♥♥♥
Adam finished his call to Emily. The plans had changed. She had asked if she could meet him at the restaurant instead. That was fine. He was ready now, thanks to Lily. Oh God Lil, she had wanted to talk! He rushed to the window and looked down into the street. Lily stood by her car looking at the ground and leaning on the open door. Her shoulders were shuddering. What was she laughing at? She wiped her eyes. No, she wasn’t laughing. She was crying about something. He was about to go after her when without looking back she climbed into her car and drove away.
Lily never cried. Well not often. She was a tough cookie. Checking his watch, he realised he would have to set off and wouldn’t have a chance to speak to her until probably tomorrow. After all, he would no doubt be back too late tonight if he came home at all.
He sat on his bed to pull his suede boots on. The conversation played over in his mind along with the images of her face. Her expression had been…lost…resigned even. But about what? It didn’t make any sense. What could she not do anymore? Visit and help him pick out clothes? She’d always done that. Boost his confidence? She’d always done that. Help him find a woman to share his life with? It had been her idea…
He thought back through what had been said again, trying to decipher the clues, if there were any. She sounds perfect…but so are you…she would be crazy not to fall in love with you right then and there… He remembered back to other conversations they had shared. The look on her face when he had told her he was getting married to Eve; the way she always came running no matter what; that moment all those years ago when they had been playing tennis as teenagers. That had always stuck in his mind. He swallowed hard and rubbed his hands over his face.
Running his hands through his hair, he grabbed his jacket and keys and made his way down to the car.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
All I Want Is You (U2)
Emily was waiting outside the restaurant when he arrived. She smiled widely as he approached her. She really was attractive. Shoulder length blonde hair, green eyes, and a very nice figure. She was wearing a fitted black dress and grey jacket. Very sophisticated.
Adam kissed her on the cheek as they greeted each other. “It’s good to see you again, Emily.”
“Lovely to see you too, Adam. Although, it only feels like yesterday with all the phone calls.” There had been several after each date since Diane, head of Science, had passed Emily’s number on to him. “I don’t know about you but I’m starving.” She giggled.
“Me too…I could eat a horse.”
Smiling and leaning into him, Emily whispered. “Um…I don’t think they serve it here, but I know they do a very good steak.”
He held the door open for her. “Awww…that’ll have to do then.” He chuckled.
The Maître d’ showed them to a table for two by the window, and as soon as they were seated. a waiter brought a wine menu over and handed it to Adam.
“Any preferences?” he asked as he began to peruse the list of reds, whites, and roses available.
“Not really. You choose.”’
“Well I’m driving, so I’ll be sticking to soft drinks…you choose.”
“Oh, come on, one glass won’t hurt…or are you trying to get me drunk?” A sultry smile played on her lips.
His jaw clenched. “I don’t drink and drive…at all…ever.”
She gulped and her cheeks coloured. “Oh gosh, of course…I’m so sorry.”
He closed his eyes and gathered himself. Opening them, he smiled. “No, it’s…it’s fine. What should I order?”
Her cheeks were crimson as she replied, “Pinot Noir?”
“Sure thing.”
He waved over the waiter and ordered the wine. Nodding his head, the Italian gentleman commented that it was an excellent choice and made off to fulfil the request.
After a few quiet minutes, Emily said, “Gosh everything sounds so delicious, Adam. What do you like the sound of?”
He was staring out the window, totally distracted by a woman with long, dark curly hair as she walked past with her head down, rummaging in her bag. She lifted her head just as she was parallel with the window. “Sorry? Oh erm… I think I’ll have the steak.” He stared blankly down at his menu, not really paying attention to the text.
“Are you having a starter? Maybe we could share one?” Emily asked
He snapped his head up. “Erm…sharing…yes…so what do you fancy?”
Looking at him from under her lashes, she smiled. “Other than you?” she asked seductively.
“Sorry? Oh…yes…ahem.” He felt the heat rise in his cheeks. The waiter came to take their orders. When he had left them alone again, Adam cleared his throat. “So what have you been up to since I saw you last?” He took a sip of his sparkling water.
“Working mainly. I signed a big contract this week so this is a bit of a celebration for me. I like getting what I want.” She kept her eyes locked on his.
He peered at her over his water glass. “And what is it that you want next, Emily?”
“I think maybe you know the answer to that.” Her voice was a breathy whisper.
He curled one side of his mouth up, keeping his eyes focused on her. “Oh, I don’t know. Tell me anyway.”
Leaning forward and touching his hand, she answered, “You.”
♥♥♥
Looking at the clock through the fog of her tears, Lily realised it was almost one a.m. She had cried non-stop since arriving home from Adam’s. Letting go was so very hard. She had put her CD of Adam songs into the player and allowed herself to look back through all her old photo albums, telling herself this was the last time. They would go into storage tomorrow with some of her other belongings. They would remain there indefinitely. Then she would say goodbye to Jedburgh and head off to London. The offer of the news anchor’s position had been a shock. She hadn’t told Adam. Not yet. But she would take the job. She had to. She needed distance again. Things were always easier with distance. Not easy. But easier.
Her heart ached as she looked back through the box of wonderful memories. The difficult memories, too, like Adam’s wedding. He had adored Eve so very much. But who wouldn’t? She was a beautiful person. Lily was sure that deep down Eve knew about her feelings for Adam. There had been many knowing looks over the years. But Eve had never treated her differently. She had never gloated or shunned her. She had included her in their lives as if she knew how much being apart from Adam would hurt her. Eve knew she was no threat because Adam worshipped his wife. They’d had the kind of love that everyone aspires to. That Lily aspired to.
Eve was cruelly ripped from Adam, too young, by the idiot who thought driving whilst under the influence of alcohol was acceptable and safe. Lily would never forgive that foolish man who had caused her best friend so much pain and heartache. But now was the time to just admit defeat. She was young enough to meet a nice man and have children. Surely, she could love someone else now? Surely?
Just as the melancholia of U2’s All I Want Is You washed over her and overtook her senses, she gathered all the photos back up into the box and closed the lid on her memories for the very last time. Wiping her eyes once more, she switched off the lamp and took her wine glass and empty bottle into the kitchen, letting the song resonate through her. The CD would have to go, too.
Suddenly, there was banging on the front door that made her jump. She pulled her robe tightly around her and gingerly walked to the front door to see if she could tell who it was. Stopping a few steps away, she squinted to try to make out the tall figure. The rain was coming down in torrents, which made the obscured glass panel in the centre even more opaque.
“Hello? Who is it?” she shouted as calmly as she could.
“Lil, it’s me, Adam.” He sounded out of breath.
“Adam? What the hell? It’s gone midnight.” She began to walk toward the door again.
“I know and it’s fucking chucking it down, so can you please open the door?”
She
unfastened the latch and pulled the door open. She inhaled sharply at the vision before her. Adam was standing there, drenched, rain sliding from his wet hair, down his face, and soaking through his shirt, which was now clinging to his chest. So beautiful. He wiped his hand down over his face and slicked his hair back, his chest heaving.
Coming to her senses, she gestured toward him. “Come in, you’ll catch your death out there.” She stepped aside and he passed her, stopping in the hallway and dripping all over her tiled floor. He turned toward her with a huge grin on his face.
“I’m sorry it’s so late, Lil.” He ran his hand through his hair once again. “I…I just had to come and tell you…you are my best friend after all. And I wanted you to be the first to know.”
Her heart shattered into a million pieces and the tears that had been falling all evening began to dampen her face yet again. This was it. This was the news she didn’t want to hear but knew was inevitable.
“Oh?” was all she could muster.
He stepped toward her. “It’s happened, Lil.” She forced a smile through her tears, not bothering any more to wipe them away. “I’ve found her…the one.” He smiled the most beautiful smile. Happiness radiated from every pore. She took a deep breath and nodded. She wanted to be happy for him, but it was hard when her heart lay trampled beneath his feet. He stepped closer still. “It’s an amazing feeling, Lil. Just the best feeling ever. I had to tell you.”
She closed her eyes. They must have made love. He had such happiness in his eyes. She knew there would be no going back if that happened. When it happened. He had fallen for Emily. And Adam didn’t give his heart away easily so it must be right. This was it. This was the end of her impossible dream. Biting the inside of her lip to stifle the sob that was building inside her, she opened her eyes again looking straight up into his melted chocolate gaze.
He took her face in his hands and brushed his thumbs over her cheeks to wipe away the tears. He rested his forehead on hers. His eyes were damp now, too. “Lily…please don’t cry.”
She couldn’t help but set the sob free. “Sorry…but…I’m…I’m so happy for you.”
He smiled that glorious smile again and whispered. “Thank you…I’m glad that you’re happy for me. It’s so important to me that you are. It’s all so clear to me now. I’ve found the one, Lil…the one.” She had heard him. He didn’t need to keep saying it. Each time was like a dagger through the remains of her broken heart. She nodded; it was all she could manage to do.
He took a deep breath and with shimmering eyes and his lower lip quivering he spoke.
“Lily…I can’t believe I’ve found the one I’m supposed to be with. I never thought I’d love anyone this way again. Not after…after Eve. But…this feeling…I’m awake again. It’s like everything makes sense again. Like someone’s switched the light back on. My heart’s bursting and I just feel so…so happy. It’s so incredible. I…I had to tell you first. I can’t believe it…I’ve found the one, Lily.”
Tears continued to make their escape from her eyes and she nodded. “Yes…yes you’ve said. I get it.”
He shook his head. “No…no I don’t think you do.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Lily…the one…the one I’m supposed to be with forever…it’s you.”
She gasped as she looked deep into his eyes and saw it. That look.
Adoration.
He really meant it. He was in love with her. With one hand slipped around her waist and the other into her hair, he sealed his declaration with the kiss she had always longed for and her broken heart mended.
Epilogue
I Alone (Live)
Two Years Later
Lily awoke to an empty bed. Sunlight streamed in through the curtains, which were floating in the uncharacteristically warm Highland breeze. She sat up and curled her arms around her legs, resting her chin on them. She had always hated waking up alone.
There was a knock at the door, and she tiptoed across the smooth wooden floor of the luxurious log cabin to open it. There stood a young man with a large bouquet of flowers in his arms.
“Hello, Madam. I’m from McCaig’s florist. Where would you like these flowers?” the smartly dressed young man asked with a polite smile.
She gazed first at the huge display and then back at him. “Oh wow, thank you, they’re beautiful. Please, could you put them on the table by the window?”
“Yes, Madam…but…there are a few more to come.” He gestured behind him where another three men stood equally as loaded down.
Her hand came to her mouth and tears welled in her eyes. “Oh…goodness…please, bring them in. They look heavy.”
The man smiled. “Yes, as you can see I had to get extra help for this delivery.”
Her heart skipped as her senses were bombarded with beautiful colours and scents. “Just place them wherever you can.”
Following her instructions, the men placed vases filled with the most fragrant flowers she had ever smelled wherever there was an empty surface. Their sweet, heady perfume permeated the air around her. Once the deliverymen had gone, she stood in the centre of the room surrounded by vibrant colours. A calm serenity washed over her and a smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.
Walking out to the balcony that overlooked the mirror-like sea loch with the majestic mountains in the distance, she inhaled the fresh, clean summer air. As she stood there looking at the view out over the crystal-clear water, listening as it lapped at the shore beneath the cabin, arms slipped around her waist. Kisses were feathered from under her ear down her neck to her shoulder, sending shivers tingling down her spine.
She closed her eyes and sighed. “Hmmm, I wondered where you’d got to.”
“Went out to get my beautiful girl a few flowers.”
“A few? I think you bought all the flowers on the island.” She giggled, enjoying the closeness of her man. She turned around and gazed into his eyes, slipping her arms around his neck. “Who would’ve thought that we’d end up here?”
“In the Highlands? It seemed the perfect place. It’s ours. Just ours.”
“Actually, I meant who would’ve thought we’d end up together.”
“Well, I’m glad we did,” he said as he rubbed his nose against hers.
Leaning up on her tiptoes, she kissed him gently on the lips. “Me too. I think there’s a good chance that I’m the happiest woman on earth right now.”
“Well that stands to reason, seeing as I’m definitely the happiest man.” He removed his hands from her waist and laced his fingers in hers, pulling her back inside the plush log cabin.
She willingly followed him to the bed where he removed his linen shirt, khaki shorts, and boxers, never tearing his eyes from hers. Pulling her toward him, he slipped her white cotton nighty over her head. “God, I was right…you really are beautiful.” He sighed as his eyes, filled with adoration, roamed her naked body.
She ran her hands over his toned stomach to his chest, caressing his tattoo. “I do love this,” she said as she traced the script with her fingertips.
“I’m glad you do.” He smiled. Sliding his hands into her hair, he pulled her into him and kissed her gently at first. She returned the kiss with tenderness until his tongue danced with hers and the kiss deepened, becoming more passionate and filled with need. She moaned as he slipped his hand down her jaw and over her collarbone to caress her breast. Her head rolled back as desire washed over her. The way he made her feel…
Tumbling backward, he pulled her on top of him on the huge bed, the crisp, soft, white linens billowing around them like the summer clouds above their romantic highland hideaway, his mouth still locked with hers. His fingers continued their sensual journey down her body, right to her core as his mouth moved over one of her tightened nipples. She stroked her hands down his muscular back, delighting in the feel of his muscles flexing under her touch. Rolling her onto her back, he laid atop her body resting on his elbows. “I love you so much,�
� he whispered. His gaze locked onto hers as he slipped inside her, making her gasp as she revelled in the feeling of closeness.
Grasping him as he moved, she breathed, “I love you too…more than anything.”
Their bodies moved together as they made love slowly and languorously, kissing and caressing each other and whispering loving, tender words. Suddenly, they were lost together out in the heavens, crying out each other’s name and holding on tight. Lily was once again overwhelmed with emotion and tears escaped her eyes. She would never get enough of this feeling.
Never.
When they had calmed and she was resting her head on his chest, she traced the tattoo once again. She reached up and placed a kiss where it scarred him so beautifully. “I still can’t believe you did it.”
“What? The tattoo? Well, once I knew that yours was done all those years ago for me, I had to have one to match.” He kissed her hair and stroked his fingers down her back. “I still can’t believe you did that for me…before I even knew… I always wondered what it meant… Gaelic was never a language I understood, even though it really is beautiful.”
She paused for a moment. “Well, the words are true… I will always love you.”
He squeezed her closer to him. “Well, now you know the feeling is mutual and the words are there permanently…only for you…forever.”
She sighed as she continued to trace the script.
He tilted her chin up with his finger, so that their eyes met. “Happy honeymoon, Mrs. Adam Langton,” he whispered as he lowered his mouth to hers once again.
The Girl Before Eve Page 26