She took a ragged breath that she had to force into her lungs, made herself look straight at him. He was standing there, almost naked, his superb body illuminated in the morning sun, every muscle, every sinew, every honed contour. The body she had once known so intimately and now knew again.
A wave of desire washed through her, weakening her limbs, setting that disastrous fatal flame running through her again. Looking him in the face was no better. His darkening expression sculpting the planes of his face, narrowing his lidded eyes.
“Laurel,listento me.”
But she would not. Could not. Dared not. Could only plunge away from him, heart still pounding frantically, towards the communicating door, getting through it.
Locking it against him.
Against the disaster she had let happen, falling into Xander’s arms. His bed.
Xander watched her go, frustration filling him. His eyes went to the bed, the tangled bedclothes. Memory flooded. Last night had been unforgettable indeed.
But more indeed, than just the past returning.
He felt emotion move within him, inchoate, powerful. Urging him to drag Laurel back.
But now was not the time. Dan would wake soon, and his day would begin. With an indrawn breath he headed to the en suite. His mouth twisted again. Maybe a cold shower would be good.
As he emerged again, freshly shaved, he started to get himself dressed, heard the communicating door open and glanced round. It was Dan.
Xander’s expression warmed. “Hi there,” he said.
“Happy Easter!” Dan beamed. He advanced into the room. “I’ve got an Easter egg for you, but it’s at home, as I couldn’t tell Mum we’d be spending the night here after the Easter Jamboree.” He looked expectantly at Xander.
Xander laughed, mood lifting. How could it not? He ruffled Dan’s hair. Gave him the answer he was obviously hoping for.
“Yes, I’ve got yours here but you can’t have it till after breakfast, okay, or it will spoil your appetite!”
“Okay,” said Dan. “Is it time for breakfast now?” he asked.
“Why not?” Xander replied. “If your mum is ready?”
“She’s having a bath. A very long one. It’s full of bubbles. She said you and me should go down first.”
“Did she now?” Xander’s voice was dry.
He glanced at the time. “Okay, go back and tell her we’re heading down, but give her only fifteen minutes max to join us!”
Dan nodded, and ran back through, and Xander heard him repeating his message to Laurel. He was back a moment later, taking Xander’s hand in his. “Let’s go,” he said enthusiastically. “I’m starving!”
Hand in hand with his son, Xander headed off. His thoughts were full but very clear. Clearer than they had been since he had discovered his son’s existence.
Now all that was necessary was to make them clear to Laurel as well. Resolution filled him, because this time she would hear him out. So very much depended on it.
Somehow, Laurel got through breakfast. Dan and Xander were already halfway through when she joined them. She was back in her shabby clothes from the previous day, hair knotted, face free of make-up, and somehow it served as armour for her. Yet even so, Xander’s eyes swept over her, making her heart pound. She focussed all her attention on Dan, who was well stuck into sausages, hash browns, and an excessive amount of ketchup.
“Dad says you loved last night!” he said to her. “He says you were the most beautiful lady there! He says you both ate yummy food and drank champagne, all fizzy, and there was music and songs and a band, and then you danced!” His eyes were bright, alight with pleasure that she had so enjoyed her Easter treat.
“It was a lovely evening, Dan,” she said. Lied.
Lovely until I committed an act of unforgiveable insanity…
“It was indeed, Dan, a lovely evening together.” Xander’s deep voice echoed. He was putting away a full English. Laurel made do with sliced fruit and yogurt. All she could manage.
She looked brightly at Dan. Too brightly.
“When you’ve finished your breakfast, Dad can take you swimming. I’ll just stay here, I think, and have another cup of tea.”
