The Little Teashop in Tokyo by Julie Caplin Page 0,82

none of them made her particularly happy as she sat down on a nearby bench, positioned to take in the view, in order to review her shots.

‘They’re too postcardy,’ she muttered, flicking through the viewfinder, pulling face after disgruntled face.

‘You’re worrying too much.’ Gabe sat down on the bench next to her, his arm casually draped along the wooden back, denim-clad legs crossed and his face tilted up to the sun. ‘Why not just enjoy being here?’

‘I know,’ she sighed, intoxicated by the glorious view, ‘you’re right.’

Enjoy being here. He was right. She should grab every opportunity with both hands, because at the end of the trip she’d have to go back to reality.

‘I am right. I’m your mentor, remember?’ Devilment danced in his eyes. She pushed her hands into her pockets, clenching her fingers tight. Oh God, he was so much more experienced than her. She was playing with fire. He was way out of her league.

‘You …’ her words dried and she turned away, a fierce blush fire flaring across her cheeks.

Gentle hands cupped her chin.

‘Fi?’

She swallowed.

His blue eyes had darkened. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tease.’ He dropped a soft kiss on her mouth. ‘You’re such a breath of fresh air.’

She almost sobbed. ‘Exactly. I’m hopelessly inexperienced. I bet you’ve had loads of … of … of lovers.’

Had she really blurted that out? She sounded even more gauche than normal. It didn’t seem to faze him, of course it didn’t. Lovers. Sparks showered inside her at the very thought of it. But why not? Enjoy being here. Take everything that was offered. Live while she was here. With a smile, she promised herself she would do exactly that from here on in.

With a rueful grin he shook his head. ‘I’m not sure about the loads. You’re making me feel old. The last few years, I’ve been quite discerning. After … after Yumi, there really hasn’t been anyone that I … that I wanted to be with. Not like this. A few hook-ups. Nothing serious.’ He winced. ‘And Yumi kind of puts people off; she’s still quite proprietary but she doesn’t mean it. I think it’s just habit. She was used to thinking of me as hers and I haven’t felt the urge to kiss someone every five minutes … well … not since a blue-eyed warrior princess appeared on the scene.’

He lifted a hand and smoothed away the wisps of hair dancing around her forehead in the light breeze. ‘Although I wasn’t keen on you at first.’

‘I know,’ said Fiona with a wicked grin. ‘You made it quite clear.’

‘Nothing personal. I just didn’t want to mentor anyone … It was a chore and a drag. I was completely absorbed in my own little world … until you challenged me, told me I was second rate and starting flashing your legs at impressionable young Japanese men and, worst of all, threatened to set Haruka on me.’

She giggled, light hearted and carefree.

‘Should I even be kissing you, I wonder. Once again, I’m your mentor. In a position of responsibility.’

‘Bollocks,’ said Fiona rudely, although inside her heart was dancing, an energetic earth-shaking little jig, making the rest of her a little jittery and off kilter. ‘I’m an adult now.’

Gabe laughed. ‘You know how to spoil a romantic moment. Bollocks, she says while I’m trying to tell her that she’s the first person I’ve wanted to … to kiss,’ he amended with a look that brought a searing blush to her cheeks, ‘in over a year.’

‘Oh. Right. Yes.’ She thunked herself on the forehead with the heel of her hand. ‘See, I told you. I’m not very good at this stuff.’

‘You’re fine. It’s one of the things I most like about you. Your honesty. Life is too short for playing games. And for worrying about those photos. We’ve got the whole of tomorrow and part of the day afterif need be, we can always extend our stay. It’s a very nice hotel.’

Her lips curved in a smile at the loaded meaning in his words.

‘Okay.’

‘I thought tomorrow we could go up the ropeway to Kawaguchiko Tenjozan Park. That’s an excellent viewing spot and then in the afternoon we can take a bus or a train out to Lake Kawaguchiko. Maybe take a boat out.’

‘A boat sounds lovely. The lake sounds perfect. Ropeway. Hmm, that sounds adventurous.’

‘It’s a cable car. That’s what the Japanese call them.’

‘Ah, I see. I guess that makes sense.’

‘If you think of dirty great steel cables as ropes,