“Yes. And you never know—they might actually pull themselves together a little bit if they know they don’t have us catching them every time they trip up and knock themselves out.”

Maybe Autumn was right. Perhaps I could let my parents figure stuff out themselves. As long as they had a roof over their heads, and I could send money if they got into a scrape, I supposed I didn’t need to be in Oregon to make it work.

“Okay, let’s go through the plan again,” I said.

Maybe I’d even give Dexter a call if I ever made it back.

Thirty-Three

Dexter

I thought it rained hard in London, but Oregon made London’s precipitation look like amateur hour. I hadn’t been able to sleep; the sheeting rain had been so heavy against the hotel windows. Then again, my sleeplessness might have been thanks to my anticipation of seeing Hollie today. I shoved my hands in my pockets, trying to be patient as I waited for the car to be delivered at the hotel entrance.

It had been over two weeks since I’d last seen her, since I’d last slept next to her and felt her warm body next to mine. Each day without her had felt three times as long. In our brief time together, I’d gotten used to rushing out of the office so I could go home and put my arms around her, hear her take on the day and press my body against hers.

Without her, life was laborious and empty. I wanted her and there was no point in pretending otherwise. Gabriel had been right—I needed to tell her how much she meant to me. I had to be completely clear I’d done everything I could to get her back. She was far more important to me than the competition, and if I was prepared to work so hard for that, I was happy to work doubly hard for Hollie.

A black car pulled up in front of the hotel. “Mr. Daniels?” the driver asked me as he got out. He handed me the keys and I got in, putting the trophy Daniels & Co had won the night Hollie had left London on the passenger seat. I’d wanted to share it with her, even if the celebration was delayed.

As I punched the address into the satnav, it came up with a route and an estimate of three hours and twelve minutes to arrival. When I got there, I didn’t even know if she’d be in. But I’d wait. For as long as it took.

I pulled out into the traffic and began to rehearse what I wanted to say that I hadn’t already perfected in the two weeks since she’d left and on the twelve-hour plane journey over here.

As I got out of town and onto a road that was simply numbered 84, I picked up speed. Driving in America wasn’t like driving in Britain. The roads were almost empty, and the monotonous drive gave me time to think. To imagine what it would be like to see her again. I pressed my foot on the accelerator, focusing on my destination.

* * *

The steps leading up to Hollie’s front door were dry because of the yellow awning. After I’d discovered neither Hollie nor her sister were home, I took a seat beneath it. From the top of the fifth step, I could get a better view of the road from the park entrance than I had from the car.

I checked my watch. It was a little after twelve. I could be waiting all day. I had no idea when she’d finish work, but at least I’d found the place. The guy on the gate had been more helpful than I’d been expecting and given me directions right to the door. So, my plan was to sit here until someone came home. It wasn’t like I could turn up to her work, even if I did know where it was.

“Hey, there,” an older woman wearing a blue housecoat called from the pavement. “You waiting for Hollie or Autumn?”

“Hollie,” I replied, grateful for the confirmation I was in the right spot. “My name is Dexter. Do you know when she’ll be back?”

Her face broke into a grin and she came closer. “I’m Mrs. Daugherty. You’ve got an accent on you. Where are you from?”

“England,” I replied. “London.”

“London? Do you know the queen?”

I stood and stepped down to meet her at the bottom. “I have met her a couple of times, actually, but I wouldn’t say I know her.”

“You’ve met her? What does she smell like?”

The first question I might have been prepared for, but being asked about the scent of royalty was a new one for me. “I don’t remember a specific perfume but she was very charming.”

“Your accent is so pretty,” she said. “Can I get you anything? You’re welcome to come and wait inside. I could fix you a sandwich? You like bacon?”

Tags: Louise Bay The Mister Romance
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