Designing Abigail Kilton's Dress - #1 The Wedding Dress

Chapter 30 - The Secret Garden

Kayleigh felt her core temperature drop, almost as though Marcus had driven through a fall of ice-cold water. "What do you mean, we're being followed?"

"I've been driving around the same block for the past five minutes," Marcus replied. "So has that black Prius."

His voice remained steady, but his face was beginning to betray him. She noted the droop at the corners of his mouth, the hard jaw beneath his beard, which Kayleigh thought needed trimming, the sharpness in his eyes. He was strange. Strong. Different every time she looked at him and it baffled her how there was something about him she just couldn't figure out despite knowing the man like the back of her hand.

Marcus Burrows swore under his breath and started dialling a number he knew by heart on the dashboard screen. "Reporters aren't usually this persistent and it's not like we're royalty," he explained, taking his eyes off the road only to check the rearview mirror every now and then. 

He took an exit without warning and Kayleigh turned in her seat just in time to see the black Prius swerve off the highway and speed up behind them.

"Pick up, pick up, pick up!" Marcus muttered under his breath.

Finally, her brother's voice filled the car as though he was right there with them.

"Hey, Leon," Marcus greeted with relief. "Did you get home alright?"

"Yeah, man, we're good. Thanks again." His voice sounded tired and worried.

"Is Nicholson okay?" Marcus went on before Kayleigh had time to ask the same thing.

Leon barked out a short laugh. "Yeah. She's finally sleeping it off. Remind me never to upset her again, will you?"

"Gave you a piece of her mind, did she?"

Despite his light words, Marcus's expression remained focused as he slipped onto another main road and stepped on the gas again.

"Yep... And her fist and her shoes... That girl is stronger than she looks!"

Kayleigh opened her mouth, fully intending to tell him that it was nothing less than he deserved, but once again, Marcus spoke over her.

"Listen, stay indoors until I call you, alright? There might be some reporters hanging around if they think Abi and I are in there. And keep away from the windows."

"Don't worry, we're not planning on going anywhere at this hour. So, you won't be coming home?"

Kayleigh looked at Marcus, remembering he hadn't answered when she asked where they were going.

"No."

"Can I have your bed for tonight, then?" Leon rambled on. "Rosie's sleeping in mine."

"Sure, man, whatever you need," Marcus agreed, glaring at his mirrors again.

"Thanks. Alright, I'll call Kay to make sure she got home safe and that that jackass didn't try any funny business with her."

Kayleigh's face flushed with anger. But just as she was about to respond, Marcus cut her off for the third time, this time also shooting her a warning look.

"Kayleigh's with me," he announced as she narrowed her eyes at him. She didn't like him speaking on her behalf.

"Oh," her brother said, clearly surprised. There was a slight pause and then he asked, "You're taking her to her apartment?"

Marcus pressed the bridge of his nose and that was when Kayleigh realised he was battling with something internally.

"I can't," he answered finally. "I can't risk exposing where she's staying. There were a lot of paps there tonight, Leon. They were still there when we left."