Of that, I had no doubt.
We walked together along the platform, Charlie slowing his pace a little to allow me to keep up in the five-inch-heeled sandals I’d paired with my suit. As we headed into the main concourse, my gaze caught on the voluptuous goddess from the train. She was standing to the side, frantically wiping a magnificently aimed pigeon poop from her cleavage. I rolled my lips together and tipped my head down.
‘Clearly one of those birds is the Lionel Messi of the avian world,’ Charlie commented, his eyes facing forward.
I glanced across at him, trying to hide my smile.
‘I feel bad laughing.’
‘She felt no such compunction when I clonked you on the head, so I wouldn’t let it bother your conscience.’ He glanced over at me, a smile flickering at the corners of his mouth, making it look even more tempting than normal.
‘I’m this way.’ He stopped, nodding towards the Tooley Street exit. ‘Which way are you going?’
‘Hmm?’ I yanked myself back to the moment, ‘Oh. Underground.’
‘OK. Well, I hope everything goes well. Not that I have any doubts about that, but, you know. Seemed the right thing to say.’ He did his little chuckle thing.
‘Thank you.’
‘Honestly though. You’re going to be great. I know you are.’ He leant in and gave me a hug. He really was one of the best huggers I’d ever met. A part of me didn’t want to let go as I breathed in his smell and felt the strength of his arms around me and his body close.
Bloody hell, Libby, get a grip!
Charlie pulled back and released me.
I nodded. I’ve no idea why. Nerves were getting the better of me, causing everything to go a little haywire, it would seem.
He looked at me for a moment, his brow creasing a little. ‘Do you want me to come with you to the offices? I can wait for you.’
I smiled and touched his arm. ‘No. I’m fine. Really. But thank you so much for the offer. It’s really sweet of you.’
Charlie wrinkled his nose.
‘What?’
‘Sweet,’ he repeated.
‘What’s wrong with sweet?’ I asked.
‘It’s kind of on a par with being called nice.’
‘Well, you are nice. And you are sweet.’
‘Oh, God. Niceandsweet. I’m bloody doomed.’ He placed his hands on my upper arms, turned me bodily in the direction of the escalators to the Underground and leant around, giving me a peck on the cheek. ‘Good luck. Now, please go to your meeting, before you depress me any more.’
I started walking off, throwing Charlie a wave over my shoulder as I did so. Two seconds later, he was back by my side, snagging my elbow to stop me.
‘What are you doing after your meeting? I just… I mean, seeing as you were up here, I thought we could maybe go for a drink or grab some food. You know, to celebrate your success.’
I couldn’t help smiling at the confidence he was showing in me.
‘That sounds great. But I’m actually meeting my dad a bit later. He’s been promising to take me to Ocean for ever and finally arranged it for today, once he knew I’d be in town.’
Charlie pulled an appreciative face. ‘Nice choice. Michelin starred.’
‘I know! I can’t wait!’
‘OK. Another time.’
