Page 16 of No Going Back

CHAPTER FIVE

Their second date started with an early Eurostar departure for Paris, for a day of sightseeing followed by a casual dinner in a little bistro off the tourist track.

Though Guy had often been to the French capital before, the purpose of his visits had been business, with little chance for leisurely pursuits. Seeing it through Maddie’s eyes was a whole new experience. He’d especially enjoyed the way she’d sneaked her hand into his while they’d been taking in the views from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Thinking she might suffer from acrophobia, he’d asked if heights bothered her. She’d simply said no, and carried on holding his hand.

They’d caught the last train back to London, exhausted and still stuffed with fine French food and more than a couple of glasses of excellent wine. Once again, Guy had arranged for a chauffeur to meet them with the Rolls-Royce. By the time they reached Remington Grange, it was close to midnight, and once again, he escorted Maddie to her accommodation.

“Thank you for a wonderful day, Guy. I think it’s safe to say, I’ve never been on a date quite like that before.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I can’t believe you’ve never been to the City of Love before.”

“What can I say?” A whisper of sadness drifted across her face. “A long time ago, there was one man I would have gone to Paris with. He went there on business a few times, but he never asked me to go with him.”

“He was a fool.”

“You won’t get any argument from me on that score.”

“Are you still in contact with him?” He sensed the man had been important to her, and Guy wanted to know if he was still serious competition. For a woman as lovely as his Maddie, years meant nothing.

“I haven’t been for a long time. I’ve heard he’s changed, but…when it comes to relationships, I’m a firm believer there’s no going back. You can only go forward.”

Memories of another pair of eyes looking at him with openness and honesty assailed him. While the ones in front of him were the colour of rich, dark chocolate, those other eyes had been an exquisite shade of jade green. Even after all this time, Guy had never come across anyone with eyes the colour of Liz’s.

“In that case, Maddie mine, how do you feel about going forward to a third date?”

Eyebrows raised, she shot him a questioning look. “‘Maddie mine’?”

He gave her his most disarming smile. “What can I say? I like alliteration.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Hmm. I wonder what alliterates with ‘Guy’.”

He had any number of suggestions. “Gorgeous. Gallant. Gregarious. Glorious. Gracious—”

She laughed. “Oh no, I’m not letting you get away with that gratuitous display of self-aggrandisement. Let me think. How about… garrulous? Or grandiloquent?” Her head tilted to one side, as if she were giving the matter more intense thought. “How about guarded?”

“Guarded? What makes you say that?”

Her head tilted to one side. “I accuse you of being ‘garrulous’ and ‘grandiloquent’—not the most positive of traits—yet you challenge me on ‘guarded’. Why?”

“I’m curious. Tell me.”

“Guy, it’s no big deal. We’ve only just met. It’s normal to be at least a little cautious at this stage, don’t you think?”

“Perhaps so, but I hope I can convince you to revise that opinion on date number three. A spanking has a tendency to lower defences.” He wondered how she’d react to his off-the-cuff comment.

“It does?”

With a cocktail of curiosity and apprehension, it seemed. “When delivered or received as pleasure,” he elaborated.

“You sound very knowledgeable on the matter.”

He wasn’t about to answer the implied question—not yet. “You haven’t run for the hills.”

“I haven’t, have I?”

Her enigmatic smile gave him something to think about. And think about it he did, from their goodnight kiss to the moment he flung himself into a bed that had never seemed colder or more empty.

Every second of the day had been special, but what played on his mind most, though, was that last, flirtatious exchange before they’d parted company. His mouth had run away with him, something that never happened. It should have earned him a slap, but instead had served up an intriguing helping of food for thought.