Page 100 of Perfect Liar
A huge bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, and thunder followed it.
I jolted upright as my breath caught in my chest.
The sudden memory of Will’s words shook me, not the storm.
There had been more. He had said more.
“…Christ, how I love you.”
Oh no, oh god. How could I have missed that?
There had been times in my life when I’ve feared something and didn’t know how to handle it, so rather than face it, my brain locked down and blocked it out for me.
Is that what I’d done this time as well…to Will?
I twisted to his side of the bed, and my hand came down on the thorny stem of a red rose.
He loved me.
I had definitely done it again.
CHAPTER 29
Thomas stood in the hotel corridor with a coffee to go in each hand.
“It’s quite late for breakfast…how about brunch?”
I took one of the cups and hooked my arm through his.
“Yeah, let’s do that. What time do you think Will is getting back today?”
“We’ll have to wait and see,” he said.
Kirsty waived when we entered the hotel restaurant, and as the host seated us, Ethan joined us as well. He kissed me on the cheek and tapped on the chair next to me.
“Good morning, darlin. Mind if I sit here?”
I was happy to see him. And I hoped it meant that Will wouldn’t be far behind.
“Of course not. You can help me choose something.”
“Don’t worry about the menu. I’ll get us hooked up.”
Ethan summoned the hotel manager, gave her orders for an early tea at our table, and insisted she come back and sit with us.
Within minutes, we had cups of steaming Earl Grey, fancy sandwiches, petite cakes, and scones with cream and jam spread out in front of us. I sampled everything while listening to Ethan ask for a lavish cocktail party with a well-stocked bar for the private fifth-floor lounge.
He planned for The Hastings Group to host a client gathering that evening.
“House wines, champagne, both?” the manager asked Ethan.
“No house wines.”
Then he turned to me.
“Shall we order some Dom Pérignon, Ellie?”
I smiled with a nod, then realized what he’d meant.