Thief of Hearts (30 page)

Even as Jamie spoke, Stu continued to study me, and I came down with a case of restless leg syndrome. I also couldn’t stop fidgeting. Stu placed a hand on my knee, his voice hushed as he leaned in to whisper, “You nervous?”

“Yes,” I answered, though I wasn’t nervous for the game. I was nervous because I knew I couldn’t be without him. And I knew I had to tell him how I felt. The fact that he thought I didn’t love him made every organ in my body hurt. The man was incredible. Loyal, thoughtful, intelligent, and drop-dead gorgeous, and I wondered how many people in his life had told him they loved him. I had no doubt he knew his family loved him, because they were amazing. But had anyone else ever told him? I wanted to be that someone.

“You’ll be fine. It’s just a bit of fun, right?”

I nodded and inhaled sharply when his thumb brushed back and forth, sending tingles all the way between my thighs. It felt like forever since we’d been together physically, and now I was a fizzling bag of hormones and need.

“Yeah,” I managed, “just a bit of fun.”

“And now that we’ve taken care of the housekeeping, you can all take your places,” Jamie finished, but I’d barely heard a word, too distracted by Stu.

I stood and instantly mourned the loss of his touch. Stu rose with me, his gaze searing into mine as he moved my hair over my shoulders then bent and pressed a kiss on my lips. It wasn’t a peck like the one he’d given me yesterday. No, there was far more pressure this time. I made a weird sound of surprise, and he smirked as he stood back up to his full height. He fingered the hem of my blouse, his eyes on the V-shaped neckline. “This is a nice top. Good luck,” he said and then moved by me to take his place.

Breathe, Andie, breathe.

When I finally managed to calm down, I sat across from my first opponent, a curly haired woman in a yellow shirt. As luck would have it, I wasn’t eliminated from the game right away. In fact, I made it all the way through to lunch. Jamie stood on a chair, writing the scores on a whiteboard. I wasn’t surprised to see Stu was almost in the lead. There were just two other players ahead of him. When I checked to see who I’d be playing next my heart stuttered.

“Looks like we’re being pitted against one another,” said Stu, approaching me from behind. Even though he wasn’t even touching me I could feel his heat.

“Yeah, looks like it,” I breathed. I was
so
going to lose.

“You coming to lunch?” he asked hopefully.

Most everyone had retreated to the café next door for refreshments. Jamie had made a deal with the manager so we could eat there, since the bookshop didn’t have any catering facilities. It was Alfie’s favourite, the place where all the good-looking Swedes worked. The ones whose presence he claimed to find
soothing
. Though I wondered if he just enjoyed staring at tall, handsome, blond men while he got his regular caffeine fix.

“Yep. I’m coming,” I said and Stu’s expression heated. Was this what we’d come to? So starved of one another that even the most ambiguous innuendo turned us on. I certainly felt aroused by the way he was looking at me. Unable to take much more, I turned and headed outside.

I grabbed a sandwich and a cup of coffee before joining Jamie and Alfie at a table by the window. A minute later the chair beside mine moved and Stu sat down. I was blushing already and he hadn’t even said anything.

“Andie, are you okay?” Alfie enquired. “You’re looking a little flushed. Are you sure you aren’t coming down with something? You were feeling under the weather yesterday evening.”

“I’m fine. It’s just warm in here.”

Stu’s hand came to rest on my shoulder, his gaze concerned. “Want some ice water?”

I bit my lip. “Um, yeah, sure.”

As soon as he left the table both my cousin and Jamie eyed me with interest. I frowned at them. “What?”

“He’s a pleasant fellow,” said Jamie pointedly.

I scoffed. “I don’t think anyone’s ever described Stu Cross as a ‘pleasant fellow’ before.”

“Well, they should because he is. And he’s clearly besotted with you.”

I glanced to where Stu stood over by the service counter, making sure he was out of earshot. “Shut up.”

“I’m just saying. It’s pretty obvious.”

“You need to forgive him,” said Alfie. “He’s not the villain you’ve convinced yourself he is.”

“If you must know I’ve already forgiven him. We’re friends now.”

This time it was Alfie’s turn to scoff. “Oh, pull the other one.”

I couldn’t really argue with him because he was right. I was deluding myself if I thought Stu and I could ever just be friends. He’d affected me since the very first moment he’d stepped into my classroom. When I saw him making his way back over to the table I quickly changed the subject.

“So, Alfie tells me you two are off on a cruise of the Aegean. Fancy.”

The two exchanged a glance, and if I wasn’t mistaken Jamie looked like this was news to him. Maybe I was just imagining things. Finally, he replied, “Yes, that’s right. We’re going to drink gaudy cocktails with tiny umbrellas, and soak up the Mediterranean sun while making friends with all the pensioners we can find. It’s going to be a roaring good time.”

Stu, who had just retaken his seat next to me, didn’t look very convinced. He didn’t comment though, and I quietly thanked him for the water.

“Well, I applaud you for being the only person able to convince Alfie to go abroad.”

“Oh, you know I’m determined once I set my mind to something.” Jamie grinned while shooting Alfie another mysterious look. Seriously, what was going on with those two? For some reason I got the feeling I didn’t want to know.

Back in the bookshop, I knew this was it. I was going to lose against Stu and be kicked out of the tournament. I took my seat across from him and clasped my hands together. The prize pack sat on a shelf at the other end of the shop and I stared at it, forlorn. Goodbye first edition, signed copy of
Jude the Obscure
. You were a momentary, lofty, idealistic dream from the start.

Stu must’ve noticed where I was looking because he said, “I can throw the game if you want. I’m not bothered about winning.”

I shook my head. “No, don’t do that. If I lose it’s meant to be. I don’t want to cheat.”

His expression softened. “All right, then.”

Jamie called a start to proceedings and the game began. Somewhere along the way Stu slid his feet around mine, his knees cradling my thighs. I wasn’t faring as badly as I expected. In fact, I was beating him and I could tell he wasn’t going easy on me. I was genuinely in the lead.

My belly quivered as his legs locked around mine, the position intimate though nobody else in the room could see. “If you’re doing that to try and distract me, it’s not going to work,” I said, biting my lip as I contemplated the board.

Stu’s gaze focused in on the movement. “Now why would I want to distract you? I already offered to throw the game.”

I shot him a shy look and picked up a pebble. I was black, Stu was white.

Stu tilted his head as he studied me. “You’re so beautiful.”

I was sure I flushed pink at the compliment and endeavoured to avoid his heady gaze. I could tell he was smiling when he went on, “What? No response.”

I sucked in a breath. “Thank you.”

He pushed his knees in, holding my thighs tighter. “That’s better.”

“Shouldn’t you be focusing on the game?” I huffed, because the way he was acting was turning me on. I wanted to have sex in the middle of a Go tournament. Bizarre.

“Maybe that’s why I can’t focus. You’re too pretty.”

I rolled my eyes, but could feel myself turning redder by the second. Stu leaned closer across the table. “And you’re so fucking sexy when you blush like that,” he continued. “Makes me want to bite you.”

“Shut up.”

“But you like it when I bite you.”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “That’s neither here nor there.”

“I like it when you bite me, too.”

“Stu,” I whispered, glancing around to make sure nobody was listening.

He laughed softly. “What? One of these days, luv, you’re gonna let me kiss you again. Everywhere.”

“Oh my God,” I said, letting out a nervous laugh. “You need to stop.”

His gaze was tender as he leaned his elbows on the table. “I can’t help it. I love you.”

I gasped. My brain became scrambled, and I couldn’t think of a single thing to say. I was having heart palpitations to boot. Stu finally focused back on the game, like I’d wanted him to all along. If he kept flirting with me, telling me he loved me, I was in danger of turning into a strawberry right where I sat.

One of these days, luv, you’re gonna let me kiss you again. Everywhere.

He loved me. He truly loved me, and despite my discomfort and embarrassment, I knew without a doubt that I was one of the luckiest women in the world because Stu Cross loved
me.

Needless to say, the entire conversation put me off my game, because over the next twenty minutes he easily gained the upper hand and I lost. I was out of the tournament. All because I couldn’t seem to think straight when he was close to me.

I went and sat by Alfie to watch the remaining competitors. My excitement grew the longer Stu remained in the competition, until finally it was just a red-headed guy wearing a Game of Thrones T-shirt and him. Most everyone seemed confused by Stu’s presence, because I don’t think any of them had ever seen a Go player who looked quite like him before. Tall, dark, and gorgeous, tousled brown hair, effortlessly muscular, and a beguiling smile to make women sigh the world over.

My heart was in my throat as I watched the final unfold. Stu was a force to be reckoned with, a natural even though he’d only been playing a while.

“He’s amazing,” said Alfie. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“I know,” I breathed. Stu was amazing. And I was in love with him so much it frightened me. His opponent took the lead for a little while, but soon Stu got the upper hand again, finally winning the game. I cheered way louder than necessary when Jamie announced him the winner and he grinned at me, pleased. He was presented with his prize, and then competitors and spectators alike gathered to congratulate him.

“Not going to go over and give your beau a big sloppy kiss for winning the competition?” Jamie asked coyly, and I shot him a look. He raised his hands in the air. “Just a friendly suggestion.”

“Yes well, I’ve never really been one for public displays of affection,” I replied.

“With a man who looks like that, all women like PDAs. If for no other reason than to ward off other females.” He chuckled, highly amused by his own joke.

I shook my head at him and approached Stu. His expression warmed as soon as he saw me. I muttered a shy “Congratulations” and he knocked the wind out of me when he pulled me into a tight hug. His lips brushed my ear when he asked, “Want to help me celebrate?”

The question was dripping with sexual undertones and a tendril of desire spread through my belly. I pulled back a little, unable to look at him when I answered,

“I, um, ah . . .”

Stu chuckled softly then kissed the edge of my lips. I couldn’t tell if he’d been aiming for my cheek and missed, or if it was intentional.

“I’m going to pop open a bottle of wine,” Jamie announced once most everyone had gone home. There were just a few stragglers still hanging about.

“Good idea,” I said, needing some alcohol. Now.

And that was how an hour later I found myself sitting around a table with Stu, Jamie, Alfie, and three of the other players who’d almost made it to the final. At one point Jamie had popped up to his flat above the shop and grabbed a few more bottles of wine. I was tipsy and flushed, and generally enjoying the conversation and the company. Whether that was down to the alcohol or the fact that Stu kept finding new, subtle ways to touch me, I couldn’t say.

His arm rested against mine, his skin warm. I closed my eyes for a minute, enjoying the feel of him.

“Tired?” he asked low enough so no one else could hear. Not that any of them were listening. They were all too drunk and engrossed in their boisterous conversation.

“A little.”

“Want me to walk you home?” His breath hit my ear and I trembled. Stu made a noise that sounded a lot like frustration. When I looked at him his eyes were practically glowing.

“Yes.”

As soon as the word left my mouth he helped me from my seat and we said goodnight to the others. I was vaguely aware of Jamie’s knowing smile as Stu slid his arm through mine and led me outside.

“Wait, I forgot my things . . .” I scrambled to go back into the shop when Stu lifted his other arm on which hung my coat and handbag.

“Oh, you think of everything,” I said, a big stupid grin on my face.

His expression was fond and it made my stomach fizzle. “Yeah?”

“Mm-hmm.” I glanced up at him. “You’re not half as drunk as the rest of us, are you?”

Stu shook his head. “I’m not a big wine drinker.”

“No, I remember. You’re more of a beer and whiskey sort of bloke.”