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“Yes, please come. Can you?” She tightened her grip on the phone and held her breath. After yesterday’s grim discovery, she leapt to accept his offer and regained hope when everything had seemed lost.
“My flight’s boarding now. Text me your hotel info, and I’ll arrive late evening, London time. See you later.”
“Thanks. Bye.” Marveling how thirty seconds changed her outlook, she unclenched her jaw and sank into an overstuffed chair. She texted him the hotel address and wished him a safe flight before calling the hotel concierge to add his name to her room reservation. Inside, she couldn’t stop her nerves from fluttering. Considering their strained goodbye, she held no expectations about how their meeting would go, but the promise of seeing him tantalized her imagination and reduced the weight on her shoulders.
She popped an oxycodone capsule, climbed onto the bed, and researched recent computer virus outbreaks in Belarus until she drifted to sleep. After sunset, her mobile rang, jarring her awake, and she bolted upright in the darkness. Patting around the tousled blankets to find the phone, she glimpsed the screen: Private Caller. Mark must have landed in London.
“Hello?” She tried to sound awake.
“You called a phone number today.” The robotic male voice sounded computer-generated.
“Yes.” Caught off guard, she shifted, and the half-melted ice bag on her ankle slid off the bed and spilled ice cubes and water all over the carpet.
“What’s your name?”
“Tess Bennett.” Attention rapt, she worried what she’d learn next and braced her back against the headboard.
“What news do you have for me?” the voice continued.
The cryptic phrase in Kyle’s letter sprang to memory at once, but she hesitated, lest verbalizing the words wrought more catastrophe. “The Druid has fallen.”
“You’ll be given instructions.” The call disconnected.
“Wait. Come back. Are you there?” Silence. Hoping to reach the unidentified number, she punched the redial button but found it blocked. Damn it. Whoever this Raven character was, he guarded his privacy like a fortress.
Jittering a foot against the floor, she checked the crystal clock on the bedside table every few minutes as Mark’s arrival drew closer. Vacillating over what to wear, she wriggled into a snug cashmere sweater but changed her mind and chose a silky, sky-blue blouse. Unable to guess Mark’s intentions, she readjusted the blouse and surveyed the mirror. If he wasn’t interested, he wouldn’t have returned her message, so his willingness to stop in London offered some solace. Still, each minute stretched like an eternity, and she grew antsy.
A knock at the door sounded. Digging into her bag, Tess grabbed a perfume and spritzed her neck with a jasmine scent. She slid onto her crutches and checked the door’s peephole to confirm Mark stood on the other side. After a deep, calming breath, she opened the door. “Hi. Come in.”
Mark held a large paper takeaway bag smelling of curry. He stepped inside the suite and pecked her on the cheek. “Hi there. You’re vertical—good sign.”
“Yes, better than yesterday.” The hint of sandalwood cologne in the air weakened her knees. Unsure if the platonic kiss signaled he intended to keep her at a distance, she projected a positive, but guarded, mood.
“Are you hungry? I didn’t eat on the flight, so I picked up takeaway near Charing Cross. Curry acceptable?” With an eyebrow arched, he rubbed his jaw and pulled back slightly.
“Always. I haven’t eaten, either.” As she looked him over, something struck her as missing. “Hey, don’t you have a suitcase or coat?”
“Oh. I left them in my room, a few doors away.” Mark placed the steaming bag on the small dining table, and the smell of tandoori filled the room.
“You reserved a room here? But…” Leaving the sentence unfinished, she absorbed a sting of rejection and straightened her posture. Just like before, she was still intoxicated by Mark’s sapphire gaze. However, given how distant he seemed, she considered whether something had changed in New York and remembered his female mystery caller.
“Since we left things at loose ends in Seattle and you’re under such pressure, I didn’t want to assume I’d be your guest. Why don’t we eat and talk about it?”
“Sure. Thanks for picking up dinner.” With some effort, she remained composed enough to hide her annoyance. Her personal universe was blowing up but he seemed utterly unrattled. Mind racing, she recalled she was the one who got angry first in Seattle and resolved not to overreact.
Seated at the suite’s table, she and Mark downed the curry takeaway without any conversation. She debated making small talk about cardamom and turmeric to break the awkward silence but couldn’t muster the words. Calm down.
After finishing his chicken tikka masala, Mark pushed his plate away and wiped his hands with a napkin. “I’d like to check your leg and ensure your healing is on track. Tell me again what happened yesterday.”
Tess recounted the incident from her patchy memory, and heat filled her cheeks. “I’ve iced it several times today and tried to rest.”
“I’m not surprised you got sick. Sit on the couch, and I’ll examine the wound.” He inspected her leg carefully and shone his phone’s light on the surgical incision from every direction while rotating the ankle in slow circles. He checked her pulse, felt her forehead, and palpated the lymph nodes on either side of her neck. “Still taking the oxycodone and staying hydrated?”
“Yes. I learned my lesson and should’ve been more careful.” While confident the exam was comprehensive, she found its purely clinical nature disappointing. Even so, she struggled to contain the steamy desires his presence inspired. “I didn’t mean to act rashly in Seattle, and I’m afraid I scared you away. Forgive me.”
He slipped her foot back into the oversized boot and tightened the noisy hook and loop straps. A corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile as he got to his feet. “I’m glad you called, although I don’t know where we stand.”
True words—Tess had no idea where they stood, either. Seeing the spark in his gaze again, she relaxed, and the tension in her throat released. She’d intended to hold back, but excitement prevailed. “I’m so relieved to see you. How’d your trip to New York go?”
