The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (87 page)

***

CHAPTER
TWENTY NINE

Stuart clutched the bouquets of pink roses and rang the doorbell. His
stomach was looping, hands sweating. Sammy threw open the door with a welcoming
smile and ushered him inside.
 

  
Nerves settling, he smiled back.
‘There’s a bunch for each of you,’ he said as she led him into the lounge. She
kissed him lightly on the cheek and he saw Jane and Pat exchange knowing
glances.

  
‘Thanks, Stu they’re lovely.
I’ll pop them in a bucket for now. Take a seat. Won’t be a mo.’
  

  
He sat on the sofa opposite Pat
and Jane. Eddie and Tim were sprawled on the rug in front of the fire and they
called out a greeting.
   

  
‘Now, what would everyone like to
drink?’ Sammy said, hurrying back into the lounge.

  
‘G&T for me, please,’ Jane
said.

  
‘And me,’ added Pat.

  
‘Any single malt, Sam?’ Eddie
asked hopefully.

  
‘I certainly have,’ she said,
walking over to the drinks cabinet. ‘There’s a couple of bottles, and seeing as
his lordship won’t be drinking it, you can come and help yourself. No doubt Tim
will join you.’

  
‘Same for me, Ed,’ Stuart said
as Eddie jumped to his feet and proceeded to slosh generous measures into cut
glass tumblers. ‘So,’ he asked casually, ‘where’s
Roy
tonight?’
 

  
‘Who knows?’ Sammy shrugged.
‘More to the point, who bloody well cares? But I would hazard a guess he’s
entertaining his bimbo.’ She handed Jane and Pat their drinks and raised her
glass. ‘Cheers everyone. Welcome home to Tim and Pat and good luck to our brand
new futures.’ She clinked glasses with Stuart and flopped down on the sofa
beside him.
 

  
Stuart turned to Eddie. ‘I’ve
heard a rumour you’re reforming
The
Raiders.’

  
 
‘Yeah, we’re having a band meeting
next week. By the way, you okay for Wednesday, Tim? I spoke to Phil and Carl
earlier and they can do that night. I’ll check with
Roy
, but I’m sure it won’t be a problem.’

  
‘Wednesday’s good for me. Can’t
wait to see the others and get cracking.’

  
‘Will you still be writing your
own stuff?’ Stuart placed his glass on the coffee table.

  
‘Yeah,’ Eddie nodded. ‘We’ve
loads of half finished songs to work on. Enough to put out an album at least,
and Tim’s written a few country ditties.’

  
‘Country rock, that is,’ Tim
said. ‘Eagles style.’

  
‘Brilliant!’ Stuart said. ‘I’ll
look forward to the first single. Good luck, lads, although I’m sure you won’t
need it with the reputation
The Raiders
already have.’

  
Sammy leapt to her feet. ‘I’ll
check on the pasta.’

  
‘I’ll give you a hand.’ Stuart
stood up and followed her.
 

  
‘What’s going on there?’ Tim’s
eyes narrowed as the door closed.

  
‘Nothing, yet!’ Jane said.

***

Sammy was standing in front of the sink, her shoulders shaking. Stuart
hesitated momentarily and then put his hand on her arm.

  
‘Sammy?’

  
She turned to face him, eyes
glistening with tears.

  
‘Oh, Sam, come here.’ He took
her in his arms and held her close as she sobbed against his shoulder.

  
‘I’m sorry, Stu. Band talk
brings back so many memories.’

  
‘That’s okay, I understand.’ He
took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her eyes. How could
Roy
do this to her? If she was
his
he’d never hurt her or make her
cry.
 

  
She lifted her face and smiled
through her tears. ‘Thanks.’

  
He pulled her closer; folding
his arms protectively around her. Her arms crept around his waist and she leant
into him. He lifted her chin with a finger and kissed her lightly on the tip of
her nose, waiting for a response.

  
When it came, the response was
warm and encouraging as she kissed him on the lips.
       

  
‘Wow! Now that was worth waiting
all my life for.’

  
‘Was it?’

  
‘Most definitely.’ Bending to
kiss her again, he crushed her to him.

  
‘Oh, oh, I’m sorry.’ Jane’s
voice broke them apart.

  
‘It’s alright, Jane,’ Sammy
said.

  
‘Ed’s spilt his drink on the
coffee table. I need a cloth. I didn’t mean to disturb you.’

  
Sammy threw her a J cloth and
Jane left the room.

  
Stuart pulled her back into his
arms. ‘Now, where were we?’

  
‘Like this, I think.’ Sammy
smiled and lifted her lips to his.

***

‘Catch.’ Jane chucked the cloth at her clumsy husband.

  
‘What’s up with you?’ Eddie
frowned, wiping up the spillage. ‘You look really smug.’

  
‘Do I?’ she said and winked at
Pat.

  
‘Where are Sam and Stuart?’ Tim
said. ‘I’m really starving. I thought they’d gone to sort out the pasta.’

  
‘They’re doing just that - and
one or two other things besides.’ Jane replied gleefully.
 

  
‘Bloody Hell!’ Eddie said. ‘
Roy
won’t like that.’

  
‘It’s got nothing to do with
Roy
,’ Pat bristled.

  
‘It’s got everything to do with
Roy
,’ Tim replied. ‘She’s his wife.’

  
‘Really?’ Pat raised an eyebrow.
‘Then it’s a pity
Roy
didn’t think about his wife when he was screwing Livvy this morning.
Anyway, Tim, I refuse to fall out with you over him. As Sammy said earlier,
he’s not worth it.’

  
‘
Roy
’s burnt his bridge at both ends,’ Jane said,
folding her arms. ‘Sammy’s free to do as she wants, when she wants and with who
she wants.’

  
‘Okay, Jane, enough,’ Eddie
said. ‘Let’s not spoil the night by arguing.’

  
‘Well you two stop sticking up
for
Roy
then,’ Jane said.
   

  
‘Truce!’ Tim held up his hands.
‘But I’m still starving. Another drink, Ed?’

  
Sammy popped her head around the
door, looking flushed and cheerful. ‘Foods ready. Do you want to sit at the
table or eat buffet style?’

  
‘Buffet style,’ they chorused,
following her into the dining room where they helped themselves to seafood
pasta and green salad.

  
‘Stu, would you open the wine,
please?’ Sammy handed him a bottle and a corkscrew.

  
‘Certainly, Madam,’ he said,
holding her gaze. Jane looked on with a smile, guessing correctly that Stuart
would have been quite happy to stand in the kitchen kissing Sammy all night if
it hadn’t been for his hungry mates.

***

Jon carried a protesting but tired Katie up to bed on his shoulders, with
Dominic trailing behind. He tucked them in, read each a story and hurried back
to Jess.

  
She was sitting on the rug in
front of the fire, Lennon half on her lap. He wriggled with ecstasy as she
stroked his silky ears. He looked up at Jon and wagged his tail.

  
‘Right, Lennon, move yourself,
it’s my turn.’ Jon pushed the dog out of the way and sat down. ‘There, you can
stroke my ears now,’ he said, laying his head on Jess’s lap.

  
‘Silly,’ she giggled.

  
He sat up and put his arms
around her, kissing her passionately. ‘Let’s go upstairs.’

  
‘You’d better give Lennon his
supper first. Mum didn’t have time to feed him before she went out.’

  
Jon groaned and leapt to his
feet. ‘Is there no peace in this bloody house?’

  
‘Not for the wicked,’ she
teased.

  
‘I haven’t had the chance to be
wicked - yet! I think there’s some white wine chilling in the fridge. Would you
like a glass?’

  
‘Please.’

  
‘Come on, Lennon, suppertime,’
Jon announced to the eager dog who jumped up and followed him, understanding
every word where food was concerned. Lennon could stay in the kitchen for a
couple of hours, Jon decided. He opened the wine and filled two glasses as the
dog wolfed his meat and mixer.

  
Back in the lounge Jon smiled,
clinking his glass to Jess’s as he dropped back down besides her. ‘Cheers,
here’s to us.’

  
‘To us,’ she echoed, taking a
sip as Jon knocked his back and poured another.

  
‘That was good. Come on, Jess,
drink up.’ He frowned, as she twiddled the stem of her glass. ‘Is something
wrong?’

  
‘No,’ she said, not quite
meeting his eyes.

  
‘Yes, there is. Tell me.’

  
‘I feel a bit odd, that’s all.’

  
‘What do you mean odd?’

  
‘Well, awkward, I suppose.’

  
He took the glass from her, and
pulled her into his arms. ‘There’s no need to feel awkward with me. I love you.
I’ve
always
loved you.’

  
She nestled against his shoulder
and he kissed her reassuringly. ‘I know that. I love you, too. It’s just, well
what if Katie or Dom wanders in?’
   

  
‘We’ll lock your bedroom door.’

  
‘Okay. But let’s wait until
we’re sure they’re both asleep.’

  
‘Fine, I don’t want to do
anything you’re not happy with.’

  
She smiled and pulled him
closer. ‘I’m perfectly happy about
us,
Jon. I just don’t want Mum and
Dad to find out. Pass my drink over and go and check on the kids then.’
   

  
‘Flat out,’ Jon announced
seconds later as he ran back downstairs. ‘They were knackered.’ He bent to
scoop Jess into his arms and carried her out of the room.

***

 
Roy
sat in his flat, glass of whisky in hand,
looking round with a certain amount of pride. It would do for the next few
months until he found a place to call home with Livvy. They’d shopped for linen
and towels yesterday and she’d been so excited, choosing bargains carefully,
until he’d told her to forget the price, if she liked it he’d buy it. The trip
to
Paris
was off. The stubborn little Madam wouldn’t
take time off work.

  
On reflection, it was perhaps as
well, because Ed had organised a band meeting for tonight in the
Royal Oak
.
Roy
finished his drink and smiled. With a bit of
luck they’d be out on the road in a couple of months. Adrenalin surged through
his veins at the thought. Not much else in his life felt right at the moment.
He loved Livvy dearly, fancied the arse off her, but he wasn’t sure that he was
in
love with her, not like he was
with Sam.

  
He thought about Sam all the
time, even when he was shagging Livvy. He wanted to call her desperately,
needed to hear her voice, make sure she was okay, but he didn’t dare. Ed had
told him she was fine and had been happy enough over the weekend. He’d also
mentioned in passing that Stuart had been at Jasmine House on Saturday night.
Roy
felt angry and jealous. Sammy had enjoyed
last week’s night out with him and he was sure that if Stu thought there was a
chance with her he’d grab it.

  
He reflected on his own weekend;
Sunday lunch at his parents’ place had been a big mistake. His mother had
dropped Sammy’s name into every conversation. Framed photographs of he, Sammy
and the boys had been purposefully placed on every available surface, his
mother tactlessly pointing out to Livvy when they’d been taken.