Page 171 of Guilty Pleasures

‘Yeah, well. I was born to the job; I’m not necessarily deserving of it.’

‘You deserve it,’ she smiled, feeling genuinely happy for him.

‘Not only that, I’ve persuaded him to invest in the record division. After much consideration he thought it was the right thing to do. You could have told us both in thirty seconds. Actually, as I remember it, that’s exactly what you did.’

‘I thought you said I knew nothing about music’

‘You don’t,’ he grinned. ‘But you know an awful lot about business.’

‘So when do you think you’re going?’ Her disappointment was crushing but she was determined to hide it.

‘Once the official announcement is made on Monday there’s nothing really stopping me. I’m going to start attending meetings at our head office in Manhattan in a couple of weeks.’

‘You’re leaving in two weeks!’

‘Well, yes and no,’ he laughed softly. ‘It will take me a while to make the transition. I’ll be shuttling between the two cities for a time. My father has someone in mind to replace me in London but even so, I don’t think I’ll be moving to New York permanently until April, maybe May. I’ll officially take up the position of CEO a little after that.’

He saw Emma glance to the floor.

‘Hey, don’t worry. I’m good for the rent until the end of the contract.’

She took a deep breath and stepped forward to kiss him on the cheek.

‘Congratulations, Rob.’

Their cheeks brushed against one another, their touch lingering for just a split second longer than necessary. They pulled away, but Rob held on to her fingertips. She looked up into his eyes.

‘That night at the cider farm…’ he said softly.

‘Hey, that’s all forgotten, Rob. Don’t worry about it.’

But Rob continued as if he hadn’t heard her.

‘You remember I went to New York the day after? Well, that’s when my father told me. I couldn’t tell you about his retirement at the time, it would have affected the share-price of the company and they were in the middle of some refinancing. When we were by the lake, when I said I couldn’t commit to anything, that’s what I meant. I knew I was returning to New York. I didn’t want to start what I couldn’t finish. Then when you said you didn’t want a relationship …’

She felt the brief pulse of hope.

‘I wasn’t exactly honest that day either,’ she said and then paused, watching him and wanting him with all her heart. ‘I think I could make time in my schedule for a man,’ she smiled.

‘How do you feel about long-distance relationships?’

‘What’s changed your mind?’ she whispered.

‘I miss you.’

‘In that case, what’s 3,000 miles between friends when one of us has a private jet?’

They laughed gently, stepping together in unison, before his mouth met hers in a kiss of such deep, sweet tenderness she wanted it to continue forever.

‘We’d better go back to the party,’ she whispered finally, resting her head gently on his shoulder. He pulled her hand and drew her back inside.

‘Come on. We’ve got plenty of stuff to celebrate.’

In Winterfold’s ballroom, Emma was standing to one side as Rob congratulated Ste on a brilliant acoustic set, when she turned to see her mother crossing the floor. In a room full of beautiful people Virginia still stood out, striking and patrician in an elegant kingfisher blue silk sheath dress, her hair up in a chignon.

‘What a wonderful party, darling,’ she said, ‘and on your birthday too. Are you having fun?’

Emma nodded, unable to stop a big grin lighting up her face as her eyes darted towards Rob.