‘Will thank you very much for all you’ve done. Then she’ll say goodnight and tell us to enjoy the rest of the evening.’
The way he said that, the way his eyes darkened, the way his finger slid lower, beneath the fabric of her dress and towards the top of her bra… That promise again… And the trickle became a torrent.
‘These young things don’t want us oldies hanging around.’ He was already withdrawing his finger to take her hand and lead her towards Melissa to say their goodbyes.
Sophie laughed. ‘You talk as if we’re over the hill.’
‘We are to them. Come on.’
And she knew why he was insisting they leave early. It was their last night together. Tomorrow afternoon she was flying to Sydney to catch her international flight scheduled for Monday morning.
Jared drove her home. Except…they didn’t seem to be headed in that direction. ‘Where are we going?’
‘Wait and see.’ Apartment buildings and luxury hotels twinkled with a million lights as they drove a short distance, then Jared pulled to a stop under the portico of a well-known five-star hotel.
‘We’re staying here?’ She stared up at the gold and marble and glass.
‘I thought we might.’ His desire-darkened eyes burned into hers.
‘All night.’ They hadn’t spent the night together since Noosa. She’d hated that, but now, with only this night left, maybe it was a very unwise idea. Maybe the most dangerous idea she could think of.
And far too seductive to refuse.
He seduced her further with the gentle brush of a fingertip over her lips. ‘All night. We even have a late checkout in the morning.’
‘But I didn’t bring—’
He leaned across the centre console and nuzzled the underside of her jaw. ‘Believe me, you won’t need a thing.’ When he straightened again, her pulse was already leaping in anticipation.
‘But tomorrow morning…’
‘Got it sorted…’ He pulled a small bag from behind his seat and set it on her lap. ‘Pam packed a few things. She hoped you wouldn’t mind her using her spare key for your apartment without your permission.’
‘Oh, Pamela, Pamela…you’re in on this too?’ She pressed her hands to her flushed cheeks. They’d organised this behind her back. Pam hadn’t breathed a word at the party. Not a look. Not even a glimmer.
‘Okay?’
She nodded, struggling not to feel overwhelmed. ‘Okay.’
A woman met them in the lobby. She wore a baby-pink shirt, smelled of sandalwood and exuded serenity. She smiled a somewhat conspiratorial welcome at Jared, then turned her smile on Sophie. ‘Good evening, Sophie.’
‘Good evening.’ When the woman indicated she should follow her, Sophie looked to Jared. ‘What’s happening?’
‘A thank-you for your effort on Lissa’s behalf, and mine, these past couple of weeks. You wanted a day-spa package. You’ve got a night-spa one instead.’
‘Oh, I…’
‘I’ll be waiting when you’re done. Thanks for this, Aimee. I owe you one.’ He nodded to the woman, then kissed Sophie lightly on the cheek. ‘Enjoy.’
And Sophie spent the next hour and a half in the hotel’s Wellness centre being treated like a celebrity by two—yes, two—therapists. The popular Goddess facial. A de-stress and aromatherapy massage. Chakra balancing. Mineral salt scrub and manicure.
She was pampered within an inch of her life.
When she was done Aimee gave her a luxuriously soft towelling robe embroidered with the hotel’s logo to put on and showed her to a private elevator that led to a penthouse suite. She should be tired but she’d never felt more alive.
When Sophie had stepped inside the lift, Aimee pressed the button and smiled. ‘Enjoy your evening.’
‘Oh, I will.’ I will. Wow, she didn’t need an elevator, she was already floating.
But she left her stomach behind as the lift shot skyward. When the doors slid open again Jared was waiting in a matching robe. The warm golden glow of candlelight greeted her. Too many to count. Squat, thin, tall, a rainbow of colours, they were scattered over every available surface. ‘Oh, my…Jared…this is…too much.’
‘I told you before, there’s never too much of a good thing.’ He moved in for a long knee-weakening kiss. ‘Mmm. You smell divine,’ he murmured moments later.
‘I feel divine.’ She threw her arms around his neck. ‘And my chakras are in perfect balance.’
‘Are they now?’ He sniffed her jaw. ‘Jasmine?’
‘And geranium and rose, with a whiff of citrus.’ She licked his lips. ‘Mmm. And you’ve been eating chocolate berries.’