Page 28 of Love Me Ever After
“Thanks again, Sonya. We’ve had a good time here. I hope you’ve had the opportunity to speak to Barbara before she leaves?” Robert extended a hand and Sonya shook it.
“Yes, we’re catching up now.” Sonya’s smile seemed genuine, but I noticed it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I thought Ems was following up with Barbara?” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them.
Sonya froze, then recovered her composure. “She went home, said she wasn’t feeling well. I didn’t want her to get worse, so suggested she got some rest.”
“Oh. Right.” That explained her radio silence.
Robert looked between Sonya and I, sensing there was some tension between us he didn’t quite understand. “I have to go if I’m going to get back to London at a decent hour. Mason, good talking to you these past couple of days. Make sure you speak to Barbara and get a slot in my diary in the next month. There are some things coming up I think you’d be perfect for.”
I nodded. “Of course, sounds great, thanks, Robert.”
Someone waved at him from reception and he said his final goodbyes, leaving Sonya and I alone.
“Is Ems really sick?” I asked.
Sonya pursed her lips together. “I sent her home. I hope she’s feeling better by Saturday, there’s a lunch event she needs to be here for.”
I still didn’t quite believe Sonya’s story but not having spoken to Ems, I had nothing to contradict it. “I guess I’ll see her at home then.”
Her eyes narrowed. “It was you, wasn’t it?”
“What was?” I played the innocent, suspecting what she was getting at.
She shook her head. “I know what happened between you and Ems last night. She did something stupid for you. I hope it was worth it.” Then without saying another word, she turned and left, leaving me alone in the foyer.
After she’d gone, I stood there for a couple of moments, trying to piece together what she’d just said. If Sonya had sent Ems home, she must have found out what we’d done in that hotel room. Sure, it was one hell of an assumption, but I had no idea what it could be otherwise. Concern ate at my chest. I had to get home to see if Ems was okay.
It took me nearly an hour to get home, even though I only lived about fifteen minutes away from the hotel. Fraser had caught me, wanting to check whether I was going to Georgie’s family and friends tasting session at the restaurant on Saturday. I kind of hoped Ems and I could go together, but until I spoke to her, I had no idea where her head was at. Then I stopped in the corner shop to get a few things for dinner and bumped into one of the guys from the gym who wanted to train together. By the time I’d made my excuses and got back, I was fit for nothing except falling into bed. But if Ems joined me, I wouldn’t be complaining.
The living room was empty, as was the kitchen. After two days of conference food, I was looking forward to eating something a little different and as soon as I’d spoken to Ems, I’d make us a stir fry with the ingredients I’d just bought.
After putting the chicken and veg into the fridge, I headed upstairs. I hovered outside of Ems’s room, hearing the sound of a television programme through the door. I knocked.
“Come in!” Her tone seemed light and welcoming.
I went into the bedroom, where Ems was curled up on the bed, half-snuggled under the duvet, laptop to the side.
“I thought you were Sara,” she said, not looking over at me.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to disappoint you.”
“You could never do that.” Ems spoke so quietly, I could barely hear her.
“What are you doing home at this time of day?” I asked, pretending not to know anything that had gone on today. “I thought you’d be clearing up after the conference.”
She reached over and pressed pause on the programme she was watching. “I never got the chance. Sonya sent me home.”
Feigning ignorance, I went over to her and perched on the edge of the bed. “How come?”
Ems pushed herself into a sitting position, leaning against the headboard. There was a long pause before she spoke. “She found out what happened between us last night. And how I got the room.”
“Shit, I’m sorry. I never meant for her to find out. Or for you to get into trouble because of it.” I reached over and brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
She reached up and covered my hand with hers. To begin with, I thought she was going to push me away, but instead, she laced her fingers through mine. “I guess you’re worth it,” she admitted.
“That’s good to hear.” I pulled her hand to my lips and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles. “Now, what are your plans for this evening?”
