Page 102 of Perfect Liar
Ethan kissed my hand before I closed the door.
I pushed out a long, slow breath, so grateful for the time alone.
I finished dressing in front of the full-length mirror while waiting for Will.
I couldn’t wait to see him.
Choosing to save my new red dress for a more intimate evening with Will, I put on one of my old black cocktail dresses and some strappy stilettos. As I straightened, my blonde tips swung over my shoulder, reminding me how dramatically I was changing. All the changes liberated me in some bizarre way.
A mischievous smile hit my face, and I nodded at my reflection.
Abrupt knocking at the door startled me, then Ben’s voice came through.
“Ellie, open up.”
I jerked open the door.
“Why are you here…where’s Will?”
“He couldn’t reach you. Why didn’t you answer your phone? Everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine. I left it in Thomas’s car. He said he’d bring it up to the lounge. Where is Thomas anyway?”
“Ethan wanted to see him.”
“Will should be here by now,” I complained.
“He’s still in a contract negotiation. He’ll meet us upstairs.”
“Did he mention anything about today’s papers?”
“Briefly. He’s better than the rest of us with managing the press, so I’m quite sure he’ll deal with it in some way. Anyway, let’s get up to the reception. Christ, I need a drink.”
“So he knows about everything that happened?”
Ben nodded.
“Yeah, he knew yesterday. Grab your bag.”
I grabbed my purse and my sketch portfolio.
When we arrived at the lounge, I said hello to Ethan and then ducked out onto the rooftop terrace to take in the amazing view.
The sun was only just setting over Manchester Square.
I began sketching the northern skyline, where a historic church’s graceful steeple reached for the clouds. The Gothic style made it look like the towers of Westminster Abbey.
Goose bumps raised on my arms at the very second Will arrived…his intense stare heated the bare skin on my arms and my back. I stole a sideway glance at him and smiled.
He stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame, watching, grinning…so handsome, stunning the world in his elegant gray suit.
I desperately wanted to run to him, but I managed to wait and let him come to me.
When he stepped onto the terrace pavers, my protection detail moved inside.
Will’s warm scent closed in on me from behind, and then he wrapped his arms around me. He inhaled against my hair and twirled one of the blonde tips around his finger before pushing strands out of his way to kiss the butterfly on my neck.
I let my head fall back against his shoulder.