Three Weeks Last Spring

by Howard, Victoria

  Sleep was slow in coming and try as she might, she couldn't banish Walker from her thoughts. His face haunted her. Smiling, serious or thoughtful, it filled her dreams. Her last coherent thought as she drifted off was that in the space of a few hours, her life had gone from order to chaos and the man who responsible for that change, was once more back in her life.

  ***

  Walker stood by the window of his hotel room and looked out at the lights of the City, nursing a glass of bandy in his right hand. Memories of another night in another city came flooding back—the night Skye and Ridge had located the hacker. Walker knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, that what he and Skye had shared back at the cabin was real. It was something that only came around once in a lifetime. Only he'd been too stupid to see it at the time.

  Seeing Ridge at the dinner hadn't surprised him at all. It was obvious that Ridge hadn't told Skye about their encounter the previous afternoon. Was Ridge that unsure of himself? And if he was, why had he boasted about their engagement? And who the hell was Laura and why was she so important?

  At least he'd managed to feign surprise when Skye revealed that she had accepted Ridge's proposal. But something in her eyes when she told him, had convinced him she was saying it for effect. Yet she wore Ridge's ring. It was almost as if she wanted to hit out by telling him, and was challenging him to contradict her.

  Ridge might be in love with Skye, but Walker wasn't in the least bit persuaded it was reciprocated. That's why they hadn't gone public on their engagement. Could she have been hoping that even, after all this time, he would come looking for her? Was she sleeping with Ridge? Her engagement suggested she was doing just that.

  When Skye looked at Ridge, she looked at him as if he were a friend not a lover. She wasn't the type of woman to play with a doubled sided coin. She was strictly a one-man woman and whether she realized it or not, she was his.

  He tossed back the last of his Scotch, undressed and got into bed.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  The following morning Skye drove into town. She was unwilling to face Walker, yet was unable to stop herself from doing so. Deep down their relationship had to be resolved one way or another. But what exactly was their relationship? She had agonized over that question for the last nine hours and was still no nearer to finding an answer or at least one that she liked.

  Walker had been out of her life for seven months and yet, try as she might, a day never passed without him entering her thoughts or dreams. Why couldn't he have just said what he had to last night and got it over with? And why was she driving into town to meet him, when she could have called and told him to go to hell? If he had any feelings for her, he wouldn't have waited this long to get in touch.

  Skye left her car on the forecourt of the Savoy Hotel and handed the keys to the parking attendant, then entered the hotel. She spotted Walker lounging in one of chairs in the lobby. She studied his lean face. He looked relaxed despite his closed expression, and yet his presence was as compelling as it had been the first day they had met. Even now, she could feel the tangible bond between them, and couldn't tear her gaze away from him.

  Walker saw Skye hovering on the edge of the lobby, obviously uncertain whether to approach him or not. He stood, and strode across the room to her. He caught her hand in his, leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

  "I'm glad you came."

  Shocked by the impact of his gentle grip and the brush of his lips on her cheek, Skye smiled. "If I recall, you didn't leave me much choice."

  "I didn't, did I? But I am glad you’re here all the same. I hope you've no objection, but I've taken the liberty of ordering lunch in my suite." He guided her towards the bank of elevators.

  Skye hung back; the thought of being alone with him was both disturbing and exciting. "Is that a good idea? Wouldn't it be more appropriate for us to eat in the main dining room?"

  "Relax. All I want to do is talk to you without the risk of interruption. You have my word that I won't try anything inappropriate."

  Skye hesitated, her head swirling with doubts. She’d come this far, she couldn't back out now, not without making an utter fool of herself. She stepped into the crowded elevator. Although the ride took only minutes, she was overtly conscious of the heat of Walker's body as he stood behind her in the confined space. When he casually rested his hand on her shoulder, her flesh tingled in response to his touch. It took all her will power to resist the temptation to lay her cheek against his hand.

  His suite was on the top floor with fine views of the river. Two sumptuous leather sofas stood either side of the fireplace with a coffee table in between. A small dining table had been placed in front of the large windows and was laid for lunch.

  Walker took a seat on the sofa facing the window, and watched as Skye wandered around the room. Gone were her fancy evening clothes of the night before. Today she'd dressed in dark trousers, a roll neck sweater and tweed jacket. Her rich auburn hair hung loose in waves framing her face. She looked pale and tired, but then he guessed that she hadn't had much sleep.

  Skye took her time admiring the view. "Was it purely coincidental that you turned up last night? Or are you here for a specific reason?"

  "It was no coincidence, Skye. You know full well why I'm here. The way we left things back in Seattle... you didn't give me a chance to explain. There are things that need to be said."

  "I said all I had to back at the cabin."

  "You don't really believe that. If you did, you wouldn't be here today. But you are, and that tells me a great deal. Don't you want to know why it's taken me so long to come after you?"

  "Not really. My life doesn't revolve around you."

  "No it doesn't, at least not at the moment. But it does concern me."

  The implication of his words sent her pulses racing, but she couldn't allow him into her heart again.

  "It shouldn't."

  "There's the matter of an impending court case, for one thing. You are an expert witness, or had you forgotten?"

  Skye raised her chin stubbornly. "I've already given my statement."

  "I know. But, that's not sufficient."

  "Says who?"

  "I do. I want to ensure those responsible are put behind bars for years and the only way I can do that is if you give evidence in person."

  "No way!"

  "That's one of the reasons I'm here. To take you back to the States with me. I knew if the DA wrote to you, you'd find some excuse not to come or just plain ignore the letter."

  "Go to hell. I am not going anywhere with you." She picked up her bag and walked towards the door. In two strides Walker had caught her and spun her round.

  "Wrong again, Sweetheart. You have no choice in the matter. You either come willingly or the DA issues a subpoena. Either way you will attend or go to jail—it's your choice."

  "Bullying tactics again? It's becoming a habit with you."

  "Yeah, but they work, don't they?" He led her to the sofa. "The court case isn't the only reason I came. Let's stop fencing. We said some pretty harsh things to each other back in the cabin. I'm here because I wanted to see you and apologize. If you want the truth, the court case was just an excuse."

  "I've told you—"

  "For once, Skye, will you just listen to what I have to say?"

  Skye clamped her mouth shut and waited. The tense silence between them lengthened.

  Walker cleared his throat and began to tell her what happened after they had located the hacker. Skye listened first in astonishment, and then horror to his words. The colour drained from her face and she began to shake as the fearful images built in her mind

  "I woke up in a hospital bed three weeks later, bandages everywhere, drips in both arms—I won't bore you with all the details. I didn't know that I'd been out of things for so long. Of course, by then you'd already left and I was in no fit state to contact you, let alone follow you. When the doctors finally gave me the all clear to travel, I booked myself on the first available flight to London.
I went to your office, but your fiancé refused to let me see you. I'd read an article about the Foundation, and well, you know the rest."

  "No one told me. I never knew." Tears blinded her eyes and choked her voice.

  "How could you? McCabe contacted the hotel, but was told you had checked out. He had his suspicions about us, but he didn't know for sure and figured that as you were already on your way home, you wouldn't be interested in knowing."

  Skye felt utterly miserable. Just thinking of Walker lying in the hospital bed for weeks on end tore at her heart. A sob rose in her throat, and she swallowed hard. She looked into his eyes, but her gaze clouded with tears.

  "It was touch and go for a time, or so I'm told. But every day I lay in that hospital bed I made myself a promise. That if I ever got out of there, I would come after you."

  "You're okay now, though? I mean—"

  "Physically, yes."

  "I'm glad."

  "Are you?"

  "What sort of a question is that? Of course I am." The thought of him lying alone in some hospital at deaths door, tore her in two. If only she known. She have…what would she have done? Rushed to his side? Stayed with him until he was well? "John never told me you came to the office looking for me."

  "Yeah, well that doesn't surprise me. The guy's a regular Rottweiler where you're concerned. But if he had told you, would you have agreed to see me?"

  "Yes. I mean no…I'm not…Oh, I don't know."

  "And your engagement? It's a bit sudden, not to mention surprising. I knew the guy had the hots for you. But I got the impression that you viewed him as nothing more than a friend. What made you change your mind?"

  "I have my reasons."

  "Do you love him?"

  "Yes, I love him." But not in the way I love you, she added silently.

  "I don't believe you, Skye. I've held you in my arms. I've felt you tremble when I kiss you. I've seen the passion in your eyes when I caress you. Tell me, do Ridge's kisses and caresses make you tremble? When he makes love to you, do you ache for him as you ache for me?"

  The touch of his hand on her arm was suddenly almost unbearable in its tenderness. Her cheeks flushed scarlet as her embarrassment turned to raw fury.

  "Stop it! My relationship with John has nothing to do with you." But as she said the words a terrifying realization washed over her. The harder she tried to ignore the truth, the more it persisted. He knew. He knew she loved him and always would.

  "You don't love Ridge and if you marry him, you'll be making the biggest mistake of your life! I guarantee you'll be bored stupid within a year. Do you want that? After all, it's a high price to pay for security. It won't be any easy life, marrying someone you don't love. I daresay you'll convince yourself it's the right thing, but as the years pass, you'll regret it. Then what will you do?"

  Alarm and anger rippled along her spine. She freed herself from his gasp, her blue eyes blazing. "Stop it! Stop it! I don't want to hear anymore. You have no right to talk to me like this."

  "I think I do."

  "You used me. You couldn't even trust me, for God's sake!"

  His voice was quiet, yet held an undertone of authority. "I'll admit for a time I didn't trust you, but as soon as I found out that I was wrong, I apologized. But I never used you. You gave yourself to me. You wanted me as much as I wanted—want you."

  She knew he was telling the truth, he hadn't forced her into doing anything she didn't want, but she would die rather than admit it.

  "You're just like every other man."

  His eyes narrowed and hardened at her accusation. "I assume you're referring to Michael?"

  Skye stared incredulous, her heart pounding. "Who told you about Michael?"

  "Ridge. He seemed to think it was his duty. I guess he told me because he hoped in some perverse way, that I would be too ashamed to face you and leave. But his ploy didn't work."

  All her anger drained away. The mention of Michael's name brought a twisted smile to her face.

  "I should have learned my lesson the first time round, but no, I had to give myself to another bastard."

  Walker flinched at her words. "I never meant for you to get hurt."

  "No? At least I know John loves me, trusts me and will never hurt me, which is more than can be said of you."

  "How do you know, Skye? You didn't give me a chance to put things right between us. You wouldn't even let me talk to you. Instead you left town at the first opportunity. I know I should have been honest with you from the start, but there was so much at stake that I couldn't take the risk. However, it never altered my feelings for you."

  She walked to the window, and looked out at the cloudy sky. Would things have been different if she'd stayed and waited for him to return? She had accused him of not trusting her, but she hadn't trusted him either. She'd assumed he was just like Michael, another of life's takers.

  Turning, she faced him. "What do you want, Walker?"

  "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but you've got to want it too. No half measures—it's all or nothing, I won't accept anything less."

  Walker went and stood by her side. He wrapped his arms around her waist, when she didn't try to push him away his lips brushed hers.

  "Come back to the States with me. Give me a chance to prove to you that what we shared at the cabin, we can have again."

  Skye saw the heart rendering tenderness in his gaze and quickly turned away, wearied by indecision. It was too much to take in. She needed time to think.

  When she didn’t reply Walker released her and stepped back. He chose his words carefully. "I guess my being here has come as a shock to you, what with the accident and everything. Think things through. My flight leaves Heathrow tomorrow afternoon at two. I'll see you at the airport. If not, then I hope you and Ridge have a happy life together." He kissed her cheek once more, turned away from her and walked into one of the bedrooms.

  Skye picked up her purse, let herself out of the suite, and left the hotel. Too distraught to drive, she walked along the street and until she came to a coffee shop. She sat motionless at one of the small tables, completely lost in her own thoughts and impervious to the glances of staff and customers alike.

  She lost track of time. Somehow she found her way back to the hotel and collected her car. It was dark when she turned into the drive of smart town house. She walked briskly up the path, and knocked sharply on the door. The music coming from within paused, and moments later the door opened. John stood in the doorway, his hair a mass of unruly curls, the faint shadow of a beard on his chin.

  "I was expecting you hours ago. Do you have any idea of the time?"

  "Why didn't you tell me Walker came to see you?" Skye she pushed past him into the hallway.

  "You were busy with the preparations for the Foundation Dinner; it must have slipped my mind."

  Skye raised an eyebrow.

  "Okay, I deliberately didn't tell you. Walker had the effrontery to come to the office looking for you. But I told him to go sling his hook—that he wasn't wanted here."

  "You had no right to do that. Just as you had no right to tell him we are going to be married."

  "What do you mean I had no right? I'm your fiancé."

  Skye stiffened and glared at him. "You're not my keeper, John, and you certainly don't get to decide who I see—now or in the future. And, as for marrying you, I don't recall accepting your proposal. I think my response at the time was I would think about it. Well, I've thought about it and I've decided that I can't marry you."

  "What do you mean you can't marry me? I know you were upset by his unexpected appearance at the dinner, but there's no need to take this stance."

  "I'm sorry John, but I don't love you. Not in that way. You're my friend and always will be. I told you that the night you proposed, but you wouldn't accept it. Besides, you've always been happy with your life, playing the field, not tied to one woman."

  "But, Skye, I've watched and waited for you for years. I've witnessed y
ou go through too much pain and heartache to stand by now and watch you marry someone else. Who picked up all the pieces? Whose shoulder did you cry on? Mine! I never stopped loving you, even though I knew you'd been with someone else."

  "I'm grateful for all you've done for me. But this isn't about sex. It's about love. I'm sorry, but it wouldn't work. I can't love you the way you want me to. You'll end up hating me and I couldn't bear that."