Chapter 24
“Here, you go,chicken for you, ham and cheese for me,” Crispin said, placing downthe tray of recently purchased sandwiches from the café in thepark. “I’ll be back with your tea.”
Gwen smiledher thanks but he had turned away before he noticed. She hadoffered to help, but he insisted she grab the only available tableon the patio while he got the food.
While waiting,she took in the views of her surroundings. Still quite chuffed withthe idea of actually being there, Gwen whispered a silent thanks tofate for bringing Crispin into her life. Watching him now,returning with his coffee and her tea, she was reminded of that dayback in the café in Kingston. The same wave of chills rackedthrough her at the very sight of him.
“Keep staring at me like that…”
“And what?”
He flashed hera crooked grin, winked and sat beside her. Dragging her chaircloser to him, he then proceeded to eat his lunch in silence. For aguy who didn’t like being touched, he certainly enjoyed sharingclose proximity. After a few contemplative bites of her sandwichand a couple of sips of tea, Gwen placed a tentative hand on histhigh and waited to see what he might do. Right away, he tensed butdidn’t react otherwise. She then took another chance and kissed himon the cheek. He was sitting so close, it didn’t take much of aneffort, yet mentally, it was proving quite taxing. Every move shemade felt risky. But she had promised herself she would get to thebottom of his issues. This was, to her, the best way to broach thesubject. Yet with every carefully executed caress on her part, shelikened to petting a caged lion who at any second, might turn andbite.
As it was, hehad stopped chewing, swallowed his last mouthful, and took apurposeful drag of his coffee. The whole while, he avoidedeye-contact with her. She then gave him another kiss, closer to hisear, her fingers tightening their grip on his thigh.
Sure enough,she had gone too far, pushed her luck and his steely grip came downhard on her hand and gave her fingers and near painful squeeze.
“Watch yourself, young miss,” he growled, his jaw clenched,brow furrowed, eyes shut tight against her sweet assault on hisperson. “Don’t ruin this.”
“Ruin?” She actually choked back an unexpected sob at hischoice of words. “How exactly…” It hurt, it did, his reaction toher touch and the woman inside of her demanded to know why. “… am Iruining anything?”
“Just don’t.” With one last punishing squeeze of his hand, heremoved hers from his thigh, got up, grabbed his satchel and walkedoff.
Abandoning thelast of her lunch, she followed in concerned silence. With one lastlook over her shoulder, she said a wistful goodbye to St. James’sPark, her eyes lingering the bench by the pond. The recent memoryof Crispin with the duckling made her smile despite the sour turnin his mood. Turning her attention to him again, she tookpurposeful steps to keep up.
She didn’teven care where he was headed, she followed him, this mysterioustravel companion in head-to-toe black. The thing with Crispin was,he always seemed to know where he was headed. Ever since thenightmare on the tube, he’d taken the lead and that was quite finewith Gwen, because, in the end, he always led her where she wantedto go. Like she could simply envision the destination and withoutasking for direction, he’d take her there. Like right now forexample, sure enough, after a brisk walk, they reached WellingtonArch, which, of course, was quite breathtaking in itself.
Another thingwith Crispin was, he never stayed angry, if angry is what you couldcall it, for long. In anticipation of her reaction to the majesticstructure, he slowed his steps and allowed her to close thedistance between them. When he looked over his shoulder, sureenough, her smile brought forth one of his own and he held his handout for her. Just like that, all was forgiven.
“Wow, Crispin!”
“Quite impressive, isn’t it?”
“I can’t get over all this architecture. It’s so different towhat we have back home.”
Right acrossfrom Wellington Arch, they came across Hyde Park. In a much bettermood, and feeling a tad guilty for running out on her at lunch,Crispin made up for it with a couple of decadent ice cream bars,double chocolate for him, cookies and cream for her.
“Hyde Park,” Gwen declared, taking loving bites of her treat.“This is perfect. Right around here is Kensington Palace. But don’tworry, we won’t go in. We’ll just spend the afternoonoutside.”
“Is that so?” Crispin teased, wrapping his arm around her andpulling her in for a sloppy ice cream kiss. “Worried about me, areyou?”
His kiss cameout of nowhere and his unexpected embrace nearly caused her dropwhat was left of her treat to the ground in favour of more ofhim.
“Cute, you are.” He kissed her again before resuming walking asif nothing happened.
Afterstrolling through the extensive greenery, they found a sunny patchof grass by The Serpentine, a snake-like body of water, and satdown.
“I’m actually tired,” said Gwen, resting back on thegrass.
“We’ve walked quite a bit today. Go ahead and take anap.”
“I don’t need to sleep.” She giggled when he took his notebookfrom inside the satchel, then tucked the leather bag under herhead.
“Do as I say.” He leaned in real close and nipped at herearlobe.
“Yes, Master.” She giggled again.
“Much better.” He rewarded her with a kiss before sitting upbeside her.
Surprisingly,she did sleep. Actually, it more like dozing in and out ofconsciousness. Each time she stirred, she opened one eye, and sureenough, found Crispin at her side, scribbling into his notebook.“What are you writing?” she murmured at one point.
“None of your concern,” he whispered as he continued,surprising himself with how easily the lyrics flowed. He hadn’tbeen this inspired in months and he didn’t want to risk losing theinspiration with idle chit chat.
“Crispin? Can I ask you something?”
“Shush…”
“Have you ever…”
“Give me a second.” There, the last lyric was written, the songcomplete. The third so far this trip and they had only juststarted. At this pace, the Kingston Quartet would have a brand
