by Mandy Baggot
‘I’m guessing you don’t have boots,’ Isla said.
‘You guessed right, Miss Winters. To be honest, I had my role here down to meetings … inside.’
‘Well, that isn’t how we do things at Breekers London.’ Isla breathed in the fresh air and observed the view ahead of them. It wasn’t a naturally flat space and it was on an incline, mainly fields and wasteland but with an industrial park to the left. Today everything was coated with a dusting of white like someone had shaken a bag of icing sugar over it.
‘The reason this site was kinda discounted was because of the road,’ Chase stood next to her, indicating the busy A-road a few hundred yards to their right.
‘Yes, we don’t tend to move main roads in England,’ Isla said. ‘Adding roads, yes, moving them, not really.’
‘Is that something to do with the history dating back eons?’ Chase asked.
‘There’s that jealousy of our heritage again.’
‘No, I’m just trying to play devil’s advocate,’ Chase said. ‘If I’m gonna go to the board and try to get them to choose another location I need to have real reasons and solutions to everything they throw at me.’
‘And you’re really going to do that?’ Isla asked. ‘Try and get the board to change their mind?’
‘I’m gonna make sure other opportunities aren’t overlooked,’ he answered. ‘I can’t give you more than that.’
She nodded. She knew that. And, as much as she wanted to save Notting Hill, she knew a business decision was about a lot more than the say-so of one employee who happened to live in the area.
‘We would have to lose that industrial park entirely,’ Chase said.
‘Not necessarily,’ Isla replied. She took her iPad from her bag and began tapping the screen. ‘If the size of the hotel were reduced or—’
‘Isla, it’s a super-hotel and village. It has to be super if it’s gonna be stand-out different.’
‘Does it have to be “stand-out different” in that way?’
‘It’s Breekers’ new arm of the business. It has to make an impact.’
‘Well, how about it makes an impact in another way?’ Isla suggested.
‘What sort of way?’
‘Well,’ she said. ‘Don’t they always say that size isn’t everything?’
God, now the heat of his ardour was out-battling the biting wind whipping around them. And that was another thing about this trip: Isla Winters. Despite having so much on his plate with his work and broken-home life, she just kept enticing a rather needy libido.
‘What if Breekers’ new hotels were stand-out because of their attention to detail, to customer service, to people.’
What? Was she serious? Not content with not wanting the hotel where it was she now wanted to change the whole concept?
‘Isla …’
‘No, please, hear me out,’ Isla walked a couple of steps into the mud in front of him and spread her hands out. ‘Look at the city, Chase. Look at the sprawling, grey, chrome and steel … all the things Breekers have been working with for all these years.’ She smiled. ‘I was thinking about this over the weekend: how about giving something back?’
‘You’ve totally lost me.’ But she was animated, alive and just watching her tell him whatever she was about to tell him was compelling.
‘How about Breekers make the hotel idea more boutique?’ She slipped her iPad back into her bag.
He shook his head. ‘You know “boutique” is just another word for small, right?’
‘Well, in the UK, it’s another word for “exclusive” and “special”.’ She sniffed. ‘Isn’t that what you said you wanted the hotel to be?’
Was she really throwing some of his boardroom talk back at him? He slipped his hands into the pockets of his jacket, keeping his eyes on her.
‘My idea is for Breekers to find the right locations for a series of smaller boutique hotels that complement the environment they’re built in and that are constructed with the most environmentally friendly materials.’ She took a breath. ‘They would be relaxed places, not full of hectic circuses and casinos but calm, stress-free habitations that encourage well-being for body and mind.’ Her eyes met his then. ‘A glorious little haven in the middle of the city.’
He had no idea what to say. Right now he was floored. Somehow she had touched him, wholly, completely like no one had touched him before. It was like, without knowing it, she had reached inside of him and stroked his soul. Right now, there was nothing more he wanted to do than take her mouth with his again—
‘You hate the idea,’ Isla said.
He took a step towards her, uncaring that his shoes and the hems of his pants were getting spattered in mud.
‘Why aren’t you saying anything?’ Isla asked him. ‘Are you going to fire me? It was just an idea and I know you and the board probably won’t—’
He stopped walking when he was right in front of her, the wind whipping her red hair around her face, her full lips trembling a little.
‘What are you doing?’ Isla asked him.
He couldn’t answer her. He just had to act now, while this mix of adrenalin and joy and desire was pumping through his veins. He took her face in his hands and drew her towards him, his mouth connecting with hers.
Isla was shaking. From her freezing feet in her muddy boots to the very ends of her hair as Chase’s lips held hers captive. It was divine, it was sexy, and she did not want it to end. She deepened the kiss, edging her body closer to his, and letting out an audible sigh of pleasure. How was it they seemed to end up this way despite all their differences?
‘God, Isla, stop,’ Chase said, breaking contact. ‘We have to stop.’
‘Yes,’ Isla replied. She made to step back until he put an arm around her and drew her back into him.
‘No, not like that,’ he spoke. ‘I meant, we just have to ease up a little because otherwise I’m not gonna be able to stop myself from taking off that very British, very sexy red coat of yours …’ He kissed again. ‘And then, once the coat is off I would have to find the zipper on that pantsuit and …’
‘Where would we be then?’ Isla asked, her lips finding his.
‘In trouble,’ Chase answered. ‘In a whole lot of trouble.’
She wanted to give in to this so much, just like she had in the sanctuary of the private garden. To hold on to this moment of pure adult indulgence and just let go for once. But what happened after that? Consequence always had a way of catching up with you.
‘Chase,’ Isla breathed, breaking lip contact and looking deep into those brown eyes.
‘No,’ he whispered, putting a finger to her lips. ‘Let me speak first.’
‘Why?’ Isla asked, blinking, the touch of his finger on her mouth another sizzling sensation.
‘’Cause I don’t want you to say you want to take this back,’ he answered.
She swallowed. She didn’t want to take it back. Not really. But taking it back would be the least complicated scenario. He had so much going on with his family. She had so much going on with the threat of everything she knew being uprooted. And, as much as she found him utterly gorgeous, delightfully complex and totally engaging, he was at the core of all those impediments.
‘Let me take you out,’ Chase whispered, his fingers moving to the ends of her hair.
‘Take me out?’ Isla repeated.
He nodded. ‘Yeah. But not to discuss building hotels or Christmas networking with business owners … just us,’ he stated.
‘Just us?’ Isla repeated.
‘Now who’s answering questions with questions?’ He smiled.
‘Sorry,’ Isla said.
‘I promised the girls I’d take them out this afternoon but, if you’re free, how about tonight?’
‘Tonight?’ That was soon. That was mere hours away. She usually needed at least a week’s worth of notice to prepare for a date. She had nothing decent to wear, she couldn’t wear her mother’s best dress again …
‘But, if y
ou’re busy we could take a rain check and—’ Chase began.
Damn it. Why was she hesitating? Hannah would be wheeling into her so hard if she was listening in.
‘No,’ Isla jumped in. ‘I’m not busy.’ Was that too keen? Should she try to at least pretend she had a hectic social calendar and lots of interesting things planned apart from community Christmas festivities?
‘I’m glad,’ Chase replied. ‘I’ll pick you up at seven thirty.’
She nodded. ‘Okay.’
‘Okay,’ he answered. His fingers moved from her hair to her hand, his digits grazing her skin.
‘Okay, so we should take some photos and meet up with Ffion.’ She plucked her iPad from her bag.
‘We should,’ Chase agreed. ‘And on the drive you can tell me more about the boutique idea.’
She looked up at him, daring to hope that something she had said had struck a chord.
He smiled at her. ‘You’re good, Miss Winters. Really good.’
Sixty-Two
Life Start Community Centre, Notting Hill
There were the remnants of broken bottles, cigarette butts and a suspicious-looking yellow puddle outside of the community centre when Isla arrived. Two youths on bikes were also using the large pebble-dash concrete flower tub as a jump, skidding across the snow-speckled concrete, coming close to colliding with anything and anyone who dared to be in their vicinity. If only this little patch of the suburb could be nurtured like the rest of the area. She knew the answer was because there wasn’t enough funding and that the community centre’s paid workers and volunteers were focused on what went on inside the building, not how it looked on the outside. And that was the most important thing.
She shot the youths a disdainful glance as one of them careered into a metal bin no one appeared to be using. Isla was here because she was going to surprise Hannah with a visit to the shop to get the white feather Christmas tree. It was just starting to get dark, she had spent the whole afternoon hammering down notes on the Enfield and Essex sites, and she was trying to batter down the excited yet apprehensive feelings about her date with Chase in a few hours. She needed a different focus. One that wasn’t blighted by worry about the future, one that involved her sister and their mutual love of this season. She turned away from the front door of the centre and looked up the road towards her grandmother’s house and the beautiful garden. Right now it was all still here.
‘Oi! Piss off!’
Isla turned back at the sound of Hannah’s voice and watched her sister wheel herself across the pavement towards the teenagers.
‘Fuck off! You’re not the police!’
Isla took quick steps forward as the youths seemed to turn aggressive.
‘No, I’m not the police,’ Hannah bit back, still moving closer to them. ‘But my wheels are a whole lot bigger than yours and I know exactly how to use this Taser.’
She struck out and Isla watched the lads recoil swiftly like they’d been electrocuted.
‘Hannah,’ Isla said, going up to her as the teenagers retreated, heading up the road.
‘God, what are you doing here? First turning up at work and now here,’ Hannah said. ‘Are you stalking me?’
‘That isn’t really a Taser, is it?’
Hannah laughed. ‘No, of course not. It’s an old Remington shaver that looks just like one. It was Poppy’s dad’s. She gave it to me last year. She’s got one too.’
Isla shook her head, her mind boggling.
‘So, what are you doing here? We always meet at Sugar High on a Monday and I’ve usually had time to find out all about Mrs Smith’s latest illness or Rolo’s latest vet’s bill and eaten a slice of millionaire’s cheesecake before you turn up.’
Isla smiled. ‘We’re going to visit Nan’s bench and then we’re going shopping.’
‘Have you brought food because I’m starving?’ Hannah said, wheeling on. ‘Margaret baked again today – cinnamon biscuits – but I’m pretty convinced she used garam marsala instead of cinnamon.’
Isla opened her handbag and shook a bright pink paper bag. ‘Christmas muffins from Sugar High.’
Hannah smiled. ‘Well, in that case, it’s definitely Father Christmas’s Nice List for you this year.’
Sixty-Three
Oxford Street
Of all the Christmas displays Chase had seen while he’d been in the city, Oxford Street was head and shoulders above the rest. Lining the entire length of the street was a dazzling light show of neon blue, ice white and gold. Bright globes in orange and silver seemed to float untethered above them and the bustle of shoppers, workers and traffic on the road. Large stars, glistening gold, hung from shops and Christmas carols filled the air together with the scent of pastries and hot turkey being sold by a street vendor.
He had had a great afternoon with Brooke and Maddie. They had visited the Science Museum, where they had learned everything there was to know about robots, aeroplanes and space. Brooke had looked particularly interested in space. Especially when he had shared some of what he had learned when he thought space had been his future. She needed a focus like that. Something to get her excited about something. When this trip was over he would have a meaningful discussion with Leanna about it. After all, they both wanted what was best for Brooke and Maddie.
‘Daddy,’ Maddie said, squeezing his hand. ‘Can we get Mommy a Christmas present in London?’
‘Sure, Pumpkin,’ Chase replied. ‘What did you have in mind?’
‘She would love one of those real trashy bags with “I Love London” written on them,’ Brooke remarked. She pointed to a stall ahead of them.
Maddie laughed. ‘She really would.’
‘I remember your mom having a bit more of an expensive taste.’
Brooke shook her head. ‘Her favourite things are still anything purple.’
‘For real?’ Chase asked.
‘Yes, Colt won her this ring at the country fair,’ Maddie said. ‘It’s plastic but she loves it and never takes it off.’
‘Shut up, dummy!’ Brooke exclaimed.
‘Hey,’ Chase said, turning to face Brooke. ‘It’s okay.’ He let out a sigh. ‘Listen, I know all this is weird for you, your mom dating your Uncle Colt … it’s kinda weird for me too, but …’ He took another breath, trying to strengthen himself with an ingestion of air. ‘I don’t want you to think there are things you can’t talk with me about. Because I miss out on so much that’s going on with you guys when I’m all the way over in New York.’ He stopped walking and looked to them in turn. ‘And I don’t wanna miss out on anything.’
‘We just … we just don’t want you to feel lonely, Daddy,’ Maddie told him.
‘And I hate him,’ Brooke added.
‘Hate’s a very strong word, Brooke. And he is your uncle before anything else.’ He swallowed. ‘And nothing can change blood.’
‘But you’re not talking to each other,’ Maddie said.
‘Yeah,’ Chase said. ‘I know. But I’m hoping that isn’t gonna be a forever thing.’ Was that what he really hoped? He had ignored all his brother’s attempts at reconciliation so far. Was he going to start trying to build bridges?
‘Are you still mad at Mommy?’ Maddie questioned. Those big concerned eyes killed him every time.
He shook his head. ‘No, Pumpkin. I was never really mad at Mommy. Things just didn’t work out for us, that’s all and when things don’t work out sometimes people get sad.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘And when I was sad it made me sick and that was hard for everyone.’ He smiled. ‘But I’m better now and once we’ve worked out how to see each other a lot more often we are all gonna be a whole lot happier. I promise.’
‘I miss you, Dad.’
It was Brooke. And her four words clawed at his heart.
‘I miss you too.’ He looked at his eldest daughter and all of a sudden her bravado and rage at the world and their situation seemed to fall away. She was just his baby, still as assailable as she had ever been. He put his arms aroun
d her and drew her close, not caring if she pulled away or shirked his attempt at affection. He needed the connection and he wanted her to know she was loved.
He felt two hands hold on tight, her long hair brush against his cheek, and something inside of him sighed with relief and then glowed, the feeling getting bigger and brighter with every passing second.
Finally, Brooke let him go and adopted the uncaring expression that he’d noticed often seemed to appear on girls around the age of twelve.
‘Can we shop now?’ Brooke asked, smoothing back her hair.
‘Daddy, can I get another JoJo bow for my hair?’ Maddie asked, flicking the rainbow one on her head.
‘Well, I would kinda like your help with something first, if that’s okay,’ Chase said.
‘What sort of help?’ Brooke queried.
‘Fashion help,’ Chase replied.
‘Oh, man, you’re kidding, right?’ Brooke exclaimed, half-laughing.
‘No, I’m dead serious,’ Chase said. ‘I’m going out tonight.’ He swallowed. ‘With Isla.’
‘Another work thing?’ Maddie asked him, folding her arms across her chest.
‘No,’ Chase said definitely. ‘No, it’s not a work thing.’ He felt that kick of thrill in his gut. ‘It’s a date.’
He looked to both of his children, not knowing what reaction he expected to get. Perhaps this was too much for them to take on. But he wanted to be honest. So much of their lives lately had been heated arguments and hearsay.
‘Oh, Daddy!’ Maddie exclaimed, sounding as excited as on Christmas morning. ‘I really like Isla.’
‘Yeah,’ Chase said, swallowing. ‘Me too.’
‘I like her too,’ Brooke said. ‘She’s pretty cool.’
‘Yeah,’ Chase agreed. ‘She is pretty cool.’
‘And beautiful,’ Maddie added. ‘And smart. She told me all about the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace at the wine and cheese night. Can we go see it while we’re here?’
‘Sure,’ Chase agreed. ‘But right now, your dad needs that fashion help.’ He looked to Brooke. ‘I need to look hot like Rag ’n’ Bone Man, right?’