The Holiday (14 page)

She saw the disapproval all over her
friend's face. She fortified herself with some champagne before saying, "Why
would he? We had an arrangement for the time I stayed here. That's all."

"You know that's not true. I
can't believe you'd even say that."

"He—"

"Won't be pleased that you
held this a secret from him." Mel leaned forward, intent. "Do you
care for him at all?"

"Yes," she said
instantly and without thought.

Mel sat back, arms crossed.
"Well, then."

The waiter brought them their tea
service then. It looked delicious: little crustless sandwiches, warm scones and
preserves, shortbread, and a pot of fragrant tea.

Unfortunately, it was lost on
her. She sat back as Mel served the tea. Mel handed her the delicate china cup.
"You'll want to add cream."

"That's it? No more on the
subject of me and Colin?"

"I believe you'll come to
your senses and stay. You're at home here. As for you and Colin, your heart
will prevail. I may not believe in love for me, but you and Colin are good
together." Her friend took a scone and slathered it with clotted cream.
"Now take a sandwich and eat."

She had the urge to salute, but
instead she took a little sandwich and politely nibbled on it, feeling stuck
and inexplicably sad. And angry—at Aaron, who was ruling her life still,
from the grave.

Normally, Colin hated these
benefits. Black tie strangling him like a noose, predator women trying to
corral him into dark corners, less than mediocre food... But the wife of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer was particularly fond of her charities, and if one
worked in banking it didn't do to offend the man who headed the treasury.

Tonight was different. Tonight he
had Leilani on his arm.

He watched her make small talk
with a cabinet member as though it wasn't utterly painful to listen to the
man's recounting of his last hunt. She outshone everyone and everything. All
the glittery jewelry and dangling chandeliers couldn't compete.

Her hair was piled on her head in
that mysterious way that defied gravity. Her dress shimmered in a vibrant red
making her skin look luscious. In her shoes, she was almost as tall as him, an
elegant, delicious column. Her eyes were smoky and her lips glistened with
color a shade darker than her dress.

All night he'd been dying to mess
up that lipstick.

Instead he waited until the dull
man finally moved on to lean down and kiss her face, low, close to her ear.

She blushed and looked at him
with those eyes that slayed him.

He shrugged. "I couldn't
help it. You look especially fabulous tonight."

"Mel took me shopping."
She ran a hand down her side. "The dress is nice, isn't it?"

"Nice doesn't do it
justice." He touched her back, where it was bare, and dipped a couple
fingers into the open vee over her buttocks. "You're like a ripe strawberry.
I want to sink my teeth into your sweet flesh."

She smiled, surprised and
delighted, as her blush deepened. "Are you sure you aren't a poet rather
than a banker?"

"You bring it out in
me."

"Colin, old boy." A
hand clapped him on the back.

"Uncle James." He shook
hands with his father's younger brother. "You're looking well."

"It's been a long time,
Colin." James spoke to him, but he stared at Leilani with undisguised
curiosity and—yes—glee. "I hear you've moved to the old house
in Kensington. You gave up your apartment in the city, did you?"

"I decided to make a
change."

"Yes, yes, well you're
getting older and getting ready to start a family, I'm sure." He gave
Leilani a pointed look again.

Colin hid his grin at his uncle's
roundabout way of getting information. Next to him, Leilani shifted. He felt
her questioning gaze but just caressed her back in reply.

His uncle waited, but when it was
obvious Colin wasn't going to introduce Leilani James probed more overtly.
"I hear you've been to visit Carolyn. Brilliant girl. Fabulous what she's
done with that old monstrosity of a house, isn't it?"

"It is."

The silence stretched some more.

Uncle James threw his hands in
the air. "Are you going to introduce me to your lovely companion or am I
going to have to beg?"

Laughing, Colin drew Leilani
forward. "Leilani Wakida, James Melbourne, my uncle. Leilani owns an art
gallery in Maui. She's here working with Mel King on an upcoming show."

"Enchanted, my dear."
He bowed over Leilani's hand. "That Mel is a clever girl, isn't she?
Luring this lovely creature here for you."

Leilani arched a brow at him but
she smiled sweetly at his uncle. "I like to think I was a bit clever
too."

"How right you are."
His uncle laughed and clapped him on the shoulder again. "She's a cheeky
bugger. I love her already."

"Isn't that Aunt Mildred
over there?" Colin pointed casually.

"Well, I must get on," James
said, edging away suddenly. He waved at them as he hurried away. "Pleasure
to meet you, Leilani. Colin, bring her to the next family gathering."

Leilani leaned in toward him.
"What was that about?"

"Mildred is his aunt. Older
than dirt and has sparked fear in the male half of our family for eons."
He grinned. "She's my secret weapon."

"Clever boy," she said
in a British accent, mimicking his uncle with a playful gleam in her eyes.

He drew her close. "Have I
told you how you utterly delight me?"

"Not yet tonight."

"Then allow me to do so, but
on the dance floor."

"You dance?"

He glanced at her as he led her
through the throng. "You needn't sound so shocked. I do a mean
foxtrot."

She grinned. "I may have to
see that."

"Are you challenging
me?" he asked, gathering her in his arms. He sighed in pleasure. Finally
she was where he wanted her to be.

"A dance-off." She
chuckled, nestling in closer to him, and her breath tickled his neck. "I
wonder what the people here would think about that."

"They're an amazingly
adaptable lot. Don't be surprised if the Queen Mother herself joins in the
challenge."

She lifted her head and looked
around. "The Queen is here?"

"She usually makes an
appearance." He smiled at her. "Do you want to meet her?"

"Do you know her?"

"She and I have tea every
Thursday afternoon."

"In her private parlor, I'm
sure," Leilani said with a grin.

"She's always trying to show
me her etchings. Determined old girl."

Leilani laughed, a low sound he
felt in his chest. He held her closer and whirled her around. "I like you
here, in my arms," he said. "It feels right."

She stiffened, just slightly. If
he didn't know her so well, he'd have missed it.

But he did know her. In the few
short weeks they'd had together he'd gotten to know her, physically and
emotionally. Intimately, inside and out.

He loved her. He'd known it when
he first saw her, and he was sure of it now, more than ever. When she pulled
away emotionally from him, it was like a cut to his heart.

He glanced at her. She looked a
world away. She'd been that way often this past week. Something was bothering
her, but when he asked her, she changed the subject.

Dissatisfaction dissolved some of
his happiness. Now wasn't the time to bring any of it up, but when was? It was
never going to be a pleasant conversation. Or one that either of them wanted to
have.

He guided her away from an oncoming
couple dancing with more exuberance than skill. "Where are we going,
Leilani?"

She smiled. "You're the one
leading. Shouldn't you know?"

"No. I mean, where are we
going?"

The smile faded from her lips and
she looked at him solemnly. "Why are you bringing this up now?"

"Because you've been
distracted lately but won't share the cause with me. Because there's no good
time, and you're here with me now. Because I love you."

Struck speechless, she blinked in
obvious shock as her face flushed.

A surge of anger and impatience
swept over him. "Why should that be surprising, Leilani? What did you
expect? That I propose to every girl I come across?"

"Colin—"

"No, let me talk." He
pulled her close and said softly so that only she could hear. "I want you.
I want you in every way possible, as much as I can, and forever."

"I know," she said
sadly.

Her tone told him all he needed
to know, and it broke his heart. "I may be trying to break out of the box
I've constructed around myself, but I'm old-fashioned at heart. I want the
hearth and home. I want a wife and enough children to fill that dusty old house
I putter around in. I want you to be that woman."

"Colin, I told you I wasn't
ready."

"Yes, and I've realized it's
not a matter of being ready. You love, or you don't." He kissed her
forehead, closing his eyes and inhaling her. Then he stepped back and let her
go.

She looked so bereft standing
there, so alone. He almost gave in and took her back in his arms, almost told
her he'd be willing to compromise what he wanted just to have a portion of her.

But he wanted the whole, and it
wasn't in his nature to compromise, not when the goal was so important to him.
Not when he knew he could have it all, because he knew she loved him. She
wouldn't be able to give herself to him so wholly and not love him.

If only she'd admit that to
herself.

It broke his heart all over
again. He nodded sadly at her, holding out his hand. "Shall I take you
home?"

For a moment he thought she was
going to say something more—to stop him or tell him she changed her mind
and was willing to admit she loved him. But she just nodded and walked off the
dance floor in front of him.

Leilani could feel Mel's gaze on
her as she packed but she had no idea what the woman was thinking. She'd
expected Mel to pull all sorts of legalese on her to keep her from going back
to Maui. Mel had surprised her though—she'd simply arranged for the trip
back. Not even a guilt trip.

Leilani didn't know what to make
of it.

She almost wished Mel
would
make a fuss about her staying, to
give her an excuse. "I left two diagrams with information on the placement
of all the paintings. One is in case Peter doesn't deliver his work the way he
promised. I also talked to the caterer. The hors d'oeuvres and wine order is
taken care of. I left a list with the few outstanding things, but I'm sure I
can take care of most of them over email from Maui."

"I'm not worried about the
show. You've handled everything. I have no complaints as far as the gallery
goes."

"What do you have complaints
about?" She picked up the dress she wore last night to the benefit gala.
Holding it up, she hesitated. Maybe she should leave it. It'd only remind her
of Colin.

Before she could over-think, she
folded it and set it on top of her bag, closing it quickly before she could
change her mind.

"Are you sure about this,
Leilani?"

She had been last night when
she'd returned home from the benefit. Now... "I have to go back. I
promised I'd help with the surf competition."

"And then what happens after
that? You go back to being a widow, living a half life because everyone expects
that of you?"

"I don't know what happens
after," she said honestly.

Mel grabbed her hand. "Then
think about coming back. My offer still stands, regardless of what happens
between you and Colin. We're friends now. You're always welcome here, for as
long as you'd like to stay."

Her eyes filled with emotion, but
she pushed back the tears. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."

Nodding, Mel moved toward the
door. "I'll call Jasper to take you to the airport."

Just then the door burst open and
George stood there, his hair standing on end and a confused look wreathing his
face. "What's this I hear about you leaving?"

"I'm going back," she
said gently, setting her bag on the floor. "It's the sensible choice for
everyone."

George pointed at her. "Love
is
not
sensible."

"I don't know what Colin
told you—"

"That git told me to mind my
own bloody business, which is why I'm here."

Mel arched her brow. "Even I
have to wonder how that makes sense."

"Is it any wonder that all
your love lives are so bloody bollixed?" he asked rhetorically.

"Why are you including me in
this?" Mel asked, hands on her hips.

"You're the worst of them
all, but I'm not here for you. I'm here to stop her"—he jabbed a
finger at Leilani—"from making a life-ending mistake."

Leilani managed a small smile.
"I hardly think leaving is life-ending."

"It is, because what good
will your life be without Colin?" George crossed his arms and glared at
her, defying her to deny it.

She shook her head. "I don't
need Colin, and even if I never find someone to be with for the rest of my
life, I'm happy with myself."

"I can't believe how utterly
daft the two of you are being." He threw his hands in the air. "You've
both proven you can function on your own. This is about belonging together and
coming to terms with the fact that you're both better that way."

She didn't know how to combat
that, so she stayed silent.

"Think about it." He
pointed at her, and then like a whirlwind, he stormed out.

"Well." Mel checked her
phone. "Let's take your things downstairs."

Jasper was waiting in the
entryway for them. He tipped his hat to them. "The car is ready whenever
you ladies are."

"Thank you, Jasper."
Mel turned to her. For a moment she did nothing, then she gave her a tight hug.
"Remember, my house is always open to you, and that the offer still
stands."