AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘But you wanted more?’
Clem closed her eyes and relived the feeling of his mouth brushing hers again. ‘Yes,’ she confessed.
‘This ismarvellous. I’m so excited for you. What’s the next step? When are you going to see him again?’
‘I don’t know, Rosy.’ Clem tried to gather her racing thoughts. ‘Akil lives such a different life from me. For a start he lives in a different country. And he knows what he wants while I’m floundering. He has his life all planned out. Plus, he wants a well-connected wife who knows his world and understands politics and diplomacy. I’m a walking national scandal. That’s the last thing he needs.’
‘I hate that you see yourself that way,’ Arrosa said softly.
‘It’s not how I see myself, it’s how others see me. It’s how our father sees me, how the very few people in the court who know I even exist see me. The truth is that although Akil can squire me around he couldn’t be seen with me anywhere that matters. We both know that’s true. So what future could we possibly have?’
There was a startled pause. ‘You feel that strongly about him? Are you falling in love with him, Clem?’
‘Am Iwhat?’ Clem winced as she realised just how ridiculous she was being. ‘I’ve only met him twice, of course I’m not. In lust, yes, and I like him a lot. But it’s way too early to even think about love.’
‘In that case,’ Arrosa said, ‘what’s the harm in spending some time with him? What’s the worst that could happen, Clem?’
He might reject me because of who I am. He might realise I’m not good enough.
But of course she couldn’t say that aloud, not even to the sister she loved.
‘You’re right,’ she said instead. ‘I’m being a drama queen. It comes with the job, you know that. But if I see Akil again will you promise me something? Be careful with Jack Treloar.’
‘Only if you promisenotto be careful.’ And, laughing, her sister hung up, leaving Clem staring at her phone. She hadn’t lied to Rosy; itwasfar too early to think about love. But she was in far deeper than two meetings should warrant and that left heartbreak as an inevitable outcome.
She would allow herself to see what, if anything, happened next, but she would guard her heart and her soul. It was the only way to keep herself safe.
It had been another long night. By the time Lucy, the injured American girl, had been settled in and checked, and all her family’s questions answered and concerns addressed, it had been after three a.m. Akil had stumbled back to his apartment, luckily less than half a mile away, and collapsed on the sofa, where he’d fallen into a deep sleep only to awaken three hours later when Tiger had jumped on him and insistently demanded some breakfast. Akil had drunk some water and eaten the very last of the bread before sending the promised text to Clem to fill her in on Lucy’s progress, and falling back asleep. He’d woken a couple of hours later, neck stiff but feeling refreshed. Coffee, a quick shower and change of clothes and he was ready for the day ahead.
But for once, for the first time in longer than he could remember, he had no plans. There was of course work, recess or no recess his inbox was overflowing, but his assistants were filtering it for him and there was nothing urgent to address. He wasn’t rostered in to be on call with the mountain rescue and wouldn’t be again until next week after all the shifts he’d recently pulled.
He strode around the apartment restlessly, his gaze falling on the poetry book Clem had looked at just the day before, and smiled wryly. Maybe he’d unconsciously kept the time free in case he and Clem wanted to spend another day together. After all, if things had gone the way they’d been heading last night, she might have been here with him now. They might have been planning another day of exploring and getting to know each other. Or they might still have been in bed.
It was an intoxicating thought. He wasn’t sure why the Englishwoman had got under his skin like this. She was beautiful, yes, but he knew plenty of beautiful women. It went beyond a physical attraction. She was both funny and straight talking, a combination he appreciated, and there was a hidden vulnerability that made him want to take care of her, to make her smile, to make her feel appreciated.
Goodness knew, someone should. It might be none of his business but one day Akil would tell Zorien exactly what he thought of his parenting style.
He picked up his phone and reread the message she’d sent in reply to his update.
Are you free? If so come over. Let’s go out.
He should reply, but he just wasn’t sure what to say. Or was it actually better that last night had been cut short? Was it safer for them both not to take this attraction between them further? There was no future after all.
But did he always need to plan for the long term? Couldn’t he occasionally just enjoy life as it was. It was summer; she was here for a finite time. Why was he overcomplicating this?
One thing he did know: he wasn’t going to make any sensible decisions on an empty stomach.
Akil headed out of the apartment, popping into one of the many local cafes for a quick savoury pastry and a small cup of the potent espresso Asturians loved. It took him less than a minute to finish his breakfast and he decided to go back to the hospital and check in on Lucy and her family before making any further plans. Clem would want to know how they were, after all.
Lucy had been placed in a small private room, and Akil made his way there, stopping to chat with a couple of the nurses and a doctor he knew and catching up with one of his fellow volunteers who had just finished a shift. It was nearly lunch time by the time he reached the children’s ward to be buzzed in by a nurse who recognised him. Lucy’s door was ajar and to his surprise he could hear a familiar voice within. What was Clem doing here?
He stood there for a moment, pleasure and apprehension warring inside him. Whatever happened next between them would be decided soon whether he was ready or not. As he waited, he began to make sense of the words within and he realised that Clem was reading to the small girl. He stepped a little closer and leaned against the door frame listening.
She was good, very good, her rich voice bringing the text to life, giving each character a distinct voice. Lucy was still pale, her leg extended before her, lines of pain on her small face, but she was smiling, looking eagerly at Clem as Clem continued to read, clearly transported to the magical world Clem was bringing vividly to life. Akil waited until the end of the chapter before pushing the door further open and entering the room, not wanting to break the spell Clem cast.
‘How’s the patient?’ he asked in English and Lucy smiled at him.
‘Clem came to read to me. She’s really good.’
