Читать книгу The British Bachelors Collection - Сара Крейвен, Kate Hardy - Страница 44
ОглавлениеTea, glorious tea. A celebration of teas from around the world.
Astrologers have long used tea leaves to predict the future. Try it for yourself by leaving a little tea in the bottom of your tea pot with the tea leaves. Stir the brew three times, empty the tea pot into your saucer, then inspect the pattern the leaves make in the cup. Each specific pattern has a special meaning.
From Flynn’s Phantasmagoria of Tea
Friday
A week later
Sean strolled into the bar at the Beresford Riverside and nodded to the head barman who was serving after-dinner drinks to guests wandered in from the dining room.
The light strains of a cocktail piano could just be heard in the background against the chatter and laughter from the guests.
He quickly scanned the bar and lounge area to see if Dee was still there. She had called him a couple of times during the afternoon to let him know that Prakash and his team had done an amazing job and all of the last minute worries that had kept her awake were sorted.
The tea festival was all set to go tomorrow.
Then he heard her laughter ring out from a table of Japanese guests who had clustered around the tables next to the long patio doors which led onto the landscaped gardens.
Ribbons of white outdoor lights trailed over the budding branches of the cherry trees which Dee had enjoyed over the past few days.
The first smile of the day slid over his mouth. Hell. His first smile all week. Last minute presentations, flying visits to France with his dad and two days scouting for locations in Scotland meant that he had hardly seen Dee since the night of the dinner.
He missed her like crazy.
Dee was sitting at the table, and spread out in front of her was what looked like a makeshift kitchen. White saucers from the kitchen were scattered all around her, and on each was a tiny sample of what looked to Sean like clippings from the evergreen plants outside in the garden but were no doubt some example of specialist tea leaves.
Whatever they were, the hotel guests seemed enthralled. They were picking up the saucers, sniffing, tasting and chatting away with enormous enthusiasm and clear delight. Nodding, delighted, bewitched.
Because at the centre of it all was Dee.
Sean paused at the bar and leant on the rail, happy just to watch the woman he had come to find.
Her long, sensitive fingers flitted above the table gesturing here and there, no doubt on some terribly important point about growing conditions and water temperature, and he could see the glint of gold in the bangles around her wrists.
She was wearing what for Dee probably passed for quite a conservative outfit of a fitted jacket in a knitted navy fabric which clung to her curves as she moved. But of course that was offset by a stunning scarf which shimmered in shades of blues and greens, highlighting her fair complexion, and even though her head was down he knew that those pale-green eyes were going to be totally enchanting.
This was the real Dee. Sharing her passion and enjoying every second of it.
The Dee he had fallen for the minute he had looked up from a tea room floor and was sucked into oblivion by those eyes. Why wouldn’t he? She was stunning.
Recognition came flooding in, and instead of pushing it away Sean held it in his mind and treasured it like a precious gift that he had never expected to receive but adored.
He was falling for Dee Flynn. In a big way. This was way beyond attraction. He cared about her and wanted to be with her, in every way possible.
And the very idea shocked him and terrified him so badly that he could only stand there and take it like a sock in the jaw.
His life had been a roller coaster for so many years, he had forgotten what it felt like to make connections with people and form bonds that went beyond business transactions, contracts and meetings in windowless white rooms.
But why now?
He slid silently onto a high-boy leather bar stool.
This was the way he was going to remember her.
He had only been standing there for a few minutes in silent ogling when he saw her head lift and her back straighten.
Almost as if she knew that he was watching her. So that, when she stood up and looked over her shoulder at him, he should have been ready for the impact that seeing her smile transform into a grin that was laser-focused on him would cause.
Impossible. Nothing could have prepared him for the blast of that smile.
She had never looked lovelier. And she literally took his breath away.
Mesmerized, Sean could only watch as she excused herself with several deep bows to the guests, who returned her bows with gentle warm waves and smiles.
Oh yes, she was good.
She skipped between the tables and was at the bar in seconds.
Instantly she flung her arms around his neck as he bent down to kiss her on the cheek, much to the amusement of the hotel guests.
‘You have been away far too long, Sean Beresford.’
‘Agreed. Only, I think your fan club are taking our photograph on their smart phones.’
Dee peeked around Sean’s back and waved back. ‘Oh no, those are proper cameras. We are probably already online. But I’m not in the least ashamed. This has been a brilliant afternoon.’ And, just to prove it, she went up on tiptoes and pecked him on the lips so lightly that he barely had time to register the sensation of her warm, full lips on his before she stepped back into her shoes.
‘I hardly dare to ask,’ he replied, but kept his arms tight around her waist. ‘But could it be anything to do with the party of visiting Japanese academics?’
Dee pressed one finger to her bottom lip and tried to look innocent, but failed.
‘You do know that they brought their own tea with them, don’t you? The word is out Mr B—there is not one hotel in the whole of London who serves speciality Japanese green tea of the quality your guests demand and in the way they like. I think this is quite shocking news. Just imagine the impact on the hotel trade. If only you knew someone who could import some of that fine tea for you. Just imagine what a difference it could make. Now... I wonder what we can do about that?’
Then she fluttered her eyelashes at him in the most outrageous, over-the-top way and a bubble of laughter burst up from deep inside his gut and exploded into a real belly-laugh. The kind of laugh which turned heads and made the barman look at Sean over the top of his spectacles.
And why not? It had been far too long since he had laughed out loud—really laughed.
He had almost forgotten what it felt like, which was more than sad. It was a judgement of the life that he had chosen for himself and had never stopped to question—a roller coaster of work and travel, then more work and more travel, which never stopped long enough for him to get off and see the view now and then. It was too fast, and the highs and lows were so exhilarating, that it was impossible to look anywhere else but straight ahead because he never knew what was going to happen next.
It was a life that was as addictive as it was exhausting. A rush of daily adventure and excitement that called for his total focus and attention.
That was why he had been so attracted to Sasha.
They loved the hotel trade, and the rush of pulling off seemingly impossible projects and delighting his father and their hotel guests along the way. Sasha had been on her own roller coaster and at first they had been side by side, project to project. But slowly their tracks had simply drifted apart, further and further away, until they hadn’t been able to see one another. Both of them had been strapped in and going for the adventure of their lives.
It was true. His life was one long roller-coaster ride. He had jumped on when he was sixteen and was still strapped in at thirty-one.
Almost half of his life.
Strange. He had never thought of it that way until now.
And he knew exactly who he had to thank for that.
The girl with the twinkling green eyes who was grinning up at him.
The girl who had swept into his life like a warm breeze on a cold day.
The girl who he was going to leave behind, and sooner than he had planned.
Sean slid one of his hands from her waist and onto the bar so that he could lean forward slightly. He inhaled the light floral fragrance that she was wearing like the aroma of a fine wine. Intoxicating and provocative. Heady and enticing. Daring him to find out if her skin tasted as delicious as the aroma promised.
‘I still haven’t forgiven you for texting me when you knew that Tuesday was our Bake and Bitch Club night. The girls were scandalized by that sort of suggestive language.’
‘How could I forget our first anniversary? And you did call me brazen last week. I have a reputation to maintain, young lady,’ he whispered into her ear in a voice that was not meant to be overheard, especially by the hotel staff.
Her eyes met his without hesitation or excuse. Beguiling. Honest. True. And, oh, so magical.
‘I know. And I am certainly not complaining,’ she said.
Sean swallowed down a lump in his throat.
Dee was so close. So very close. Her gaze was locked onto his face, as though it was the most fascinating thing that she had ever seen, and he almost flinched with the loss when a guest sidled up behind them at the bar.
‘That colour looks great on you.’ He smiled. ‘Stylish and...’ He paused and, when he was sure that she was looking at him, silently mouthed the word ‘hot’ before slipping off the bar stool and grabbing her hand.
Her eyebrows lifted and she replied with a girly giggle and a small shoulder-wiggle, which was so endearing that he had to distract himself by focusing on the way her fingers felt clasped inside his.
Time to move to something less likely to scandalize his staff.
‘I think it’s about time you showed me what you have been up to in my conference suite. Don’t you?’
Dee paused outside the main doors to the conference room where she had spent most of the day with Prakash, and a stream of porters, delivery drivers and other people who she had never met before but who somehow seemed to be able to transform her sketches and lists into reality.
She raised one hand, palm upwards. ‘Now, it might come as a bit of a shock. So prepare yourself.’
Sean nodded just once. ‘I have been through everything, from Mardi Gras to beer festivals. I can handle it.’
Dee stretched out her hand towards the brass door plate, then lifted it back and whirled around on her heel. ‘First of all, I should say that Prakash and the team were amazing. Just amazing. And they did it all in one day! Totally brilliant, in fact. I couldn’t have done any of this without them... And now I am babbling, because I’m so excited and it’s wonderful, and did I say that it is amazing and the festival is tomorrow and...?’
‘Dee.’ Sean smiled and gently rested a hand on each of her shoulders. ‘I spoke to Prakash. He helped, but this is your idea. Your design, your colour scheme, your concept. So I know that it is going to be wonderful.’
‘Perhaps you should come back tomorrow when the exhibitors are setting up. There will be such a buzz.’
Sean looked over her shoulder into the middle distance and seemed about to say something, but changed his mind, turned back and lowered his head so that his nose was almost pressed against hers. He spoke in a jokey, firm voice.
‘Dee. I want the full tour and I want it now.’
‘You are so bossy!’
‘I know. But that’s why you like me.’
‘Really? Is that the reason? I thought it was your snazzy ties and shiny shoes.’
‘They only add to the allure. And you’re putting off the inevitable. What is it? Why don’t you want me to see your design? You know that I am going to, one way or another. ‘
‘Yes. I know. It is your hotel. It’s just that...’ She sucked in a breath then exhaled on one long string of words. ‘I am seriously nervous because this is the biggest thing that I have ever done on my own and I know that it’s mad but my whole future depends on this being a big success.’
Then she stopped, but Sean kept looking at her with that smile on his face, as though he was waiting for her to carry on.
Then without waiting another second he stepped forward, pushed open the doors to the conference suite with both hands and stood to one side.
Then he nodded towards the space behind him, reached out and grabbed her hand. ‘Come on.’ He smiled. ‘Show me what you have done. Show me what your imagination has created. Share it with me. Please.’
For the next ten minutes Sean walked slowly around the room as Dee explained each of the display panels in turn, starting with the history of tea production, then slowly walking from stand to stand.
She didn’t need to. But he liked hearing her voice, so he let her carry on.
The whole room was decorated in co-ordinating shades of green with stencils of green tea leaves against cream, pale gold and emerald green. There were plenty of stands for the exhibitors, power points, fresh water dispensers. And a portable professional kitchen. All ready for the morning. He couldn’t have been prouder.
‘So this is where the magic is going to happen. I love it. Professional, elegant and attractive. It’s a hit!’
‘Do you really think so?’ Dee screwed up her mouth.
‘It looks fresh and inviting. And the colour scheme is great.’
His hands moved in gentle circles on her shoulders, up and down her arms, and slowly, slowly, the stiffness in Dee’s neck relaxed and she felt her shoulders drop down from around her ears.
‘You must think that I am a total idiot,’ she chuckled. ‘All of this work for a one-day festival of tea. The world will not end if nobody turns up to drink the tea and buy the china. And on Sunday I can go back to the tea rooms and carry on as normal. I know that; I’ve known that from the start. But being with you and working in the hotel here has given me so many ideas for new projects, and new ways I can sell my blended tea, I can hardly sleep at night. It is so exciting. So, whatever happens tomorrow, thank you, Sean. Thank you for helping me.’
His response was to step forward and gather her into his arms, holding her tight against his pristine shirt, not caring that he was crushing his superb suit jacket in the process. Holding her with such tenderness and warmth that she melted against him with a gentle sigh. Instantly his chin slid down and rested on the top of her hair, and his arms relaxed their grip and rested gently on her back.
It had been so long since she had felt so close to another human being. Lottie and the girls were her best friends, and she loved every one of them, but this was different, felt different; this was special.
It had been ages since her last boyfriend in the tea house. Years of watching other girls go on the dating scene, and comforting them with tea and cake as each broken heart had healed and they’d gone out again so full of hope.
Not for her. She did not want that emotional destruction. She knew that she was too different for most men. Too quirky. Too obsessed. Too unusual.
She was not the girl that the boys in catering school introduced to their parents. She was the girl they dated until someone better came along. And it had taken her a while to realize that she was not putting up with being second best. And she never would.
Until Sean had shown her that she was a woman a man could admire and want to be with.
Sean had chosen her. Picked her out. Made her feel special. Made her feel that she was capable of running her own business and making her dream come true.
Sean. The man who was holding her in his arms at that moment.
The man who meant the world to her. But she was too afraid to tell him.
She revelled in every sensation, her eyes closed, locking each tiny moment into her memory. The heady aroma of Sean’s body wash or aftershave blended with the subtle scent of laundry lavender, and a lot of Sean that only a long day in a hot office could produce. If only she could bottle that aroma, she would never be lonely again.
This was one man who had listened to what she wanted and helped her make it happen in a way which was even better than she had imagined.
She wanted this moment to last as long as possible. She wanted to remember what these little bubbles of happiness felt like.
‘You are most welcome,’ he replied, the sound muffled as he spoke into her hair, but the sound reverberated through her skull and came to rest in the centre of her heart. Where they exploded into a firework display of light and colour.
Exploded with such force that they made her shuffle back a little so that she could look up into Sean’s face and trace the line of his jaw with her fingers. Her reward was to see his eyes flutter just a little as her fingers slid down onto his neck and throat.
This man had pressed buttons that she did not even know that she had.
‘If you ever see that Frank Evans, be sure to thank him for me.’ She grinned. ‘Because it seems to me that I came out with a pretty good deal.’
Sean rested his hands on her hips and nodded. ‘True. The Beresford Riverside is a rather more impressive venue than the Beresford Richmond Square, and you did get it for the same price. That was what you were referring to...wasn’t it?’
Dee dropped her head forward onto his chest with a short laugh, only too aware that she was blushing and her neck was probably a lovely shade of scarlet.
When she did dare to lift her head, Sean was looking at her, his eyes more blue than grey in the artificial lighting above their heads, and as her eyes locked onto his the intensity of that gaze seemed to penetrate her skin.
For one fraction of a second all the need and passion of this remarkable man was revealed for her to see.
In one single look.
It took her breath away and she lifted her head higher. So high that, when his head tilted and he pressed his lips against her forehead, and then her temple, she was ready.
More than ready.
She was waiting for his kiss.
She had been waiting all day for his kiss, to see him again and to hear his voice.
And it had been totally, totally, worth the wait.
Sean took one step forward, and before Dee realized what was happening he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, his fingers working into her hair as he pressed his mouth against hers, pushing open her full lips, moving back and forth, his breath fast and heavy on her face.
His mouth was tender, gentle but firm, as though he was holding back the floodgates of a passion which was on the verge of breaking through and overwhelming them both.
She felt that potential, she trembled at the thought of it, and at that moment she knew that she wanted it as much as he did.
Her eyes closed as she wrapped her arms around his back and leaned into the kiss, kissing him back, revelling in the sensual heat of Sean’s body as it pressed against hers. Closer, closer, until his arms were taking the weight of her body, enclosing her in his loving, sweet embrace. The pure physicality of the man was almost overpowering. The scent of his muscular body pressed ever so gently against her combined with the heavenly scent that she knew now was unique to him.
It filled her senses with an intensity that she had never felt in the embrace of any other man in her life. He was totally overwhelming. Intoxicating. And totally, totally delicious.
And, just when Dee thought that there could be nothing more pleasurable in this world, his kiss deepened. It was as though he wanted to take everything that she was able to give him, and without a second of doubt she surrendered to the hot spice of the taste of his mouth and tongue.
This was the kind of kiss she had never known. The connection between them was part of it, but this went beyond friendship and common interests. This was a kiss to signal the start of something new. The kind of kiss where each of them was opening up their most intimate secrets and deepest feelings for the other person to see.
The heat, the intensity, the desire of this man, was all there, exposed for her to see ,when she eventually opened her eyes and broke the connection. Shuddering. Trembling. Grateful that he was holding her up on her wobbly legs.
Then he pulled away, the faint stubble on his chin grazing across her mouth as he lifted his face to kiss her eyes, brow and temple.
It took a second for her to catch her breath before she felt able to open her eyes, only to find Sean was still looking at her, his forehead still pressed against hers. A smile warmed his face as he moved his hand down to stroke her cheek.
He knew. He knew the effect that his kiss was having on her body. He had to. Her face burned with the heat coming from the point of contact between them. His heart was racing, just as hers was.
Dee slowly, slowly slid out of his embrace and almost slithered onto the floor. And by the time she was on her unsteady legs she was already missing the warmth of those arms and the heat of the fire on her face.
She had to do something to fight the intensity of the magnetic attraction that she felt for Sean at that moment. Logic screamed at her from the back of her mind: they were both single, unattached and they wanted one another.
She had never had a one-night stand in her life. And, if she was going to do it, this was as good a place as any, except of course it would never be casual sex. Not for her. And, she suspected, not for Sean either.
Would it be so ridiculous if they spent the night together?
Sean gently drew her back towards him so that their faces were only inches apart at the same height.
His hand moved to her cheek, pushing her hair back over her left ear, his thumb on her jaw as his eyes scanned her face, back and forth.
Her eyes opened wide and she drunk him in—all of him. The way his hair curled dark and heavy around his ears and neck; the suntanned crease lines on the sides of his mouth and eyes. And those eyes—those amazing blue eyes which burned bright as they smiled at her.
She could look at that face all day and not get tired of it. In fact, it was turning out to be her favourite occupation.
Sean was temptation personified. And all she had to do was reach out and taste just how delicious that temptation truly was.
Did he know what effect he was having on her? How much he was driving her wild?
Probably.
Panting for breath, she rested her head on his chest, listening to the sound of Sean’s heart under the fine cloth, feeling the hot flood of blood in his veins and the pressure of his fists against her back. She could have stayed there all night but suddenly the silence of their private space was broken by the loud ringtone from the mobile phone inside Sean’s jacket pocket.
‘That can wait,’ he whispered and carried on stroking her hair. ‘Now, tell me about the tea. What delicious aromas can the hotel expect...?’ But he never got to continue because his phone rang again, and this time is was a different ringtone.
‘Oh, I don’t believe it.’ He sighed, stood back, tugged out the phone and checked the caller ID. ‘It’s my dad’s personal line.’ He shook his head. ‘I am so sorry about this. Stay right where you are. Two minutes.’
* * *
Dee sat down at the reception table just inside the door and watched Sean stride out into the main hotel space, the phone pressed to his ear. He was pacing up and down, one hand pressed against the back of his neck in a nervous gesture that she had seen him use a couple of times.
She pressed her fingers to her mouth, which was feeling slightly numb, and covered a chuckle. He didn’t even realize that he was doing it.
Dee stood up and strolled into the kitchens between the display areas. She was just about to pour some water when one of the flyers dropped to the floor in the cool breeze from one of the floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that was still half-open.
But, instead of closing it, Dee stepped onto the stone courtyard area outside the conference room and slowly inhaled the cool evening air.
After the heat of the past hour it felt deliciously cool on her hot skin.
In the cool February air she could see the lights of the high-tech businesses, city offices and homes which lined the opposite bank of the river Thames. The hotel was partly shaded from the riverside public footpath by landscaped grounds and trees creating a calm and open feel.
It was exactly what she wanted: no white plastic underground basements, just a well-lit and modern space which opened up to the air whenever she wanted.
There was a faint rustling from the room behind her, and Dee looked over one shoulder as Sean came to join her on the terrace. His face was in shadow but she would recognize his shape anywhere.
A soft and silky Sean-warmed suit jacket was draped over her shoulders and she snuggled into it as a cold shiver ran down her spine.
She could feel the warmth of his chest through the many layers of clothing as he pressed his body against her back and wrapped his arms around her waist so that they were both facing the river and the superb view of the city spread out in front of them.
It was as if they were the only people alive at that moment and in that space.
Instinctively she leant backwards so that the back of her head was resting on his chest. The beat of his heart was steady in her ears, then faster.
She did not need to hear it to know that it grew faster for her.
Sean was breathing faster, his pace matching her own.
‘No stars tonight,’ she whispered and pointed up at the clouds which had already covered the crescent moon. ‘But you can still make a wish if you like. You don’t need a shooting star to have your dream come true. I know that now. So tonight is your turn.’
His reply was a hoarse whisper and she felt his hands slip away from around her waist as he spoke. ‘I wish I could. But I can’t. In fact, I have to go and get packed straight away.’
Dee slowly turned around in the circle of his arms so that they were facing one another, and suddenly a shiver ran across her shoulders. In the light from the room she could see the new harsh lines on Sean’s face. All easy chatter and smiles had been wiped away as if they had never been there.
‘Packed? I don’t understand. You are not due in Paris for another few days and you’ve only just got back. You told me that yourself. You don’t need to get packed tonight.’
He licked his lips and looked at her, his gaze darting across her face. ‘I thought that I had at least a week. But that telephone call changed everything.’
Sean lifted his chin as though he was preparing himself.
‘I am sorry, Dee, but I am booked on a flight to Chicago. We have an emergency at the new Beresford hotel we opened at Christmas and they need me to help sort things out. I have to go. And I have to go tonight. So you see, I’ll be gone by the morning.’
Dee stepped backwards and out of his arms, her fingers running down his shirt sleeves so that she was clinging on to him with only a thin layer of fine cotton.
‘Tonight? Do you really have to? We have worked so hard on this together. I...I was hoping that you would be here for the festival tomorrow.’
Dee turned and stared out into the dark night. Her eyes fixed on the movement of the wind in the trees that she could just see in the light from the hotel. There was a cold, damp wind blowing up from the river and she could feel the moisture cooling her face. But it didn’t help to cool the fire burning inside her head.
She felt as though she had been caught in some kind of tornado that had been spinning her round and round from the moment she’d met Sean. Spinning so fast that she had never truly had the chance to get her feet back on the ground.
She had always known that his work in London was temporary, but Paris was only a few hours away by train. They might have had a chance to stay in touch and to stay close. If they worked at it.
If they both wanted it enough.
If he wanted it as much as she did.
He was leaving.
Just as her parents had decided to leave behind the cold, grey British winters and go back to the sunshine and the life that they loved. Just as her friends from catering college had left for jobs all over the world. Just as Josh had gone back to his real girlfriend and left his stand-in, second-best girl standing on the pavement outside his apartment reeling from what the hell had just happened.
She had coped with saying goodbye and managing the shock. And she still had Lottie and Gloria and the girls in the baking club. She could cope with saying goodbye to Sean. She was going to have to; he wasn’t giving her any other choice.
It wasn’t meant to be this hard.
She just wanted him to stay with her so badly.
Sean snuggled up next to her in the silence, the whole left side of his body pressed against her right side. Thigh to thigh, hip to hip and arm to arm.
She wanted to rest her head on his shoulder, and her whole body yearned to lean sideways against him for support, but she fought off the temptation.
She had to.
It was almost too much to bear when his fingers meshed with hers, locking them together in the dark.
Slowly, slowly, she found the strength to look up into the most amazing blue-grey eyes. In the bar they had been like clear, blue, fresh tropical seas, alluring, tempting and begging her to dive in. But now they were dark and stormy. Dangerous.
The warmth had been replaced with an intensity and concern that she had never seen before.
It was all there in the hard lines of his handsome face. The face that she had come to love so much over the past week or so, though she did not dare admit that to herself.
The planes of his face were brought into sharp contrast by the light from the room.
She had been so wrong to imagine that the son of Tom Beresford would have an easy office job handed down by his father.
Sean worked so very hard. And she admired him for that. But why now? Why did he have to go tonight?
‘What kind of emergency is it?’ she asked in a voice which was quaking a lot more than she wanted. ‘Not another flood, I hope.’
His lips parted and he took in a long, shuddering breath before replying in a low, hoarse voice which to her ears seemed heavy with regret and concern.
‘No; worse. Food poisoning. Rob thinks that it’s a norovirus, and he is already on site working with the authorities, but the hotel is closed and guests are on lockdown. And I really do not want to talk about kitchen detox at this precise moment.’
His fingers clenched around hers and Dee tried focusing on the flickering lights on the riverbank but she could sense every tiny movement of his body which made vision a little difficult.
Her eyes fluttered closed as he took a tighter hold of her fingers and stepped away and she instantly yearned to have his body next to her again. Instead he gently lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of her knuckles, forcing her to look up into his face.
‘I wanted to be there tomorrow. To share your triumph. Because that is what it is going to be—a triumph.’
His head tilted slightly and one side of his mouth lifted up into a half-smile. ‘You are going to be amazing. I know it. And Prakash has promised me a full report with video and photos.’
‘Video?’ She spluttered. ‘That wasn’t on the list.’
His gaze was focused on her hair and he casually lifted a stray strand of her lop-sided fringe and popped it behind her ear in a gesture so tender and caring that she almost cried at the pleasure of it.
‘I ticked all of the optional extras on the checklist for you. Courtesy of the hotel management.’
‘Wow,’ she whispered and was rewarded with a quick nod of reply and a flash of a smile.
‘Sean?’ she asked in a quiet voice, and she closed the tiny gap between them. ‘How long are you going to be away in Chicago? A week? Two? Then you are going to be in Paris, right?’
‘I don’t know. Weeks, most likely. As for Paris? There is no way I can handle that now. My dad is going to take over the project and find another manager.’
Dee exhaled a long sigh of relief. ‘That’s great. So when are you coming back to London? I will have so much to tell you.’
His head dropped down so that his forehead was almost touching hers and she could feel the heat of his breath on her face.
So that there was nowhere for her to escape to when he formed the words that she had been dreading.
‘You don’t understand, Dee. Paris is cancelled. My next assignment is in Brazil for a couple of months and then back to Australia in the autumn. I’m not coming back to London.’
