The Long Weekend by Veronica Henry

Author:Veronica Henry [Henry, Veronica]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Tags: General, Fiction
ISBN: 9781409130932
Google: wC085L6DrB8C
Amazon: B007PR36BG
Publisher: Hachette UK
Published: 2012-07-04T23:00:00+00:00

Ten

It was just gone midnight, and gradually doors were closing and lights were being turned out in the hotel. In the height of summer, Pennfleet might still be lively at this time, but it was too early in the season for raucousness and revelry. Even the stags had gone to bed, knowing they had to be up for a day’s sailing first thing in the morning: they all knew from experience that hangovers and sea were bad bedfellows, and they were saving up the real celebration for the next night. A gentle quiet descended on the building as the night wrapped its softness around the walls.

In the room at the top, Luca was lying on the bed in his boxer shorts, his arms behind his head. His body looked lean and chiselled in the lamplight; his eyes were dark with wine.

‘Come here,’ he said, holding out an arm.

Claire hesitated in the doorway of the bathroom, pulling her kimono more tightly around her.

She would have to feign illness. There was no alternative. There was no way she could have sex with Luca tonight. He would be expecting it, and usually she relished the chance to make love after an evening spent together. So often he was locked in the kitchen until late, and by the time he got to bed she was asleep. On any other occasion she would have wallowed in the luxury of his undivided attention.

There was no point in waiting for him to drift off. After sex, yes, he’d be out like a light. But in the meantime, he wouldn’t rest until he was satisfied.

‘What an amazing evening,’ he said. ‘I think we’re going to nail it, Claire. We’re on our way. Can you believe it? A London hotel.’

‘We haven’t said yes yet,’ she replied, padding towards the bed. ‘There’s a lot to think about.’

‘Yeah, but it’s a no-brainer, isn’t it? They put up the money; we put in the time. We’re never going to get that opportunity again.’

Claire hesitated. She didn’t want to put all her objections forward now. She was tired, and confused, and didn’t know what she really thought. If she started picking holes in the project, Luca wouldn’t let it rest. And she needed the chance to think. The sooner Luca was asleep, the better.

So she just smiled. ‘We are lucky.’

‘It’s got me thinking about something else,’ said Luca. ‘Something I’ve been thinking about for a while.’

‘What?’ Claire sat on the edge of the bed tentatively, affecting an expression of interest, wondering when she should start mentioning that she felt a bit off colour. She could blame the oysters.

He gazed up at her, a smile playing on his lips.

‘Marry me, Claire.’

If she didn’t feel sick before, she did now.

‘What?’ She felt her face go pale. ‘You are joking.’

A dark shadow flickered across Luca’s face. ‘That wasn’t really the reaction I was hoping for.’

She laughed, a nervous, playing-for-time laugh.

‘I’m just . . . surprised. I didn’t think you were the marrying kind.

‘Neither did I.’ He

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