Cassie shook her head. ‘Not much.’
‘Why?’
‘Well… he was always too busy…’
‘What did he do?’
‘He was a banker.’
‘Sounds it,’ he muttered under his breath. ‘So, basically he didn’t make the effort and expected you to do all the running?’
There was a pregnant pause. Cassie was taken aback by his frankness.
‘I went to London more than he came here, yes.’
Rory tilted his head to one side. ‘I see, so as soon as I mentioned living in London, the barriers came up.’
Cassie swallowed again. ‘Yes,’ she whispered in a small voice, then looked down.
Rory, seeing her so vulnerable, put his hand over hers. Her head jerked up to look at him. Did she have tears in her eyes?
‘Cassie,’ he spoke softly, ‘don’t shut me out.’ He leant forward and kissed her lips. It was a fleeting kiss, but loaded, taking her breath away. He sat back and their eyes met. Cassie gave a shy, knowing smile. Was this a signal? ‘Stay and have dinner with me.’
Cassie’s smile widened, ‘Yes, I’d like that.’
Time flew as the pair of them chatted and laughed in the cosy alcove by the fire. Cassie told him about her family and how she’d always loved living in Lilacwell. Rory had spoken of his childhood, too, in Lancaster.
‘Don’t you miss the north?’ asked Cassie, finishing her glass of wine.
‘Terribly,’ he’d replied, pouring them both another. They were both feeling nicely relaxed from the wine, the warmth of the room, and the effortless flow of conversation.
‘Do you think you’ll ever come back?’ She watched his face closely. His jaw tightened.
‘I dearly hope so.’ He took a sip of wine and gazed straight at her, making Cassie’s heart pound. Their eyes locked, no words necessary. Then, after a moment Rory asked, ‘How about that night cap?’
Together they made their way up the stairs. Cassie opened her door and Rory followed her in. Her room was very spacious, with a split-level floor leading from the living area on the top down a step to the bedroom.
‘Very nice,’ Rory commented, looking round. It was decorated in the same style as his room with antique furniture and heavy curtains to keep out the cold.
‘Thanks. Will gin do? Or should I order coffee?’
‘Gin’s fine, thanks.’
She poured the drinks from a cabinet then came and sat next to him with two large glasses.
‘This is a lovely place to live.’ Rory turned to her and took his drink.
‘It is, but it can be quite suffocating at times, living and working in the same place. You’re always on call.’
‘Do you think you’ll ever leave?’ Rory echoed her question to him from earlier, examining her reaction carefully.
‘I’d really like to be my own boss.’
‘You mean own your own hotel?’
‘My own business. Not necessarily hotel.’ She took a long gulp of her gin and tonic. ‘I like the idea of being my own boss.’
Rory nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. Hadn’t he been having similar thoughts? They really were alike, kindred spirits in so many ways. He put his glass down and stretched out his arm for her to snuggle up to him.
