Page 31 of London
“You look gorgeous,” he said.
“You don’t look half bad yourself.”
His washed-out jeans fit perfectly, tight in all the right places, and the plain white t-shirt highlighted the sinuous muscles of his chest, shoulders, and arms. Linda licked her lips.
Gerard drew her into his arms for a long, sexy kiss.
“I dreamed about doing this all night long,” he whispered against her mouth when they came up for air. “I don’t know what you’re doing to me, Linda, but I’m addicted to you.”
She read the truth in the depths of his intense green eyes, the effect more potent than any truth serum could be.
“I feel the same way,” she admitted, breathless. “You have no idea how much that scares me.” She rested her cheek against his chest, where the very center of her universe existed.
Gerard lifted her chin with his fingertips, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“Why would such a wonderful thing scare you? The feelings we share are special and rare.”
She buried her face in his chest, groping for a logical answer.
“Because it’s so new to me,” she mumbled. “I’ve never felt like this and I’m afraid—”
“Afraid? Afraid of what?”
“Of getting hurt. Of hurting you. If our relationship doesn’t work…”
He pushed her away slightly, keeping his hands on her shoulders, his gaze boring into hers.
“Linda, I know your ex-husband hurt you—”
“It’s not about that,” she interrupted, shaking her head. “Tony didn’t hurt me, not the way you assume. Even while we were married, I had doubts about my feelings for him. I didn’t love him, not that true, deep love everyone dreams of. Not the way I…” She stopped speaking, glanced away to gather her courage, and then looked at him once more. “What I feel for you is different, intense, and it terrifies me. I suppose that after one failed marriage, I may have developed what you might call commitment issues. I’ve worked so hard to develop and cherish my independence. I can’t lose it again.”
She stepped out of his arms and fumbled with her handbag, removing a small compact and lipstick which she applied with a none too steady hand.
“You think having a serious relationship with me would affect your independence?” His voice was soft and serious.
She looked up from the small mirror.
“Yes… No… Maybe… I don’t know. Look, this isn’t the time to discuss this. We’re getting ahead of ourselves. All we’ve had is a one night stand, again something I’ve never done before.”
His jaw clenched. “Is that what you think this is? Just a one night stand?”
“No, I didn’t mean it that way. We have only had one night together. I’m just trying to be practical here, Gerard. I want to take things slowly, one day at a time. We need to get to know each other. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Gerard smiled, but it was forced, not reflected in his eyes. Could he sense the confusion in her heart, the plea in her voice?
“Okay, but as far as I’m concerned, what we have is a hell of a lot more than a one night stand, and I’ll do everything I can to make you see that. What we have is special, but I want more. I may have claimed your body, but I’m holding out for your heart. I’ll knock down whatever barriers you erect between us. I know how I feel. The amount of time that’s passed has no impact on that.
Linda swallowed the lump of emotion threatening to choke her. His vow, so powerful and honest, made goosebumps race down her spine. She hoped it was a pledge he would keep.
“So where do your aunt and your mother live?” Linda asked, hoping to lighten the mood once they were on the road.
“In Ashwell. It’s often described as a chocolate box village. The place is only forty-five miles from my flat. It suits them, you know. The village is architecturally famous for its fourteenth and fifteenth-century Forester Cottages on High Street as well as the sixteenth-century timber-framed homes located at the corner of Rollys Lane and Mill Street. It even manages to cater to steampunk and Victorian enthusiasts. The Bury, designed by the great Edwin Lutyens has an incredible garden created by Gertrude Jekyll herself.”
“It sounds lovely. I adore places with character.”
Traffic was light, and the road smooth and straight. Linda watched out the window, humming to Bon Jovi playing in the background.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had the chance to ride shotgun with a good driver,” she said, admiring the blue sky dotted with fluffy clouds. Since the summer solstice was less than a month ago, the days were still quite long, with nightfall arriving late.
