Desire: Love and Passion - By Lesia Reid Page 0,13

your bank account?" she asked.

"I could buy every plant in Europe before that happens," he replied. "Make me stop."

"You're not endearing yourself to me right now," she said. "You are proving why I must never see you again."

"I just want the opportunity to apologize," he said.

"Apology accepted. Now stop."

"Come on Willow. You can't tell me you didn’t feel the way I felt on Sunday night."

"Please, don't remind me. I made a fool of myself."

"What are you talking about? I was the idiot."

"I will have you know I don't get that close with anyone on a first date."

"I really would like to see you again," he said.

"I'm sorry, I don't do eat outs with the rich and famous."

"We'll dine in. I was thinking of a Taiwanese hot pot. I rarely have company to make it worth the effort."

"If I say yes, will you stop this madness?"

"I promise."

"When?" she asked.

"Tonight. Giles can pick you up at say seven o'clock. Will that work for you?"

"Yes."

"Thank you."

Willow spent another two hours in the office. He was true to his words. There were no more bouquets.

"I guess you forgave him," Nancy said as she poked her head in Willow's office before leaving for the day.

Chapter 5

Willow dressed in a white laced over super-mini A-line dress with a plunging neckline. She wore silver heels no more than an inch. Her hair was pulled up and away from her neck. Upon seeing her, James tried to remember when last he found a woman as desirable.

"Oh, Lord," he said aloud when he saw her.

"What?" She walked by him as she entered his house for the second time in three days.

"You look great."

"Thank you."

"I'm so glad you could make it," he said as he led her towards the living room.

"You didn’t really give me a choice, now did you," she said. "Either become the only florist in London or have dinner with you."

"I'm sorry if that was a little over the top."

"Well, my employees seem to enjoy the additions to the office," she said.

"I really want to apologize."

"Perhaps it's best if we forget about Sunday. Let's pretend this is actually our first dinner."

"That's going to be hard, but I'll try."

She followed him into the kitchen. He removed three large plates from the refrigerator. They held an assortment of vegetables, meat, and fungi.

"Do you need some help with those?" Willow asked.

"Sure," he replied. "I thought we might dine outside again. It’s been a gorgeous April so far. You can grab that plate, and I'll take these."

He pointed to a plate of spices. She took it up and carried it out to the deck. This was a different table from Sunday night. It had a built in burner. Already there was a pot on the burner that had steam puffing from it.

"Have you ever had Taiwanese hotpot dining?" he asked.

"Yes, I love it. I always overcook my steak, though."

"Saki or plum wine?" he asked.

"Saki, hot."

It took them only a few more minutes to have the table ready for dining. They sat at ninety degrees from each other.

"Do you do this sort of thing often?" Willow asked.

"What sort of thing?"

"The apology."

"The last time I needed to apologize that badly I was fifteen years old and broke my mother's XVI vase. I bought her roses every day for almost two months. One day she called me into her room and asked why I kept sending the flowers. I said I was sorry for breaking the vase and she said you apologized already. I told her yes, but she never said she forgave me. She laughed, hugged me and said the magic words."

"And what is it you’re apologizing for this time?"

"I did not like the way I ended things between us. I don't want to give you the impression that I didn’t enjoy what was happening. I just have a few demons that don't go away so easily."

"There’s nothing to forgive," Willow said knowing she avoided him not because of what he’d done, but because she was ashamed she'd so easily succumbed to him. "Since we have decided to forget Sunday, it's best we don't re-hash things."

"I didn’t say I would forget. But I’m okay if you prefer it forgotten, for now."

"Let’s talk about something else."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Why didn't you want to be king?"

"I was never destined to be king. Third in line when all was well was nature's advance notice."

"The throne was yours for the taking. Especially after what happened."

"Oh," James said realizing she was speaking about his return