Page 59 of Love Is: Two Bodies One Soul

A knock at the door startled them apart.

‘Come in,’ Owen said, striding to the door.

A maid entered, carrying a tray. ‘I’m dreadfully sorry to disturb you, Mr Kingsley. This should have been put in the room earlier.’ She dropped her eyes to the ice bucket, Champagne, and glasses she was carrying.

‘Not to worry.’ Owen took the tray from her, and the maid looked up, saw Lexie standing by the fire and let out a squeal of recognition.

Lexie said, ‘Hello Janice.’

Janice turned bright red. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know it was you, Lexie. Mr Roger didn’t say.’

‘It’s not what this looks like, Janice.’

‘Isn’t it?’

‘No. Roger got the wrong idea. He thought Owen, and I were a couple, but we’re not. We’re only working partners, that’s all. Please don’t tell Roger he made a mistake.’

‘I won’t.’

‘And if you could also try not to tell anyone else, I was here, in this room. That would be good, too. I don’t want my parents hearing about it and getting the wrong idea.’

‘Of course not.’ Janice nodded agreement.

‘You know what my mum’s like.’

‘Your secret is safe with me.’ Janice grinned, and, leaving Owen holding the Champagne tray, she hurried from the room.

‘Will you be in trouble with your parents?’ he asked, taking the tray to a nearby table.

‘No. It’s just mum’s very romantic, and if she knew we spent the night here together as Roger’s guests, she’d be knitting baby booties before you could say the word wedding.’

‘You don’t want marriage or a family?’ Owen lifted the bottle from the ice bucket and tried to focus on its label.

‘One day, maybe. If I meet the right man.’

He looked away from the Champagne. Lexie was staring into the fire, the flames flickering golden light on her face.

‘What are you thinking?’ he asked.

‘That time is running out.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘To give my mother what she most wants – grandchildren. Xander might still do it. It’s different for men. They don’t have biological clocks.’

‘We do, you know. You want some of this?’ he lifted the bottle.

‘All right. Roger will be offended if we don’t drink it.’

‘And we don’t want to offend our host.’ Owen managed a smile, although his face seemed as if it had turned to stone. He popped the cork, and by the time the Champagne was frothing to the top of the second glass, Lexie was standing by his side.

‘Ooh! It’s pink.’

‘What else would you expect from Roger?’ Owen handed her a glass.

‘You’re right.’ She smiled. ‘He is a big girl under all that he-man muscle.’

‘Does he weight lift?’

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