“Would you like some champagne? Or something to eat?” He indicated a platter of snacks, including grapes, cheese, and vol-au-vents.
“Not just yet. Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
Elias quirked an eyebrow. “London, of course.”
She rolled her eyes. “Very funny.”
“All right, all right. If I tell you our destination, will you promise to sit back and enjoy the journey?”
“Deal.”
“We’re going to a beautiful riverside restaurant at Canary Wharf.”
“Okay. But we could have just got the cab the whole way there. Or the Tube.”
Now it was Elias’s turn to roll his eyes. “Of course we could. But where’s your imagination? I want to show you a good time, so I can do better than a taxi or the Tube! If we were in a rush it would be different, but I thought a leisurely trip along the river would make for a wonderful start to the evening. London is so beautiful by night, especially from the vantage point of a boat.”
She conceded with a nod. “You’re right—this is a wonderful start to the evening. I’ve never been on the Thames at night. Thank you.” Part of her wanted to say she wished Alex was with them, but she didn’t want Elias to get the wrong idea and think she didn’t want to spend any time alone with him, or that he wasn’t enough for her by himself. She stifled a sigh—male egos could be very fragile things, and since she now had to deal with three of them, she had her work cut out. But, she reminded herself with a smile, it was worth it, because three of the most gorgeous men on the planet were all hers.
“Hey,” Elias gave her a gentle nudge. “You look like the cat that ate the canary. What are you so pleased about?”
“Hey, yourself.” She nudged him back. “You’re the one who made me promise to sit back and enjoy the journey. So I’m keeping my promise.”
“I can’t argue with that.” He slipped his arm around her shoulders, pulled her close, and pressed a kiss to her hair. “Let’s enjoy what this wonderful city has to offer, together.”
She snuggled further into his embrace and gave a contented sigh. They gazed out of the windows, turning their heads from time to time, like they were watching a tennis match in slow motion, and taking in the views. Much of what they’d be able to see by day was shrouded in darkness. But the contrast between darkness and electric light made what they could see stand out all the more—stunning riverside apartment buildings, boats of all shapes and sizes bobbing about at their moorings, the striking span of Battersea Bridge, and then the more delicate structure of the Albert Bridge. Not long after, the first truly unmistakable landmark came into sight—the towers of Battersea Power Station, but they were still a little way away from it yet.
“Sure you don’t want a nibble?” Elias asked. “A glass of water? I’m sure they’ve got other non-alcoholic stuff in the minibar—I know you don’t like drinking much booze on an empty stomach.”
“Nothing to eat for now, thanks, but water would be great. Thank you.”
She allowed herself a good look at his gorgeous backside in his tailored trousers as he made his way carefully over to the minibar, then bent to look inside. Perhaps she’d get an even better look at it later, after they’d been for dinner. Preferably unclothed. Knowing he couldn’t see her, she grinned, then quickly wiped it off her face when Elias turned, bottle in hand. “Still or sparkling?”
“Still. Thanks.”
He re-joined her a moment later, a glass bottle in each hand. “Could you hold those for a moment?”
She took them. Elias made short work of procuring two tumblers from the holders set into the sides of the boat, then pouring them each a drink. He passed her hers. “Thank you,” she said.
“You’re welcome.” He smiled, then took a sip of his own drink and settled back in his seat as they crept closer to the iconic power station.
They relaxed in silence for a while, still taking in the sights, until the first signs they were nearing central London appeared. “This is just stunning,” Mia said, looking from side to side so much she feared she’d get a crick in her neck. “And we haven’t even reached the most obvious landmarks yet.”
“I’m glad you like it. This was another recommendation from one of my work colleagues.”
She smiled, remembering the hotel they’d stayed in in Kent—complete with Michelin-starred head chef in charge of its restaurant—had been suggested by one of his colleagues, too. “Well, your work buddies have impeccable taste, so please tell them to keep the ideas coming.”
“Oh, I will do—don’t you worry about that. I like seeing your face full of wonder the way it is right now.”
Her mood dipped, but it took her a moment or two to figure out why. She chose her next words carefully, not wanting to upset him or sound as though she was being ungrateful. “As much as I’m having a fantastic time this evening, Elias, just like I did in Kent, it doesn’t have to be this way all the time, you know. I enjoy spending time with you, and getting to know you better. It’s about your company—and Alex’s, of course—not about which amazing places we can visit or see next. I’d be equally happy with a burger in some local pub.”
“Or Deliveroo and Netflix?” he shot back, a twinkle in his eye.
“Or Deliveroo and Netflix,” she agreed.
“Noted. And I do know that, Mia. It won’t be all private boat trips and riverside restaurants with us, but I want tonight to be special. I hope that’s all right.”
“Of course it’s all right, Elias. I was just checking we’re on the same page, that’s all. We’ve been incredibly honest with each other about lots of other things—some huge things—and I thought this should be one of them. I do appreciate being treated to flashy nights—or days, for that matter—out, but I wanted to emphasise I don’t need, want, or expect it all the time. As long as we’re together and having fun, I don’t mind what we do.”
“In that case, I think we’re definitely on the same page.” The corners of his lips flickered up into a secretive little smile, but before she could query it, the London Eye burst into view, lit up beautifully with coloured bulbs, and she forgot all about it.
Despite living full time in the city, Elias appeared as wonderstruck as Mia as they floated past some of London’s most iconic places—MI6 headquarters, the Tate Britain, just visible peeking through the trees lining the bank, Lambeth Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye—up close now and filled with people also admiring the city from a different vantage point.
Neither of them spoke for some time, until Elias’s voice broke into her head.
Her attention having been captured by the Shard, thrusting up into the night sky, she blinked and returned her gaze to him. “Huh, what?” She cleared her throat. “Erm, I mean, pardon? Sorry—I was distracted.”
Elias chuckled and pointed to the enormous boat gradually coming up on their right-hand side. “I said, you ever been on HMS Belfast?”
“No. Have you?”
He shook his head. “Not since I was a child. It’s silly, isn’t it? When I didn’t live in London, any time I used to come and visit with my family, we’d always do touristy things. The Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London… you name it, we probably did it. But now I do live here and have all these amazing sights and attractions right on my doorstep, I don’t make the time to see them.”
Mia shrugged. “I know what you mean. When I was at university here, I was either in lectures, studying, or out partying with friends. We had the occasional picnics in the Royal Parks during the warmer months, but that’s about it. Then, since I bought my place in Holland Park, I always had a specific reason to come into London—business meetings, catching up with friends—but no time for being a tourist. I guess…” she gave him a coy smile, “since I’ll now be in London more often, and for pleasure rather than work, I’ll be able to do more sightseeing. I’m fairly certain I visited many of the most obvious places when I was a child, too, but I do
n’t remember—or only have the faintest of memories—so it’ll be like starting all over again.” She took a sip of her water.
With a smile, Elias said, “I’d be delighted to start all over again with you—be a tourist. I’m sure Alex would, too.” Suddenly, his face shifted into a frown. “But don’t think you have to come into town all the time, Mia. I told you before, and I know Alex feels the same—I’m happy to come to you, too, at the weekends. I’d love to see where you grew up—the house, the grounds, the village, the surrounding area.”
“And I’d love to show you around, too. Both of you. We’ll have to sort something out soon, won’t we? Maybe next time Alex has a weekend off duty? The gardens aren’t at their best at this time of year—though Tom does a fantastic job keeping them looking amazing all year round.” She smiled as the image of him helping her to decorate a large pine tree for Christmas appeared in her mind. “It won’t be long before little shoots start popping up, I imagine. I haven’t a clue what half the plants are called, but Tom’s always willing to fill me in.”
Elias lifted an eyebrow, and the corners of his mouth twitched. “Oh he is, is he? And how old is this Tom chap, exactly?”
Mia’s face flooded with heat. Way to put your foot in it. Stupid! You shouldn’t have even mentioned his name. “Ha ha,” she forced out, but it sounded weak even to her own ears. “That’s not what I meant.” Which was true enough—Thomas was always willing to talk to her about the garden, its plants, bushes and trees, his plans for it. His enthusiasm was such that it bubbled out of him and into her. “He’s excellent at keeping me up to date with his plans, what to expect to appear next, and so on. For saying it’s just him looking after the gardens, he does a remarkable job keeping on top of everything.”
This time both Elias’s eyebrows jumped up. “Really?”
Oh, fuck it! She shifted her gaze back out the window. “Ooh, look! The Tower of London and Tower Bridge—we almost missed them!”
She sensed, rather than saw, Elias narrowing his eyes at her, but steadfastly refused to tear her gaze from the stunning castle and its neighbouring bridge. After a few minutes, they looked up through the boat’s skylight to admire the underside of the bridge and the partial glass floor of its second tier. Then Mia turned to peer through the rear window—desperate to maintain the air of being desperately interested in everything so Elias wouldn’t return to their previous conversation. Hopefully he’d forget before long. Just then, a red double-decker bus passed over the bridge, providing a sight so utterly London that Mia’s heart clenched with unexpected fondness. “Beautiful,” she breathed.
“Yes. I seem to be surrounded by beauty this evening.”
When she turned to admonish him for his cheesy line, she found him gazing at her with such an intense expression on his face that it rendered her mute, and left her suddenly dry mouthed. A part of her body way lower down than her heart clenched. Oh God, how am I supposed to tell him off when he’s looking at me like that? But he seems to have forgotten about Tom—I should be grateful for that.
Elias gently removed the tumbler from her hand and put it, as well as his, down on the nearest flat surface. Then he shuffled back up next to Mia, cupped her face in his hands and gave her a smouldering, toe-curling kiss that threatened to make her forget about Thomas, too.
Chapter Three
By the time they surfaced from their kiss—and they only did that because things had been getting seriously hot and heavy and Mia was painfully aware that the captain was mere feet away from them—the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf were drawing close. Since the boat had slowed and was veering gradually over to the left, Mia guessed this was where they were going to disembark.
“Oh!” she said, looking over at the snacks and champagne they hadn’t touched.
“What’s the matter?”
She pointed. “We didn’t eat any of the snacks or open the champagne. What a waste!”
Elias grinned. “We’re going to the most amazing restaurant in the city—possibly in the country—in a minute. Honestly, you’ll probably be glad you left plenty of room in your stomach. As for the champagne, it’s not wasted if it hasn’t been opened yet. Want me to bring it?”
“It’s okay. The restaurant won’t be very happy if you wander in with a bottle of champagne in your hand. I’m sorry we didn’t get to have any.”
With a shrug, Elias replied, “I’m not. We don’t need booze to have fun, do we? And I can honestly say that this trip along the river has been perfect.” He kissed her cheek. “Would you like my jacket for when we get outside?”
“Is the restaurant far?” She gazed warily out of the window. It was hardly going to be any warmer out there than it had been when they’d first got on the boat.
“Not at all. It’s right opposite the pier. Look,” he pointed, “just behind those trees, there.”
“Ah, right. Excellent. In that case, I’ll be all right with just my shawl. We’ll barely be outside.”
Elias stood first and retrieved his jacket, then slipped into it, surreptitiously checking his pockets as he smoothed it down. He did up the buttons, then, apparently satisfied he was presentable, held out his hand to Mia. She took it and allowed him to gently pull her to her feet. They made their way to the front of the cabin, stepping carefully as the waves rocked the boat. They lingered behind the door until the very last second, then Elias opened it and they gasped as the chill rushed in and hit them.
Mia gritted her teeth as she followed Elias off the boat and onto the pier, where the captain stood, waiting, having loosely secured the boat to a mooring. Elias released her hand for a moment and went over to him. “That was fantastic, thank you so much.”
The two men shook hands, and the captain replied, “No problem, sir. Happy you enjoyed it. I hope you’ll recommend the company to your friends. And you, ma’am—how did you like the trip?” He looked at Mia.
She nodded enthusiastically. “Very much—thank you. It gave me a whole different perspective of the city, and the boat itself is beautiful. I’ve loved every minute.”
Smiling warmly, he replied, “Good. If you’re happy, I’m happy.”
“Then you should be very happy.” She returned his smile.
“Yes,” Elias interjected, slipping an arm around Mia’s lower back and pulling her close, “you definitely should. Now I ought to get this lovely lady indoors before she gets too cold. Thank you again.”
“Enjoy the rest of your evening, both of you.”
“I’m sure we will, thank you,” Mia said.
Elias smiled and nodded at the captain, then he and Mia turned and made their way along the pier and onto dry land. After pausing to let a couple of joggers pass by, they continued towards the restaurant. Just then, Mia’s stomach rumbled. She clapped a hand to it, attracting Elias’s attention.
“You okay?”
“Yes. Just hungry now, that’s all.”
“Good, because you’re really in for a treat. The food here is amazing.”
“You’re full of compliments for this place, aren’t you? Do you part-own it or something?”
He chuckled, then shook his head. “No, but I confess I’m somewhat of a regular. It’s close to work and home.”
Mia’s heart skipped a beat. Did that mean it was going to be full of people he knew? Was she about to be introduced to a load of Elias’s friends and colleagues without warning? No way was she ready for all that yet—especially since she didn’t even know what he would introduce her as. A friend, his girlfriend, his fiancée? And whatever he said, she would have to react accordingly.
She stopped walking, pulling Elias to a halt beside her.
“Hey,” he put a hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes, his own full of concern, “what’s the matter?”
“I—” God, how could she word it without coming across as antisocial? Of course she wanted to meet his other friends at some point, preferably before the wedding, but everything was still too… up in the air right now. She gave
a tight smile and opted to go for brutal honesty. “Will there be loads of people in there you know? Because I’m not sure I’m ready for that. I don’t even know how you’d introduce me, and I don’t want to drop you in it by saying or doing the wrong thing and—”
“Mia,” he replied firmly, squeezing her shoulder a little, “calm down. There’s absolutely nothing to worry about. Yes, there’s a slight possibility that there might be someone in there I know—not including the staff—but tonight is about us, and other people will respect that and leave us to it. It’s quite an… intimate setting, since the tables are so small, so it definitely doesn’t lend itself to wandering around chatting to other people in any case.”
Relief started to seep through her, then froze. Intimate setting? So if he was a regular, who was he spending intimate evenings with? Given the circumstances, did she even have any right to ask? And would those evenings come to an end now he was unofficially engaged to Mia?
“Darling, what is it? Can we discuss this inside? I don’t want you getting cold again. I give you my word we won’t be bothered by anyone.”
She nodded weakly and allowed him to lead her into the restaurant, her stomach now roiling more with worry than hunger. Although the exterior had been fairly nondescript, the interior demanded attention. It was incredibly stylish, with lots of black marble, shiny silver chrome, glass chandeliers, and white leather seats set around small, black tables. Elias’s description had been spot on—this wasn’t a place for group socialising. Four people to a table would be a very tight squeeze. Two people was just right.
A handsome young man dressed all in black and with dark hair pulled back into a ponytail stood beside a podium just inside the door. “Good evening,” he said with a warm smile, which widened as he took in Mia, “and welcome. I’ll show you to your table. Please follow me.”
He collected two leather-bound menus from a shelf built in to the podium, then spun neatly on his heel and made for a table by the window. The trees lining the front of the building sadly blocked some of the view, but it was still possible to make out the river and some of the scenery and landmarks along it.
Mia's Wedding_A Reverse Harem Romance Novel Page 2