Page 6 of Twin Flames
‘I’m exhausted. I slept badly last night; the fall must have unsettled me. I have a morning meeting so I’d prefer to sleep at home and get an early one. You know I sleep best at my place.’
‘How about some company?’
‘That’s very sweet of you, but I wouldn’t be any fun tonight with this thumping headache. My eyes feel as though they’re about to shut any minute. I can’t wait to go to sleep.’
Cara laughed in an attempt to lighten the rejection. It was unkind, but she couldn’t face a night with Daniel amongst the jumbled chaos circulating in her mind.
She needed to be alone.
Cara had met Daniel when she’d attended a court hearing five years earlier, and he had pursued her. The initial friendship had grown into a steady relationship, championed by Daniel. Cara had been hesitant to get involved after a bad break-up, but Daniel was determined. He sent flowers every day. He wooed her with gifts and took her on a romantic trip to Paris. Cara was flattered by the attention, and she began to spend more time with him.
He was determined to marry her, but she was resistant and tried to keep things casual for as long as possible.
She was deeply fond of Daniel in a quiet, steady fashion, but she had no passionate urge to become his wife, and so was in no rush to reach the altar. They hadn’t yet set a date for the wedding. She’d agreed to marry him only because she didn’t want to lose what they had, and she had run out of acceptable reasons to delay. He was a difficult man to say no to. It was a good match on paper; they got on well and had similar values.
Daniel had three grown children from his previous marriage which suited Cara perfectly, although she wasn’t sure why. All she knew was that she lacked the motivation to have children which featured so prevalently in many of her female friends’ lives.
Daniel was successful, solid and set in his ways. He knew what he wanted, and he wanted Cara. Sometimes she suspected he viewed her as another sensible purchase, much like his investment portfolio. It didn’t trouble her. She appreciated him and was settled into their predictable life together. Until now.
The following morning her phone rang.
‘Hello?’ Cara knew intuitively it was George.
‘This is Cara.’
She pretended she had no idea who was calling. Her pulse raced, but you’d never have guessed from her tone. She was determined to be smoother in her exchange with him this time.
‘Hi. It’s George. It was quite the surprise to see you last night.’
‘Yes, it was.’
‘It seems we’re destined to keep bumping into each other. I was meaning to give you another quick call to see how you’re doing, after, what shall we call it: the bookshop blackout?’
He was delightful. She loved the rich, deep timbre of his voice. She found him incredibly sexy.
‘I’m embarrassed just at the thought. I still can’t believe I actually blacked out.’
George cleared his throat, ‘I was wondering whether you might fancy joining me for a spot of lunch today. I’m intrigued to hear more about your work. I thought that perhaps we might collaborate as there’s a definite synergy with what we do.’
A smile spread across Cara’s wide mouth. Then Daniel’s stern expression popped into her mind as she contemplated this dangerous but compelling invitation. She should decline; going out to lunch with a man to whom she was deeply attracted didn’t seem like a sensible move. Daniel had already been frosty about their previous meeting. There was no need to poke the bear and complicate matters.
‘I’d love to. What time and where shall we meet?’ The words rushed out before she could moderate them. The pull was irresistible. She was drawn to him. She couldn’t shake the mysterious visions of them together in another time and place. She must find out more about him, then and now.
‘How about The Star Inn on the river, as it’s such a beautiful day?’ said George.
‘Sounds perfect. I’ve not been there for years, but I remember it well.’
He said he would make reservations for a table overlooking the river and they agreed to meet outside.
Oh lord, I’m in trouble.
At the office, Cara oscillated between apprehension and excitement at the prospect of having lunch with him in a few hours. Anticipation bubbled within her, and she couldn’t concentrate.
The traffic was heavy, and her car hummed slowly through the narrow streets towards the river. She tapped her fingers on the leather steering wheel and looked at the crowds of tourists, chatting and taking photos. Her stomach had knitted itself into tight knots.
Cara pulled into the car park, a couple of minutes after one o’clock. She approached the restaurant. There he was, standing to one side of the entrance looking at his phone. He wore smart beige trousers and a crisp white shirt which set off his dark eyes perfectly. He looked up, smiling.
‘Sorry I’m a bit late,’ she said. ‘The traffic was awful. The tourist season has officially begun.’
