Mina beamed at her. ‘I was a grown-up today. I was sensible with the chocolate.’ Luke caught her eye and then ducked his head, concentrating hard on his meal. With her foot, she nudged at his ankle under the table, feeling a little thrill when he rested his foot against hers. ‘But it was wonderful. My suitcase when I go home is going to stink though, because I couldn’t resist the aged Gruyère, or the Appenzeller cheese. Why haven’t I had that before?’
Claudia patted her hand. ‘We like to keep the good stuff here. Appenzeller is my favourite too.’
‘Basically, Mina could probably open her own cheese shop,’ chipped in Luke. ‘And probably a chocolate shop too.’
Mina gave him an outraged poke. ‘And you didn’t buy anything,’ she teased him back.
‘I’m a growing boy. Besides,’ he added with a lofty grin, ‘I’m always willing to share my chocolate.’
‘Just the once, and I didn’t even know you then. Honestly, talk about bearing a grudge.’
The rest of the table had gone silent and everyone, without exception, watched the pair of them with indulgent smiles. Mina blushed and suddenly applied herself to her risotto, and Dave, who she could have hugged, said, ‘Shame you missed my legendary chocolate log today.’
‘It was wonderful,’ said Amelie jumping in quickly. ‘I might have to retire and let Dave take over.’
Dave seemed to have grown an inch taller and Mina smiled at him before realising that there was no sign of Sarah. ‘Where’s your wife?’
‘She’s not feeling too good. Migraine. So she went to bed early.’
‘That’s a shame,’ said Mina, although she couldn’t help thinking that Dave seemed much happier this evening. She shot a suspicious look at Amelie who was standing by the side table opening a bottle of wine and wondered what had wrought the change. Amelie gave her a guileless smile back.
After a glass of wine, Mina felt herself flagging.
Out of sight under the table, Luke took her hand, whispering in her ear. ‘Are you OK?’
‘Just knackered,’ she said, feeling his thumb trace a tiny circle on her palm. She held her breath at the intimate, secretive touch and clenched her knees together, suddenly flustered. ‘I think I’m…’ He did it again and inside she softened, longing for the moment they could be alone. ‘I’m ready for my bed. I think I’ll go up now.’ She squeezed his hand, sure he would follow her lead.
‘Me too. Funny how travelling makes you so tired.’
‘Yes, we’ve sat on our backsides most of the day or…’ She couldn’t stifle the yawn that broke free. ‘Or done nothing but eat.’ Now she’d started yawning she couldn’t stop.
‘Sorry folks, I’m done in.’ She pulled back from the table. ‘Goodnight.’
Luke stayed put and nodded at her, and she felt the plummet of disappointment in her stomach. Swallowing down her frustration, she left to a chorus of goodnights from everyone at the table, including Luke. Just as she reached the stairs, she realised she’d forgotten to collect her coat and bag from where she’d abandoned them on the sofa in the lounge. It felt like far too much effort. She eyed the stairs, already a mountain to climb. The coat and bag could wait until morning.
She was halfway up the flight when Luke came up behind, clutching both.
‘You forgot these.’ His face lit up with a slow smile.
‘Thank you.’ She was cooler with him, still not sure where she stood with him. ‘I was too lazy to go back for them.’
Luke reached up and touched her face. ‘I didn’t want everyone to put two and two together if I left at the same time as you. I was worried it might look too obvious.’
‘Too obvious.’
‘How desperate I am to kiss you again.’
Mina laughed. ‘Subtlety doesn’t really work with me. I’m easily confused by it.’
He fell into step with her as they climbed the last flights in silent accord.
When they reached the corridor with their rooms, they paused outside his bedroom door in that slightly so-what-happens-now moment. It shimmered between them for a second before he took her bag and coat from her with gentle hands. She thought it rather gentlemanly until he dropped them on the floor with a thud and a rustle of feathers, and placed his hands on her hips, pulling her towards him with determined intent in his eyes that made her heart miss a beat.
‘I have been waiting all day to do this, but if you don’t want me to kiss you…’ His eyes flashing with sincerity moved over her face with a desperate urgency. ‘Speak now or forever hold your peace.’
‘Who needs peace?’ she said with involuntary huskiness, heady with anticipation, as butterflies stirred in her stomach and her pulse thudded so hard she felt as if her entire body was vibrating. ‘I want you to kiss me. I want to kiss you.’ She slipped her arms around his neck, her fingers playing across the warm skin, tangling slightly in the long curls. The anticipation and desire had been simmering between them all the way back from Broc, and now she felt positively light-headed.
‘Skiing? Tomorrow? Afternoon?’ asked Luke, as if anxious to get that said and done before more important matters. She nodded, and she wasn’t sure who kissed who first, but she did know that she could die a happy woman. His lips were soft as they made a leisurely exploration of her mouth with slow, careful movements that made her feel as if he was savouring her like fine chocolate.
