Chapter Five
Blane shoved his hands into his pockets as they walked back to the hotel. He kept sneaking glances at Bea while she chattered about her friend Meg and the new baby, whose arrival was the reason Bea had come alone this weekend.
Before they left the museum, she’d had him stand guard outside the gift shop while she went in to look for a couple of gifts for Meg and the baby.
The strange thing was that if she hadn’t jokingly told him to stand guard while she shopped, he would have gone in with her.
She’d read him right. Under normal circumstances, he’d sooner chop his hand off than wander around a gift shop.
His jaw tightened. Why did this feel so far from normal? He knew the easy answer. It was because of Bea. He snuck another sideways glance at her, but she caught him and slapped his arm.
“I’m rambling again, aren’t I? I’m sorry. But, oh—you know what? I’m going to do it now. Hopefully, it’ll make up for me chattering away at you.”
“Do what?”
She stopped walking and dug through the bag she’d been carrying since she came out of the gift shop. She fished out a small paper bag with the museum logo on the front and held it out to him.
He cocked an eyebrow.
“Come on. Take it.” She waved it at him.
“What’s this?”
“A present.”
His brows drew together. “You got this for me?”
“No, Blane. I regularly hand complete strangers tiny replicas of ancient artifacts.”
He took the bag and peered inside. “Why?”
“Because I wanted to.”
He pulled out the little keychain and looked down at the tiny Rosetta Stone hanging from it.
“It’s the Rosetta thing.”
“Stone, Blane.”
His lips twitched. His mouth had suddenly gone inexplicably dry.
“I thought having one on a keyring might help you remember. Stone.”
He looked up at her. “But why? Why’d you get me a gift?”
She shrugged. “Because I saw it and thought of you. And besides, every granite cliff should have a little stone to keep it company.”
He looked down at the tiny replica hanging from the ring.
“Thanks.” He shifted his weight. “I feel bad. I didn’t get you anything.”
She laughed. “I know. I didn’t expect you to. It’s not tit for tat. I saw something and wanted you to have it, that’s all.” Her smile faltered. “If that’s all right with you.”
He reached out, wanting to connect with her somehow and not knowing how else to do it. He rested his hand on her shoulder again. She hadn’t seemed to mind when he did that earlier. “It’s more than okay, Bea. Thank you. It means a lot.”
A hint of pink touched her cheeks, and she shrugged. “Anyway, we should probably get back, shouldn’t we?”
She started walking again, and he fell into step beside her, turning the keychain over in his pocket as something warm settled behind his ribs.
As they made their way up the steps at the entrance to the hotel, he was still working out how to buy himself more time with her. There was a bar inside. Maybe he could suggest …
Her phone began to ring from inside her purse. “Oh, sorry. I hope you don’t mind, but I should check if this is …”
“Yeah, of course. Take it.”
The more sensible part of his brain was shouting, Saved by the bell. Let her take the call and get your ass out of here.
She checked the screen and shot him an apologetic look. “I really should…”
“Yeah, of course.” He gestured for her to take it. “I’ll leave you to it. This was great. Thanks, Bea.”
He turned on his heel, leaving her in the lobby while he headed for the elevators.
He jabbed at the button, cursing himself.
There was no damn reason he needed to disappear like that. He could have waited. He could have asked if she wanted to go to the arena together later. Or at least said when and where they’d see each other again.
He glared at the indicator above the elevator doors. Of course, this time it was descending rapidly, without making him wait even a minute.
Back in his room, he took the keychain out of his pocket and attached it to his keys.
Then he folded the museum bag neatly, logo out, and tucked it away inside his wallet.
He stared at the wallet for a moment, wondering why the hell he’d done that.
Then his phone rang, and he made a face at Cash’s name on the screen.
He should answer. He could at least tell Cash that he’d done what he was told and gone sightseeing.
“Hey, Cash. What’s up?”
“What are you doing in the hotel? I thought you were under orders to go sightseeing.”
“Who says I’m in the hotel?”
“You saying you’re not?”
“I am, but I just got back. Been out for hours.”
“You have? Seriously? You’re not shitting me?”
“Nope. Spent the afternoon in the British Museum.”
“Well, damn. That’s one for the books.”
Blane stared out the window at the alley below. It really was one for the books as far as he was concerned, but he wasn’t about to share that with Cash.
“So, was it any good? What did you see?”
Blane smiled. “Saw the Rosetta thing. It’s a stone, by the way, not just a thing. And you had it wrong—the Magna Carta isn’t there. It’s in the British Library.”
Cash chuckled. “Fair enough. I’m just impressed you went. What made you do it?”
Blane pursed his lips, wondering whether he should… But the hesitation was all Cash needed.
“Did you go with the woman?”
Blane was about to deny it, but there wasn’t much point. “Yeah. Matter of fact, I did.”
“Well, damn. And before you even tell me how it went, I want you to know I’m proud of you.”
“Does that mean you’re expecting me to report that it was a disaster?”
“Didn’t say that, did I?”
“It wasn’t one anyway.”
“This is awesome, Blane. But wait. Why are you talking to me?”
“Uh, because you called me?”
“Yeah, but I mean, where’s the woman?”
“Her name is Bea.”
“Okay. I’m liking this more by the minute, bud. Except the part where you’re talking to me and not her.”
“We made it back to the hotel and her friend called and …” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Oh, fuck it. I’ll tell you, Cash. Her phone rang, and the first thing I thought was I needed to get out of the way. So I came back up to my room.”
“Shit. What did you do that for?”
“I don’t know. I’m just …” He was still pissed at himself for leaving her standing down in the lobby, but he wasn’t going to admit that to Cash.
“So, when do you get to see her again?”
“At the venue tonight, I guess. But it’s pointless, Cash. She’ll be leaving tomorrow.”
“Yeah, probably. Still impressed, though. And hey, if she’s the kind who’d be impressed by it, you could take her backstage with you tonight.”
“Nah. Don’t think that’d do much for her.”
“Your call. But I need you backstage anyway.”
“Why?”
“Need you to check in with the teams before the first act goes on. Make sure everyone’s set for the Hamburg leg. Then I want you back there after the show before they head out.”
Blane frowned. “You want me to go with them when they leave?”
“No. Nothing like that. I just want you checking in on everyone for me.”
Blane had been hoping to ride the tube back to the hotel with Bea again after the concert. Didn’t look like that was happening now.
“You good?” Cash asked.
“Yeah. I guess.”
“Well, shit. I was hoping you’d tell me I was screwing up your plans with the woman.”
“Bea.”
Cash laughed. “With Bea.”
“I didn’t have any plans.” It was the truth. And as much as he’d enjoyed the little bit of time he’d had with her, that was all it was.
“So, you’ll check in with them before and after tonight?”
“Yeah. Sure.” Blane hesitated. “And you’ll get me out of here tomorrow, right?” He didn’t like the silence on the other end. “Right?”
“I’ll get you out of there soon. How about that?”
Blane heaved a sigh. “For fuck’s sake, Cash. Don’t strand me here for too long.”
Cash chuckled. “You know I only ever do what I think’s best for you, bud. See ya.”
~ ~ ~
When Bea arrived back at the arena for the final night of music, most of the seats were already filled. The atmosphere had been fantastic every night she’d been here, but tonight felt different somehow. Special. The crowd buzzed with anticipation. Of course, the biggest acts were playing tonight.
She looked at the two empty seats as she approached and told herself she shouldn’t feel deflated.
There was no reason for it, none whatsoever.
She needed to pull herself together and enjoy this last night, the grand finale.
She’d had a wonderful afternoon after all.
She’d visited the museum she’d been looking forward to seeing, and Blane’s company had only made it more enjoyable.
The fact that he’d vanished the moment they got back to the hotel didn’t mean anything. He’d enjoyed himself; he’d liked the little gift. That was easy to tell. And it wasn’t as though he’d fled from her—he’d excused himself, being considerate, because she’d taken a phone call.
Her shoulders sagged a little. She should have let it ring. She could have called Meg back as soon as she got to her room. But what was done was done; it couldn’t be helped now.
At her seat, she peeked over at his dark corner. She shouldn’t be surprised he wasn’t there yet—it was early, and she had no idea what time he’d come. Or whether he would at all. Her heart sank a little.
She shrugged out of her jacket and draped it over the empty seat beside her one last time.
Even if she didn’t see him again, she’d had a wonderful weekend.
And Blane had brightened it considerably.
Hopefully, he’d appear at some point tonight.
In the meantime, she was going to enjoy herself.
That was what she’d come for, after all.
The waitress from the little bar behind her appeared at her elbow, smiling. “Can I get you your usual glass of wine, Bea?”
“Please, Tina.” Bea opened her purse and took out another small bag she’d picked up that afternoon. “Here you go. This is for you.”
Tina stared at it before taking it from her. “Oh my goodness, Bea. That’s so kind of you. Thank you.”
“You mentioned the other night that you liked them, and I happened to see them this afternoon.”
Tina looked inside the bag, and her smile widened. “You’re such a sweetheart.”