by Lovell, Dani
“What a nice thought,” I respond with a smile, taking a risk initiating a ‘forward’ comment.
“It absolutely is.” He lets go of my dress and stands up straight, “You go and do what you do… I’m going to take a cold shower. I will see you in an hour, gorgeous girl.”
“See you then,” I say, stepping backwards and away from him. It’s difficult; a magnetic force seems to be drawing me back towards his body and I have to really pull myself away, mentally, before I can turn and begin my walk along the long hallway to my room at the end.
His sexy smile and that gorgeous wink goodbye is an image I shall remember, probably for the rest of my life. He is one perfect man.
CHAPTER SEVEN
TUESDAY 18TH JUNE (CONT.)
Exactly an hour after I step into my room, Oliver knocks at my door to collect me. I double check myself in the mirror to make sure I am one hundred percent perfect for my BFF.
I’m wearing a dress I bought in LA; a purple shade of navy - fitted ‘Elizabeth and James’ dress, the elbow length sleeves are snug to my arms and the slight slits at the shoulder seams make it really rather unusual. It has a deep, slightly flared panel at the bottom that sways when I walk, making the whole dress just a few inches above the knee. It fits like it was made for me. The neckline is modest, to allow for the shorter hem.
I am teaming it with a pair of black suede stilettos covered in tiny gold studs, matching my black and gold clutch. My hair - which is usually styled in a thick, flicky ponytail with some kind of detail or ribbon to give it that sixties look - is down this evening.
It’s not often I wear it down, generally because I have so much hair, I always feel more comfortable with it away from my face, and I happen to be lucky enough to suit ‘up dos’ - but tonight, I feel like being a little more ladylike… maybe for my BFF… maybe just because I don’t often get to feel as fancy as I do tonight… maybe just because it's my birthday. One of those is the real reason… I’ll leave it open.
I brush my dress down with my fingers and collect my clutch as I walk to the door. I’m so excited about seeing Oliver, and that’s down right crazy. I’ve seen him almost every day for years and I’ve never felt like this. Not since I first met him and fell truly, madly, deeply.
He comes into the Cakery all the time during his work day to see Bea and have a chat and a cuppa with a slice of cake. Yes, I’ve always enjoyed it and looked forward to his visits, but I’ve never felt butterflies or a sudden need to jump up and down with a huge grin on my face, just to get the excitement out of my system. What the hell is wrong with me? I need to get this under control before I have some personal disaster when I realise we’re still just Oliver and Clare; BFFs, no true love, no marriage, no babies. Oh, his babies… ugh, they’d be so unbearably gorgeous…
I try (unsuccessfully) to suppress my huge smile as I open the door to find an outstandingly handsome Oliver waiting for me in the hallway with a beautiful pink rose in his hand. I tilt my head to the side and press my hand to my heart when I see it, unable to hide how affected I am by his sweetness. “Oh, Oliver! That’s so lovely of you…” I say, stepping out into the hallway and resting a hand on his shoulder to lean in and kiss his cheek.
He places his hand on my waist and raises his eyebrows before speaking, “Clare… oh, wow, Clare you look… stunning. Just… wow.”
I giggle, “Well, thank you, Oliver, you look wonderful, too.” And he really does, his smart jeans are fitted to his deliciously toned thighs, perfectly, and the crisp white shirt and dinner jacket complement his male elegance impeccably.
“Please,” he says, offering me his arm, “shall we?”
I giggle again as I place my arm in his. “Yes, let’s. Thank you.”
He looks at me as we walk. “You really are… beautiful, Clare. Your hair looks pretty and I like this dress on you, too.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, looking down.
He stops and places a finger under my chin, lifting my face. “Don’t be shy.” He slowly bends slightly and puts a soft kiss on my lips. My skin prickles and that same rush of ‘giddy-happy’ flows through my veins.
“I feel lucky to be able to spend this time with you, alone, and have people downstairs think I’m one lucky bloke to have you all to myself.”
Oh golly gosh, Oliver, you’re killing me. “Um…” I look down again and he brings my face back up with his finger.
“No shyness, this is me. I compliment you all the time.”
“I know, and I get embarrassed every time, you know that…but this is also different, isn’t it.”
“Yeah, it is a bit, but I mean it all, so it still counts. Just know I mean it… okay?”
I smile and nod.
“Good. One more kiss before we start moving again?”
I giggle and lean forward to kiss his mouth. Oliver’s mouth. Like it’s mine, like I own it, like he’s all mine, forever and always. Sighs…
When we reach the ground floor, we step out of the lift and stroll, hand in hand towards the Esplanade, quietly chatting about the beautiful interior of this impressive hotel. This would be the ‘normal’ us… minus the hand holding. I’m starting to forget what ‘normal’ us is, even though this ‘other’ us only started last night… but I don’t want to forget, because it’ll hurt when I’m forced back into it when we’re home, living the old life again.
“So how’s the Cakery? Have you called to check up on them?”
“Bea called this morning, they’re doing really well, no problems at all, all orders out on time and no unhappy clients. Jessica has really stepped up, she’s running the place like clockwork and has only called me twice since we came here, and that was just about a messed up dairy delivery that she managed to rectify herself. I’m really impressed; first Aspen and now this trip - it’s such a huge weight off our shoulders to know that we can leave the shop in very capable hands now, and enjoy some fun things like this - together.”
“It’s a fantastic business, you two have something to be very proud of, but you already know I think that. I bet you’re looking forward to getting back in there, though, aren’t you?”
I smile, our Cakery is my baby. “I have to admit I’m looking forward to putting my pinny back on, but I’m not sure I want this holiday to end, it has been amazing.”
“It definitely has been that. But I’m missing my chocolate cake… the day I’m back to work, I’ll be in the shop for my cuppa and cake.”
I laugh, “Okay, I’ll make sure we have your favourites fresh out of the oven.”
“As always.”
“How’s your business? Coping without you?”
“Yeah, the guys have got it all pretty much under control, the jobs I left behind are nearing completion so everything is on target. Nathan’s pretty good at over-seeing everything to make sure the wheels keep turning while I’m away anyway.”
“That’s good. Nothing like having your own business.” I smile, I adore mine.
“Absolutely nothing. Seeing it grow from that very first job to what it is now is probably the most satisfying feeling a person can experience.”
I love that he knows what I’m talking about - that we can share our thoughts and questions on all the things that arise from having your own business, from staff to tax situations and everything between. He helped us a lot with all of that stuff when we first started out. I bet their parents are so proud; both children running their own businesses and doing so well out of it, too.
“Wow, look at this…” he says as we arrive at the Esplanade. It’s beautiful, spotlessly clean and the shops are fabulous.
“Oh, wow… Louis Vuitton!” I cry and then gasp loudly, “Alexander McQueen! Dior!”
Oliver chuckles heartily at my excitement, “Yes, darling, and plenty more. Where would you like to look first?”
My smile is huge, I don’t care if I buy anything or not, just window shopping here would be enough for me. “Oh, I really don’t mind, Oliver…”
“Really, Clare, you go wild, I’ll go wherever you want to.”
“Thank you…” I say, distracted as I walk over to peer inside Alexander McQueen.
He takes my hand back and tugs me inside. “Come on… you can’t see anything from outside, get in here and have a good look.”
~~~~~~~
Well. I had a ball. It was so plush and perfect in the Esplanade, every shop was just as exciting as the last, they even have a Ferrari dealership! I told Oliver not to worry; I didn’t fancy getting one of those today.
While we were in Chanel, though, he really surprised me. I was off looking at something or other while he was talking to the shop assistant in great depths about - what I assumed was - watches. He called me over to look at something the assistant was holding, and when I did, and saw the beautiful, elegant, entwined ‘CC’ trademark stud earrings made of the tiniest, purest little pearls, I was in love, immediately.
I then found out that he had chosen them, himself, and asked for them to be taken out for us to look at. I mean, he’s a man… a man… who picked the one thing in the whole shop that I would have chosen for myself. Not only that… he wanted to buy them for me for my birthday.
We had a long, ‘yes/no’ conversation about whether or not I’d let him spend so much on me for my birthday and of course, as always, Oliver won. So now, I am the proud owner and wearer of the most stunning little earrings I have ever owned in my life. I adore them, and him for finding and buying me a gift that I love. And for knowing.
“Oliver, honestly, I can’t thank you enough, I love, love, love them…” I gush, clinging onto his arm with one hand and brushing my fingers over my ear with the other as we walk towards the Tower Suite Bar to meet the others. “They are so me, I couldn’t have picked any better. Thank you.”
I reach up and kiss his cheek, inhaling deeply as I do in order to smell his amazingness.
“Darling, stop. It’s fine, you’re absolutely more than welcome. I’m glad that you like them. I obviously know you better than you thought.”
“You do. I don’t know why that surprises me, you’ve always picked good stuff for me whenever we’ve shopped - not that we do it that often.”
“Well, shopping isn’t at the top of my list of fun things to do… but that - that was a lot of fun.”
“It really was. Thank you.”
“Shh. Stop.”
We meet everyone at the beautiful bar and have one drink before making our way out to the front of the hotel, where Daniel (being Daniel) has arranged a car for us.
“Now, as this is Vegas, we really don’t have too far to go, but the walks can be long - so as the beautiful ladies are wearing heels, I thought we could use a car for the evening.”
“So thoughtful, my sexy Berkeley,” Bea says, as she grabs his face and kisses him as they sit next to each other in the vehicle.
“Mmm…” he murmurs into the kiss… “Okay…” He closes his eyes and wraps a hand around the back of her neck, turning the quick peck into a long, romantic, passionate kiss.
I smile and tilt my head as I watch, loving how romantic they are together.
“Oh god.” Oliver says, repulsed. “Thank god Tilly and Luke aren’t here to join in and make it a giant gross-fest.”
“Tilly isn’t your sister, you know.” I say, still feeling those questions about why he sees her as a sister and not me… though it is a good thing, I suppose, or I wouldn’t get to make love to him like I do.
“I know that - but I think of her as one. You know that.”
“And I’m also a sibling to one of these guys so can we please hold off for now?” Alexia says, giggling, “I’m okay with kissing and all, but you two are getting a little close to the heavy petting stage and I’m really not interested in witnessing that, thank you.”
Oliver and I laugh as Bea and Daniel come up for air, smiling at each other, sharing something… special. Lucky them. I can’t wait until they start to plan the wedding and Bea lets me help… although, maybe I can wait - that’s probably going to be almost as emotional for me as Emily’s birth.
Gosh, marriage and babies, everywhere! I want it and I want it now! If I was the stroppy type, I’d even stomp my foot. It’s going to be at least three years until I get any of that - and that’s if I meet someone new now, and the way I’m currently feeling about Oliver, I’m unlikely to be putting myself out there for other guys in the near future. Oh god, what am I doing? This ‘thing’ with Oliver is going to set me so far back, I’m really not thinking straight.
“So where are we going?” Oliver asks.
“Well, this first bit was my idea,” Bea says, “because I just know you’re going to love this, Clare.”
“Ooh! What is it?” I ask, excitedly.
“We’ll be there shortly, just hang on a minute and you’ll see,” she says with a warm smile and a little wink.
When we step out of the car, a matter of minutes later, we’re outside the ‘Bellagio Hotel’, overlooking the beautiful huge lake at the front. “The fountains?” I ask, looking at Bea and she simply smiles and nods. What fun!
“It’ll be a couple of minutes or so.” Daniel comments.
Bea stands next to me at the front, holding my hand, and Daniel behind her, his arms around her chest as she rests back against him. Alexia is on the other side of me and Oliver, behind me. He’s not holding me - but quite rightly so, we’re not together and I don’t want Alexia or Daniel… or Bea, even, to think we’re becoming an item. Because we’re not.
Everybody chats quietly, looking forward to the start of the show, and suddenly the music begins, immediately locking my attention. It’s music that I adore… maybe from the musical background of my family, but probably more so, because of my own love of this type of lament. Goose bumps run over my skin as the water starts to move in time to this most beautiful song; ‘Con Te Partiro', or ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ as most people know it, by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.
I step forward to get as close as I possibly can and concentrate fully on the capturing music and romantic fluidity of the movement of the water along with it. They have it perfectly right, each jet moving so accurately with the rhythm of the beautiful melody. It’s incredible how a lake, a few jets and a song you’ve always known, can bring a huge lump to your throat and tears to your eyes.
I’m hypnotised by the dance I’m watching, it’s surprisingly emotional. Bea tightens her hold on my hand but it’s not enough to take my attention from the lake ahead, the streams of water shooting to the sky with every crescendo, and falling, weightlessly, back down into the pool. Whoever had the idea to combine water acrobatics with music like this definitely knew how perfectly the two would complement each other.
I take a short, sharp intake of breath as the volume increases slightly and the fountains reach their peak, it’s stunning, and just as I think how grateful I am that Bea is holding my hand during this unusually teary moment for me, I feel a strong hand reach around my waist and rest firmly, comfortingly, against my stomach. It’s him… exactly the person I want to comfort me right now. He knows.
I smile, holding back the tears, and place my hand on top of his, thankfully. Thankful for him being so sweet right now, thankful for him actually being here to witness this and thankful for how much he’s made me smile over the past couple of days. He’s… he’s just… oh I don’t know.
As the water slows, along with the music, the huge crowd begins to applaud, bringing me back to the real world. I release Bea’s hand to join in - that was truly wonderful, I loved every minute and would come back over and over again to watch how many different types of music they can create such a beautiful show to.
I watch as Bea smiles with Daniel and they talk amongst themselves.
“Pretty cool, huh?” Alexia says with a big smile, “Your kind of thing…”
“Oh yes, absolutely, I adored it! It was so much more emotional than I would have expected!”
“I love your enthusiasm, you see things
so differently to other people, you feel the emotion behind it, rather than getting hooked up on the technicalities.”
I smile and shrug, feeling a little embarrassed. I’m such a dork sometimes, I bet no one else was crying. She slips around the back of Oliver to join Bea and Daniel, unknowingly giving us a little time to chat privately. I look up at his face and smile, his hand still on my waist.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yes! I loved it!”
“I know you did, so did I.” He tugs on my dress to bring me towards him ever so slightly, it’s like it’s just me and him, the crowd behind us - nonexistent. “I want to kiss you so much…” he whispers and I quiver visibly, I love him. As a friend, as a friend, or course.
“That would have been nice. If we could…”
“Can’t we?” he asks, his other hand sliding around to my back so I’m almost pressed up against him.
I pause momentarily, trying to remember why we can’t… “Everyone will see, Oliver…”
“Uh huh, I know that…” he says, slowly bending, nearing my face with his.
“And… and…” And before I can come to my senses to respond, his soft lips are on mine, his eyes gazing into mine telling me it’s good, it’s all good, we can do this.
He continues to stare into my eyes as he slowly moves, brushing my lips with his and letting his tongue ever so lightly touch me. I frown and bring my arms up and around his neck, not giving a shit who’s watching. I need him, I need him to hold me and kiss me, I need to feel myself totally wrapped in him.
He reciprocates fully, holding me tightly against him, one of his hands splayed at the back of my head, the other wrapped around my body as we lose ourselves, together. It feels so right, so necessary, and I refuse to stop and worry about what our friends are doing, saying or thinking. Okay, so I’m sure I’ll freak out about it afterwards, but while I have my dream man’s sweet lips on me… I’m giving nothing else my attention.
His hands move oh-so-subtly, pressing me further against him, slightly massaging with their pressure, and mine on him, similarly; my fingers splayed to hold the largest area possible - as if I’m trying to prevent any of him from going anywhere.