Anna blushed. ‘They’re lovely.’
‘So are you.’ Leo brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. Anna’s heart, already a dangerously mushy mess, melted some more.
‘They’re perfect.’ She held them against the tablecloth. ‘That’s so thoughtful, thank you.’
‘I have my moments.’ Leo bent at the waist in a little bow.
‘You do. Thank you.’ She’d planned to kiss him briefly to show her thanks but when he looked at her like that, smiling, happy and just such a ray of sunshine, she forgot herself, wrapped her arms around him in a spontaneous hug and kissed him right on the mouth.
She felt his smile as her lips pressed against his and his hands moved around her body to cup her bottom, pulling her tighter against him. The kiss deepened and turned into something entirely different but Anna cast all care aside, enjoying each touch, her senses tuned into the moment. Warm hands, the scent of roses, a softness inside, nerve endings dancing and Leo’s mouth roving over hers. His breath mixing with hers.
She pulled back and looked at Leo, the steady blue eyes unwavering as he stared back at her. Her heart tripped and she felt the fall. She was in love with him and this time it was something very different. She’d changed. Now, she was her own person. Someone who wasn’t going to worry about anyone else’s views or opinions, someone who didn’t need to fit the family mould. She was whatever-shaped Anna she wanted to be and she could do whatever she wanted.
‘Shall I light the fire?’ he asked and then grinned at the unintended double entendre.
‘I think that horse has well and truly bolted,’ said Anna, laughing back at him as he struck a match and set light to the pile of kindling and firelighters he’d laid in the grate earlier.
The buzz of the intercom interrupted them once again, and this time Anna went to the front door to find Zdenka and her friend Lubica on the doorstep.
‘Hello,’ said Anna, who had quite forgotten that the two women had been invited. Bathed in the golden glow of Leo’s attention, she beamed at the other woman. ‘Come in. Let me take your coats.’ Zdenka blinked, clearly surprised by her effusive welcome.
‘Thank you for having us,’ said Lubica, presenting Anna with a beautiful box of Steiner & Kovarik praline chocolates.
‘Yes,’ said Zdenka, brushing an imaginary piece of lint from her striking fuchsia dress. For once Anna didn’t feel dazzled by her vibrant attractiveness, she felt her equal. Smiling to herself at this revelation, she led the other woman up the stairs.
‘Leo.’ Zdenka greeted him as if she hadn’t seen him for years and kissed him on each cheek. ‘Lovely to see you.’ Then she lowered her voice but not enough that Anna couldn’t hear. ‘You got my text?’
‘Yes,’ muttered Leo, again as if he didn’t want to be heard. ‘Sounds perfect.’
‘I’ll text you the address and see you there.’ The she raised her voice, ‘And thank you so much for inviting me. It’s such a treat.’ She eyed him flirtatiously.
Anna ignored the brief conversation between them. Clearly they hadn’t wanted anyone else to know but she had to wonder what this arrangement was and when it had been made. It must have been before she and Leo had slept together?
Zdenka was touching his forearm and she said in that low breathy sex-siren voice, ‘I hope you can cook.’
‘Me and Anna are kitchen demons,’ said Leo, smooth as ever, seemingly oblivious to her hungry gaze, and escorted her and Lubica to the sofa, around which Anna had arranged a few of the dining chairs so that they could have drinks around the fire before dinner. ‘Have a seat, ladies. Can I get you a drink?’
Anna told herself off for the brief flare of jealousy. Zdenka was a friend to Leo, and perhaps wanted more, but he wasn’t interested.
Michaela, Jan and Ludmila arrived shortly afterwards, bringing with them a couple of extra chairs.
‘I’ll pick them up again tomorrow, if that’s okay,’ said Jan. ‘Because we’ve got family coming for lunch.’
‘No problem,’ said Anna, as she turned to greet Ludmila, elegant as ever in a powder-blue dress and a matching walking stick.
Michaela caught her by the arm. ‘You look … different.’
Anna blushed. ‘You saw my hair this morning,’ she said. ‘Come in and have a drink. Zdenka and Lubica have arrived. I hope you’re going to like the food. Leo and I have been cooking all day. I made dumplings. Like yours.’
Michaela narrowed her eyes thoughtfully but didn’t say anything, although a small, very slightly smug smile played around her lips.
They joined Zdenka and Lubica as Leo played drinks monitor, and the conversation flowed with remarkable ease. Although with Zdenka, Michaela and Ludmila aboard the entertainment ship, there was never any question of uncomfortable silences.
After twenty minutes, Anna anxiously glanced at the clock. Where was Jakub? Had he chickened out of coming? And where was Karel? Had they each decided not to come because the other was coming? As Leo passed her, going back to the kitchen to top up the drinks, his hand brushed hers.
‘Don’t worry, they’ll be here. They won’t let us down. In the meantime, let’s sit everyone at the table.’
Luckily the minute everyone sat down around the dining table, just as she began serving the marinated cheese starter, Karel rang the intercom and Anna, opening the front door, was relieved to see that Jakub had arrived at the same time.
