But he’s so wonderful and maybe, just maybe… said her devil.
‘Yeah, the artist was commissioned to make lions and was using a dead lion from London Zoo as a model. By the time he got to the paws, the lion had decomposed so badly he couldn’t really make them look realistic. So the paws look more like house cat paws than lion paws. That was all he had to work with,’ sherambled. She stared straight ahead, at one of the great, bronze lions, but she couldfeelGrayson looking at her.
Lorelai knew it was a bad idea but she glanced at Grayson who was looking down at her, his face arranged into an expression of slightly amused adoration. A look she’d never seen focused on her before. Lorelai could feel that pull in her chest and for the briefest of moments, she leaned in. Grayson raised his eyebrows, asking the silent question. Lorelai couldn’t stop. The kiss was inevitable, they were at the point of no return. His eyes were closing and he’d stopped just centimetres from her face, allowing her to come to him in her own time. He was so beautiful, and kind, and he made her laugh. She could just—
Cries of pain.
Dripping blood.
Crunching metal.
Bones breaking.
The images were like bullets to her brain. What was she doing?! As much as her body yearned for that physical touch, the feeling of being kissed by Grayson, it couldn’t happen. She couldn’t watch him die. She couldn’t open herself up to that kind of pain and grief. It didn’t matter about the angels and devils whispering in her ear. She had feelings for Grayson; she was falling for him. Watching the life leave this man’s eyes would be the end of her.
Lorelai pulled back, and then she ran.
She ran back up the steps towards the National Gallery, past the Garrick Theatre and kept going until she got to Leicester Square station. She flew down the steps and she didn’t pause for breath until she was on the first train, any train, that would take her far away from Grayson Brady.
Seventeen
When she returned home, Joanie wanted to hear everything about her day.
‘Where did you go? What was he wearing? What did you talk about? Are you seeing him again?’ She was holding a can of gin and tonic. Lorelai grabbed it and drained half of it in one mouthful.
‘I’ve had enough with the questions for one day, Joanie. Let’s not do this now, OK?’
‘What does that mean? Did he ask a lot of questions? Did you ask him a lot of questions? Is he amazing? Is he too good to be true? Is he a serial killer?’
Lorelai massaged the bridge of her nose, a headache brewing behind her eyes. She pushed her way past Joanie into the living room, drained the last of the tin and sat down heavily on the sofa.
‘Joanie. Calm down. It’s over.’
There was a long silence. Lorelai hoped Joanie would take the hint and leave her alone but no such luck.
‘What do you mean “it’s over”? What did you do?’ Joanie stood over her, hands on her hips.
‘What didIdo? What didhedo?’ Lorelai pressed her face into a cushion.
‘Whatdidhe do?!’
‘Hmm trmmm tom kimmm mmm,’ Lorelai mumbled into the pillow.
‘Lollie!’ Joanie sat down next to Lorelai and whacked her on the arm.
‘OW! Joanie!’ Lorelai stood up. Feeling her headache press against the back of her prickling eyes, Lorelai turned away and faced her bookshelves. ‘He tried to kiss me.’
‘What happened to the “just friends” thing?’ Joanie asked.
‘Wewereonly friends!’ A hot tear trickled down Lorelai’s face. She felt numb.
‘Was it the same way Riggs tried to kiss you? Did he force himself on you?’ Joanie came up behind Lorelai and wrapped her arms around Lorelai’s waist, resting her cheek in between her shoulder blades.
‘No. It wasn’t like that. He didn’t actually kiss me. I didn’t let him.’
‘Why not?’
‘You know why.’
