“They have a breakfast buffet downstairs,” he said as he rubbed his hair with the towel, his dark hair springing into curls like the wool of a lamb. “And then we can head back to the hospital. Is there a certain time they’re expecting you?”
“The visiting hours start at ten.” Although what state her mother would be in then, Emily had no idea.
“All right. It’s only a little after eight now. We’ve got plenty of time.”
“Okay. I’ll take a shower, then.” She grabbed her clothes and then sidled past him with an awkward smile; this whole situation really was incredibly weird. She’d never been in one like it before. It had always been just her and her mum, and when her mum was sick, it was just her.
Having someone else involved felt very different, and Emily wasn’t sure she even knew what to do with Owen. She wanted him to leave her alone, and yet at the same time she wanted him to stay. Clearly her emotions were all over the place.
A long, hot shower definitely made her feel better, though, and once she was dressed in one of her armour-like outfits, tailored trousers and a button-down blouse, with her hair and make-up done, she felt ready to face the day—and her mother.
Owen raised his eyebrows as she emerged from the bathroom in her polished state. “You look like you’re ready to chair a board meeting.”
“I might go into work later,” she said, which made her realise she hadn’t actually texted Henry to let him know she wouldn’t be showing up in less than an hour. When she reached for her phone to text him, though, she found the battery was dead. She’d forgotten to charge it last night, which was so unlike her.
“I’ll call Jace,” Owen told her easily. “And he can let Henry or Alice know.”
Emily knew she didn’t have much choice; she didn’t actually know Henry’s mobile off by heart. Still, she didn’t like feeling so out of control, even with such little things. Wordlessly she nodded, and then listened, cringing inwardly, as Owen spoke to Jace.
“Hey, mate, could you do me a favour? Emily’s in London to visit her mum in hospital and she’s not going to be able to get into work today. Could you let Alice or Henry know? Thanks.” As he disconnected the call, he raised his eyebrows. “What’s wrong?”
“Everyone’s going to be wondering,” she said, feeling as if she were squirming inside. “What’s wrong with my mum…why you were the one who was ringing…”
“Is that so bad?”
“Yes.” The word burst out of her. “I’m a very private person.”
“Yes, I can see that.” He gave her a measured look. “You don’t have to go into detail with everyone, but people want to help, Emily.” He paused. “I do.”
“You are helping.” She reached for her bag and began stuffing her pyjamas into it. “You drove me here, after all.” She kept her head lowered, her face averted from his as she zipped up the bag. “Why don’t we get some breakfast?”
Chapter Eleven
Owen watched as Emily sat down across from him, having just been to the breakfast buffet. She had a plate with some fresh fruit and little bowl of yoghurt, and a cup of coffee, which she placed precisely to the top right of her plate. Knife and fork were set in parallel lines on either side of the plate, and it wasn’t until she had everything arranged just so that she looked up and caught him staring. She frowned.
“What is it?”
He nodded towards her food. “You’ve got a little routine going there, don’t you?” He’d meant it teasingly, but colour flooded her face as she looked away.
“I like things a certain way.”
“Yes, I can see that.” He eyed her speculatively as she gave her fork one last tweak and then spread her napkin in her lap. Emily David was proving to be far more of a conundrum that he’d originally thought. The last twelve hours had certainly shown him that. Her mother…her vulnerability…their kiss.
Their kiss, Owen acknowledged, had been mind-blowing. Life-changing. He’d kissed a fair few women in his time, but no one, no one, had made him feel like that. As if the top of his head was coming off and his heart was expanding to fill up his body. It had been sweetness and fire and yearning and completion all at once, and it had just been a kiss. He didn’t know whether to be terrified or elated. He decided he was both, not that he was going to reveal either emotion to Emily anytime soon. He had a feeling she’d be completely freaked out, and he might be, too.
But that kiss certainly put today in perspective, because coming to London wasn’t so much about offering a favour to a friend, but supporting a woman he was already starting to care about. Which was something else he wasn’t going to be telling Emily anytime soon.
Because that really did freak him out.
“So what’s the plan?” he asked as he dug into his plateful of bacon and eggs. “Go to the hospital, see your mum…?”
“Yes.” She took a sip of her coffee, her gaze lowered. “I’ll need to meet with her care team and see what their thoughts are. I imagine…” She paused, her throat working. “I imagine she’ll have to stay in hospital for some time.”
Which begged all sorts of questions. What was wrong with her mum? What had happened? Owen decided not to ask. Emily clearly didn’t want to volunteer the information.
She lifted her gaze, her slate-coloured eyes wide, her expression direct and resolute. “I don’t know how long I’ll be, so it’s probably best if you return to Wychwood. I’ll catch a train back.”
So that was him
