by Rachel Lacey
“You booked us a private capsule?” Ruby pressed a hand against her mouth, spinning a full three-hundred-and-sixty degrees to take in her surroundings.
“I did. You deserve to ride in style.”
She turned to Flynn, heart thumping against her ribs and cheeks hot. “This is…romantic.”
“Or celebratory, if you prefer,” he said with a casual shrug. “There’s never a wrong time to enjoy a bottle of champagne while you’re a hundred and thirty meters above London.”
“This must have cost a fortune.” She swallowed roughly. It was amazing and wonderful, and also…too much for two people who barely knew each other.
“I have it, and today I’d like to spend it on you,” he said quietly.
Ruby pressed a palm against the glass as their capsule slid slowly along the loading area. “Tell me again what you do for a living?” Because all he’d given her before was a vague line about trying different things within the family business, and that felt suddenly, painfully inadequate. She took in the expensive press of his clothes, remembering the sleek sports car he’d driven her in that morning.
Flynn sighed, turning to stare out the glass wall behind them, although there wasn’t much to see yet, as they were still at street level. “My family owns Exeter Hotels and Resorts.”
“Holy shit,” Ruby blurted. Exeter was a chain of high-end hotels with locations all over the world. She’d never actually stayed at one because they were well outside her budget. Flynn’s family was loaded. Probably the kind of loaded she couldn’t really even wrap her mind around.
“It’s less impressive than it sounds,” he said. “Or my role in the family business is unimpressive anyway. They have me lined up to oversee a new location being built in Dubai starting next month.”
“Is that not something you want?” she asked, stepping closer to him. Something restless, almost sad had come over him since they’d started talking about his family’s hotels.
“It’s a very exciting opportunity,” he said, not quite answering her question. “I enjoy getting to see new places. I’ll be living in Dubai for the next six months or so.”
“It does sound exciting,” she said cautiously, because it was obviously not exciting, or at least not in a good way, for him. But she didn’t know him well enough to pry or to understand what else was at play here.
He moved restlessly around the capsule, pausing to lift their bottle of champagne. “Shall we crack this open? We’ve got about forty-five minutes in here to drink it.”
“Well, I do like a good challenge,” she said with a grin. “Let’s do it.”
He wrapped a cloth napkin around the neck of the bottle and popped the cork, then poured two glasses. He handed one to her, and they clinked their glasses together.
“To exciting adventures,” he said.
“For both of us,” she added. “Whatever or wherever they end up taking us.”
“I’ll drink to that.”
She lifted the glass to her lips and took a sip. The cold, frothy liquid seemed to sparkle on her tongue, as heady and bright as the week ahead promised to be. She was in a private capsule on the London Eye with a handsome, chivalrous hotel heir, drinking champagne. If the rest of her week was half as exciting, she’d call her adventure a win.
They stood together in silence for a few minutes, sipping their champagne and watching London unfurl beneath them as their capsule crept toward the top of the Ferris wheel.
“Oh, I see Big Ben,” she said, looking down at the oversized clock tower that contained the famous bell. The buildings spread out below them, a mixture of sleek, modern designs and old stone structures that were works of art all on their own. In between them, the river Thames twisted like a glistening serpent, moving steadily toward the ocean beyond.
“And right over there is Westminster Abbey.” Flynn pointed out the famous building.
Laid out beneath them like a postcard were all the famous London landmarks that she’d heard about and never seen. She set down her empty champagne flute and pressed her fingers against the glass. “Kind of dizzying, isn’t it?”
“A little bit.”
The pit of her stomach tingled as she looked at the city below, a combination of the height and the champagne. It was oddly disorienting, being alone in this little bubble suspended above the city—just her and Flynn—but also intoxicating, like she was separated from the real world, responsibilities, her past, her future. None of it seemed relevant as she glided toward the top of the London Eye. “I think I could stay in here forever.”
“You’d miss fresh air.” Flynn walked up behind her.
“True.” It was kind of stuffy in here.
“It’s nice to be suspended in time for a little while, though, isn’t it?” There was something nostalgic in his tone.
“Yes.” She pulled out her phone and snapped a photo of the view before asking Flynn to take one of her. She posted them both to her hashtag before putting her phone away. Ruby was going rogue right now, all right.
He refilled their glasses as Ruby looked down at the capsule below them, then up at the top, drawing ever closer. Her stomach lurched as they swooped upward. It was a ghost sensation, though, more a product of her anticipation than reality, because the capsule moved slowly enough to allow passengers to keep walking around, observing the sights without losing their footing. That dip in her stomach was one hundred percent in her own head.
She walked to the other side, taking a drink of champagne as she went. Already, she could feel the warmth of it spreading through her body, fizzing in her veins.
“Now, isn’t this better than sharing the capsule with dozens of other people?” Flynn said from behind her, his accent exaggerated either by the alcohol or her own semi-buzzed state.
“Much better.”
He topped off her glass, and they drank as their capsule crested the top of the wheel. “I’m not much of a tourist here in my own city, but even I have to admit this is pretty nice.”
“Hard to imagine anything topping this.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Flynn said with a smile.
She polished off another glass of champagne, by now feeling delightfully buzzed as they glided around the Ferris wheel. She set her glass down and turned, her hands landing on Flynn’s chest. Before she could second-guess herself, she brought her lips to his.
He let out a rough sound at the contact, his hands settling on her waist. Their lips moved together, exploring, touching. He ran his tongue over the seam of her lips, and she opened to him. He tasted sweet like champagne and cookie dough as their tongues danced together.
Ruby felt lightheaded. The movement of their capsule combined with the champagne and desire barreling through her veins had her spinning in the best possible way. She felt like she could float right off the floor, like she might fly away, tethered to reality only by the hot press of Flynn’s mouth against hers.
His fingers stroked up and down her jeans, leaving a warm trail over her hips that melted her all the way to her core, which ached with need.
“Whoa,” she murmured as her fingers clenched in the soft cotton of his shirt.
“Mm.” Flynn kissed his way down her jaw to her neck, nipping lightly at a tender spot below her ear that made goose bumps rise all over her body. The view was slightly disorienting as she tipped her head to the side, London laid out below them while Flynn placed hot, open-mouthed kisses over her chest. His hands swept up to palm her breasts through her T-shirt. “Perfect,” he whispered.
She pressed her body against his, seeking contact with any bit of him she could touch. Her breasts pressed against his chest as her thighs met his, hips unconsciously arching forward. Flynn gripped her butt, bringing their lips back together. They kissed, and they kissed, and they kissed, until she was gasping for breath, flushed from head to foot, and feeling more alive than she could remember feeling in years.
She was so caught up in their kiss that she didn’t even notice their ride was comi
ng to an end until the capsule slid into the loading area and the doors whooshed open. She lifted her head, blinking, panting, grinning like a fool. “That was quite a ride.”
4
Flynn took Ruby’s hand as they stepped onto the platform. Her cheeks were flushed, lips pink and swollen, glasses slightly askew, and the sight was almost enough to bring him to his knees. Ruby’s fingers gripped his, her eyes going wide as she leaned against him. “Whoa. Haven’t gotten my land-legs back.”
“Dizzy?” he asked, resting a hand on her waist to steady her.
“Kind of feels like we’re still moving.”
He knew the feeling. His world was spinning too, although more from that kiss than the champagne or the London Eye. “Are you all right?”
Her head bobbed. “Yep. Just a little wobbly. Let’s walk it off.”
“Okay,” he agreed, keeping her hand in his as they left the platform, headed for the street beyond. A little exercise would be good for both of them. His head sure as hell needed clearing.
“So, what next?” Ruby asked, looking up at him.
They strolled through the crowd meandering toward the river. “Ready to go shopping?”
“Oh.” She seemed to think about this for a moment, pressing a hand against her stomach. “Yeah, I don’t feel like I’m bursting with cookie dough anymore.”
“All right, then. Let’s go.”
Thirty minutes later, he led her through the front door of one of the high-end shops on Oxford Street. He’d heard his sisters rave about this one and hoped Ruby would have a similar reaction. Her eyes widened behind her glasses as they stepped inside.
“I’m not sure I can afford anything in here, Flynn,” she whispered, stopping just inside the door. Her lips twisted into a frown.
“My treat,” he told her. “I insist.”
Her frown deepened. “I can’t let you do that, especially after you just paid for that private capsule on the Eye. I mean, we hardly know each other.”
“I’d really like to buy you a dress, Ruby,” he said, hoping he sounded as sincere as he felt. Sometimes, his family legacy and the money that came with it felt like a burden. But when he found something he wanted to spend it on, it felt good. “I’d like to buy you anything you want in here.”
Ruby’s eyes scanned the store, taking in the racks of clothing and the salesclerk already eyeing them, ready to be of assistance. She looked down at her hands and drew in a deep breath. She was going to politely bow out and leave rather than let him pay.
He swallowed his disappointment. But pride was important, and if this made her uncomfortable, then he’d take her somewhere else with more affordable clothes. The purpose of the day was for her to have fun, after all.
To his surprise, she squared her shoulders and took a step into the store. “You know what? I never splurge on myself, and I never would have set foot inside this place without you bringing me here. I came on this trip to push myself outside of my comfort zone, so let’s do this.”
Warmth spread through his chest, settling somewhere in the vicinity of his heart. It had been so long since he’d spent time with anyone as lovely as Ruby. Everything about her was so pure. Not innocent or naïve, just…genuine. Enchanting. He envied her ability to leap past her inhibitions. It was a shame they’d only have this one day together. “Excellent.”
She glanced over at him with a smirk. “I’m going to pay for it myself, though.”
“Ruby—”
“No, don’t,” she interrupted. “When I said I couldn’t afford anything in here, what I really meant is that I don’t usually consider clothes worth splurging on. I guess you could say I’m practical. Frugal, even. It probably won’t shock you to find out I keep a spreadsheet that budgets my spending for each month. But I’ve got money set aside for this trip, and a little bit of it is going toward buying myself something extravagant.”
“Only if you’re sure this is what you want,” he said. “We can go somewhere more affordable, or you can easily wear something you already have.”
“I’m sure,” she told him firmly. “I want to do this.”
“All right, then.” He wouldn’t argue the point if it was this important to her. “So, what do you have in mind?”
“I have no idea,” she told him with a small smile. “I’m terrible at this. The last time I had to pick out a dress, I let Elle choose for me. And then I put up a fuss when she wanted me to get the more colorful, extravagant dress because I’d found a simple black one that was just fine.”
“Nothing black, then.”
“Agreed.” And then she marched across the store with her chin held high, approaching the salesclerk who’d been watching them.
“Something to wear to the theater,” the clerk said with an approving nod. “Oh yes, you’ve come to the right place.”
Ruby tossed a silly smile over her shoulder at him. She followed the clerk along a rack of dresses, letting her fingers trail lightly over the various fabrics and textures. “This one is pretty,” she murmured, fingering a yellow dress.
“Oh, I agree,” the clerk said, plucking it from the rack.
Ten minutes later, they had picked out a handful of dresses for Ruby to try on. He saw a rainbow of colors on the rack. Nothing black. Good job, Ruby.
“Will you come with me?” she asked him shyly. “You can help me pick.”
“I’d be honored,” he told her.
The clerk led them toward the dressing rooms. There was a sitting area with several plush armchairs and full-length mirrors along the back wall, arranged at various angles. Flynn settled himself into the nearest chair.
“May I offer you something to drink before you get started?” the salesclerk asked. “Wine? Tea? Champagne? Water?”
Ruby’s eyes widened behind her glasses. “Um, water would be great. Thank you.”
“And for you, sir?” she asked Flynn.
“I’ll take water as well. Thank you.”
She nodded and walked to a serving station along the far wall, opening a mini fridge and removing two bottles of water. “I’ll get your dresses arranged for you in the fitting room,” she told Ruby as she handed out the waters.
“Thank you,” Ruby said, peering over at Flynn again with an excited smile.
He returned it, hoping to help encourage her and put her at ease, but she seemed to have fully embraced this new leg of her adventure. She went into the dressing room, and a moment later the clerk left, closing the door behind her.
“I’ll leave you two to it,” she told Flynn. “I’ll be just over there. Please let me know if you need any assistance.”
“We will,” he told her. “Thank you.”
And so, he sat there, trying not to imagine what was happening on the other side of the fitting room door. After a few minutes, the door opened, and Ruby stood there in a red dress. It hung just past her knees, sleek and form-fitting. It had a black lace overlay with flower-shaped cutouts that allowed the red fabric beneath to peek through.
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Embarrassed, he cleared his throat. “It’s stunning.”
“It’s pretty, right?” she asked, walking to the full-length mirrors along the back wall. “I really like this one.”
He rose and followed her, stopping a step or two behind. “I think it’s absolutely perfect. I want to see you in them all, but I can’t imagine anything topping this one.”
She twirled in front of the mirror, drawing his attention to the way the dress flared at the knee. She ran her hands over the bodice, surveying herself critically in the mirror. “Okay, I like it, but let’s keep going.”
He nodded his agreement, returning to the chair as she disappeared into the fitting room. A few minutes later, she was back in a royal blue dress the clerk had selected for her. “I already tried on the yellow one,” she told him. “It was too tight. I couldn’t even zip it.”
“Want me to ask the clerk to look for one in a larger size?”
“No, that’s
all right. I didn’t like it as much as the red one anyway. But what do you think of this one?”
He dragged his gaze down the length of the blue dress. The fabric shimmered beneath the lighting in the store. It had a snug bodice and a full skirt that fell to her ankles. “It’s beautiful.”
“But?” she prompted, frowning at herself in the mirror.
“Who said there was a but?”
“I heard it in your voice. Or maybe I wanted to hear it, because I don’t know why, but I just don’t love it.”
“That’s the only reason you need,” he told her. “But I happen to agree. It doesn’t suit you as well as the red one. I think it’s a bit too formal.”
“Okay,” she said with a succinct nod. “Moving on.”
In the end, they didn’t like the pink dress either. And so, they left the store hand-in-hand with the red dress neatly packaged inside the shopping bag that now dangled from Ruby’s arm.
“You know, I’m going to need new shoes too,” she told him as they set off down the street.
“Then let’s go get you some.”
Ruby lay flat on the bed in her hotel room, idling twirling a lock of hair between her fingers. She didn’t want to be presumptuous here, but she just might be having the best day ever. She’d walked through a castle that dated back to the Middle Ages, drank champagne in a private capsule on the London Eye, made out with Flynn with an intensity she wasn’t sure she’d felt since high school, and gone on the most extravagant shopping spree of her life.
And the day wasn’t over yet.
He was picking her up for dinner in half an hour, which meant she should really get up and start getting ready. But maybe she had just another minute to lay here on her bed, feeling giddy about her day. She closed her eyes and let out a happy sigh.
Flynn Bowen of Exeter hotels. What an enigma he was. He was sweet and charming and genuinely fun to be around. He hadn’t complained a single time while she shopped, had even seemed to enjoy himself. There was something sad lurking behind his easygoing veneer, though. Not a tragic kind of sad, or at least she didn’t think so. More like unhappiness with his work and his role within the family business. It must be hard, having a legacy like that that you had to fulfill. What if his dreams were calling him in a different direction?