Three Weeks Last Spring

by Howard, Victoria

  Skye remained silent.

  "Exactly! You can't remember anymore than I can."

  "Get out of here and let me do some work, before I change my mind."

  John held up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm going. Just don't stay too late; I don't like to be kept waiting." He closed the door behind him, and a heard a soft thud, followed by laughter.

  Skye picked up her notebook from behind the door, and sat down. She turned and stared out of the window towards Tower Bridge. She had come a long way from being the pathetic creature that had stepped off the plane from Seattle five months ago.

  In the first few days following her desperate flight from Walker, she had decided that her feelings for him weren't going to ruin her life. Instead she pushed all thoughts of him to the back of her mind and determinedly set about building a future for herself.

  While her memories of Walker were stark and raw, she hadn't sat around moping like a lovesick kitten. There was no point. He'd made it blatantly obvious he didn't trust her, even though he appeared to change his mind during the last few hours they had spent in each other's company. No, she'd reasoned, if he really loved her, he would have been in touch. Instead, all she had received was a cheque in the mail in settlement of her fee. No phone calls, not even so much as a 'thank you' note.

  The new software was an outstanding success and countries around the world queued up to buy it. Dunbar and Ridge Computer Consultants had gained worldwide acclaim and were now financially secure.

  On the strength of this, John had rushed out and purchased a new car that was able to go from nought to death in less than six seconds. He scared the life out of her every time he roared into the car park and no doubt she would require a week of tranquillizers to regain her equilibrium after he'd driven her home. Not to mention a shoehorn to get into it in the first place.

  John hummed tunelessly as he walked the short distance to his office. Skye's transformation was amazing. She had regained her confidence and with it her strength of character. She'd always been beautiful to him, even at eighteen with a mouth full of braces, but over the last couple of months she'd blossomed like some exotic flower. Not only was she stunningly attractive and highly intelligent, both qualities he admired but rarely found in a woman, she also possessed some rare inner quality that made her stand out from the crowd.

  Whilst he hadn't approved when she had once more thrown herself head long into her work, he'd kept quiet, later admitting to himself that it kept her mind off Walker. And it wasn't just work that had brought about this change in her. In the last five months, she had learned to sign for the deaf, scuba dive and fence, and they were the things he knew about. She managed to fill every spare hour with some activity. And then there was that special project she was working on. The one she was so secretive about. He had a feeling it wasn't related to work—but what was she planning?

  Things were finally going his way. He was very careful, not to mention Walker's name in her presence. Why keep her mind focused on the past when the present was far more important, especially to him? Given the chance he would have welcomed the opportunity to teach the Walker a lesson or two for his despicable behavior towards her.

  ***

  Skye emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel. She opened the doors of her wardrobe and wondered what to wear. Moving the hangers along the rail, she selected a long skirt and matching blouse then discarded them in favour of a trouser suit.

  Ordinarily she would have worn her favourite jade colored dress—the same dress she had worn on Debbie's last night at the cabin. The same night that Walker had joined them for dinner. Skye sat down on the bed, her legs suddenly weak.

  "Damn you, Walker! You could have called me or written after all I did for you. You can't even do the decent thing and send me my suitcase. I bet you've thrown it into the sea in a fit of pique. Well, I hope you rot in hell!"

  Whilst it had been darned inconvenient, clothes and personal items could be replaced—a broken heart took somewhat longer to mend. Determined not to let thoughts of Walker spoil her evening, Skye held the suit up and stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror. Twisting this way and that, she used her left hand to hold her hair up off her shoulders and neck. It was too business-like for an evening with a friend.

  She riffled through the hangers, and settled on a calf length floral strapless summer dress, with a fitted bodice, in shades of yellow and gold. A little bit frivolous perhaps, but somehow it suited her mood. She pinned her hair up on the top of her head, and left some tendrils to fall in soft curls around her face.

  The doorbell rang just as she put the finishing touches to her make up. She collected her wrap and purse off the bed, and went downstairs to open the door.

  For a moment John didn't know what to say, Skye was a vision of loveliness that quite simply took his breath away.

  "You look stunning." Unable to stop himself, his hand slipped around her waist, and he softly kissed her cheek.

  Taken aback by his reaction, Skye stepped to one side, smiling self-consciously.

  "My, my, more compliments. You'll give me a big head if you're not careful. You don’t look bad either." She said, admiring his striking appearance in a well-tailored suit. But wow! Your cologne's so strong it would gas a badger, she added silently. She took a deep breath. "I don't look any different now than when I walked into your office as a freshman all those years ago. Only older."

  "If I recall, you were wearing jeans ripped at the knee, your hair was in a pony tail and your teeth had enough metalwork to cover Buckingham Palace. The dress is a definite improvement." He gave her legs a long appraising look. "As for the rest—I'll be the one to judge how you look. Are you ready?"

  Skye stared at the gleaming, sleek, red Ferrari parked on her driveway.

  "You are sure you can handle that thing? You won't drive too fast will you? I'd rather like to arrive looking as I do now, not as if I've been pulled through a hedge backwards at ninety miles an hour."

  "I promise I won't go over the posted speed limit, even if it makes us late for our table." He held open the passenger door. "Now, I hope you don't mind, but I thought we'd dine out of town. I've booked a table at a place in Richmond down by the river. It's such a lovely evening I thought you would enjoy the setting."

  The leather of the seat felt cold against her skin, Skye watched in admiration as John lowered his tall frame into the impossibly low car. Her fingers tightened imperceptibly on her small evening purse as the engine started with a growl and the needle on the speedometer climbed frighteningly quickly. Twenty minutes later, when John pulled smoothly into the restaurant's car park, Skye breathed a sigh of relief. Tranquillizers for a week? Make that two and triple strength, she mentally amended as John handed her out of the passenger seat.

  The restaurant was impressive, the décor tasteful, and the lighting subdued. As the waiter showed them to their table, John smiled secretively. He'd chosen this restaurant especially for its quiet and sophisticated ambiance. When a waiter appeared at their table with a rose, Skye was rendered momentarily speechless. She accepted it graciously and breathed in its heady bouquet.

  "If you treat all your lady friends this way they must be very impressed."

  "You're the exception. The others are lucky if they get a McDonald's Happy Meal."

  Two dimples appeared in Skye's cheek as she suppressed her giggles.

  "Yeah, right, and I just stepped off the boat last week. So, why all this? Are you after a pay rise, because if so, the answer's no."

  "Skye, if I wanted a pay rise I'd take one. Does there have to be a reason for us to have dinner?"

  "No, but this is pushing the boat way out the other side of the ocean."

  "So?"

  "So, we could have gone somewhere, well, less expensive."

  "How do you know how expensive this is? There are no prices on your menu."

  "Exactly! That's what's worrying me."

  "Relax, I can afford it."

  "Yes
, but can I? Or is this my share of the profits you're spending?"

  John's smile deepened into laughter. It was good, to see the teasing laughter back in her eyes. Not only did she look stunning, but for the first time in months, she was radiantly happy too. The feelings of protectiveness that he'd felt for so long turned into something far deeper and sensuous. He could barely stop himself from staring, and every time his gaze met hers, he felt a rush of something far more intense than just friendship.

  Skye sipped her wine, and agreed that John's choice of restaurant was a good one. The food was superb and cooked to perfection, the wine heady and the company amusing. And, lingering over desert, she admitted she felt a sense of contentment.

  John guided her out of the restaurant towards his car.

  "Once round the universe or home?"

  "Home, please. Whilst I have no doubt that this car is more than capable of gravity defying speeds, I would prefer you to keep all four wheels on the road, if you don't mind."

  John merely nodded. Although his fingers held the wheel lightly, inside he was anything but calm. He manoeuvered the Ferrari out of the parking bay and opened the throttle. The evening had gone well, but it wasn't over yet.

  A short time later, he took Skye's key out of the lock and handed it to her, his large hand lingering in hers slightly longer than necessary. He leaned forward and gently kissed her cheek.

  "Thank you for a lovely evening," said Skye. "Would you like to come in for a coffee?"

  John allowed Skye's question to hang on the air for a moment before answering.

  "I'd like that, but only if you're sure it's not too late."

  "I don't think I'll turn into Cinderella just yet. Go through and take a seat in the study and help yourself to a brandy. I'll bring the tray through in a moment."

  John wandered around the room, before standing next to the fireplace. He always felt comfortable in Skye's home. The study opened out onto her garden and on warm summer evenings she would throw back the patio doors and allow the heady scents to fill the room. Of the two reception rooms, this was his favorite. Small, comfortable and filled with books, it had a cozy intimate feeling, which he preferred over the more formal lounge with its elegant fixtures and furniture that she used for entertaining.

  "Put a match to the fire if you're feeling a little chilly." Skye placed the tray on the table in front of the sofa.

  "I'm not cold. How about you?"

  "I'm fine. But I will have a brandy if you're pouring."

  John crossed to the cabinet where Skye kept the decanter. He carried it back to the table, and poured two generous measures into the snifters she had placed on the tray. He sat next to her on the sofa. Relaxing back into the cushions, he crossed his long legs and took a sip from his glass. The amber liquid slid down his throat, warming the pit of his stomach. He placed his own glass on the table and reached over and took Skye's from her hand, a strange eager look flashed into his eyes.

  "There’s something I want to ask to you."

  "What is it?"

  Uncertain of what her reaction would be, John hesitated and gathered his thoughts. He'd been rehearsing what to say for days, and now the moment had arrived, his mind was filled with a crazy mixture of hope and fear. Awkwardly, he cleared his throat.

  "We've known each other what, thirteen years?"

  "Fifteen, but who's counting?"

  "And during that time, we've come to know each other really well. We know each other's mood swings, strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes. We rarely argue. In fact we make a darned good team."

  "I suppose we do, but where are you going with this? Do you want to break up the partnership? Is that what you’re saying?"

  "That's the very last thing on my mind."

  "Then I don't understand. Is there a problem?"

  He took Skye's left hand in his, and watched her face for any sign of objection.

  "What I am trying to say is this; Skye, will you marry me?" His intense brown eyes met her blue ones as he took the small jeweller’s box from his pocket with his free hand.

  "John, I… it's…" Skye's lower lip trembled. As she tried to comprehend what she was hearing, John's stammering voice became a buzz in her ears.

  "Don't answer me yet. Hear me out. I've loved you from the first day I saw you, but both of us were young and I had nothing to offer you back then. But it's different now. I'm financially secure."

  Skye stared at him in disbelief. "John, I… You've taken me so completely by surprise that I… I don't know what to say. We've been friends for so long and I never—" The words wedged in her throat. "But marry you?" Skye stared at the diamond sparkling in the jeweller’s box. She needed time to think and with raw hurt evident in John’s eyes, she couldn't do that. She went and stood by the window, her body trembling with shock.

  John remained motionless for a moment, and then propelled by some unseen force, he crossed the room in two quick strides and took her into his arms. Skye kept her hands by her side, and tilted her head back so that she could see his face.

  "All these years, I've loved you as a brother. I've never thought of you in any other way. You've always been such a rock for me, always there when I needed you. I know you've asked me in the past, but I always assumed you were teasing me."

  "Teasing you?"

  Skye knew she'd said the wrong thing. Choosing her words carefully, she tried hard to explain. "Yes, teasing. I've lost count of the number of times you've asked me to marry you. The first was on my twenty-first birthday, and you've done so every year since. But I always assumed…always treated it as our private joke."

  "At first, it was. But I've come to realize just how much I love you."

  "If I gave you the impression that we were anything more than friends, I'm sorry." The disappointment and anguish she saw in his eyes was almost her undoing. "I don't want to lose your friendship. Don't make me be the one to hurt you."

  A half smile crossed his face, his arms tightened around her waist and he inclined his head to hers.

  "Sleep on it. Don't give me your answer tonight. Think things over—take as long as you need. We've got plenty of time. I understand you may not feel the same way about me now, but given time—" His words hung heavily on the air.

  Skye leaned lightly into him, feeling the warmth of his body. She opened her mouth to say something, but John silenced her with a fingertip.

  "I've more than enough love for both of us and I know, given the chance, I could make you happy. A lot of couples start out as friends and make a marriage work. And I think we could too. I'm sure when you've had chance to think things through, you'll agree. In the meantime, I'd be honoured if you would wear this." He touched her left hand to his lips, and kissed the ring he placed on her finger.

  A lump formed in Skye's throat, the words wouldn't form, all she could do was rest her head on his shoulder and allow him to hold her. His hands stroked her back. When she relaxed against his chest, he brought his hand up to caress her cheek then gently tipped her mouth to his.

  Skye poured herself another glass of brandy from the decanter and struggled to put the events of the evening into perspective. She lifted the glass to her lips, and took a sip. Life was certainly full of surprises and none more so than that evening. And what an emotionally charged time it had turned out to be. A proposal from John was the last thing she'd expected and his refusal to accept her assertion that they could only be friends, had left her feeling embarrassed and at a loss at what to say.

  She kicked off her shoes, and drew her legs up on the sofa. John was certainly attractive—a loveable rogue someone had once described him. There was an inherent strength in his face that was echoed in his character. He wasn't classically handsome, but he had an inner quality which women found attractive. In fact, some she knew even declared him to be downright sexy, although she never saw it herself. But to her, he was John. Her best friend and business partner, the brother she'd never had. But her husband?

  Skye rotated her
neck trying to ease the tension in her shoulders, but it didn't help. The more she thought about John's offer, the more her head ached and the more confused she became. This wasn't a decision to be made lightly. Marriage? That was what she wanted, wasn't it? To be married, to have a family, children of her own. But marriage implied love and not just on one side.

  She had no doubt that marriage to John would be safe, for he would never let her down. He was dependable and financially secure, but was he the one for her? She wasn’t sure. And, she was crazy even to be considering, let alone thinking of accepting him. She couldn't love him, not in that way and never would. And she couldn't commit herself to marriage with someone she'd didn't love not when she'd have to live with her decision for the rest of her life.

  Confused, she wandered restlessly round the room, the chimes of the hall clock startling her as it struck one. John had left two hours ago. She'd sat here all that time bewildered, and emotionally drained. No matter how heavily John's proposal laid on her mind, she just had to get some sleep. She swallowed the last of the brandy, turned out the lights and made her way upstairs.