Page 13 of Reach for the Stars
‘There’s clearly something. Where the hell are we going anyway? You do realise I have absolutely nothing with me?’
‘I’ll ask Jules to drop something round in the morning.’
‘Drop something round where?’
‘My place.’
‘Erm. Thanks, but no, thanks. I’ll stay at the hotel if I’m staying anywhere.’
‘It’s the middle of the night, Felicity, and we’re not in London now. There’s no twenty-four-seven service in the village hotel. The owners are asleep.’
‘I’m sure they’d be happy to wake up at the prospect of trade.’
‘No. They wouldn’t. They’ve got a kid who’s only just started sleeping through the night so sleep probably wins out. Not everyone is driven by money alone.’
‘I suppose that’s a dig at me?’
He let out a long breath through his teeth. ‘Look. I’ve got a guest room with its own en suite. I’ll send Jules a message explaining what’s happened. You’re about the same size from the looks so she’ll drop something round for you in the morning. That way, we don’t have to bother anyone else tonight. Then we can go back to your place in the morning and assess the damage.’
‘We?’
He turned briefly to face me. ‘Yes. We.’ He cleared his throat. ‘If you want.’
I looked out of the window but all I could see was rain streaming down the glass and my own tear-streaked face reflected in the low light of the cabin.
‘I’m sorry… I’m… Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome.’
5
Jesse pulled into the drive of a Georgian-style house. The tall wooden gates were open and subtle uplighting highlighted the handsome building.
‘This is your house?’
‘It is.’ He slowed to a stop and applied the handbrake. ‘I’m assuming from your tone it’s not what you expected. Probably best if I don’t ask what you did expect but I’m guessing more of a hovel.’
‘No!’ My hand shot out and caught his arm before he reached for the door. He turned back to face me, the planes of his face catching the light from his house. ‘Not at all. And… and I’m sorry if that’s how it came across.’
‘Felicity. You don’t have to apologise. The guest room is yours whatever you think of me.’
‘This isn’t about the bloody guest room.’ I snatched my hand back. ‘This is me trying to apologise.’ I swallowed and tilted my chin up, facing Jesse just as I’d spent the last few decades facing the world. Head high while inside, my mind and heart were racing with panic and fear. ‘Sorry. It’s been a bit of a crap night.’
He let out a huff of air through his nose. ‘That’s an understatement. Stay there, I’ll come and get you. I’ve no idea where your other shoe went.’
‘I can walk. You, unlike me, have a gorgeous block-paved driveway.’
‘Which is cold and wet.’
A slightly hysterical laugh bubbled up and spilled over. ‘Jesse. I don’t think it’s possible for me to get much colder or wetter. Remember my al fresco house?’
He stared me down.
‘I promise I’ll wipe my feet.’
He got out of the truck, walked round to my now open door and held out a hand. ‘I don’t think I’ve met a more impossible woman.’
I took his hand, holding on tighter than I planned as I descended from the truck’s cab. Despite the heater that had been blasting, my body had begun to seize with the cold. ‘Thank you.’
