the way,’ Dominic goes on. He’s very self-possessed but I can pick up the slightest hint that he’s a little flustered under that calm surface. ‘I’ve been neighbourly and asked her in for coffee.’
Vanessa nods a greeting at me. ‘How gallant,’ she says coolly. ‘But we were supposed to meet two hours ago.’
‘Yes, I’m sorry, didn’t you get my message?’
I notice he doesn’t mention coming to my rescue in the dark Soho streets.
She stares back at him, obviously telegraphing that she doesn’t want to talk about this in front of me. I get to my feet at once.
‘Thank you so much for the coffee, Dominic, it was terribly kind of you. I’d better be getting back now, I mustn’t leave De Havilland on his own for too long.’
‘De Havilland?’
‘Celia’s cat,’ I explain.
Vanessa looks amused. ‘You’ve got to look after the cat, have you? How sweet. Yes, well, don’t let us keep you.’
Dominic gets up too. ‘If you’re sure, Beth. Don’t you want to stay and finish your coffee?’
I shake my head. ‘No, I don’t think so. Thank you anyway.’
He walks me out into the hall and as he hands me my coat, I look into those dark eyes again. Did that moment between us just happen? He appears just he did before it: a kind, polite stranger. And yet . . . something in those black depths is still there.
‘Take care, Beth,’ he says in a low voice as he sees me out. ‘I’ll see you soon, I’m sure.’
Then he leans towards me and brushes his lips over my cheek very lightly. As our faces touch, it’s all I can do not to turn to him so that he can kiss my lips, which is what I’m longing for him to do. As it is, my skin burns where he’s touched it.
‘I’d like that,’ I reply almost on a sigh. Then, as the door closes, I head back down towards the lift, wondering if my weak knees will manage to carry me all the way back to Celia’s flat.
Chapter Six
My inbox is full of messages but most are rubbish. I scroll through, deleting as I go, wondering why I subscribe to so many gossip and shopping sites. A large frothy coffee sits cooling beside me, the chocolate powder on the top melting into the milky foam. I’ve found one of those coffee chains where everyone is sitting with a half-drunk cup and a laptop, taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi. There’s a message from Laura, though, and I click on that. She’s travelling in Panama now and has sent an email with several attachments showing her bent under a huge backpack, grinning at the camera, a jungley greenness behind her, and some incredible views.
Missing you loads, she writes. Can’t wait to see you when I’m back. Hope you’re enjoying your summer and are totally loved up with Adam. Hugs and kisses, Laura.
I stare at it, wondering what to tell her. She thinks I’m still at home, working as a waitress during the day and hanging out with Adam in the evening. I’ve come so far from that, and something tells me that my own adventure is only just beginning. For a moment I consider writing it all down and telling her, but I’m not quite ready to share yet. My secret is too delicate and strange, and it doesn’t quite exist in the real world. If I talk about it, maybe I’ll inadvertently kill it.
I shiver with a sweet deliciousness as I recall the moment I had with Dominic last night. (Amazing how quickly he’s become Dominic to me – the name Mr R seems ridiculous and childish now. )Just remembering that look, the strange and immediate intimacy sets everything in me swirling crazily, as though my innards are taking their own personal rollercoaster ride around my body. It’s half pleasant and half unbearable.
But then . . . there is Vanessa. His girlfriend. The one I’ve seen him with and who was expecting him to meet her.
But he didn’t tell her that we met in Soho, or that he stood her up for me.
That doesn’t mean anything, you idiot.
Even so . . . a girl can dream, can’t she?
I type out a quick message to
Vanessa nods a greeting at me. ‘How gallant,’ she says coolly. ‘But we were supposed to meet two hours ago.’
‘Yes, I’m sorry, didn’t you get my message?’
I notice he doesn’t mention coming to my rescue in the dark Soho streets.
She stares back at him, obviously telegraphing that she doesn’t want to talk about this in front of me. I get to my feet at once.
‘Thank you so much for the coffee, Dominic, it was terribly kind of you. I’d better be getting back now, I mustn’t leave De Havilland on his own for too long.’
‘De Havilland?’
‘Celia’s cat,’ I explain.
Vanessa looks amused. ‘You’ve got to look after the cat, have you? How sweet. Yes, well, don’t let us keep you.’
Dominic gets up too. ‘If you’re sure, Beth. Don’t you want to stay and finish your coffee?’
I shake my head. ‘No, I don’t think so. Thank you anyway.’
He walks me out into the hall and as he hands me my coat, I look into those dark eyes again. Did that moment between us just happen? He appears just he did before it: a kind, polite stranger. And yet . . . something in those black depths is still there.
‘Take care, Beth,’ he says in a low voice as he sees me out. ‘I’ll see you soon, I’m sure.’
Then he leans towards me and brushes his lips over my cheek very lightly. As our faces touch, it’s all I can do not to turn to him so that he can kiss my lips, which is what I’m longing for him to do. As it is, my skin burns where he’s touched it.
‘I’d like that,’ I reply almost on a sigh. Then, as the door closes, I head back down towards the lift, wondering if my weak knees will manage to carry me all the way back to Celia’s flat.
Chapter Six
My inbox is full of messages but most are rubbish. I scroll through, deleting as I go, wondering why I subscribe to so many gossip and shopping sites. A large frothy coffee sits cooling beside me, the chocolate powder on the top melting into the milky foam. I’ve found one of those coffee chains where everyone is sitting with a half-drunk cup and a laptop, taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi. There’s a message from Laura, though, and I click on that. She’s travelling in Panama now and has sent an email with several attachments showing her bent under a huge backpack, grinning at the camera, a jungley greenness behind her, and some incredible views.
Missing you loads, she writes. Can’t wait to see you when I’m back. Hope you’re enjoying your summer and are totally loved up with Adam. Hugs and kisses, Laura.
I stare at it, wondering what to tell her. She thinks I’m still at home, working as a waitress during the day and hanging out with Adam in the evening. I’ve come so far from that, and something tells me that my own adventure is only just beginning. For a moment I consider writing it all down and telling her, but I’m not quite ready to share yet. My secret is too delicate and strange, and it doesn’t quite exist in the real world. If I talk about it, maybe I’ll inadvertently kill it.
I shiver with a sweet deliciousness as I recall the moment I had with Dominic last night. (Amazing how quickly he’s become Dominic to me – the name Mr R seems ridiculous and childish now. )Just remembering that look, the strange and immediate intimacy sets everything in me swirling crazily, as though my innards are taking their own personal rollercoaster ride around my body. It’s half pleasant and half unbearable.
But then . . . there is Vanessa. His girlfriend. The one I’ve seen him with and who was expecting him to meet her.
But he didn’t tell her that we met in Soho, or that he stood her up for me.
That doesn’t mean anything, you idiot.
Even so . . . a girl can dream, can’t she?
I type out a quick message to
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