Theo leaned closer. His mouth hovered a whisper from her own. If she puckered, they’d be kissing. Then what are you waiting for? Pucker up already!
“Theo!” A woman’s voice rose above the crowd.
Theo’s head shot up, gaze whipping over his shoulder. “Of course,” he grumbled.
“What?” Bonnie asked, trying to see around him. Standing this close, the combination of her short legs and his broad shoulders created quite an obstruction. She went on her tiptoes, craning her neck. A woman around her age was hurrying toward them, long black hair flying behind her. “Who’s that?”
The woman waved, blue eyes merry, dimples flashing as she smiled.
By the time Theo replied, Bonnie had already figured it out. She stepped around Theo and waved back, preparing to meet his sister.
“I was hoping I’d run into you.” Theo’s sister gave him a hug.
“I bet you were.” Theo returned the hug, a little stiffly, Bonnie noticed. He turned to her. “Bonnie, I’d like you to meet my sister Tabitha.”
“Hi.” Bonnie offered her hand.
“Charmed.” Theo’s sister shook Bonnie’s hand and nodded at the woman standing next to her. “This is my friend Gwen.” Gwen nodded and smiled too. Tabitha kept her attention on Bonnie. “You’re American.”
“I am,” Bonnie agreed.
“From Chicago?”
“You can tell?” Unlike her South Side cousins, Bonnie didn’t think she’d ever developed an accent while growing up in the suburbs, but maybe she had.
“Not really.” Tabitha shot her brother a grin spiced with sibling menace. “Theo’s mentioned you.”
“Oh.” Theo mentioned her to his sister? Pleasure flickered through her.
“How long you here for?”
“I’m teaching some summer classes at Cambridge,” Bonnie said, the words still giving her a little thrill. “Then will travel up to Scotland for my friend’s wedding before heading home.”
“Is that Logan’s wedding?” Tabitha asked her brother.
Theo nodded. “Bonnie is best friends with Cassie, Logan’s fiancée.”
“Oooh, does that mean you get to be the maid of honor?” Tabitha asked.
Bonnie nodded.
“How fun!” Much less restrained than her brother in her display of emotion, Tabitha clasped her hands together. “I absolutely adore weddings.”
“Is she having a hen do?” Tabitha’s friend asked.
Thanks to a tipsy Cassie, Bonnie knew what Gwen was asking. “Yeah, I’m actually the one who is supposed to plan it.” Bonnie had conveniently pushed that item to the back of her to-do list. “I’m not sure where to start.”
“We can help you!” Tabitha squealed.
Theo cleared his throat. “I don’t know if that’s such a good—”
“Really?” Bonnie asked.
“Oh, yeah. We know all the best spots for that sort of thing. Right, Gwen?”
Gwen nodded, eyebrows wiggling. “You bet we do.”
“See?” Tabitha reached for Bonnie’s hands. “What do you say?”
“Cassie is in town next week,” Bonnie mused. “She’ll be busy with her work assignment most of the time, but we’re planning to get together at least once while she’s here.”
“I don’t want to intrude on catch-up time with your best friend,” Theo’s sister said. “Why don’t you hit her up for some ideas, and then we can meet up later, hash out a plan.” Tabitha squeezed Bonnie’s hand. “Does that sound good?”
It would be nice to have other women to talk to, to hang out with, while she was here. Bonnie had yet to connect with any of her female coworkers, not that she’d tried very hard. “That sounds great.” Bonnie squeezed Tabitha’s hand in return, meeting the girl’s infectious smile. “Thanks.”
“Yes, Tabby,” Theo said, giving his sister the kind of look one of Bonnie’s cousins would shoot her whenever she cock-blocked them at a bar. “Thanks.”
CHAPTER 21
LATER THAT NIGHT, Theo arrived home in a foul mood after seeing Bonnie off on the ten o’clock train. It had been a lovely evening, one he’d enjoyed. One he’d have enjoyed even more if his sister had gone on her merry way and left the two of them alone. Bloody nosey parker. He loped up the stairs and knocked on his sister’s door.
“Enter.”
“What the hell, Tabby-Cat?” Theo asked, opening the door and leaning against the frame.
“Come in or leave, Teddy-Bear, but don’t hover.” Lounging on the bed, his sister didn’t glance up from her phone screen.
Groaning in agitation, Theo stepped inside.
“Shut the door unless you want Mum to hear our conversation.”
“She’s in bed.”
Tabitha snorted. “Like that would stop her.”
“Fair point.” Theo closed the door. “Do you know what’s going on with her?”
“I know, she’s been odd, right?” Tabitha shrugged. “Menopause, maybe? Though I think late fifties is a little on the old side to be starting that.”
Theo grimaced.
“Ugh, you’re such a guy.” Tabby rolled her eyes. “Lady part stuff, ew!”
“My mother’s lady part stuff, yes, ew.”
“Hey, you came out of that hoo-ha.”
“You did too.” Theo put up a hard block on that mental image. “Speaking of, as your mother’s daughter, do you suppose your busybody tendencies are a product of nature or nurture?”
“Pardon?”
“Did you learn to be a meddler from our mother, or is it genetic?” He crossed to the swivel chair at his sister’s desk and collapsed into it, swinging around to face her. “You just had to barge in on us tonight, huh?”
“Do you think your girlfriend wants to go more classy or sassy?” Tabitha asked, ignoring his question. She ran her finger down her phone screen. “Gwen knows tons of places right in the West End, and there’s this saucy little show … it’s in a club farther south than SoHo. Would she and her friends be up for it?”
“Sorry?” He was still stuck on the word “girlfriend.”
Tabitha turned her phone toward Theo. He glanced down, doing a double take when a mostly naked man rolled across the screen in a giant hula hoop. “What the bloody hell is that?”
“A burlesque for ladies.” She tilted the screen back her way. “Though I suppose gents can enjoy it too. Magic Mike meets Cirque de Soleil.”
“Sounds like a train wreck to me,” Theo muttered.
“Jealous?” Tabitha waved her phone, where a line of men in tiny shorts now filled the screen, gyrating on their knees. “Afraid your girlfriend might see something she likes better?”
“Christ, get that out of my face.” Theo pushed the phone away. “And she is not my girlfriend.”
“Looked like it to me.”
“We’re just friends.”
“Very good friends.” His sister gave him a devilish smirk. “You were half a second from snogging her when we showed up.”
“Thanks for that, by the way.” Theo sat back in the chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “If you wanted to spy on me, fine. But you didn’t have to interrupt my date.”
“I wanted to meet her.” Tabitha rolled onto her stomach and faced him. “She’s pretty. And nice. I like her.”
I like her too.
“When are you seeing her again?”
“None of your business.”
“Oh, come on, Theo, don’t be like that.”
“I haven’t asked her out again yet,” he admitted.
“Why not?”
He shrugged and leaned back, resting his feet on his sister’s bed. “I want to think of something special to do, something she’ll really like.”
“The Eye?”
“We did that last summer.”
“You’ve known her since last summer?” Tabby punched him in the leg.
“Hey, what was that for?”
“Why haven’t you told me about her?”
“I didn’t
realize I needed to discuss my love life with my sister.”
“Well, you do. Read the sibling manual.”
Theo chuckled and nudged Tabitha with his toes.
“Keep your stinky feet away from me.” She shoved at him. “You really like this girl, don’t you?”
“My feet are not stinky. And yes,” he admitted. “I do.”
“What kinds of things does she like?”
“Books. She loves Shakespeare.” Theo scratched his chin.
“What else?”
He thought for a minute, reviewing his time with Bonnie. “Jane Austen.”
“More books. Anything else?”
“Tea.”
“Books and tea. I can work with that.” Tabitha sat up and rubbed her hands together. “Oh! I’ve got it. The perfect place to take her.” She grabbed her phone and started typing rapidly. A moment later, she handed it to Theo. “Beast, prepare to wow your Belle.”
* * *
The following weekend when Theo called to see if she wanted to go out again, Bonnie agreed before he had a chance to tell her where he planned to take her, even agreed to letting him drive out and pick her up rather than take the train. She was becoming greedy for more time with him. Part of her warned she was getting too attached, that the feelings he stirred in her went beyond friends, but she conveniently decided to ignore those thoughts and focus on the wonderful time she had while in his company.
Easy enough to do, especially since the places he chose to take her were so wonderful. When Theo picked her up late that afternoon, rather than heading south toward London, he’d driven east. Arriving in a charming little town some thirty minutes or so later, Bonnie didn’t know what to expect as he escorted her through a courtyard up to the door of a restaurant with tall white pillars bracketing the entrance. Neoclassical in style, the place resembled an ancient Greek or Roman temple. But once inside, she had to stop and catch her breath. It was a restaurant, yes, but it was inside a library.
A real, actual library. Well, a former library. Called the Library, the pub earned its namesake due to the fact it was housed in what had once been the first public subscription library in the UK. Bonnie turned in a circle, trying to absorb everything at once. The rows and rows of books climbing up every wall, the little alcoves with tables and chairs, diners surrounded by more shelves of books. “Theo…” Bonnie’s voice failed her.
“You like it?”
“So much.” She rubbed a knuckle across the corner of her eye, holding the prick of tears at bay. She loved it. Warmth bloomed in her chest. He’d done this for her. A simple thing maybe, but it made her feel special in a way she hadn’t in a very long time. Possibly ever.
“I’m glad.” He smiled at her then, dimples winking, and like clockwork her knees prickled with awareness. As if knowing her legs were threatening to collapse beneath her, he took her hand and led her to a table.
By the time their meal arrived, Bonnie finally managed to stop skimming all the titles on the shelves closest to her chair. She turned her attention to Theo. “How’d you find this place?”
“The truth?” Theo asked, pouring her a glass of wine from the bottle he’d ordered. “My sister suggested it.”
“She has good taste,” Bonnie said, smiling as she took a sip. “I can’t wait to see what she suggests for Cassie’s bachelorette party.”
“Hmph,” Theo grunted, refilling his own glass. “Cassie is coming to London next week, right?”
Bonnie nodded, scooping up a spoonful of pumpkin chestnut soup.
“I haven’t talked to Logan recently. Is he coming with her?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “Probably not, though. Her schedule will be packed covering Wimbledon.”
“She’s venturing into sports journalism now?”
“Sort of.” Bonnie grinned. “More about how the media focuses on what women players wear rather than how they play.”
“Ah.” Theo nodded. “How’s the teaching going?”
“It’s good.” Bonnie took another sip of wine. “Surprisingly easier than my normal classes, actually. I’m enjoying it.”
“See that Professor Ian often?” he asked, his tone casual, his gaze fixed on his plate.
Bonnie set her glass down, cheeks warm from both the wine and the company. Was he jealous? “Here and there,” she said, equally casual. She’d run into Ian a few times on campus, and exchanged a few pleasant words, but when he’d asked her to go out to lunch again, she’d politely declined.
This was the second Saturday in a row she’d gone out with Theo, and though the night wasn’t over yet, she was already hoping he’d ask her out again next Saturday. Was this urge to be with him a rebound thing? She didn’t know. She didn’t think so. Bonnie wasn’t sure where things were going between them, or even where she wanted them to go, but she knew she wanted to find out. And she definitely wanted to enjoy the journey.
So far, their “friends with benefits” situation hadn’t involved too many of the traditional benefits rumored to be associated with such a relationship. As she finished her wine, Bonnie wondered if they might explore a few of those benefits later tonight.
* * *
Theo pulled into a spot near the resident hall where Bonnie was staying. Putting the car in park, he undid his seat belt and glanced over at her. “Can I walk you up? Not to imply you’re not entirely capable of seeing yourself to your door,” he quickly added.
“I’d like that,” she said, eyes sparkling with amusement.
Pressing his luck, he stepped around the car and held the door open for her. She allowed him to do so, and even took his arm when he offered. It was late, and the path was deserted. Though she’d likely be perfectly safe, he was bloody glad she’d agreed to let him walk her home.
They strolled through the campus garden in a companionable silence. The calendar had flipped to July, and the garden was bursting with color, a buffet of fragrances drifting on the evening breeze. Theo caught the sweet scent of English roses mixed with the sharper, almost smoky bite of night-blooming Jasmine.
All too soon, they’d arrived at her building. Theo took her hand, brushing his lips across her knuckles. “I suppose this is good night.”
Her mouth curved in a soft smile. She lifted her face to his. “I suppose so.”
“Well, then,” Theo said, and bent his head, brushing his lips across hers the same way he had her hand. Soft. Gentle. She let out a sweet little moan, and he pressed his mouth harder against hers, deepening the kiss. His hands gripped her waist, and he leaned into her, craving contact.
She took a step back, and he felt the impact as her shoulders bumped against the brick wall of the building. Bonnie reached up, wrapping her arms around him, fingers threading through his hair. Her touch made little jolts of electricity spark across his scalp. Christ, he’d missed touching her, kissing her, tasting her. It had been too damn long since that night in his hotel room in Chicago. He hadn’t stopped dreaming about it since. His body was at a constant slow burn; the brief kisses they’d shared since she’d arrived in England were bits of kindling tossed on the fire.
Dropping his hands from her waist, Theo traced the curve of her hips, reaching behind her to palm her bum. “You feel so good,” he groaned against her mouth. He lifted her, sliding her up the wall, pressing closer to support her on his thighs. She wrapped her legs around his waist, arms anchored on his shoulders. He braced his hands on either side of her, the rough edges of old bricks scraping his palms as he kissed her again, tongue thrusting deep, taking her mouth the way he was dying to take all of her.
From somewhere in the distance, voices carried on the night air. Theo froze, and then released her, letting her slowly slide back to the ground.
“Maybe,” she said, her voice raspy, breath coming in sexy little gasps, “we should take this upstairs.”
His cock jumped, very on board with this plan. Struggling to collect himself, he dipped his chin, touching his forehead to hers. “Are men allowed in th
e girls’ dormitory?”
“I don’t know if there’s an actual rule against it…” She paused, frowning.
“You’re a teacher.” He pulled back, glancing around. “I don’t want you to get caught doing anything improper.”
“I think,” Bonnie said, lowering her voice to a dramatic stage whisper, “we may have already ventured beyond the boundaries of propriety.”
He grinned, appreciating her ability to crack a joke in a moment like this. It eased some of the tension, took the bite out of the sting of needing her and knowing he couldn’t have her. Not right now anyway. “Maybe a little,” he agreed. “I’d better go,” he added, gut twisting with regret. “Before I allow you to sneak me upstairs for a night of debauchery.”
She sighed but didn’t argue. “Will I see you again next Saturday?”
“Count on it,” Theo promised, touching his lips to her cheek in the most modest of kisses. He bid her good night, for real this time, waiting until she was safely inside. Then he retraced his steps to his car, wondering where he could take her that would give them some bloody blessed privacy.
Someplace where they could go as far beyond the boundaries of propriety as they bloody well pleased.
CHAPTER 22
THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY, Bonnie accompanied a group of her students on an excursion into London. The day’s itinerary included a scavenger hunt of literary landmarks, starting at Highgate Cemetery, locating various monuments such as A Conversation with Oscar Wilde, eventually ending at 221B Baker Street, which unfortunately turned out to be a rather disappointing conclusion to an otherwise successful day. One young man in her group was quite put out to learn the address of London’s most famous detective was fictional, and even more disgruntled to discover it “looked nothing like the show on the telly.”
“The poor disillusioned boy.” Cassie laughed after Bonnie relayed the story that evening over drinks. Cass had arrived in town on Monday, but this was the first time their schedules had allowed them to get together.
“How are your interviews going?” Bonnie asked.
“Great. I’ve even been able to sneak more ‘Coming Out of the Book Closet’ segments in, asking the athletes about their favorite authors and stories.”
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