Page 57 of Mayfair Madame
My love. My heart swelled at the endearment, but my stomach growled louder. Hunger gnawed at my insides. It had been days since I’d last eaten.
Naomi stroked my face. “What can I get you, baby? You name it, and I’ll get it brought to you.”
“I would love a slice of hot buttered toast.” I didn’t think I could stomach anything more. My mum would always feed it to us when we were unwell, that and a glass of blackcurrant squash.
It was the strangest things you remembered.
“Lie back, and I’ll find some for you.”
“What time is it?”
“A little after eight. They’ll be bringing breakfast by soon, but if not, I’ll go find you some. Don’t go anywhere.” She placed a small kiss in the centre of my forehead and I watched as she left the room.
That woman could wear a black plastic bag and look amazing. Here was I looking like something the cat had dragged in. Insecure thoughts reared their ugly head again, but for once, I tamped them down.
She wouldn’t be here if she didn’t want to be. She had a business to run, but instead of staying at home in her swanky penthouse suite, she’d spent the last few days here, waiting for me to wake up. Kate would never have done that, but then Naomi was nothing like my ex.
Naomi liked me for who I was. She didn’t care about how I looked, and for once in my life, someone other than my family cared for me.
A sob caught in my throat. Unbidden, tears fell and wet my cheeks. Emotions I’d bottled inside for years surfaced, and for the next few minutes, I cried, purging the fears and anxiety I’d lived with.
Finally, they subsided, and when Naomi returned with my hot buttered toast, I smiled at the woman who had stolen my heart in such a short space of time.
“You okay there, Ellie Sharpe?” she asked with a tilt of her head.
“Just perfect.”
Chapter Sixteen
Naomi
My Monday meeting with Melinda had been fraught with tension. Yesterday’s conversation hung heavily like a wet woollen blanket.
I didn’t want to talk about it anymore, but Melinda had other ideas.
“Look, about what I said.” She refused to meet my eyes as she wrung her hands.
“Can we drop it? I know you were well-intentioned, but I know what I’m doing, Melinda. I’m not some young, naive girl whodoesn’t have a clue. Ellie and I, we’re working things out. We had a great day out yesterday, and I don’t want to ruin anything, not with you or her.”
“I just think…” I really didn’t want to lose my patience with her, but she was plucking every nerve right now.
“Melinda, drop it, please.” What was her problem? She’d never been like this, so why now?
Sure, Ellie was like no one I’d been with before or paid attention to, but it was no concern of Melinda’s who I dated.
“Consider it dropped. I’ll make us some coffee.” She stood abruptly, teetering on her heels.
“That would be good, and, Melinda, let’s put this behind us. We have lots to discuss.”
I’d never seen her this agitated and knew at some point we’d be addressing this again, but we had more pressing matters to talk about.
Rupert had called me late last night, excitement lacing his voice. I could barely understand him as he spoke so quickly.
“I’m assuming this is good news.”
“Most definitely. I’ll be returning in a couple of days from Paris. Let’s meet up then. I have news I can’t wait to tell you. I’ll call you on Thursday, anyway. What sort of friend would I be if I forgot your birthday?”
“You never forget, and I can’t wait to see you again. Enjoy Paris.”
