Caro threw up her hands. ‘And where is the fun in that? You can do that once we’ve been inspired.’ When it came down to it, Caro loved to travel, and she loved to travel with people whose company she enjoyed even more. ‘I was thinking of a colonial look for the garden room. All dark wood and exotic plants. Is that what it’s called? Are we allowed to call it that any more?’ She threw up her hands. ‘I can’t keep up. Anyway. That. That’s what I want in there.’ With that, she gave a discreet wave to a member of the cabin crew and moments later, two more glasses of Champagne appeared.
‘I really missed this!’ Caro said, tinking her glass against mine. ‘Cheers!’
* * *
‘Hello, stranger.’ Jesse greeted me at the door and lifted the case into the hall. ‘How was the trip? You look shattered.’
‘Thanks. You look gorgeous.’
‘I never said you didn’t look hot. Just that you look shattered. Hot goes without saying.’
‘Nice backpedal.’
I laughed as I hooked my hands behind his neck and cuddled up to the strong, solid body I’d missed so much.
‘Just bloody well kiss me.’
And I did just that.
* * *
‘Remind me where this time?’ Jesse asked three days later as I tried my best to zip the case quietly by the light of my phone.
He pressed a button beside the bed and the blackout blinds began to rise. Ned, curled in his bed by the window, opened one eye, deemed it far too early to be awake and snuggled back down.
‘New York. Go back to sleep. I was trying not to wake you.’
‘Don’t you dare ever leave without kissing me goodbye.’
‘OK,’ I said and dropped a butterfly kiss on his forehead as I rubbed hand cream into my hands and popped the tube back on the bedside table.
‘I mean it,’ he said, catching my hand. His face was taut, his grey eyes turning darker with emotion as they always did.
I lifted my hand to his cheek, the slight roughness tickling my palm. ‘I know. And I promise.’
‘Thank you. Now give me a proper goodbye kiss.’
A few minutes later, I hurried down the stairs, Jesse following me carrying the case and my carry-on bag with my laptop and necessities in it. The limo was waiting patiently outside, the engine purring quietly in the dawn.
‘I miss you.’
‘I miss you too. But once Caro’s had her fill of travel, I’ll be back home more again.’
‘I know. And I’m really happy for you. It’s good to see you being valued in your work.’
‘Thanks. I’ve got some great ideas for Paddock House too.’ Jesse was currently in the process of building a stunning, modern house for a couple who’d bought ten acres of paddock land that had had a decrepit little shack on it. The new build was all glass and cedar wood and was going to be magnificent when it was done. The couple had given me a few ideas as to what they wanted but I mostly had free rein, subject to approval.
‘You OK doing that? I don’t want you burning out.’
‘No, it’s great. I’m loving working again. Especially having the freedom to choose the jobs I do and don’t want to do rather than being told what to do. That way, I get to work with friends and hot men.’
‘Hot men, eh?’
‘Don’t look at me like that or I’m going to miss my flight.’
‘I’ll make it worth it.’
And I knew for sure that he absolutely would have. I grabbed a fistful of cotton T-shirt, pulled him close for another hasty kiss and willed myself into the open door of the limo Caro had sent.
