Page 46 of Fall

“Thank you for this, it’s just amazing,” Tilly tells me, leaning into my side as the helicopter lands. We have to keep our heads low as we move away from the helicopter, and we watch from the door as Mark and the pilot fly away.

“London?” she asks me as she looks around the view of the city from the rooftop we are standing on.

“Have you ever been?”

“No, I’ve always wanted to see it.”

“Well, after tonight, we can spend the morning looking around the tourist parts before we have to fly back. Your mum and dad are coming over to look after baby girl.”

“I would love that. You have planned everything, haven’t you?” she asks, and I chuckle.

“I’ve been planning this date for months, from the first time I kissed you,” I tell her, and she tilts her head to the side.

“Mr. King?” a man asks from the door to the roof, and I take Tilly’s hand in mine as we walk over.

“Yes, and this is Miss Fox,” I say, introducing Tilly while shaking his hand.

“I’m your driver to the theatre tonight, and I will drive you to the hotel afterward,” he tells her, as I already know this.

“Thank you,” Tilly responds.

“We should be going; the show starts in an hour, and the traffic is difficult to get through at this time of night. There are refreshments in the limo,” he tells us.

“Theatre, limo, and a hotel in London?” Tilly whispers as the man opens the door and we follow him to the lift. We wait for the lift to come up after he presses the button.

“You’re worth every second of it,” I whisper back, sliding my fingers up her spine and making her shiver.

“I don’t need fancy things, Harley, I only need you,” she whispers back, and I lean down, kissing her gently.

“I know, but I want this for you. Trust me,” I tell her gently, and she kisses me once more before leaning away. I keep my hand in the middle of her back, not ready to let her step away from me yet.

“Always,” she says, and the lift beeps as it opens. I find myself struggling to look away from her eyes.

“Mr. King?” the man says, and Tilly walks forward into the lift, with me following.

The lift opens up into the entrance hall of the hotel we will be staying at later. We go outside to the limo parked, waiting for us, and the man opens the door. Tilly gets in, and I follow her, waiting for the door to be shut.

“What are we seeing at the theatre?” she asks.

“You remember when I brought roses to your room, and you told me that story about your favourite, childhood story?” I remind her.

“The Princess and the Pea?” she asks in a whisper.

“Well, I found this theatre performance and knew you might like it,” I tell her, watching as her eyes light up, and she has the biggest smile on her face.

“Oh my god. I’ve wanted to see this performance since it was advertised, but the tickets were impossible to get a hold of unless you pay . . .” her voice drifts off.

“It took about a week to find tickets but you're worth it,” I say, and she blushes as she looks down.

“I never thought I’d see the day when your cheeks match your hair,” I say, and she gently hits me on the arm.

“This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me, Harley,” she says gently, and I pick her hand up, kissing the back as gently as her words.

“Then every man before me was an idiot. You should have always been treated like this, and if you let me . . . I want to be yours. I never wanted anything serious before I met you, I didn’t even think of it as an option. But then you stormed into my life, and I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I’m a messed-up man, with a bad past, but I swear I will do anything to give you a perfect future,” I tell her, and her breath catches as a stray tear falls from her eyes. I wipe it away, and she leans her head into my hand.

“I don’t need a perfect future, but I need you at my side; only you, Harley,” she says, and then I lean down and kiss her. The kiss is broken when the limo stops and the door opens a few moments later.

“Wait,” Tilly says when I go to get out.

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