Shadows of the Past (6 page)

Breathing hard, I bend at the waist and shake my head. “Pass. Been there, done that. It didn't end well.”

“Who said it’s over?”

“Uh, you did. Remember?” I glance up at him like he’s crazy. “There are no do-overs with that kind of thing.”

He looks at the ground and inhales deeply, before turning away and running his hands through his hair. At the base of his neck, it’s damp and curling. I want to run my fingers through it. “I made a mistake. You are very beautiful and rather intimidating. I’d not expected you to say yes the other night, and well, I wasn’t in a good place. It felt like cheating, but it wasn’t.” He pulls at the hair at the back of his neck and sighs remorsefully. “I don’t even know your name, but I can’t get you out of my head.”

I stare at him. “Why did it feel like cheating? Were you?”

“No,” his voice cracks and he looks broken again. “I was engaged and she was less faithful than I thought she was.”

“She cheated on you?”

He nods. “That’s the crux of the issue, but there’s more to it than that. I didn’t want you to be a rebound. There’s something about you—”

I laugh bitterly, still upset at the way that night went. It was humiliating and poisoned my mood.
 

“Stop. I don’t want to hear it. Go home and feed your dog. Leave me alone.”

“Barkley’s at the vet.” His voice is suddenly a whisper. He turns on his heel and starts walking the other way.
 

I feel like he's baiting me, but I can’t walk away, not now. I’d be a mean bitch if I left things like this. I didn’t like getting mowed down by his huge-ass dog, but I wouldn’t wish ill on either of them. I rush to catch up.
 

“Wait.” Oliver stops and I touch his shoulder when he doesn’t look up. “What happened?”

“I’m not certain yet. He's been whimpering since the last time you saw him. Barkley has destroyed a few phones in his lifetime, but he's never acted like this before.” Oliver seems to forget where he is for a moment. He startles and looks up at me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to dump all that on you.”

I shake my head and smile. “It’s all right. Life is ruff.”

“Ha. Funny.” Oliver looks dejected and starts to walk away again.

“Wait. I was kidding. The fact is, I kind of like your phone-munching bear of a dog. When do they call you and let you know what’s up?”

He glances at his watch. “Soon.”

“Okay, so, let’s grab a scone or something. I’ll sit with you until they call. I’m sure he’s fine. He probably just wants a new cell phone. I got this new one and it’s pretty bitchin’—it’s the size of my face.” I hold up the phone and cover my face with it, half expecting Oliver to leave. When I peek out from behind, he’s still there.

“It was the best one they had.”

“Because it’s the biggest? Do you have size issues? Are you compensating for something that’s not so big? Big phones, big dogs, big hotel room.” I arch an eyebrow at him teasingly.
 

Oliver smiles softly, watching me. His gaze locks onto mine and time freezes. My heart thumps from inside my chest and I wish I could be in his arms again, just for a second. It’s totally irrational, but I want him to hug me, and hold me tight.

A moment later, Oliver steps closer to me, closing the space between us. He wraps his arms around me, kisses my forehead, and then releases me. My words catch in my throat along with my breath. I stand there with my mouth hanging open and my neck scrunched up like I didn’t want the hug.

Oliver smirks. “It was good for me too. I’ll take you up on that offer. A scone and coffee.”

Move your head. Nod! Dear God. I’m standing here like an idiot, gaping at him. Oliver did exactly what I wanted and my response is to freeze in place. Shake it off!

My lips twitch into a smile. “Kayla.”

His dark brows lift and he smiles. “I think you have me confused with someone else, love. My name is Oliver.”

I swat his arm and laugh. “No! My name! I’m Kayla.”

The corners of his mouth lift. “It’s nice to meet you, Kayla.”

CHAPTER 10

“So tell me about yourself.” Oliver puts his cup of coffee to his lips and then glances up at me. Dark hair falls into his eyes and he sweeps it back with his hand. The past few times I saw Oliver, he was very pulled together. This morning he’s a mess of floppy hair, damp with sweat, and a jogging suit that looks new. It’s hard to look away he’s so beautiful.

I shrug. “There’s not much to tell. I’ve been touring Europe for a while, and London was on my must-see list.” I lift the cup of white mocha to my lips and sip. The hot liquid slides down my throat and chases away the chill. I moan contentedly.

When I look up, Oliver is watching me. “Orgasmic coffee?”

I smile and duck my head, wishing my hair wasn’t in a ponytail so I could hide behind it. “Maybe. Can we talk about something else?”

“I’ll indulge your request if you share your bun with me.” His smile is soft and sincere despite the playful innuendo in his voice.

I push the scone toward him. “Go nuts.”

“That means I can eat it, right?” He’s smirking now, and I know his mind is in a dirty place because of the giddy tension in the air. I kick him under the table.
 

“Behave yourself or next time I’ll ask Barkley out and leave you home.”

Oliver sips his coffee and takes a bite of the pastry. “That devil steals all the women.”

“He can’t say that about you. I was starting to wonder.” My tone is light, teasing.

“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

A huge grin spreads across my face as I hold my cup halfway to my mouth. “Nope.”

“Very well, I deserved it. I can’t say I’d speak to a woman again if she behaved the way I did. Add in Barkley, the phone, the slight stalker tendency—”

I laugh. “Slight?”

“Well, let’s just say I won’t do that again.”

“Cheers to that.” I lean forward and click my cup against his, before raising the glass to my lips. As I take the first swallow, I feel his gaze on me and look up. Oliver is watching me, his gaze locked on my lips.
 

He snaps out of it and clears his throat before shifting in his seat.
 

“Well, I told you about my wonderful evening that led to the most horrific mistake I’ve made in a long time. What had you down the night we met?”

I put my cup down and lean back in my seat.
 

“It’s not something I talk about.” He nods and shoves the rest of my scone in his mouth. “Do you normally eat like that? Those habits would make my hips double in size in a week.”

Oliver looks at the two empty plates and grins sheepishly.
 

“I admit I have horrible eating habits. I tend to eat everything or nothing. There is no middle. I dare say I’m afraid I don’t ration myself very well when on my own.”

“Ah,” I look down and feel a smile wanting to form. I can’t stop flirting with him. “So you have your own minions that feed and bath you? Do they know you escaped?”

Oliver laughs. “Funny. And how did we end up talking about me again?” I offer a coy smile and sip my coffee. “Right, you flipped things around. I will find out more about you, Kayla. It’s not often someone catches my attention the way you have.”

“It wasn’t intentional. I’m anti-attention.”

“I had no idea,” he says dryly. “So, how long have you been in London?”

I don’t really want to get into it, but I can answer this. “A few years, I suppose.”

“And I assume you started off sight-seeing and decided to stay.”

Shaking my head, I reply, “Not really. Actually I haven’t gone to see anything. Emily dragged me on the London Eye once, and I ride the tube, but that’s about it.”

“That’s horrid! Are you saying you walk in Kensington Gardens but have never seen the palace? Or the Tower? Or anything?”

I shake my head. “Nope. I never had time or money. I guess I thought I’d get there one day. It’s not like those things don’t interest me. Actually, I’m kind of fascinated by the Old World, but I’ve never found the time to go.”

“Wow.” He seems truly shocked.
 

“You’re displeased?”

“Not really, just surprised. I suppose it takes money and time to see these things.”

“It does.” I sigh and try to change the subject. “I’ll get there eventually.”

“Thank God you didn’t swear off pubs.” He smiles at me hoping I’ll reveal more about the night we met, but I don’t. My mind wanders through my memories, finding nothing safe to tell him.

It’s as if he can tell I’m lost in the shadows, because he says kindly, “Just promise me one thing.” He leans forward and places his hands on the table, so close to mine. “One day, promise to tell me why you agreed to go home with me that night.” I squirm in my seat. As I go to pull my hands away, Oliver places his palm over mine. “I’m sorry I hurt you. That wasn’t my intention.”

I nod and think for a moment, wanting to tell him something. I pull my hand away and find my eyes will look everywhere but at Oliver.

“You didn’t hurt me, I was just shocked. That’s all. And what you said before made sense. I wouldn’t want you to be a rebound either. You seem… Sweet.”

“Sweet?” He sounds surprised.

“Yes,” I downgraded sexy to sweet when I was talking and planned on plowing through my thoughts, but he stops me.

“Old ladies are sweet. Babies are sweet. Can you honestly look at me and say I’m sweet?” His voice rises a little by the time he finishes that last part.

Leaning forward, I pinch his cheek. “You’re a sweetie pie!” He swats me away, feigning offense, but smiling.

“Sweet indeed.” He says the words like they’re rancid in his mouth.
 

His phone rings and he lifts it from his pocket. Taking a deep breath, he says, “It’s the vet.”
 

His smile fades as he swipes the phone to life. I feel like I should give him privacy, so I stand and walk past him, touching his shoulder as I go by. I feel bad. I’m upset his dog knocked me down and made me lose my phone—and probably my locket—but I wouldn’t have wished bad things on him or Oliver.
 

I stand at the counter for a second and order another scone. When I return to the table, I place it down in front of Oliver. He has a spaced out look on his face, which worries me. “Is he all right?”

Oliver nods. “Yes, he is. Please, sit.” He rips the bun in half and offers the bigger piece to me.

“What happened? Why was Barkley sick?” I hold onto the scone for a second, wondering why he’s so upset.

“He ingested something. It was caught in his stomach. The vet removed it and said he’ll be fine.”

I touch his hand, and Oliver looks up at me.
 

“Well, that’s good, right?”

“Yes, it is," he nods. "That dog eats everything. I’m afraid he knowingly jumped you to try and take your cell phone. He likes to chew up the plastic. I was afraid he swallowed a battery or something awful.” He takes a breath and looks up at me. “But he’s all right.”

“I’m glad. You two are good together—like a new kind of power couple. Best friend and beast.”

He laughs. Leaning forward, he asks, “And which am I?”

I arch an eyebrow at him. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Oliver's eyes drop to my mouth when I speak, and his breathing speeds up. My lips part as tingles shoot through me. I have to drag my eyes away from his lips.

The air around us is practically alive with the tension. It’s like we're in our own little bubble, only aware of each other. The way he looks at my mouth makes me want to lean in closer and close the distance. There’s a magnetic pull between us that is so hard to fight. Just as his lips are about to brush against mine, his phone rings.

Oliver startles and jerks away, blinking rapidly as if he were waking up from a dream. Reaching for his phone, he looks at the screen. There’s no picture, just a name:

SOPHIE

He mashes his lips together and swears under his breath when he sees the screen.
 

"Sorry, I need to take this." Playful Oliver vaporizes, and in his place is a guy who scares me a little. His eyes grow cold, and his jaw locks up tight as he turns to walk away from me. I watch as he puts the phone up to his ear. "What do you want?"

CHAPTER 11

"Hullo, American Girl." Even if I didn't know his voice, the nickname would clue me in. It's been almost a week since the last time I saw him. I refuse to admit I missed him, and I definitely didn't wonder about him even a little bit.

I don't turn to acknowledge him when I say brightly, "Oliver." His footsteps follow me down the stairs and out of the hotel. Suddenly, he's in front of me, and I'm forced to stop to avoid crashing into him. His eyes are sparkling with mischief, and his smile is genuine when I look up at him.
 

"What are you doing?"

"Shift finished?" he asks hopefully.

"Maybe. How’s Barkley?”

“Recovering, thanks for asking. Soon he’ll be attacking cell phones again. I tried giving him a stuffed rabbit and he just looked at me funny.” Oliver makes a face. “So, I have news.”

 
“Well, let’s have it." We walk down the street to get away from the doors at work. I don’t want Reggie to know any more about my personal life.
 

"I want to take you to see my favorite parts of the city, and before you object, I won’t take no for an answer.”

I sulk and slump my shoulders while dragging my feet. “But Oliver,” I whine, teasing him. “Are you going to make me eat gross food and sip tea?”

“Oh, drat. You spoiled my surprise.” He makes a face and looks over at me. “Well, are you able to take a few days off?”

I laugh at that.
 

“Uh no. I’ve got to work if I want to eat and keep a roof over my head.”

“I don’t know. I think that blonde might let you stay for free in exchange for sexual favors.”

I let out a honk of a laugh.
 

“You did NOT just say that!” I stop and stare at him with my jaw hanging open. He laughs so much that it shows off a set of twin dimples.
 

“I’m just saying that Emily can be persuaded, so if your boss is a tyrant you have a plan B.”