Page 28

I balanced a tray of coffee on top of the magazines scattered on Robert’s coffee table. We moved jackets and artist’s smocks flung over the sofas and sat down. I eased off my shoes and said, ‘My feet are killing me.’ The air conditioning released a gentle, cool breeze into the room. I offered Danny one of the packets of Bourbon biscuits I had taken from Business Class for my midnight emergencies.

He tore open the packet, jammed a biscuit in his mouth and tapped away on the keyboard. He paused to finish the biscuits that were making his cheeks bulge like a hamster.

‘Hungry?’ I asked, snorting like a pig.

‘Always. I miss the old-fashioned biscuits. Can’t beat ‘em, can you?’ He looked through the remaining packets, scrunching his nose at the Morning Coffee. ‘You haven’t got any of those wafers covered in chocolate in the red and goldish wrappers, have you?’

Finally, someone who agreed with me. ‘I’ve got a drawer full at home, they’re my favourite.’

He grabbed hold of my little finger with his little finger. ‘Yay! We’re biscuit buddies. I’ll be rummaging in your drawers.’

Without thinking, I leapt into my response. ‘That’s filthy.’ I blushed to the roots of my hair, realising Amelia’s training was already waning.

Patting the seat for me to sit next to him and not reacting to the comment, he instantly put me at ease and my comment vanished into the ether. ‘Snuggle up next to me so I can explain how to set up a blog post. Can you open up the document you wrote?’

‘I’m not sure I want to post it now we’ve met Bella. I don’t think it’s my responsibility to expose her identity. I’m sure she’d want a big newspaper to do that.’

‘Post your article about your sighting of Bella as a test to see what happens. If you’d been able to blog, you would’ve sent it out there now. Write another about what you discovered today and see if Bella will agree to you having a scoop. Maybe you could even sell it to a big newspaper. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.’

‘I don’t know. There was something weird about today.’

‘It was great to solve the mysterious case of Bella, but it’s been wonderful to spend time together, albeit with interruptions from Laura. I don’t think I’ll sleep tonight.’ He nudged me playfully.

I turned to smile at him, then stared at the laptop screen. ‘It’s been fun day, but I’m not sure about Bella. There was something about her.’ I frowned and gathered my thoughts. ‘I don’t feel as if she’s telling the truth. Her actions seemed planned and exaggerated.’

He tapped on the laptop and mumbled, ‘What do you mean?’

‘It was the way Claudette, I mean Bella, seemed to make a point of referring to the content in the blogs and then she hinted my aunt was on the boat, yet she did not know my aunt’s name.’

‘I think you’re looking into it too much.’ He put his finger and thumb on the screen to enlarge an image and then cropped it.

‘I heard knocking on the ceiling.’

He shrugged his shoulders. ‘You know those old buildings. The plumbing is ancient, and it can make strange sounds. It happens in Pierre’s ancient apartment all the time.’

‘I guess so, but I have this weird feeling.’

‘I’m also getting a feeling about us, but it isn’t weird. I’m feeling all hot and bothered.’

‘Maybe you need to see a doctor.’ I felt his forehead to test his temperature. As soon as I leaned towards him, his phone rang and Laura was calling yet again. ‘OK then, I’m ready for a whistle stop tour of blogging if you can manage it.’

Moving his head from side to side, he studied me and then narrowed his eyes. ‘Right, are you ready?’

‘OK.’

He showed me how to add the text and upload photos. It was not too difficult, but I made notes about the various tips such as reducing the size of the photos. This also meant I could look down at my notebook rather than watching Danny.

‘Right then, when do you want to schedule this to go out?’

‘Send it out now before I change my mind.’

Danny took the laptop from me and rechecked the post. Pointing to the screen, he said, ‘You’ll see how many people like the post. If you give me your social media details, I’ll connect it so you can see how many people share it.’ He paused. ‘Don’t worry, Maisie, everything will be fine. I’m sorry our day has been fraught with so many emotions and uncertainties, but I’ve got a good feeling about us, you know.’

The sympathy and gentle tone of his voice made me think back to my aunt and the reason I visited Paris. ‘I’m beginning to think my aunt is no longer alive.’ My throat contracted at the direct comment and a tear emerged.

He gently moved his arm around me. With my head against his shoulder, I relaxed. ‘It’s shattered your hopes of finding Ada, hasn’t it?’

‘Another crazy Maisie scheme.’

My forehead almost touched Danny’s now and I observed concern in his eyes.

‘You’re not crazy, you follow your heart which is full of hope. You found Bella and she seems to be safe, so it wasn’t a crazy Maisie scheme.’

‘Thanks,’ I said, as he pulled me towards him. Fatigue seemed to drift away.

Danny shoved the phone to one side when it pinged with several messages.

Our eyes locked.

‘I’ve had a feeling about us too, but you left Heatherbridge so suddenly when Laura called and …’

Then he opened his arms, inviting me to rest my head on him, and I could hear his heart beating in time to mine.

The laptop dropped to the floor with a thud when we kissed, forcing us to open our eyes and smile at each other. I pulled him towards me, and our lips met again. My fingers explored his hair and traced his back, and he waited. Traffic hummed outside and voices drifted up from the square below. Though we were fully dressed, the anticipation of removing our clothes filled my head. Our breathing became shallow.

His phone pinged again several times and then rang. Laura’s name and photo were on the screen. I moved away from him. What the heck was I doing stealing sporty Laura’s boyfriend? Always the last one to be picked for netball at school, I had no idea why Danny was choosing me now. Who did I think I was? I was no better than vile Connie who waited until I paid the deposit on her dream apartment. ‘You should answer the phone. She sounds desperate to contact you.’

He cupped my face in his hands. ‘You’re wonderful, Maisie Bloom. I’m sorry about Laura.’

Buzzing of his phone started to drill into my conscience. ‘You should answer it.’

‘Laura and I are over, you know. I’m so sorry about this.’

A hollow feeling made me sink back. I wanted him to go now so I could think.

‘You do believe me?’ he asked, rubbing his forehead. ‘You look upset.’

Placing my hands on my cheeks to prevent him from seeing they were probably crimson, I said, ‘Yes, I think so.’ I was still processing his relationship with Laura that seemed to have ended but they still had a history together. For the first time in my life, crazy Maisie was treading carefully.

He raised an eyebrow and did not answer the phone. ‘It feels as if we’ve always known each other and there’s a …’ He clicked his fingers as he searched for a word. ‘There’s a spark between us.’

I contemplated telling him I was not an electrician but did not speak. The constant calling from Laura seemed to be warning me. He was the kind of guy who would be there for her, even when the relationship had ended.

‘We’re on the edge of something wonderful, Maisie. This is different for me. I think you’re the…’

Now the intercom to the apartment buzzed.

‘What? Erm… I can’t -’

The receptionist rambled in French, until a woman’s voice muttered in the background. ‘Danny, it’s me, Laura. We really need to talk about our business. I have another offer from a company, and I don’t think I can refuse it.’

Holding in a scream of frustration, I studied the bolts on the door and considered locking Laura out. I wanted to ignite that connection again and see if there was some special alchemy. I was sure he was about to say I was the one . ‘You’d better go, Danny.’ I did not even remember giving the words permission to escape.

‘OK. I can sense an impulsive decision from Laura.’ He took hold of my hands and kissed either side of my face. ‘Bloody hell. Talk about timing.’

‘You really need to talk to her. I’ll see you when I get back to Heatherbridge.’ A sinking feeling hit me when I heard myself say the words. ‘Go, Danny. You can’t risk your business, can you?’ And I knew he would be distracted until he sorted everything out with Laura.

‘OK.’ He kissed me on the lips and almost lingered. ‘To be continued.’

I did not know what to say and stood there gawping at him, wishing he could tell Laura to go away. But if I was about to plunge into a relationship with Danny, he had to get rid of ghosts of relationships past because I wanted him to be a keeper.

The bell buzzed again. ‘I’ll just collect my things,’ said Danny, throwing everything into the rucksack and then he winked at me. ‘Let her in. I’ll just nip to the loo before I go.’

Hearing the ding of the lift, I opened the large doors of the apartment and smiled at Laura when she stepped out of the lift.

‘Hi there.’ She beamed at me. ‘Sorry to interrupt but business is business. If I don’t act quickly, I may lose the offer I have on the table.’ When she moved her head to look around her long, blonde ponytail swished behind her. ‘Wonderful apartment even though it’s a bit bohemian for my taste. I’m surprised Danny hasn’t tidied it up a bit for you.’

‘We haven’t had time. I mean, this isn’t my apartment.’ I held out my hand. ‘I’m Maisie.’

When she glanced at my outfit, she grinned. ‘Pleased to meet you, Maisie. You’ve turned his head but you’re not what I expected. I really do hope it will all work out for you in the end. Wish me luck because I’m so nervous. Danny hasn’t got enough to buy me out. The offer I received from Hot Trips is out of this world.’ She moved away from me when Danny arrived and kissed him directly on the lips. I stood to one side smiling at them. I would probably think about that kiss later. ‘Danny, I’ve got so much to tell you. I’m sorry to interrupt you but it couldn’t wait.’ She moved her head to one side as she spoke, and Danny’s expression softened, and that set off distant alarm bells ringing in my head. ‘Don’t worry, I know you’d love working with these people, but they’ll buy your share too if you want.’

‘Let’s go and talk about this,’ said Danny, adjusting the straps of his rucksack. ‘I’ll call you as soon as I get back to Heatherbridge, Maisie.’

‘Bye, Danny. Thanks for today. It was fun.’ I blinked away the memory of the two of us laughing as he gave me the piggyback up the steps towards Sacré Coeur.

The big oak door clicked shut on another romance. I went to my room to rest and looked down on the square below before I closed the blinds. The motion of the day continued in the square below, and I scanned for Robert in the crowd. But I caught the sight of Danny walking with Laura who wore tiny athletic shorts and a baggy T-shirt: they were a perfect sporty couple. I could not stop watching them as they strolled side by side and she placed her arm around Danny. Eyes fixed on them, I felt like a stranded, clumsy character from a pantomime intruding on a scene from Romeo and Juliet . Danny waved at me when I leaned over the balcony, but I pretended not to see him.