Page 90 of The Surrender

“Prawns,” he answers. “You’ve got your meeting with Spector soon, right?”

“Wednesday.”

“Ready for it?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I sing.

“What’s your strategy?”

“Patience. Listen. Don’t overtalk or overwhelm her with all the reasons why I should be the chosen one.” I smirk around the rim of the glass when Jude chuckles.

“You’ll smash it,” he says, and just that stupid little comment makes my heart swell.

“So where are you taking me away?” I ask.

“Florence?”

I’m interested. And very excited. “Really?”

“That looks like it’s hit the spot.”

“It’s been on my list of places to visit for years.”

“Mine too.” He smiles. “The architecture is mind-blowing. It’s what I did ... well, before Mum found ...”

“You were an architect?” I ask, shocked, lowering my glass. “How didn’t I know that?”

“Because I’ve never told you.”

I give him a playful, dirty look. “And how much more haven’t you told me?”

He laughs lightly. “I followed in my dad’s footsteps, but I was more modern than Dad’s classic grand. I loved mixing old with new. Like ancient, raw bricks with frameless glass. Clean plaster with original tumbled floors.” He gazes around the Piano Bar. “Dad was old, I was modern. With this place, I wanted to make sure there was plenty of his influence. For Mum.”

“I think he would have loved it.”

Jude smiles mildly, nodding his thanks when a bottle of beer is put in front of him. “We’ll take the burrata, prawns, and risotto,please, Audrey. Make sure there’s no nuts in any of those. Or anywhere near them.”

“I’m pretty sure there isn’t,” she says, smiling.

“Well, I was pretty sure there weren’t nuts in the Eton Mess, and yet there was.” He hands the menu back on a tight smile and Audrey blinks. “Double-check, okay?”

“Of course.” She casts a smile my way before she leaves, and I return it, feeling like a massive inconvenience.

“Do you enjoy running Arlington Hall?” I ask, because that’s an entirely different ball game and out of his architectural scope. Jude was right. It’s a very special place, and that’s entirely down to him. The effort he’s put in to making it what Evelyn Harrison imagined, the time and dedication he’s given in honour of his parents. It’s admirable.

“I hardly run it. Hiring the best team was essential, given I knew fuck all about running a hotel.” He laughs. “I’ve learned along the way with their help. Honestly, they’re invaluable. Especially Anouska. She was managing a hotel in Manhattan before I poached her.”

“You’re ruthless.”

Amusement slides across his lips, stretching them. “Maybe.” His hand meets my knee, and I shift in my chair, electric shocks shooting up my thigh and smacking me straight between my legs.

“Soruthless,” I say, breathless.

“Shall we take lunch in bed?”

I’m up like a shot, Jude’s gaze rising with me. I need to get him somewhere private before I make a spectacle of us both. “I’ll see you upstairs,” I say, hearing him chuckle as I go.

I leave the bar with haste, making my way through the lobby, my stomach fluttering madly, and I’m about to take the stairs when I see Katherine rounding the corner from the spa. She’s in her gym kit, but judging from the lack of sweat and the fact her makeup is perfect, I’m guessing she’s not made it there yet. I look down at my leggings. Feel at my still-warm, slightly clammy cheeks.What the hell did you do to my car, you mad bitch?