“I think I still have the ones you gave me when I did it with George,” I say, visualising them tucked up in my bedside table.
“Good God, those must have expired by now,” Isla quips. “Or unrecognisable until the cobwebs are removed.”
I look at her, she looks at me, and we both burst out laughing.
Then I clear my throat. “I want to get to know Kevin first,” I say, putting my decorating supplies into my tote. “This is our first planned outing.”
“And you’re showing him your work? You are the worst workaholic I’ve ever met.”
“He wanted to learn,” I say. “I think it’s sweet.”
“Maybe he thinks it’s the fastest way to sex,” Isla muses.
“No,” I say with certainty. “This is different, Isla.”
And I hope with all my heart it is different for Xander, too.
* * *
I check in with security at Kensington Palace, and as soon as I’m cleared, I begin walking back towards Xander’s cottage with PPO Dave. It’s a lovely spring evening, the air crisp and cool, and the wind rustles gently through the leaves. Flowers are in bloom everywhere, and I’m inspired to work on some new floral designs for biscuits tomorrow after I finish up a corporate order.
I pass by a building, my body and mind both a jumble of excited energy. I have so many hopes for this evening, but I know better than to let my head get ahead of my heart.
“I believe you need a different escort, Ms. Davies. May I offer you my services?”
I freeze the second I hear that voice.
That molten, sexy, shiver-inducing deep voice that belongs to one man and one man only.
I turn towards the sound and find Xander leaning against the side of a building, smiling brilliantly at me from the shadows. Today, he’s dressed in a navy jumper and jeans, but his dark hair is covered by a navy cap with the logo for the Stonebridge United football club on it.
“Xander,” I say, my heart rushing the second I find him there. “What are you doing?”
He steps out of the shadows and meets me on the path, a gorgeous smile lighting up his handsome face and causing my breath to catch in my throat.
“I’m escorting you back to my cottage. Much better than having Dave do it.” Then he glances at Dave with a mischievous smile. “No offence, Dave.”
Dave grins. “None taken.” Then he drops a bit back on the path to give us some privacy.
I laugh and lower my voice so only Xander can hear me. “I was surprised Dave was the one who greeted me at the gate. I thought he was sacked for being punctual,” I tease.
He winks at me. “I decided to give him one more crack at it. But if he is punctual at another inopportune time when I’m with you,” he says, dropping his voice sexily, “I’ll definitely sack him.”
Goosebumps erupt over my skin from the way Xander is flirting with me.
Xander. Flirting with me on the path.
I quickly jump backwards, and he stares at me as if I’ve gone mad.
“I shouldn’t be so close to you in public,” I say. “I mean, it’s not like it’s very late or anything, only half-past seven, so it’s not as suspect as you walking me out after eleven o’clock at night or anything, and I am here holding a box of biscuits, so obviously I’m seeing you on business, but you know, we should be careful, right? But then again, nobody would ever suspect you of wanting me—erm, not that I’m saying you do want me in that way of wanting me, but you might want me that way an—” I abruptly stop speaking, and my face burns as if I’ve scalded it.
Oh, for the love of Christ, did I just tell him he wanted me?
I force myself to meet his gaze. His eyes are dancing with amusement now.
“Please, I was enjoying this particular narrative of yours, and it sounded as if things were about to get very interesting with where you were going,” Xander says wickedly.
I blush further. “I mean, what I’m trying to say is that nobody would suspect you were interested in a woman who is just a biscuit artist,” I say, rewriting my own narrative.
“Don’t edit what you were going to say,” Xander tells me, his lush voice washing over me and practically making me melt into the pavement. “You were going to say I wanted you.”