Chapter fourteen.

I hold a finger to my lips and silently beckon him to follow me with my other hand. We walk through the kitchen then out the back door to the patio. I go to the fridge and grab a beer out before turning to ask Andy if he wants one too.

He's standing right behind me and I nearly scream in fright.

"Sorry" he says with a grin.

"You scared the crap out of me," I tell him.

"Just wanted to say hello, properly" he says and leans towards me to kiss me.

I meet him half way and smile as we part. "Do you want a drink?" I ask him.

"Um no thanks. I think I'll be detoxing for a few days."

I giggle and say, "Have a seat. Bradie told me you were drinking more than normal last night. Actually, I watched him and Shaun drag your drunk ass from the car."

"Really? How embarrassing. What were doing up that early anyhow?" he asks me.

"Couldn't sleep. I had just got out of bed actually and I heard the guys pull up. You were out of it!"

"I don't know what happened. Honestly. I was having an alright night, there were plenty of people I knew, I remember texting you a couple of times. Then things get really fuzzy and I can't remember a lot after that. Did I text you and ask you to come get me?" he asks me.

"Yeah you did actually, but it was after I had said goodnight to you and turned my phone off." I tell him.

"Ah. That's why you didn't reply. I thought I might have seemed a bit pushy or something."

"Not at all" I tell him. "In fact, if I had have been awake I probably would have sent a cab to come and get you."

"Really? You would have done that?" he asks me.

"Well, yeah. You're like my weakness at the moment. It's really hard for me to say no to you. All you have to do really is show me that cute little grin of yours and I fold immediately," I tell him. "Oh I'm so stupid. I shouldn't have told you that. Now you're just going to use it to your advantage."

"I promise I won't," he says, with the grin firmly in place. I am done for. I put my head in my hands and groan.

"See, you're doing it now and you know it's going to weaken me and then you're going to get whatever you want. Argh! " I can hear him laughing at me and I shake my head and look up again. Andy immediately stops and tries to make a serious face. It doesn't hold for more than two seconds and he's busting himself laughing again.

I open my beer, take a mouthful and look out at the backyard while I'm waiting for him to compose himself.

"I'm sorry," he says. "Really, I'll stop it now." He reaches over and takes my free hand. "I'm serious. I'll stop laughing and I'll stop using the grin too."

I glance quickly at him and see that his face is serious. I take another mouthful of my drink and look back at him.

"So you said before that you spoke to Bradie. When did you see him?" he asked me.

"He came over this afternoon just as we got back from the beach. Your Mum and Bradie heard the kids and I playing under the hose in the backyard and he came over and helped me prepare for my interview tomorrow."

"Really? What would Bradie know about job interviews?" he said.

"He reckons he Googled it," I reply with a smile.

"Sounds like he went to a bit of trouble to help you then" Andy says with a bit of a frown.

I nudge him with my shoulder and say, "you're not jealous are you?" with a grin on my face to let him know I'm teasing.

"Nope. Not at all. I know I'm way better than Bradie," he says with the grin back in place. "Not to mention sexier too."

I laugh and shake my head at him. "So have you been sleeping all day?" I ask him.

"Pretty much. I got up around six I think, had something to eat and made it to the couch. I was waiting until I felt half human again before I tried to see you. I didn't want to scare you off" he said.

"So you probably don't want to know about the photos that Shaun and Brady sent me last night then?"

"What photos?" he asks me.

"Well, there were plenty of your bum, one of you drinking straight from the bottle, one of you in the toilet, there was one that looked like someone was going to pee on you whilst you were passed out. Do you want me to go on?" I ask him.

"Do you still have them?" he asks.

"No, I deleted them all. I kept the one you sent me of you and Bradie though at the start of the night. I couldn't keep the others though in case the kids went through my phone."

"Can I see it?" he asks me.

"I'll show you tomorrow okay. I've got it on charge at the moment. That reminds me. Bradie said you were going into Sydney tomorrow for a meeting or something."

"Yeah we are. Got to work out the tour and stuff."

"Okay. I was going to ask if you wanted to come over for dinner again?"

"I don't think we'll be back by then, sorry. How about I call you when we're almost home and we can maybe see each other then?" he asks.

"Yeah, that's fine."

"I was going to ask you something else actually. Bradie's birthday is coming up and instead of having a big party he wants to go to dinner in the city with a few mates and family. I was wondering if you would come with me. You know, be my date for the night?" he asks me.

My smile is immediate and I reply "definitely. When is it?"

"His birthday is on the 22nd but we're going to go out for dinner on the Saturday night before hand which is the 19th I think. Is that alright?"

"Really? His birthday is the 22nd. That's the same day as the twins."

"Wow. What a coincidence. Are you doing anything for their birthday?"

"Not really. We don't know anyone around here so we can't have a party or anything like that. I thought I might take them out for dinner on their actual birthday. You know, let them pick what the want."

"So you are free though for the dinner for Bradie though aren't you?" he asks me.

"Yeah, I am. And I'd love to come with you," I say.

"Great. And I think we might throw a little party at home on the Sunday for Bradie so you'll be welcome to bring the kids over to that too. Just a BBQ or something."

"Thank you. I'm sure they'll love to come over."

I glance at my watch and see it's already quarter to ten. I look up at Andy and he says, "yeah, I know. You need some sleep for that interview tomorrow."

"Yeah, I'm sorry to cut the evening short but I really do need to sleep."

"It's okay. I understand. I should get a bit more sleep too really. It's going to be a long day tomorrow."

We both stand and I walk him through the house and out the front door. I stand on the front step and he stands on the ground so we are the same height.

"Good luck tomorrow gorgeous. Text me and tell me how you went okay? I probably won't be able to reply but I want to know how it all goes," he says.

"Okay, I will." I lean forward and put my arms around his neck as our lips meet. He slips his hands around my back and pulls me close to him. Fire is coursing through me and I can't fathom how good this feels. He deepens the kiss and I readily accept his passion.

We are both breathing heavily when we pull apart and say goodnight with promises to talk tomorrow.

I go to bed shortly after closing the front door and dream sweet dreams for once.