Rules are Made to be Broken Ch. 15

I catch myself singing along with a busker who's crooning 'Valerie' and strumming an acoustic guitar. It's the original (I prefer Amy's version), but he's doing a decent job.

'I didn't know singing was on your list of talents too!', Sam's voice in my ear makes me smile.

'Hardly!' I laugh, 'You're very kind, but I just love this song.'

'Me too,' he replies, 'but Amy's version's better.' I can only smile back at him.

We pause a minute as the busker sings the last chorus. He takes an awkward sort of half bow with a sheepish smile in my direction as I give him a little round of applause and Sam leans forward to drop a £20 note in his open guitar case on top of the loose change he's earned so far.

'Cheers mate, very kind!' the singer thanks him for the generous donation.

'No worries, thanks for making my girl smile!' Sam grins back, easing his arm round my waist without a trace of his usual green-eyed monster.

Is this what we writers call character development I see before me?! Whatever the case, I'm in such a good mood I don't even call him out on his casual ownership slip up.

As I fumble with keys to open up the shop, Sam's phone rings and he follows me in, answering the call as I reset the alarm.

'Sorry beautiful, duty calls.' He frowns, tucking his phone into his inside pocket. 'Thank you for last night. And this morning.' He says, pulling me close and kissing me gently.

'Thank you.' I reply, feeling overwhelmed by how much I do not want to let him go.

* * * * *

When I'm finally locking up, after a day that seemed to last for about a week, my mood is instantly brightened by a text from Sam,

'Hey Beautiful, dinner tonight?'

It's very tempting, but I have got to crack on with some writing if I want to have a hope of making Ms DeVere's impending deadline. I reply:

'Wish I could, but I have to work xx'

Almost immediately, he responds:

'You do, or Amber does?'

I feel my temper prickle. All day my heart's been mooning about how wonderful he is, then in a heartbeat he's all jealousy and over reactions again. I tap out a reply angrily.

'Not that it's your concern, but Jessica does. On her book!'

His reply comes almost immediately, with a signature split second personality change:

'I'll come over, bring take out?'

God he's persistent. And to be honest, I do love the idea, but I know full well what will happen -- I have basically no self-control around that man, and I'm on a really tight schedule. Plus, a little distance wouldn't hurt -- everything's been so intense and moving so quickly, I could do with taking a breath. I compose a reply before I give in to my own uncontrollable libido.

'Thank you for the very kind offer, but no. You are very sweet Mr Byron, but also very distracting -- and I have a deadline looming!'

Moments later another ping announces his reply.

'Ah, so dedicated Miss Blake. I admire your commitment, so I will graciously admit defeat. For now X'

Dedicated, I think to myself. Oh, you have no idea Mr Byron.

[Look out for chapter 16 soon ;)]