Page 39 of Love Affair in London (Once Again #12)

D espite the sense of loss enveloping her, Piper forced herself to walk through the beautiful gardens of Kew, to smell the flowers and bask in the sun. She’d felt so good the day she’d visited last week and wanted to regain that feeling.

Not that it returned.

But she decided she would have her Sunday roast after all.

If Jared were here, that’s what they’d do.

She wouldn’t go to the pub near Tower Bridge—it held too many reminders—but she wouldn’t miss out on things she’d wanted to experience in the city.

Sunday roast would be her sendoff, and she was determined to enjoy it.

Finding a docent near the park’s front entrance, she got a recommendation for the Queen’s Pub. She drank mead, enjoyed a Sunday roast even better than last week’s—except that it was missing Jared. She sent selfies to Juanita and even a video to Jared.

Then Piper enjoyed every mouthful of dessert—a sweet egg custard spiced with cloves and cinnamon and ginger.

Afterward, she wandered the Richmond streets, taking in the charm of the old town.

She saw a pretty blouse in a charity shop window, which, sadly, was closed on Sundays.

Then she headed to the Underground for the trip back to the hotel.

Oddly, sending the photos to Jared, as well as the video, made her feel better. As if he were actually here with her.

Her phone rang as she waited on the platform, and her heart seemed to leap right out of her chest. Jared.

Except that it was too early for him to have arrived in San Francisco.

Juanita’s voice greeted her after she said hello. “Were you all alone at that pub or was the hottie with you?”

Piper’s mood immediately tumbled. “I was drinking mead all by myself. Jared flew back home this morning.”

Juanita’s words rushed out. “Did you make a date to see him when you get back?”

“No.” They hadn’t even talked about it, except for that one throwaway line about calling her when he got home, which could have meant anything. Or nothing.

“Why the hell not?”

Instead of answering, Piper asked, “Are you still in bed? What time is it there?”

“Yes, and it’s after eight and George went out for bagels and coffee, so I thought I’d sneak in a call after I saw your text. And don’t think I don’t know you’re trying to avoid answering. Why didn’t you make another date?”

Piper wished the train would come so she could make an excuse to end the call.

But the overhead sign said it wouldn’t arrive for another four minutes.

“It was a lovely interlude. But he’s too young.

” And too gorgeous, she thought, to be with a fifty-five-year-old, menopausal woman.

“Twelve years,” she said as if it bore repeating.

“I’m in my sixties, and George is in his fifties. And we still work beautifully.”

Piper couldn’t win this argument, and it would go on forever if she didn’t put a stop to it. “I went with Jared to his company party last night after the conference ended.”

“You did. Oh my God.” Piper thought she heard the slap of Juanita’s hand against her forehead. “He really likes you if he invited you.”

“We danced the tango,” she couldn’t resist revealing. “He’s very good.”

“How can you not see the man again if he dances the tango? He’s perfect for you.”

“Right. And his colleague asked me how many grandchildren I had. Grandchildren, for God’s sake.” The platform was filling up, and she kept her voice low even though she could have screamed the words.

“Look, hon, I know this is really about your parents and your mom spending the last years of her life taking care of your dad.”

“That presumes I view this as a lasting relationship when I’ve only known Jared a week.”

“But I know you, and you’re afraid of falling for this guy. Because if you fall for him, then you have to think about the future. And you’re thinking that he’ll end up having to take care of you.”

“I’m not thinking about a future at all. I’m thinking about his friends and colleagues and children looking at me like I’m almost old enough to be his mother.”

“You definitely aren’t old enough to be his mother. And you’re falling for him,” Juanita singsonged.

Oh God. “I’m not.” She denied it to Juanita, but she couldn’t deny it to herself. She was falling for him. Totally. And that was the worst thing possible.

As the train pulled in, Juanita’s next words got lost in the noise. Which was probably a good thing. The doors opened, and Piper followed the other passengers inside, taking an empty seat at the end of the car.

But her friend was relentless. “You obviously had an amazing time. Just explore it for a little while longer. You deserve a very nice month or two. Or three. Don’t you?”

When she didn’t answer right away, Juanita asked again. “Don’t you think you deserve a little fun after Roger? Even if it’s just for a month or two?”

“I’ll have to think about it.”

“Promise right now,” Juanita insisted, “because George is back and I have to go.”

“I promise to think about it.” That didn’t mean she promised to actually do it.

A month or two. Yes, God, she wanted that badly. Just a little more time.

Except that a little more time might make her fall a lot deeper. And hurt a lot worse when it ended.

Jared spent the first couple of flight hours catching up on emails since he had Wi-Fi access.

But after the gourmet meal and a couple of Bailey’s Irish Cream miniatures, his eyelids grew heavy.

He’d made love to Piper long into the night—and then again in the quiet early hours of the morning.

Now, he reclined his lie-flat seat, grateful he’d used miles to upgrade to business class.

He hadn’t wanted the company to foot the bill for the luxury, but on an eleven-hour transatlantic flight to San Francisco, the miles were well worth it.

Conrad and his wife were a couple of rows ahead. Jared couldn’t see them from his seat and didn’t know if Conrad was working while Olivia slept.

Hoping to acclimate to his home time zone, Jared closed his eyes, letting thoughts of Piper lull him to sleep.

Images of her danced through his mind—her laughter, her wide-eyed excitement at every new site they’d explored together, and the fiery tango they’d shared last night.

It had been years since he’d danced with that much abandon.

The last time he let loose on a dance floor was at his wedding, and even then, it was formal ballroom dancing.

Occasionally, his mother would spin him around her living room, but never the way Piper had drawn him into the heat of the tango.

His memories blurred into dreams as he drifted off.

He was still imagining Piper when he woke to the sound of a flight attendant announcing the meal service and the impending landing, just ninety minutes away.

Stretching, Jared made his way to the restroom.

On the way back, he spotted Conrad waving him over to the small bar area in the luxury cabin.

Jared took the seat beside his boss.

“Did you sleep?” Conrad asked.

“I think I got a good five hours.”

Conrad shrugged. “Lucky you. I couldn’t sleep at all. Never tell her I said this, but Olivia snores. Kept me awake.”

Jared smiled. He suspected the real snorer in the family might be Conrad, but wisely kept that thought to himself. “Those words will never pass my lips.”

Without asking, Conrad ordered a Bloody Mary for Jared. “It’ll wake you up.”

Jared didn’t argue, and when the drink arrived, the spicy tomato juice and vodka jolted his senses.

Conrad raised an eyebrow. “You’re quite the dancer.”

Jared freely admitted, “My mom was a dance teacher. She made me take lessons.”

“Well, it was something to see—my VP of Engineering tangoing across the floor with a beautiful woman.”

It was the sexiest thing he’d done in years. “Thank you.”

“She’s a real firecracker,” Conrad continued, leaning back to study Jared. “And, I’m guessing, a few years older than you?”

Jared’s muscles turned rigid. “Not that it matters.”

Conrad sighed heavily. “It doesn’t. I just mean, enjoy it while you can. Show her the time of her life.”

“She’s showing me the time of mine.”

His boss’s eyes twinkled with amusement.

“Good.” His tone was surprisingly genuine.

“You’ve got a winner there—beautiful, intelligent, funny, and a fabulous dancer.

Olivia liked her a lot too. Maybe we should have dinner sometime.

Most of my execs have wives too young to interest Olivia, but your Piper was a breath of fresh air. ”

Jared hesitated. Would accepting the offer seem like brownnosing? But then he decided it was just polite. “I’m sure Piper would like that.”

The flight attendants began serving dinner, or maybe it was lunch since it wasn’t quite midafternoon as they neared SFO.

Conrad rose, clapping Jared on the shoulder.

“Take tomorrow off. You’ve earned it. We had an amazing conference.

Just answer emails or calls if they come in, but I want you fresh for Tuesday morning. ”

“Thank you,” Jared said, meaning it.

Back at his seat, he picked at the braised barbecue beef. Then he couldn’t wait for the flight attendant to take it away. He stowed his tray table, and glancing at his phone, he noticed a string of texts from Piper.

Tendrils of warmth spread through him. She’d been to Kew Gardens again, with a photo showing her radiant smile against the backdrop of vibrant greenery. He regretted not staying an extra day and messaged her back. Why didn’t you send me a selfie earlier?

It was just after nine p.m. in London. She wouldn’t be asleep yet, though maybe he’d tired her out last night. The thought made his heart pump faster.

Her reply came quickly—a photo of her face, glowing with perspiration, her hair wrapped in a towel, and bath bubbles covering her shoulders. It revealed nothing, yet his blood surged. The intimacy of the photo and the fact that she was naked beneath the water quickened his pulse.

Are you in the bath? he typed.