1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Rhys

H ow many Bee’s Knees will I have to order from the hot bartender before I don't cringe at the name of the cocktail anymore? I wondered as I emptied the second glass.

Spending an entire weekend at a fair wasn’t my idea of a good time. My business partner at Fit Sew Good usually took one for the team and went to the trade fairs. This year she had signed us up for Scotland Fabric, only to fall ill.

It might have been the biggest fabric trade show in the country, and I knew that, technically, I should be interested in it. But I couldn’t bring myself to care.

It’s too much.

Another Christmas approached. It would be one more spent alone. With both my parents dead and no siblings, it was a one-man show. The same as every year. In past years, Beryl and I had gone out drinking on the first day after Christmas.

He’ll be celebrating with Kjartan this year.

I mean, I was happy for him and all. But man, I was gonna have a lonely holiday.

“Can I get another one of the Bee’s Knees?” I tipped my empty glass at Twink-Jon, the attractive guy behind the bar who unfortunately came with a golden ring on his finger, and rested my forearms on the polished wood.

“Can I get one, too?” a deep voice from next to me asked, forcing me to look around. “Hello, it’s Rhys, isn’t it?”

Recognition dawned.

“It is. Hi, I didn’t recognise you without that hulking beast of a dog at your heel.”

The rugged ginger chuckled, then pointed at the empty chair beside me. “May I?”

“Sure.” I pretended to inch over to make room for him.

With shoulders like that, he needs it. Gods, I need it too.

“Thanks.”

A smiling Jon placed two glasses in front of us. Before I reached for my wallet, the new arrival pulled out a twenty crown note from his pocket and handed it to the bartender, signalling him to keep the change.

“I hope that’s okay?” He smiled politely and raised his glass to me.

“Unnecessary, but thank you.” I grimaced, clinking my glass to his.

“You’re welcome. It’s so nice to see a familiar face. By Hestia, I hate crowds.”

“Me too. I’ve been trying to decide between getting wasted and hiding in my room.”

“Tempting.” His dry tone made me look around him. We burst out laughing.

I enjoyed looking at him. My eyes clung to his hairy hands for a moment before I picked up my drink again.

“Fergus is at home. He hates crowds even more than I do,” he added with a small smile. “That stuff is tasty. I like honey and lemon.”

“It’s pretty good, yeah. I imagine bringing a giant fairy dog to a fair would be a problem even if he doesn’t mind crowds?”

He appraised me. “Probably yes. I wouldn’t want people to panic, even though he’s really gentle. Fergus is a big softie, just like his dad.”

I accidentally inhaled my drink, gagging and trying to disguise it as a cough.

Good sir, stop it!

I don’t need to hear how warmhearted or I’ll make yet another poor decision.

Liam looked flustered at what he’d blurted out. He took a large gulp of his drink, almost emptying it in one.

“I’ll uh go then,” he choked out.

“Stay, please. Friendly faces need to stick together. If one more person comes up to me to discuss Scottish lace, I’ll scream.”

“We wouldn’t want that.”

“See? So you need to stay and save me and the others the embarrassment.”

A grin spread over his mouth, then Liam seductively slowly licked his lips. “If my service is required, then I’ll certainly stay, yeah.”

Holy fuck.