Chapter Thirteen
Thursday 5th December
Ashleigh – The Royal Pavilion
Ashleigh could see Olivier, Romesh and James on the path in front of the Pavilion as she came through the gardens. Olivier had his phone out and was taking photos of the ornate façade, with its fretwork and columns and the big domes that had always reminded her of the top of those iced gem biscuits.
She allowed herself to study him as she drew closer, the way he tossed his hair out of his eyes, absent-mindedly, his long fingers adjusting the angle of the camera, his side profile as he looked over and smiled at something Romesh and James were obviously saying. The excitement he felt as he examined the building was so obvious it made her want to look at it with fresh eyes too. It really was a beautiful piece of architecture.
How did he make her feel so much lighter, just by looking at him? And yet like her skin didn’t fit her as well?
‘Ah-ha – here she is! We were worried you would get caught up at work.’ Romesh pulled her into a hug. ‘Hey, do you want to take anelf-ie in front of the Pavilion?’
Ashleigh and James groaned simultaneously and smiled at each other.
‘How do we put up with him?’ James said, giving her a hug next.
‘Beats me.’ She pulled away and then looked awkwardly at Olivier. Should they hug? Should she just say hello – or did that seem really cold after the welcome she’d given Romesh and James?
Before she had a chance to think about it anymore, he leaned forward, his free hand lightly touching her upper arm and bent down to brush barely there kisses on each of her cheeks. ‘Bonsoir, Ashleigh.’
Blazing signals went off from each of her senses, firing alerts about the warmth of his skin, the slight scrape of his stubble against her jaw, the way he smelt of aftershave and something sweet and tart too.
Romesh took her arm and started leading her along the path. ‘We’ll lead the way and leave James to continue giving Oli a potted history lesson about the Pavilion.’ He leaned closer to murmur in her ear. ‘It’ll give you an opportunity to get your raging hormones under control.’
‘Oh God, Ro. Is it that obvious?’ She put a gloved hand up to her cheek and she swore she could feel the blush through it.
‘Probably only to me,’ he tried to reassure her as they rounded the corner and walked along the wing, which must have been a posh version of a conservatory or an orangery or something. She should probably get a history lesson from James too. It was quite shameful really that she couldn’t remember anything about the building other than the fact she’d been inside once on a school trip, they did ice-skating here and it was built by the Prince Regent – orforhim? Something like that.
‘How did your parenting class go yesterday evening?’
‘Oh, fine, fine. You know none of that’s been too scary and it’s been nice seeing the other couples who are hoping to adopt too. We’re all so different but at heart we want the same thing. It’s tomorrow that I’m worried about – that final meeting with the social worker.’ He took a deep breath and she tightened her hold on his arm.
There were coloured lights strung on the trees lining the path and the entrance to the ice-skating was a white canopy with Christmas trees decorated outside. You could see the ice-skating rink through the windows. The organisers had made the clever decision to nestle it between the main palace, the bar and the conservatory so that you could watch while you were eating and drinking. Even if you didn’t want to skate you’d get a lovely Christmas vibe – and if youdidskate, you were surrounded by a backdrop of pretty buildings.
The waiting area was not so ornate, but it really only needed to be practical. Once you’d hired your skates, you took them over to the benches and lockers to change out of your shoes and put your valuables away safely. Christmas music played through speakers and Ash couldn’t help but keep looking over at Olivier to see what he was making of it all.
‘This was a great idea,’ she told Romesh, as they sat down.
‘Oh, I know.’ He threw a pointed look over towards Olivier.
‘Not because ofthat.’
‘Well, why not because of that?’ He lowered his voice and pressed his shoulder against hers. ‘I don’t think it’s a one-way street you know.’
‘What?’ Ashleigh felt her breath catch in her throat.
‘I think he likes you too. Any why wouldn’t he? Gorgeous creature that you are.’
She opened her mouth to reply but he shook his head and continued. ‘Nope. Don’t try to deny it. I was watching both of you at the quiz, and I would bet my apartment that – at the very least – you two will have kissed by Christmas.’
‘I could do with an apartment on the seafront,’ she joked to cover the little leap of excitement disrupting all the butterflies in her tummy. She tugged off her gloves so she could unlace her boots.
‘You could do with the kiss more,’ he murmured.
‘Behave.’
‘Ashleigh, would you like me to put them in the locker with mine? There’s plenty of room.’ She snapped her head up and Olivier was standing in front of them, in his socks. She swallowed, praying he hadn’t heard anything that Ro had been saying.
