you hungry?’
Juliet was taken aback by his question. Hungry for what? Her eyes widened and she felt excitement surge through her veins as she nodded.
‘What if I cook us dinner at my place?’
‘Your place?’
‘Yes, my home’s twenty minutes from here. You could follow my bike and I could whip us up something half edible and definitely better than the vending machine, which is your other choice if you stay here at this time of the night.’
‘But what about Bea...?’ she began to ask as her chest rose with a nervous intake of air.
‘I don’t think your parents will let her starve and they’ve more than likely eaten already. Bea may even be in bed asleep. It’s almost eight o’clock.’
Juliet hadn’t realised the time. It was true, it was late, and they all might have been asleep, not just Bea. She was trying to keep her emotions in check and remember it would be merely a dinner shared by two colleagues. She just had to keep remembering that fact and everything would be fine.
‘Give me fifteen minutes to have a quick shower and change.’
‘Of course. I could do with a hot shower to loosen my muscles as well. I’ll meet you in your office in twenty minutes.’
Juliet walked away knowing she hadn’t wanted anyone’s company in a very long time. Not until that moment.
* * *
Juliet followed behind Charlie’s bike along the winding road. The moon’s halo lit his broad masculine silhouette as they travelled slowly through the darkened countryside. There was no other traffic, just the two of them on the road. Juliet felt herself mesmerised as he leaned into the turns and curves of the road. His was agile and strong and completely in control of the huge machine. He made it impossible for her not to stare in awe and a little bit of anticipation as he led her to his home.
Finally they pulled into the large estate and Juliet wondered if he had one of the cottages, but soon learned it was the stately mansion that was indeed his home. Even with just the moon lighting the grounds, she could see how magnificent the landscape and how grand his home.
‘This is beautiful,’ she said as she climbed from the car wearing jeans, a pullover and boots. Her hair was tied up in a makeshift ponytail and a thick scarf and coat rested on her shoulders. ‘I’ve never seen anything quite like it.’
‘It’s a work in progress.’
‘It looks wonderfully finished to me,’ she replied as she followed him up the steps to the two-hundred-year-old home. ‘It’s simply glorious. Nothing quite like it in Perth.’
Charlie unlocked the door and held it open for Juliet to enter, before he stepped inside and closed the door. ‘I’ll put on a fire and start dinner then show you around, if you’d like.’
With her gaze scanning the furnishings and architecture of the beautiful interior, she nodded. ‘I’d love that.’
* * *
The fire was roaring and the meat was ready whenever they were; it would take only a few minutes on the grill. Charlie reappeared in the doorway, aware that he was not in a hurry to cook or rush anything about the evening. The surgery, and everything that had happened over the last few days since meeting Juliet, had made him feel alive and made him hunger for more time alone with her, despite his better judgement. ‘Would you like a glass of wine?’
‘I do have to drive home.’
‘Not for a while. Besides, you’ll be eating and I’ll give you only half a glass.’
‘That sounds lovely. I won’t head in until around one tomorrow so it might be nice to let my hair down.’
Charlie smiled. Seeing Juliet on the sofa, with her beautiful face lit by the fire, was a sight he had never imagined over the years of his self-imposed solitude. But it was a sight he was relishing. ‘I’ll be back.’
Juliet looked into the crackling fire and as another log was consumed by flames she thought how very different Charlie was from the man she’d first met. In five short days he had opened up and shown a compassionate, loving side completely at odds with the brusque exterior he had first displayed. Bea was smitten by him, and she felt sure if her parents met him they too would think he was very charming. An English gentleman with an English country manor. It was all very proper and lovely. A little like a fairy tale but she wasn’t yet sure of the ending. Or indeed if fairy tales happened.
Charlie appeared with two glasses of red wine, Juliet’s only a quarter filled.
‘As I promised,’ he said as he handed her the long-stemmed Waterford Crystal glass. Their hands touched as he gave her possession of the cold crystal and it instantly stirred an overwhelming desire to feel more than just her hand against his. His mouth immediately craved Juliet’s full, inviting lips hovering only inches from his own. He let his gaze linger for a moment on her mouth, all the while wondering if it would taste as sweet as it looked. He pushed the cold rim of the glass against his mouth in a bid to control the mounting desire surging through his veins.
‘Thank you,’ she said as she climbed to her feet. ‘Can I have the grand tour now? Do we have time?’
‘All the time in the world,’ he replied.
* * *
Charlie led Juliet around the ground floor. Leaving the generous sitting room, he showed her the kitchen with the butler’s pantry, the dining room, which she noticed had been set for two, the utility room, a wonderfully inspiring floor-to-ceiling library, a study with a large oak desk and bookcase and a billiard room that housed an antique snooker table. As they entered each room he thought about kissing Juliet but then reasoning stepped in and made him keep a little distance. But each room was harder than the last.
‘You said you were renovating but it all looks perfect to me.’
‘I finished downstairs first then moved upstairs with the repairs and redecorating.’
‘What’s upstairs?’ she asked, her curiosity driving her towards the staircase. She was fascinated by the house and couldn’t wait to see more.
‘The seven bedrooms,’ he answered as he followed her lead and moved towards the grand staircase. ‘Apparently all of them including the master bedroom are finished but I haven’t seen them yet.’
Juliet thought the statement was odd and turned to him. She said nothing as she assumed he had been too busy to check it out, but she couldn’t imagine not rushing home to see the progress every night, no matter what the time of day. He was very low-key.
‘So where do you sleep?’
‘Over there,’ he said, pointing at the chesterfield. ‘I’m accustomed to it now. I’ve been sleeping there for a few months while the work’s been happening upstairs.’ Charlie didn’t tell her that he didn’t feel any motivation to sleep in the new master bedroom alone.
‘It’s a very comfortable sofa, but if the master bedroom’s finished then it’s time you moved in. Let’s take a peek.’
Charlie
