Absent in the Spring (The Shakespeare Sisters 3)

He was still grinning. Her words had created a lightness inside him that felt impossible to hide. As though somebody had inflated a balloon in his chest, lifting him until only the tips of his toes were still in contact with the ground. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been picked up in my own hotel before,’ he said. ‘It’s a first for me.’

She swallowed. ‘For me, too.’

For some reason he liked the sound of that. ‘In that case,’ he said, sweeping his arm towards the exit, ‘let’s go.’

34

They do not love that do not show their love

– The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Lucy slid her keycard into the lock, only too aware of Lachlan standing directly behind her, his body casting a long shadow on the painted door. She could feel him too, sense the warmth radiating from him, and could hear his soft breaths as he waited for her to open up. Their mutual apologies had made her feel as light as air. As if she could conquer the world if she wanted to.

As soon as they were inside her hotel room she could feel her face start to flush. It felt intimate, having him in here, even if she had protested that she had no ulterior motive.

‘Would you like a drink?’ she asked him.

‘I’m good,’ he replied, looking around the room. ‘If you’d told me you were coming I could have gotten you an upgrade. I know the owner.’ There was that smile again, all dimples and warm lips.

‘I was scared that if I told you I was coming you’d say not to bother.’

He tipped his head to the side, still staring at her. ‘Why would you think that?’

‘Because I was wrong. I should never have left you like that. I shouldn’t have left at all. If I’d just let things be and seen what happened I could have gone home after the gala.’

He winced, the smile temporarily disappearing from his face. ‘I really wanted you there.’

‘I know you did.’ Her voice was soft. ‘And I should have been there. For you.’ She took a step forward, trying to ignore the way her whole body felt on edge. ‘I’m so sorry I left you to go alone.’

She wasn’t the only one who needed to apologise. ‘I’m sorry I ruined your dress.’

‘What are you talking about?’ She looked at him in confusion.

‘I was so angry I tore your dress up.’ He had the good grace to look embarrassed. ‘I thought it would make me feel better.’

‘Did it?’

‘Nope.’

It was her turn to wince. She could just picture him standing in front of that dress, taking all his anger out on the silk. ‘It was a beautiful dress,’ she said wistfully. ‘I’m sorry I pushed you to that.’

‘We both did a lot of stupid things that day. I should never have shouted at you, or given you an ultimatum. It’s killed me not to call you and tell you how much I miss you.’ His expression softened. ‘It’s been a special kind of torture not being able to speak to you.’

‘I kept hoping you’d call or email me,’ she told him. ‘When you didn’t I thought maybe you didn’t care any more.’

‘I cared,’ he told her, taking another step to close the gap between them. ‘I cared a lot. Too much. I just didn’t want to make a fool out of myself.’

She looked up at him, taking in that familiar face. The hard angles and the soft skin. Everything about him made her feel warm inside, and yet more afraid than she ever had. ‘You could never make a fool out of yourself. You always win, remember?’

‘I haven’t feel much like a winner. I haven’t felt much of anything.’ He reached out for her, running the tips of his fingers along her cheek. ‘It took everything I had not to fly over and demand you explain yourself.’

‘Why didn’t you?’

‘Because I needed you to come to me. Or to call me at least.’ He laughed, but the humour didn’t reach his eyes. ‘I guess I wanted you to tell me you were wrong.’

‘I was wrong,’ she whispered. His finger traced down from her cheek to the corner of her lip. Her skin felt as though it was on fire. ‘I shouldn’t have left like that.’ She looked down, not quite able to meet his gaze. ‘I thought everybody needed me, that if I let go of control it would all come tumbling down. But it turns out that my sisters don’t need me like that any more. They’re all grown up and in charge of their own lives.’

‘So where does that leave you?’ he asked her, running the pad of his finger along her bottom lip.