a shade of blue that could only be described as violet. They were stunning.

She poked her brother. “You’re in for me. Kit’s in for Rollie,” she said.

Patrick gave me an apologetic look. “Man’s duty.”

I smiled at him and nodded. “By all means, do what you’ve gotta do.”

Kit and Patrick took their seats on the couch and I followed Amber over to the kitchen as I looked around the room.

It was huge, with floor to ceiling glass windows along one wall. The table looked like it could seat a full banquet with room to spare. The style seemed somehow at odds though. After what Patrick said about Amber moving in, I felt like I could see the differences in personality.

The furniture and décor was mostly simple and monochromatic, but here and there were splashes of colour where I presumed Amber had made her mark. A few photo frames sat on walls and surfaces that looked semi-out of place. There were colourful cushions on the dining table seats. On top of the table, there were books and papers piled haphazardly to one end. Small figurines and lamps were nestled around the place. Somehow it all seemed to work.

“Drink?”

I nodded. “Please.”

“Hot, cold?”

“Uh, hot, please.”

“Coffee, tea, bonox?”

“Bonox?” I laughed.

Amber turned a wide smile on me. “Something our mum says.”

“Coffee, please.”

Amber’s smile grew more wry. “A girl after my own heart. Good choice, Pat.”

I suddenly felt a little bit guilty that she was the only one in the room who didn’t know.

“Uh… Patrick and I–”

“Oh, I know.”

“You do?”

“It’s not like Pat told me,” she said with a glare at her brother’s back. “But Kit’s kind of a blabber mouth these days.” She shrugged. “So, yeah. I know.”

“And you don’t mind?” I wasn’t sure why I felt the sudden need for approval, let alone from Patrick’s little sister.

“Eh. I think it’s bananas, but you do you. You know? As long as my mum and dad don’t find out, you’re golden.”

“Need another drink?” Kit asked, coming up behind her and kissing the side of her head.

Amber’s nose got this wrinkle in it and she smiled and snuggled against him. “I’m on it. Coffee time.”

“Of course. Leah?” He looked at me.

I shook my head. “Same. All good, thanks.”

“No worries. Too easy. Be good.” He gave Amber another kiss before disappearing into the fridge and taking some beers over to the couch.

Amber turned to watch him go for a moment. When she turned back to me, she looked the definition of