Page 28 of Love Affair in London (Once Again #12)

Then Piper took delight in explaining each savory treat to him. “You’ll love the Beef Wellington.”

When they finally moved on to the sweets, her excitement bubbled over. “These are my absolute favorites.” She presented him with a Bakewell tart and a butter tart. Her eyes twinkled as she waited for his reaction.

“What do you think?” Her voice brimmed with anticipation.

Jared weighed his words. “The butter tart reminds me of pecan pie, but with raisins. And I think those are walnuts, right?”

Piper beamed. “That’s exactly it. Like a pecan pie.” Then she added with a grin, “But better.”

The Bakewell tart, with its fluffy crust and icing-laden top, was next. “Is that strawberry jam in the center?”

“Raspberry,” she corrected. “Hazel taught my mother and me how to bake these. You use just a bit of jam—any more and it’ll bubble through the almond topping.”

He couldn’t help smiling at her enthusiasm. “Your friend Hazel really turned you into a British connoisseur.”

Piper sighed wistfully. “She and my mom and I had so much fun baking together.”

“You talk about Hazel in the past tense,” he observed gently.

She nodded. “She passed away from cancer five years ago.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“She was seventy-five when she died,” Piper said, her voice soft with recollection. “I think of her and my mother every time I bake these tarts.” There was no trace of tears in her eyes, only the shimmer of a happy memory.

Without thinking, he said, “You’ll have to bake them for me sometime.”

She startled at his words, and he realized how presumptuous he sounded. Still, he liked the idea of seeing her again once they returned home.

“I’d love to bake for you,” she replied, though her tone carried a hint of uncertainty.

Perhaps it was the unexpectedness of his comment, or maybe she didn’t believe he truly meant it. But now that he’d said it, Jared wanted to see her again. He’d have to figure out how to broach the subject.

She shifted the conversation back to the remaining treats. “That’s a petit four.” She pointed to a tiny, chocolate-covered cake. “And that’s the scone with clotted cream.”

He curled his lip. “Anything that’s clotted doesn’t sound appetizing.”

But he tried it anyway, following Piper’s instructions, topping the scone with both jam and clotted cream, which turned out to be sweet and tasty.

The owner returned with two fresh pots of tea. “How is everything?”

“Absolutely scrumptious,” Piper gushed.

Jared gave his compliments. “I’ve never had afternoon tea before, but it was all very good. Especially your Branston Pickle.”

The woman clapped her hands lightly. “I’m thrilled. Anytime you’re in London, please visit to my shop.”

Bringing the bill a short time later, she also placed a small bag on the table. Leaning in, she said softly, “I’ve added a treat for you. Since you’ve been such lovely guests.”

“Thank you so much,” Piper said warmly.

After the woman left, Jared reached for the bill before Piper could. “My treat this time.”

She didn’t fight him, and her eyes sparkled. “That’s so kind of you. Thank you.” She patted her stomach. “That was just the right amount. Any more and I’d be stuffed.”

He poured himself another cup of tea from the fresh pot. “It was perfect.” The entire day had been perfect because he’d spent it with her. “Though I might float away from all the tea.”

Piper laughed, a delicious sound that once again stirred something inside him. “Have I turned you into a tea drinker?”

“I’m not giving up my coffee,” he said with a grin. “But I enjoyed the tea.”

After enjoying their last cup, they waved to the proprietor as they left the shop, then strolled down the lane. Piper eyed the bag Jared was carrying. “I wonder what the treat is.”

He opened it. “Look at that.” He held up the jar he found inside. “Branston Pickle.” Though the label said Sweet and Spicy Chutney.

“She gave it to you because you complimented it after trying it for the first time,” Piper said. “You have to take it.”

“No, she gave it to you.”

Of course, the owner had thought of them as a couple. The gift was for both of them. “Then we’ll take it home and share it,” he said definitively.

Piper smiled but said nothing, and he wondered if he’d startled her again with the implication of seeing her after this trip. He couldn’t help how he felt. He’d known her for only two days, yet he already wanted more.

He just wasn’t sure if she did.

As the afternoon wore on, they wandered through more shops, but again Piper bought nothing. Jared glanced at his watch and realized how late it was. The day with her had flown by, and he didn’t want it to end. But looking at the time reminded him why he was in London.

During the delightful day with Piper, he’d actually forgotten about the reception tonight. His boss would expect him.

“It slipped my mind,” he said. “I’ve got the conference welcome reception this evening. It’s at seven. It’ll only last a couple of hours. But I should probably head back now.”

He wanted to invite her to come with him, but it was a work event. Piper would feel out of place. Besides, these receptions were all about glad-handing and work talk.

For a moment, she looked crestfallen, as if spending the evening with him had been at the top of her list. She couldn’t know how top-of-his-list she truly was.

“I didn’t realize the conference started tonight. Let’s find the nearest Underground. It shouldn’t take long to get back.”

Fortunately, there was a Tube station nearby, as there seemed to be on every corner in London. They found their way down to the tunnel, where they studied the Underground map.

“We’ll have to change lines here.” She pointed at the map.

Even with switching trains, it took only about half an hour. As they surfaced near the hotel, he felt reluctant to leave her. “Want to grab a coffee at Costa?”

“Are you sure you have time?” That could have been hope in her gaze.

“The conference is in the hotel, so I don’t have far to go.” And he wanted to eke out these last few minutes with her.

She smiled brightly as if he’d suddenly made her day. “Then I’d love one.”

They sat on the patio with coffees in hand. Piper leaned back in her chair. “Thank you for showing me around today. It was so much more fun than doing it on my own.”

“I wish I had more time.” He wished he had days, weeks. “Unfortunately, the schedule is pretty tight. I won’t be able to take you anywhere else.”

She waved a hand dismissively. “Of course you won’t. You’ve got work to do.”

“What are your plans for tomorrow?” He wanted to think of her enjoying herself.

“I’ve got tickets for Hampton Court. And I’ll visit Kew Gardens. I feel like seeing something beautiful.”

He checked the time again and knew he had to go if he wanted to squeeze in a shower before the reception. He stood reluctantly. “What will you do for dinner?”

She stood too. “Afternoon tea was enough. I don’t plan on eating tonight.”

“Are you heading back to the hotel or going for a walk?”

She pulled out her phone. “Let’s see how many steps we’ve done today.” She held up the screen. “Twenty-eight thousand. I don’t need to do any more walking today.”

“Plus, you’ve still got the walk back to your room,” he teased.

She snapped her fingers. “I should’ve offered you champagne in my room instead of coffee.” Then she shrugged playfully. “Too late now.”

Right there on the sidewalk, with diners enjoying their meals in the open-air restaurant next door, Jared wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, “If I’d gone to your room, I wouldn’t have made it to the reception.”

He topped that off with a sweet kiss—nothing too shocking for the nearby diners—but the perfect end to a perfect day.