by Miranda Lee
Seeking more reassurance on the matter, he rang Jeremy, who clearly didn’t appreciate being woken on a Sunday morning before noon.
‘Alex,’ he growled. ‘Do you know what time it is?’
‘I guess that depends on where you are. London or Lake Como?’
‘Neither. I’m in Paris.’
‘What are you doing in Paris?’
‘What do you think I’m doing in Paris? Go back to sleep, mon amie,’ he murmured to whoever was in bed beside him. ‘So what drama is unfolding in your life that you feel you have to call me at this ungodly hour? It had better be life threatening, or you’re a dead man.’
‘No drama on my front,’ he said, though his mind flew to a certain brunette who was definitely giving him grief. ‘I’ve just been talking to Sergio. Hell, Jeremy, the poor man is seriously infatuated, isn’t he?’
‘Seriously in love, more like it. And Bella is, too, so you can stop worrying about their marriage. I’m beginning to think that it just might work.’
‘How can you be sure? About her feelings, that is?’
‘I can just tell. The way they look at each other and speak about each other. It’s positively sickening. If I ever act like that around a woman, I want you to shoot me.’
Alex laughed. ‘I don’t have a gun.’
‘I’ll give you one. We have several in the gun room at the family’s country estate.’
‘Remind me not to go there with you any more.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, you love it there. What say we pop down together for a few days after the wedding? It’s lovely in Cornwall in the summer.’
At any other time, he would have said yes. But as much as he loved Jeremy’s excellent company, it could not compare with being in Venice with Harriet. Not that he could say that.
‘Sorry. No can do. I have to get back here ASAP. I’m up to my ears in work.’
Jeremy sighed. ‘Truly, Alex, someone is going to have to take you in hand one day and teach you how to relax.’
Alex smiled as he thought about where Harry’s hand had been earlier today. Not that he’d felt in any way relaxed at the time.
‘Well, if anyone could teach me how to relax, it would be you,’ he said. ‘If R and R was a sport, you’d win the gold medal every four years.’
Jeremy chuckled. ‘I’ll take that as a compliment. But honestly, dear friend, all work and no play makes Alex a dull boy.’
‘In that case, you’ll be pleased to know I’ve been playing all weekend.’ As soon as the bragging words were out of his mouth, he regretted them.
‘Really? Do tell.’
‘Sorry, mate, I’m not a kiss-and-tell kind of guy.’
‘So, how old is this latest bimbo of yours?’
‘I’ll have you know she’s in her late twenties. And no bimbo.’
‘I’m impressed. What does she do for a crust?’
Alex had to think quickly. He could hardly say she was his PA. ‘She’s in real estate,’ he said.
‘Even better. Nothing worse than dating someone with very little between her ears.’
Alex had noticed over the years that Jeremy preferred intelligent girls, provided they were beautiful as well as brainy.
‘So, who did you bring to Paris?’ Alex asked.
‘No one. Marlee lives in Paris. She’s an editor. I’m going to put her in charge of my French office.’
‘Combining business and pleasure is never a good idea,’ Alex said with considerable irony.
‘What rubbish. I’ve had some of my best sex by doing just that. Look, something’s just come up. So I should go. Text me the details of your flight and I’ll meet you at Milan airport. Au revoir.’
Alex had no time to open his mouth before Jeremy hung up. Smiling wryly over what it was that had come up, Alex put down his phone, then made his way out to the kitchen, where he poured himself a large glass of Scotch, added a few ice cubes, then returned to the living room, sipping slowly. Calling his two best friends hadn’t helped all that much. He still missed Harriet and she’d been gone only an hour or so. The thought that he might be falling in love with her started worrying him. He didn’t want to fall for her any more than she wanted to fall for him. They had different goals in life. Vastly different.
It was still just lust, he reassured himself. On both their parts. Still, to take her to Italy with him and romance her in Venice was playing with fire, especially when it came to her feelings. Women loved that kind of thing.
But it was no use. He wanted to do it. Wanted to see the pleasure in her eyes.
So he ignored the risk and sent her a text telling her to cancel his original first-class booking ASAP and to book two business-class seats for them on the same flight, or an equivalent one.
Will do, she texted back.
Ten minutes later, she texted him the details of their flight, at which point he gave in and rang her.
They talked for close to an hour.
Chapter Eighteen
‘OH, THIS IS HEAVENLY!’ Harriet exclaimed once they settled into their business-class seats, Alex insisting Harriet have the window seat, with him right beside her.
It was early evening on the Monday, take-off in ten minutes. Only one brief stopover, in Dubai, then straight on to Malpensa airport, where they would arrive on Tuesday midmorning, Milan time.
‘Thank you, Alex,’ she said, turning her head to look over at him.
‘For what? You paid for your own ticket.’ He was still slightly exasperated with her over that. He’d wanted to spoil her. Make her feel special. Make up to her for what her mean and disgustingly unfair father had done. She’d told him a few more details about her father’s appalling treatment last night. It had made him so angry, he’d felt like driving up to Singleton and teaching the man a lesson. When questioned about her mother, Harriet had also confessed that she sent her mother birthday and Mother’s Day cards every year, with money enclosed, but never received a reply. How heartbreaking was that?
‘Thank you for persuading me to come with you,’ she said with the loveliest smile.
He reached over and took her hand in his. ‘My pleasure,’ he said softly.
* * *
Once again, Harriet’s heart turned over and this time she noticed. For a split second she started worrying that she was falling in love with Alex, but just as quickly she decided to ignore any such worry. What would be, would be. She wasn’t going to spoil this trip by stressing over future complications. She was going to have fun. And live in the moment.
A flight attendant materialised by their seats, with a tray holding glasses of champagne.
‘Champagne, sir? Madam?’ he asked.
‘The lady doesn’t drink champagne,’ Alex replied.
‘Can I get you anything else, sir? Some white wine, perhaps?’
‘When will you be serving dinner?’
‘About half an hour after take-off.’
‘We’ll have a bottle of wine with our meals. Perhaps some juice for now. What kind, Harriet?’
‘I prefer orange,’ she replied.
‘Orange juice for two,’ Alex relayed.
‘Very good, sir. I’ll be back shortly.’
Harriet loved the way Alex took command of situations. It had been sweet of him to remember about the champagne, and very sweet of him to insist on coming to pick her up today when it had been really out of his way. She could just have easily caught a taxi. She was glad she hadn’t; his authoritative presence defused her tension over the trip, replacing anxiety with excitement, especially after he’d reassured her that everything was under control at the office. She had momentarily contemplated telling Emily about her affair with Alex. But only momentarily. She didn’t want Emily to say anything negative or critical.
Of course, it was probably silly of her to have let Alex persuade her to accompany him to Italy. Nothing could come of it. Nothing except...
Harriet brought herself up short before she could start thinking of the future again. Instead,
she concentrated on the plusses of her affair with Alex. After all, how could she possibly regret having him as her lover? He was incredibly good in bed; last weekend had been the most amazing experience of her life. He was good out of bed, too, proving to be a fun companion, nothing at all like his often serious persona at work. As for this trip... Harriet vowed to enjoy every single moment. The prospect of spending more time alone with Alex was exciting enough, but to spend that time with him in stunning places like Lake Como and Venice was almost too good to be true. She had to keep glancing over at him to remind herself that it was true.
‘Yes?’ he queried after she’d probably looked at him one time too many.
‘Nothing. Just checking that you’re real.’
The steward arrived with the orange juice, relieving Harriet of having to explain her rather cryptic remark. It was freshly squeezed juice, and deliciously chilled, just the way she liked it. Harriet sipped it and sighed.
‘I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fly anything but business class from now on,’ she said.
‘That can be arranged,’ Alex said. ‘I was thinking of taking you to Rio during our Christmas break.’
Harriet’s heart skipped a beat at the thought that he was planning so far ahead. Christmas was five months away. As much as she was tempted just to say yes to anything he suggested, she could not afford to let him think she would settle for being his secret mistress for the rest of her life.
Her smile was light. ‘What happened to the Alex who said I should just live for the here and now?’
‘He was a fraud. And an opportunist. I’ve always been a planner, Harry. Just like you.’
‘Well, that’s a shame. Because I think that that particular Alex might have had the right idea. I’ve always worried too much about the future. Always planned too much. And where did it get me in the end? Nowhere.’
‘I don’t know about that, Harry. You have a nice flat near Bondi Beach, money in the bank, the best boss in the world and an even better lover.’
She had to laugh. ‘You are an arrogant devil.’ Not to mention so handsome that every woman on this plane had craned to look at him as they boarded. Harriet had felt so proud to be the woman by his side, resolving to wallow in the experience whilst it lasted.
It was the lasting part, however, that kept coming back to haunt her. Harriet knew in her heart that by Christmas this would all be over. Oh, dear, she was doing it again. Worrying about the future.
The thought sent a sad sigh escaping her lungs.
‘You do that a lot, you know,’ Alex said.
‘Do what?’
‘Sigh.’
‘Sorry.’
‘No need to apologise. It’s just that I sometimes wonder what’s behind the sigh.’
‘Nothing serious. It’s just a habit of mine, a way of relieving tension.’
‘You’re afraid of flying?’
Afraid of flying and dying and falling in love with the wrong man. Again.
‘A little,’ she admitted.
‘Then here...take my hand. We’re about to take off.’
* * *
Alex took her hand and squeezed it tight, feeling the tension in her as the jumbo airbus zoomed along the wet runway—it had started to rain—before lifting into the air slowly but safely. When the jet levelled off at God knew what height, she sighed again, then took her hand out of his. Alex wished she hadn’t. He’d liked holding her hand.
When Alex sighed, Harriet leant over and poked him. ‘You’re doing it now.’
He sent her a droll look. ‘Maybe it’s catching.’
‘Maybe you’re not the big, brave boy you pretend to be.’
‘I never pretend, Harry. I don’t like flying, but I’m not scared of it. What’s the worst that can happen? The plane crashes and you die. There are worse ways to go.’
Harriet nodded, her big brown eyes turning soft. ‘You’re thinking of your mother, aren’t you?’
Despite the sympathetic note in her voice, Alex could not stop his heart from hardening at the memory of what that wonderful woman had suffered. And so unnecessarily. It had blighted him, knowing he could do nothing to ease her pain. He’d been holding her hand when she’d taken her last breath. He could still see the look on his father’s face when he realised she had gone. Poor bastard. Hopefully, this time he’d stick with the rehab and get his life back on track. When he’d rung him earlier today, he’d sounded good.
‘Or is it your dad you’re worrying about?’ Harriet asked.
Her intuition touched him. ‘Not really. You were right the first time. I was thinking of my mother.’
He glanced over at Harriet and smiled. ‘But let’s not talk about sad things. We’re off to Italy, to beautiful Lake Como and then on to amazing Venice, which, I might add, I have never seen.’
Harriet’s eyes lit up with surprise. ‘You haven’t?’
‘Nope. It will be the first time for both of us. I’ve been to Lake Como, of course. Jeremy and I holidayed with Sergio at his family villa quite a lot over the years.’
‘You three are very close, aren’t you?’
‘Yep. Have been since our Oxford days.’
‘Which is where you all joined that Bachelor’s Club.’
‘We didn’t join it. We formed it. There were just the three of us. But that’s ancient history now. In reality, the Bachelor’s Club is no more. Once Sergio turned thirty-five, he decided to get married, so that was virtually the end of it.’
‘What did his turning thirty-five have to do with it?’
‘That was the age we vowed to stay bachelors till. And the age we aimed to become billionaires by.’
‘Heavens. And did you? Become billionaires, I mean?’
Alex hesitated to tell her, out of habit. He’d always kept the extent of his wealth a secret, well aware that having heaps of money sometimes brought out the worst in people. Men envied and women grovelled. He quickly realised, however, that Harriet was not that type of woman. He’d never met a more independent, less grovelling female in his life.
‘Yes, we did,’ he admitted.
‘All of you?’
Clearly, she was taken aback. Alex smiled, both at her and the memory of how their financial goals had finally been reached. Though just in time.
‘It took many years, of course,’ he explained. ‘You don’t become a billionaire overnight.’
‘I would imagine not. So how did it happen?’
‘Shortly after we started the Bachelor’s Club, the three of us went into partnership in a wine bar. It was basically a dump, but the location was good. Very close to the university and between two restaurants. We worked hard to turn it into a hip and happening place. At least, Sergio and I worked hard. Jeremy provided the money. He was the wealthy one in our group. Anyway, to cut a long story short, we didn’t stop at one wine bar. We eventually had several, all done out the same way. In the end, they were so successful that we formed a franchise. That was how we became billionaires. A little while ago, we sold the WOW franchise to an American company.’
‘Oh, my goodness!’ Harriet exclaimed. ‘You owned the WOW wine bars? That’s amazing! Emily and I go to the one in town all the time. They’re so cool.’
‘They are indeed. But we didn’t own any of them in the end. We sold the ones we originally owned years ago. We just owned the franchise.’
‘So, that’s what you were doing in London recently? Selling the franchise?’
‘Yes.’
‘I did wonder what business interests you had over there.’
‘Well, now you know.’
Harriet fell silent for a long moment before turning to look at him. ‘Do you mind if I ask why you three boys decided to stay bachelors in the first place? I mean, I know most men these days don’t rush to the altar, but they usually want to settle down eventually. It seems strange that all three of you wanted to stay single so much that you actually formed a club.’
‘Look, it was just a bit of fun to begin wi
th. We were all pretty sloshed at the time. Though underneath the fun we all had some serious reasons for embracing bachelorhood. Sergio was still bitter over his father marrying a gold-digger. Jeremy was anti-marriage due to the number of divorces in his family. As for myself... I’d vowed on my mother’s deathbed to spend my life making enough money to make sure no one had to suffer what my family did. Making that sort of money—and making a difference—is hard. I didn’t see myself ever having the time or the energy to marry and have children of my own. Remaining a bachelor suited my goals.’
Or, it had...
Alex could not ignore the fact that he’d reached his goals now. So maybe it was time to change his mind about staying a bachelor. Maybe it was time to face his inner demons and admit to himself that all he’d just said to Harriet was just rubbish. The truth was, he was afraid of falling in love. Afraid of ending up like his pathetic father.
It was a crazy fear. Irrational, really. Other than in looks, he was nothing like his father. But fear was not always logical.
He gazed into Harriet’s lovely face and wished he could be more like Sergio. Fearless and brave when it came to matters of the heart. But he was more like Jeremy, tainted by life’s negative experiences, wary of feeling anything too deeply.
‘What are you thinking?’ she asked.
‘Just how lovely you are,’ he returned.
Her smile was wry. ‘You shouldn’t lie to me, Alex. You weren’t thinking that at all.’
‘You’re right. I was thinking that it’s rather sad that the Bachelor’s Club is no longer relevant. It was a seriously fun club to belong to.’
‘No doubt. But I think your Bachelor’s Club is past its use-by date, Alex.’
‘Only for one of us, Harry. Jeremy and I will soldier on.’
Her lips pursed. ‘I have a feeling I won’t like this Jeremy.’
