Page 101 of Heart of The Night

She chuckled. ‘You live and you learn.’

‘Yeah. Thank you – seriously.’ I tightened my grip on her hand. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you.’

‘You’d probably say things you shouldn’t.’

I pursed my lips. ‘Probably.’

Chuckling, she stood up. ‘I’ll be right outside if you need me.’ She walked out, closing the door between us.

Taking a deep breath, I went to my desk and picked up my phone, dialling William’s number. It rang once, twice, before his voice came through, warm but laced with tension.

‘Cara?’

‘Hi, Will,’ I greeted, my voice surprisingly steady. ‘Guess what I’m wearing.’

He was quiet for a beat. ‘Something red? Ideally nothing.’

My lips twisted with amusement. ‘Something red and resplendent, yes.’

‘Resplendent,’ he echoed, chuckling. ‘I’m glad you like it.’

‘I love it. Thank you. It was completely unnecessary, of course, but I appreciate it.’

‘You know I’ll grab any chance to spoil you. I’m looking forward to seeing you in it.’

‘Yes, hopefully you’ll be dazzled,’ I replied, referencing what he had written on the card.

He laughed again, and the sound was exhilarating. I hadn’t heard him laugh nearly enough lately.

‘Anyway,’ I murmured, scratching my temple. ‘I was wondering whether I could come over.’

‘You’d like to come over?’ he asked, his shock clear from his tone. It hit me hard, guilt flickering – had I really pushed him so far away?

‘Yeah,’ I said, barely able to keep my sadness from seeping into my voice.

‘Sure, of course.’

‘Great. I’ll be there in about an hour.’

‘Are you spending the night?’

‘If it’s not too much trouble.’

‘Of course not,’ he said firmly. ‘See you in a bit, then.’

‘Yeah.’

He rang off. A slight frown lingered on my face as I slipped out of the dress and carefully hung it in the wardrobe. I changed into the T-shirt William had given me the morning after we first met. It was a deliberate choice; I hoped that when William saw it, he’d perceive it as a reassurance of my continued devotion. I paired it with loose denim shorts, the outfit perfect for the relaxed evening I had in mind.

Grabbing my bag, I packed my laptop and other essentials. With one last glance around the room, I slung the bag over my shoulder and headed out.

§ § §

My heart pounded as I made my way to William’s flat, the familiar route filling me with both excitement and trepidation. By the time I reached the vestibule, I had rehearsed my words countless times, hoping to strike the right balance of reassurance and honesty.

When the front door finally opened, my breath caught in my throat. William’s bright blue eyes met mine, their usual warmth shadowed by a hint of anxiety. He looked effortlessly stunning in a fitted charcoal-grey shirt that hugged his broad shoulders and muscular chest, while dark trousers complemented his lean, powerful legs. His hair, still slightly damp from a shower, framed his face in soft waves. The sight of him, so perfectly put together, sent a jolt of longing through me. In that instant, all the carefully rehearsed words evaporated from my mind, leaving me scrambling for how to begin.

‘Hi,’ he said softly, his eyes lingering on my T-shirt for a moment.

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