Page 20 of All the Gossip from Paris
“Won’t you stay for breakfast?” asked Sophie, when they woke later that morning. She was standing in the doorway between the dining and living spaces, coffee cup in hand, watching while Liam was busy sorting through his camera gear.
After methodically cleaning each lens, he carefully put them back into the main case. When he was done, he stuffed the case into his satchel. It was a ritual he’d undertaken every day since becoming a full time photographer. It helped to calm his mind.
“I wish I could stay.”
Given half the chance, he’d still be in bed with Sophie. In the early hours of the morning, after their third round of sex, he’d fallen into a deep sleep. His last memory was of Sophie snuggled up in his arms, and him whispering ‘sweet dreams’ to her in the darkness. Liam couldn’t remember the last time he’d woken feeling so refreshed after only a few hours of sleep.
But today was the day of Camille’s fashion runway show. And as much as he wished he could spend more time with Sophie, chatting over Eggs Benedict, his packed schedule wouldn’t allow him such an indulgence. The film crew was due at The Really Big Space at eleven. He had to be on site to ensure everything was ready for Camille’s fashion week debut.
“I really do wish I didn’t have to run off like this?—.”
Liam had washed down the remaining half of his midnight cookie with a cup of the finest coffee he’d ever tasted. That quick meal would have to see him through until after the show was finished. It would be a long day before the film crew packed up and left.
Sophie moved into the room. Liam’s gaze fell momentarily on the Sak’s Fifth Avenue bags she held in her hands. “Don’t forget these,” she said.
Guilt tugged at Liam as she dropped the bags on the floor next to him. Earlier, while Sophie had been in the shower, he’d put on the t-shirt and briefs that had been in one of the bags. Then he’d carefully folded up the rest of the clothes. He’d left them in a neat pile on a coffee table in the living space, with the hope that she wouldn’t notice he hadn’t taken them until after he was gone.
But she’d obviously spotted them and put them back into the Sak’s department store bags. If he didn’t take the clothes, she would be offended.
“Then why don’t you stay? Have a proper breakfast. I’m sure Cami and Ryan won’t be bothered if you arrive a touch later than expected. My sister isn’t an ogre,” said Sophie.
He caught the hint of a plea in her voice, and it tugged at his heart. Liam sat back on his haunches and let out a sigh. “I wish I could. Last night was amazing. Unforgettable.”
His deep regret at having to leave Sophie forced Liam to offer up a little more of an explanation. “I owe your sister and my brother big time. The fact that they have agreed to let me try and make up for the mess I caused them means a lot. I don’t honestly deserve it. I have to make sure that everything today is perfect.”
He didn’t want to get too much into the details with Sophie. But he owed her more than just a ‘thanks, and see you later’.
After closing up his satchel and tightening up the buckle, Liam got to his feet. Sophie handed him the bags once more. He nodded, and took them.
“Thanks, Sophie. I mean for everything.”
The long slow kiss they shared came easily. And not for the first time, did Liam wish that he and Sophie didn’t live on separate continents. That their lives weren’t so vastly different.
Maybe. Maybe my heart is finally healing. I could be ready to find love again.
Sophie took a step back. “Don’t be too hard on yourself Liam. You created a bit of a headache for your brother and my sister, but they know you meant well. From what I hear all the legal stuff with the producers of Bachelors on the Beach has now been sorted.”
Liam glanced at his watch. Like it or not, it was time for him to leave. “Are you sure you won’t be staying in New York after today?” he asked. Even one more day would be fantastic if he could spend it with Sophie.
“I’m not sure if you know much about how the global fashion week calendar works. New York is usually first, then London, Milan, and finally Paris. But haute couture week has already been on for this half of the year. The team at my family’s atelier is working night and day to fulfil orders. While at the same time we have to start planning for the next haute couture week which is in late January. We can’t possibly afford to spend any more time in the US.”
I get it.
Last night was a one-time thing. They’d both had fun, but now it was over.
Liam headed toward the door, and Sophie followed. He offered her one last smile. “Thank you for everything.”
He paused in the foyer. This was hard. But it made sense to draw a line under their connection. “I was thinking that maybe we should keep what happened last night just between the two of us. I don’t want to make things awkward with Camille or Ryan. Especially now that I know they are a couple,” he said.
A wistful look appeared briefly on Sophie’s face. It was there and gone in the blink of an eye. “Yes, who knows what the future will hold for those two? So we should say it was un petite erreur. Let’s leave it at that, for everyone’s sake. Take care of yourself Liam.”
She opened the door, and he stepped out into the small landing. Sophie moved quickly to the elevator panel and pressed the button to call the next car. When the elevator arrived, Liam stepped into it.
He turned to face Sophie. “What does un petite erreur mean exactly?” he asked.
The doors began to close, and Sophie waved him goodbye.
“Un petite erreur. It was a small mistake. Goodbye Liam. Good luck for the fashion show.”
