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She certainly had. Dominic blinked at the sight of an old-fashioned Routemaster double-decker bus parked outside the Greyfriars Hotel. It looked utterly incongruous, like a penguin in the desert. Glancing over at Faith, he saw she was biting her lip, nervously awaiting his reaction. The Americans were already jostling to get on board, chattering and joking excitedly. But she was waiting to see what he thought. His opinion mattered to her. He liked that.
‘Can’t wait to see where it’s taking us,’ he said, and offered her his arm.
Grinning, she took it, tucking her hand into the crook of his elbow, and he realised that it must be the first time they’d touched. Because if he’d felt that electric shock at contact before, he’d have remembered. The touch, the scent, the closeness of her filled his senses, and he had to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other to reach the bus and help her up the steps.
Note to self, he thought as he followed her. Do not touch Faith Fowler again. That way lies madness.
* * *
Faith held her breath as she stepped onto the bus, praying it was everything Julian had promised. She’d called in favours from every person she knew in the tourist trade in London to find the best options for the week ahead, and sent up thankful prayers when Julian told her that his latest venture, Big Red Tours, had a last-minute cancellation for that night. The photos and testimonials had been great, but you never knew for sure until you were there...
With the last step, she looked around and let out a relieved sigh. It was perfect.
Ben and Jerry were already seated at the table at the back, and a waiter in black tie dress was offering them a drink. The original bus seats had been torn out, replaced by wooden tables for two and four, bolted to the ground, as were the mismatched chairs around them. Red, white and blue cotton bunting hung from the ceiling, and the adverts were all replaced by vintage wartime posters.
Terri and Marie ventured upstairs and Faith followed, wondering at the sight of more bunting and an honest-to-God rooftop garden, with more seating areas dotted about.
‘This is incredible, Faith!’ Marie said, beaming as she took a glass of champagne from the upstairs waiter. ‘Where on earth did you find such a thing?’
Faith smiled. ‘Trade secret.’
She waited until everyone had explored the bus and chosen a seat before instructing the driver to start the tour. Period music, the sort that would have played on the American bases during the war, sang out from the speakers as they drove along the river, through the heart of London. The waiters served canapés and topped up champagne flutes as they went, the lights of the city sparkling outside the windows.
And all Faith could focus on was the fact that Dominic was sitting opposite her, smiling.
‘Do I want to know how much this is costing me?’ he asked, holding out his glass for a refill.
Faith shrugged. ‘They had a last-minute cancellation, so I got a good deal.’
‘I had no idea you could do this sort of thing. I mean, in general, not you personally.’
Quite honestly, Faith hadn’t been sure of either. But, since everything seemed to be going okay, she decided not to mention it.
‘The guy who started up the business—Julian—used to work with me last time I was doing tours in London. I thought it might be a fun start to the trip.’
‘It is,’ Dominic said, and he sounded as if he meant it. Faith felt something inside her start to relax and she reached for a glass of champagne.
‘I just hope the next part of the evening is as big a success.’
‘What is next?’ Dominic asked.
Faith smiled. ‘Dinner.’
* * *
Dinner, it turned out, was a bit of an understatement. Dominic hadn’t known you could have canapés and champagne and roof gardens on buses, but he also hadn’t realised you could actually eat dinner on Tower Bridge. Or, rather, inside it.
‘Has this always been here?’ he asked, staring out over the River Thames.
‘They opened it for catering years ago,’ Faith told him. ‘We got lucky with a spare table tonight.’
They’d been getting lucky a lot, it seemed to Dominic. ‘Another last-minute cancellation?’
Faith squirmed a little. ‘Not exactly.’
Dominic raised an eyebrow. ‘Let me guess; you used my name?’
‘Wouldn’t you?’ Faith asked. ‘To get a table at a restaurant, or a better seat on a flight, or tickets to some play?’
He wouldn’t, but he couldn’t deny that Shelley sometimes did. It just made him feel a little uncomfortable. ‘I suppose. So, what happens to the poor saps we kicked out of this place tonight?’
Faith shook her head. ‘I wouldn’t do that. I just...persuaded them to rearrange things a little. That’s all.’
