Chapter Three
I’m unable to eat as much as I’d like, which is such a shame as the food is delicious.
First, a warm prawn salad, followed by roast lamb with green vegetables and crispy potatoes for the main course, and for dessert, a summer pudding.
I’m not even lured by the salted caramel chocolates served with my coffee because of the butterflies taking up residence in my stomach.
I’ve just told Daniel Grant I want to kiss him and if we weren’t in such a prominent place and our main courses hadn’t arrived as the words fall from my mouth, I’m sure it would have happened.
Why am I losing control like this? Daniel seems to have this amazing ability to send me reeling with one simple look or touch.
His lips brush a trail to my earlobe, “So, when did it become okay for you to make demands?” My body shudders with anticipation when his hand touches mine and his eyes focus on my parted lips.
The moment is lost by the vibration of Daniel’s phone as it dances on the table.
I let out the deep breath I’ve held for the past few minutes while he looks annoyed by the interruption.
He checks the display with a heavy sigh and answers, “Daniel Grant.” His eyes narrow.
“Where are you? Your name didn’t appear on my screen.
” He looks over, stands from his seat, and holds up one finger.
“One minute,” he mouths and I nod in acknowledgement.
Diana spots the perfect opportunity to catch up with our conversation and touches my arm to gain my attention. “How are you enjoying the evening?”
I swallow my last mouthful of champagne before replying, “Very much thank you. The food was incredible.”
“And how about the company?” I have a feeling she approves of Daniel’s blossoming interest towards me. It’s a shame not everyone shares her enthusiasm. I can only answer with a broad shy smile which she accepts as a positive.
“Excellent. It’s good to see him so buoyant.
” We both scan the room and Diana talks while we people watch.
“You know, his wife hurt him badly. Her death was a shock to us all, especially Daniel. They had a strange relationship, not one I understood or approved of particularly, but he cared for her very much.” Her statement is a bolt out of the blue, and I’m unsure how to react although my open, silent mouth speaks volumes.
She looks me straight in the eye. “You didn’t know.
” It’s a statement, not a question, and realisation dawns over her expression.
“Oh my goodness, I’m sorry. It was all over the media, so I assumed—”
“It’s fine. He told me he lost someone, but not that it was his wife.
” She nods while staring into her empty glass.
Her fingers roll around its long slender stem.
Her tone is soft and sad. “He treads carefully with matters of the heart. To be honest, there has been no one serious since Lou passed away.” Her smiling eyes catch mine before she continues.
“He likes you, Hannah. I haven’t seen him so attentive for a long time. ”
I wanted to find out more. How had she hurt him?
I wondered if she’d cheated on him and what happened to her.
I would never ask, but it seems I don’t have to.
“Louise- that’s Daniel’s wife, well… they were together a long time, and I saw them go to hell and back.
He fought to keep her grounded, but I’m afraid he lost the battle.
” Diana’s mind almost drifts as she speaks and I’m unsure how to respond.
I try to say the right th ing. “I’m sure it was a traumatic time for all of you…
when she died.” Diana smiles, her mouth poised to speak until an announcement interrupts her.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, drinks are now served in the principal reception room while we prepare for tonight’s entertainment.
” We smile at one another and are about to stand when my chair moves from under me.
His hand catches my arm to help me while a familiar electrical charge surges over my skin when we make contact.
He then steps towards his mother, pulling out her chair, and once she’s standing, his arm is around her shoulders, pulling her close.
“Joe called, Mum. He sends his love.” She smiles and leans out in front of him and gestures towards me. “My other son, Joseph, is away on business so he couldn’t make it tonight.”
“Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet him.” I wonder if Joe Grant is as friendly as the rest of his family. I would genuinely like to meet him.
“Well, I need to get on. Please excuse me. I have to check arrangements for the band.” She smiles at us both before turning to leave.
Diana is such a warm person and cares very much about her son, but our conversation has made me curious about Louise Grant.
I guess there was more to Daniel’s marriage than he would want anyone to know.
I take Daniel’s arm as we leave the dining room, but instead of following the crowd, we turn a corner which leads to a vast wooden veranda decorated with fairy lights and tropical plants.
Someone shuts the doors behind us as we leave.
There’s just the two of us out here. We take in this beautiful evening which is slightly alien to me.
How lucky old England would be if we had warmth in January.
He stretches his arms along the veranda and looks up. “Have you ever seen anything like it? ”
My breath catches at the sight above me.
Clusters of tiny stars reminiscent of pixie dust sprawl across a dark blue backdrop.
They mix with colossal sky diamonds which sparkle and shine like nothing else I’ve ever seen.
They appear close enough to catch. I’m in awe.
“I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.
” Daniel gently pulls me into his arms. His eyes trace his fingers as they brush strands of hair away from my face and his husky tone breaks my star enhanced trance.
“And I’ve never met anyone as beautiful as you.”
“Daniel—”
“You don’t realise it, but nearly every man in that room tonight had his eyes on you.”
I have to laugh. “Daniel, I’m flattered and I mean really flattered, but that didn’t happen.”
“You have no idea.” He huffs out a laugh while the warmth of his palm caresses my face.
He may have enormous hands, but he knows what to do with them as his index finger gently runs along my cheek and over my neck.
I close my eyes, but continue to face the sky while I savour the touch of his coarse skin against mine.
I can hear the faint tones of the band playing The Way You Look Tonight, when I open my eyes to his offered hand.
“Dance with me?”
Our fingers lock together, our arms tucked tightly against our sides while his opposite arm curves around my waist. We sway around the veranda, taking in the slow, gentle rhythm of the music.
His hold is firm and his focus repeatedly skips between my eyes and my mouth.
The music changes to Just The Way You Are and our pace slows while we sway in circles.
I love anything by Billy Joel and I can thank my dad for that.
He’s a huge fan and this song ignites memories of him singing it to my mum.
I adore how much they love one another and I always associate the slow gentle tones of this song with two people wrapped only in the other.
It is the perfect song for this moment in time.
There’s a slight breeze, and as my hair drifts across my face, he slides it behind my ear.
We stop, but he doesn’t release me from his hold, and I don’t want him to.
His slightly open lips move closer and caress mine as the saxophone comes alive in the background.
My God, is this happening? My breath deepens.
His hands hold my face and caress my cheeks.
His thumbs running a line along my cheekbones.
I close my eyes and tell myself this must be a dream.
This is too good to be real, but it is. His mouth opens slightly, and I follow suit as our tongues meet and entwine.
We are not close enough as his hands pull at my waist to bring me to his body.
We stop as our foreheads rest together, our hearts thumping out of our chests.
“Am I forgiven?”
I pull away slightly. “Forgiven for what?”
“For taking what I wanted without asking.”
“I don’t know what you mean?”
“I told you I wanted to kiss you today. I just took what I wanted”.
I curl my fingers around the back of his neck and draw his lips toward mine again.
My fingertips brush his earlobes as they glide towards his cheekbones.
His hand sweeps through the thick curls of my hair before he cups the back of my head.
His fevered kisses become more urgent, but the intensity is mutual.
His face searches mine when he pulls away.
He needs an exact answer, so I give him what he’s looking for.
“There’s nothing to forgive. I wanted it too.” He cups my face in both hands and kisses me hard on the lips. I feel his smile, and when he pulls away, I notice how it’s spread all the way to his hazel eyes.
“I don’t want to go back in there,” he signals with a nod towards the door. “Walk with me?”