It wasn’t working. He was too close—so close she wanted to lean forward and sniff him, to try and identify the scent that seemed to be sending her hormones into overdrive.
Don’t do it!
‘You can always talk to me,’ he pointed out, and his smile was so wicked that she suspected he knew damn well exactly what she wanted to do.
She needed to get a grip—of something other than him.
Stepping back, she nodded. ‘I plan to. After all, that’s what I’m being paid to do.’ The reminder was as much to herself as to him. ‘We’d better go.’
The brief car journey whizzed by, and as she looked out at the dusky grey skies, inhaled the warm evening breeze tinged with mimosa and orange blossom, sensations were tumultuous within her. Everything seemed heightened—her skin was super-sensitive, her whole being attuned to every sound and scent. But most of all she was aware of Marcus.
Then they arrived, and as she stepped out next to him somehow her nerves were quietened by his sheer presence and the reassurance provided by the effortless strength he exuded.
The building itself was sufficient to catch her attention; the sandstone of the embassy gleamed in the moonlight, the turrets and pillars of a bygone era somehow adding to the fairy tale surrealness of the whole evening.
The inside was no less splendid.
‘It’s magnificent,’ she said. ‘A pocket of history.’
Without preamble she fumbled in her clutch bag and pulled out her notebook, scribbling down some key words so she could do the setting justice when she wrote the article. The familiarity of writing was a comfort, a nose-thumb at her hormones.
See—I’m here to work, not to relish in physical allure. Ha!
As she returned the book to her bag she looked up to see a familiar couple heading towards them: Rafael Martinez and Cora Derwent, the
evening’s hosts. Rafael, as ever, looked brooding, whilst Cora smiled in recognition—a smile that held radiance as her red hair glittered under the light of the chandeliers.
‘Marcus. Good to see you.’ Rafael held his hand out.
Cora kissed April. ‘And April as well. I saw you’d been added to the guest list and thought how lovely it was that the two of you had got together.’
April felt tell-tale heat flush her face. Cora’s voice held genuine approval and she knew the words had been meant in all sincerity.
‘Actually,’ she said, irritated that her voice held too much squeak, ‘I’m writing an article on Marcus.’
Cora glanced quickly from April to Marcus and then nodded. ‘How exciting! That is even more of a coup—and if you do as good a job as you did with Kaitlin and Daniel’s wedding then Marcus is in safe hands. And, talking of weddings, how is the royal one going?’
‘A security nightmare, I’d imagine?’ Rafael interpolated.
‘I’ve had easier assignments,’ Marcus said. ‘But, more importantly, both Frederick and Sunita told me to convey their congratulations.’
In that instant April realised the reason for Cora’s radiance, the glow that lit her from within. Cora’s hand went instinctively to curve over the swell of her belly and Rafael’s face broke into a smile so broad and awe-filled that tears prickled at the back of April’s eyes.
Instinct and a learnt ability to deal with situations like this came to her rescue. She knew that Cora and Rafael deserved the happiness of parenthood, and she truly did wish them all the joy in the world. But still, this glimpse into that serenity could not help but be a reminder of all she had lost.
It was a loss that she could never come to terms with, even while she had had to accept that life went on. That whilst her world had collapsed, everyone else’s kept on spinning.
‘Congratulations from me as well,’ she said, suddenly all too aware of Marcus’s intent gaze.
‘Thank you. We are beyond ecstatic. If you would like to write a lifestyle article on us at any point you’re more than welcome. After all, we have a lot to thank you for.’
‘You do?’ The turn in the conversation was a gift—as long as she could think of Cora as a subject, the current of emotion would be easier to control.
‘Yup. Your article on Sunita meant that Frederick found love, and that made Kaitlin very happy.’
‘Happy enough to forgive me? I was a thorn in her side when she was with Frederick.’
‘You were—but that’s because you were after the truth. You knew something wasn’t quite right, and now... Now all the Derwents have achieved what we thought to be impossible—a happy-ever-after. And Rafael and I are lucky enough to be having a baby.’