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“You do. Baird, you’re in danger of becoming a crotchety old man.”
“Sounds like you’ve been talking to my Aunt Kate,” Baird said grimly, hanging up on Alec.
He was not becoming a crotchety old man. And he wasn’t cynical or bitter. People just needed to leave him alone.
*
Not realizing howclose the train station was to her hotel, Ella took a cab, but then on arriving was glad because she’d overpacked even if it was just a quick trip. She wasn’t a smart packer. She had a tendency to always add a little more—one more blouse, one more pair of shoes—just in case.
After checking in, Ella headed out for a walk and late lunch thinking afterward she’d rest, not because she was down, but she wasn’t really feeling good. Perhaps she was just tired after a few nights of not sleeping well. Perhaps reading might help, and some good chocolate. Chocolate and books improved everything.
She smiled at the doorman as he opened the door to her hotel and glanced toward the front desk and then the elevators.
Wait. What? Was that…Baird… in the lobby reading a newspaper?
Ella froze, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. It couldn’t be him. Had to be a doppelganger. He was in Edinburgh, miles from Bath.
She started walking toward him, not sure what she felt, but it wasn’t indifference.
He lowered his paper as she reached his side. “What are you doing here?” he asked.
It was Baird, all Baird. “What areyoudoing here?”
“I asked first,” he said, folding his paper and rising. He kissed her cheek. “You look well, though.”
“I’m in shock. How… When…”
“Just arrived,” he said. “And you?”
“A couple hours ago, on the train.” She just kept looking at him, unable to believe he was really, truly here. “But what brought you to Bath?”
“I came to see it.”
It was the most ridiculous answer and yet his lovely deep voice, and that gorgeous accent of his, filled her with warmth. “You have a very close relationship with Bath then?”
“Not at all. I have no relationship with Bath, but that doesn’t mean I can’t remediate that. It’s never too late to become a Bath aficionado.”
She smiled, her first real smile in days. Everything had been dark and suddenly it was as if the sun was peeking out. She’d missed him far too much. “Well, I’m glad you decided to develop a relationship with Bath, and it’s exciting that you decided to do it while I’m here. Perhaps we can explore a little bit of the city together.” She looked at him hard, studying him intently. “That is, if we’re still friends.”
“If I can be friends with Bath, there’s no reason I can’t be friends with you.” He held out his arm to her and she walked into the embrace. His head dipped, and he placed a kiss on her forehead. “You didn’t like the pink sweater? The cardigan was too old fashioned for you?”
Ella wrapped her arm around his lean waist. Without all the bulky coats and sweaters, he was deliciously fit. Solid, hard, warm. And he smelled like heaven. “I love the pink cardigan. Pink is my favorite color. How did you pull that off?”
“I have my sources.”
She laughed and held him tighter before reluctantly letting him go.
“It’s actually not that complicated,” he admitted, as she stepped back. “I called the shop, asked about a pink cardigan, and they had one, just one, so I thought I’d take a chance. I gave them my credit card and then I paid a courier to run it up to the house.”
“I should have texted you, thanked you.”
“Or called.” His expression was impossible to read. “I didn’t leave because of you. I sent Alec a text. I thought he’d tell you—”
“He did.”
“My Aunt Kate needed someone to spend Christmas with, and so I made a midnight run to Edinburgh.”
Which was exactly what Alec and Cara had told her, but Ella hadn’t believed them. “I’m sorry for our argument on Christmas Eve.”
