Page 104 of Never Too Late
‘Tomorrow,’ he repeated and I nodded, beyond speech now. And then he was gone, hurrying down the twisting wrought-iron stairs with me looking over the banister like a lovesick teenager. Which perhaps I was. Just in a fifty-year-old’s body.
38
Tomorrow turned out to be postponed. The unsociably scheduled meeting that Tomas had spoken about turned into something that could be very interesting, he explained when he called to cancel early the following morning. The potential client was interested in a one-of-a-kind mural on the living area wall of his new plane and was now on the way home from a business trip in Australia and very keen for a face-to-face meeting to discuss the commission in more depth. Tomas was therefore booked on the next flight out to Bahrain. First class, of course. He’d popped round for a quick hello and goodbye.
‘You didn’t have to come all the way over here.’ I wrapped my arms around his waist as he kissed me good morning. ‘Although, now I’m glad you did.’
‘Of course I did,’ he replied. ‘Besides,’ his voice dropped a little lower, the timbre hitting me in all the right places, ‘I don’t get to kiss you like that over the phone.’
‘If you’ve come hoping to get more idolatry from my daughter, I’m afraid you’re out of luck. Gabby has taken her shopping for an outfit for tonight.’
‘I didn’t, although I wouldn’t turn it down,’ he chuckled. ‘Mostly, I’m just glad she doesn’t hate me quite so much any more.’
‘She never hated you.’ I traced my finger along the weave of his linen shirt he wore under his jacket. The blue skies of earlier days, dotted with fuzzy-edged blobs of white cloud, was today replaced with a flat, greyscale one that was practically colourless as though the continually drizzling rain had rinsed away the hue of the city until all that was left was grey. A living version of the many prints of Paris that hung on so many walls all over the world.
‘Are you allowed to say who the commission is for?’
‘No. But I will of course tell you once I know. Although then you’re sworn to secrecy too.’
I widened my eyes in a tease. ‘I’ve never dated a celebrity before.’
‘Are we dating?’ He took a step forward.
‘Who said I was talking about you?’
‘We’re not exclusive?’ he murmured as his head bent towards my neck.
If this was exclusivity, I’d take it for the rest of my life…
‘I might consider it.’
‘Anything I can do to persuade you?’ His lips were now meandering their way along my collar bone.
So many things…
A noise in the hall made us both start and then we heard the door to the apartment opposite open and close. Tomas checked his watch.
‘Merde,’ he mumbled under his breath.
‘You’d better get going. You don’t want to miss your flight.’
He gave me a look that no one had given me in a very, very long time. ‘I really do.’ The corners of his mouth tipped into the sexy smile that, even in the many intervening years, had never entirely extinguished itself from my memory. And there it was. There he was.
‘Me too.’ I stood from the sofa. ‘But one of us has to be sensible.’ I held out my hand to pull him up – or at least give the impression of doing so. At nearly twice my bulk and almost a foot taller, physics tended to favour him. ‘Come on. Up you get.’
He did as he was bid.
‘By the way, assuming you were referring to me, I don’t consider myself a celebrity.’
‘Says the man who got my daughter not only a seat at one of the world’s most exclusive restaurants but also an interview with itscelebrityowner.’
‘That’s different.’
‘Because she’s an old flame?’ I teased.
‘I forgot how much of a pain in the arse you were.’
‘Remembering now, though?’
