Page 55 of Love Is: Two Bodies One Soul

ChapterSeventeen

When the girlsarrived for work the following day, Owen was already at his desk, engrossed in something on his screen. He turned and smiled guardedly.

‘Hi.’ Lexie smiled back, shrugging out of her coat. ‘You okay?’

‘I’m fine, thanks.’ He stood up. ‘George wants to see us.’

‘Are we in trouble?’

‘Don’t think so. I sorted things with George about the Harley Street photos. I think he understood. So, we’re back in his good books for the moment.’

‘Ah, there you are,’ George said, shutting off his monitor. ‘There’s been a change of plans today. Owen tells me he needs to be on the South Coast this weekend.’

‘Oh, I didn’t know.’ Lexie looked again at Owen, wondering if he’d changed his mind about telling George about Roger?

‘A private matter,’ Owen said.

‘So,’ George went on, ‘We’ve rescheduled the dentist for next week.’

Owen interrupted, ‘Not because I’m afraid of dentists, but because I suggested we went to Brighton this morning and do a feature on the place. Something historical on the Royal Pavilion or contemporary, like a seaside resort out of season, maybe both, if there’s time. I’ll need your help, Lex. Is that okay with you?’

‘Of course.’

George clapped his hands together. ‘Right, great, that’s sorted. Get yourselves down to Brighton ASAP, and I’ll see the pair of you Monday.’ Then grinning on an afterthought, he added, ‘And no hanky-panky, Owen. Lexie, watch out for this man. He’s always been a bit of a love-em and leave-em, babe magnet.’

* * *

Brighton was dry,almost warm in the tranquil October sunshine. Stepping from the train, Lexie breathed in sea salt, mingling with the earthy-metallic smell of a railway station. Gulls, high on the roof, shrieked a greeting.

‘I can’t believe this is your first visit to Brighton,’ she said as they walked together along the platform.

‘Well, it really is,’ Owen said. ‘Perhaps you can recommend somewhere for me to stay. Low budget, of course. I don’t want to get George into any more trouble with the brothers.’

‘You don’t need to go to a hotel. I have a spare bedroom,’ Lexie said, grateful Kate wasn’t with them. She’d be spluttering with laughter. Spare bedroom indeed! Don’t pretend you don’t want Owen in your bed.

Perhaps Kate was right, Lexie conceded to herself, admitting she had been disappointed with Owen’s chaste parting cheek kiss last night. Maybe she did want Owen. But not yet. She needed to be certain about him and her own feelings. The last few days had been an emotional roller coaster in which she’d gone from thinking he was the worst possible man in the world to maybe the best, but she’d already made too many mistakes with her love life. She didn’t want to add Owen to the long list of regrets.

Jolted out of her thoughts by Owen placing his hand on her back to let her go through the ticket barrier first, she heard him calling after her, ‘That’s kind of you. I hate hotels, even expensive ones, but better not. George would think I rigged things to have a dirty weekend with you. You heard what he said in the office.’

Grinning, she glanced over her shoulder. ‘Do you mean the thing about you being a babe magnet?’

‘Yes.’ His brow crumpled. She wasn’t sure if it was embarrassment or uncertainty, but either way it was adorable.

‘Don’t worry. I didn’t take any notice of that. Besides, no one will know, and what would be the problem if you’re in the spare bedroom?’

Still frowning, Owen followed her through the barrier. ‘What about the man in your life, won’t he object?’ he asked.

‘There isn’t a man in my life.’

‘Have I got it wrong? Should I be asking about a woman?’

‘No, you shouldn’t. I’m simply single.’

Owen nodded slowly. ‘I see – you don’t have anyone.’

Standing on the concourse, face to face, Lexie wondered what Owen was thinking. Had she just given him the green light he’d been seeking, or was he not seeking anything? He was difficult to read at the best of times. Now he was impossible.

But whatever had been going through his mind, he seemed then to come to a decision, saying, ‘No, better not. Thank you, a bed & breakfast place somewhere near you would be the best option.’

Pushing aside disappointment stronger than she’d expected, Lexie told him there was a good place just up the road from her home. ‘We can call in there before we start work. Which feature are we doing first?’

‘The Royal Pavilion. I feel the need for a top up on history.’

‘Okay, let’s book your room, then go to my place and dump my stuff. We can get my car. Then we’ll have wheels to get around for the rest of the day.’

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