Page 35 of The Second Ending
“I knew you’d say that. I try to be generous, but I don’t believe in sharing germs. But I’m feeling much more the thing. I’d really love to see you, just talk a bit. It’s been rough.”
Her mind flipped to his explanation. “Wait—the project is in trouble? What’s going on?”
“Can I take you out for coffee later, or maybe pizza? We can talk then.”
“Yes. Yes, of course.”
The melodic spark of joy was fizzling quickly, but it was kept alive by the glimmer of hope. He hadn’t forgotten her. He wasn’t washing his hands of her. He still wanted to be with her.
He picked her up after work and suggested finding a pizza joint along Yonge Street north of Eglinton Avenue, a trendy retail area in midtown. There were plenty of options, and before long they were settled with a fragrant pizza and fresh salad in a nice little place with large windows that overlooked the busy street. Marcus kept the conversation light, and as much as Ashleigh knew he wanted to discuss more serious matters, she didn’t push him.
It was early May, and the evenings were lengthening as the sun made its way to the solstice. It was that magical time of year, too short but always welcome, when the weather was perfect. Neither hot nor cold, with clear skies and the air fragrant with the fresh buds of spring, these were days to be savoured.
“Come for a walk?” Marcus asked when the dishes lay empty between them. “It won’t be dark for hours, and tomorrow’s the weekend.”
Ashleigh agreed at once. “I have another summons from my parents, but if I’m late, what can they do? Yes, I’d enjoy a walk.”She wiggled her toes. “Good thing I wore my comfortable shoes today.”
They strolled through the neighbourhood as Marcus told her, in broad strokes, about the looming demise of his development project. There was little Ashleigh could say beyond what his own lawyers had surely told him, but her sympathetic murmurs and responses seemed helpful. Up this street and down that one they walked, wending their way into one of the many ravines that decorated the city, eventually northward to a lovely set of gardens just off the busy thoroughfare.
Here, in this little oasis in the middle of the city, you could hardly believe you were in the centre of one of the largest urban areas on the continent. Gone were the cars and the crowds and the noise, to be replaced by trees and paths and the glorious kaleidoscope of freshly opened blooms.
“That project can go to hell for the moment. Let’s just enjoy this.” Marcus led her to the balustrade at the edge of a terrace overlooking the main garden.
“It’s lovely,” Ashleigh murmured. “I don’t come here often enough.”
“Mmmm,” was all Marcus had to say. He stepped a bit closer as they took in the lovely vista, standing side by side. Ashleigh closed the gap further, and leaned into him, letting her weight gently press along his side. It was an invitation, and one he accepted. He lifted his arm ever so slightly and wrapped it about her waist, pulling her closer still.
This slight contact, the chaste sidelong embrace, shook her world. It was the first real physical connection between them in nearly a decade, beyond the cautious touch of a hand. The gesture burst open the floodgates of memory: Leaning against him as they looked out a window, kissing him, curling up against him in bed after they made love on a summer evening… oh, how could she ever have let him go?
She shuddered against her will, and Marcus pulled back. It was barely perceptible, but enough to break that magical connection and stem the tide of recollection. The sunlight dimmed, and the flowers lost a bit of their glory, until she realised the shadow that came across the setting sun was him.
His eyes, deep and dark, peered into hers, and his finger touched the underside of her chin, tilting her head up towards his.
“If I didn’t think you’d hate me for it, I’d kiss you right now,” he whispered.
“I wouldn’t hate you,” was her answer.
Her eyelids flickered closed, and she felt, somehow, his large head draw closer to her own, until the unfamiliar tickle of his beard brushed against her chin. Before she could think, the barest touch caressed her lips, once, and then, less tentatively, again.
In a moment, the world disappeared. All that remained were the two of them, surrounded by a garden of flowers. Ashleigh’s hands traced their way up Marcus’ back, one finding the ridge of his shoulder blade, the other curling around his neck. She welcomed his returning embrace and moved her lips against his, deepening the kiss.
Oh, what bliss. He still cared. After so much pain and recrimination, he still cared. Eight years of heartache slipped away as they held each other close, letting their gestures say everything that words seemed unable to express, lips united, breathing as one. What might have happened next, Ashleigh could not say, if someone hadn’t coughed nearby.
The two lovers leapt apart, still breathing hard, and heat flooded Ashleigh’s face.
“You’re blushing,” Marcus whispered, his own face high with colour. “It looks good on you. I… er… We could…” He suddenlyseemed shy, which endeared him to her even more. But the spell had been broken.
“I would love to, really, but I think not tonight. I do have to attend my summons at my parents’ house tomorrow. It’s not them. It’s the donors for my music program in Chile. They’re all there.”
Disappointment crossed Marcus’ face, but his lips, so soft and tantalising, twisted into a sort of smile. ‘You’re right. Slowly. We promised to move slowly, and I’m still getting my energy back after being sick. I’ve got a lot to do this weekend as well, with this messed up property deal. I’ve got my people doing everything they can to bash through the walls this seller has built around himself. Nick tells me they might be getting close. Once it’s resolved…”
“Once it’s resolved, we can work, very seriously, on us.” She reached over to kiss him on the mouth, and his satisfied sigh told her that, for now, it was enough.
CHAPTER 20
INTO THE FIRE
Marcus was floating.He didn’t care about work. He didn’t care about Sebastian Whoever. All he cared about was Ashleigh and her kiss.
