“Right, I’ve had a text from Petra. She said she doesn’t need me until Friday, when all the bridesmaids will go through a hair and makeup trial at The Plaza salon. So that gives us this evening and one whole day of freedom in Manhattan.”
They were relaxing on the plush sofa in the lounge of their suite. They’d taken it in turns to use the ensuite bathroom to wash away the long flight and now wore fluffy white hotel-issue robes. Lucie stretched out her legs and wiggled her toes in the thick pile of the carpet.
Dale nodded. “So I can begin my mission.”
“Your mission?”
“To show you that Christmas can be fun.”
Lucie took a deep breath then released it slowly. “I’m trying to stay open minded.”
“You do that. I’m taking you somewhere special tonight.”
“Where?” Her stomach fluttered.
“You’ll know when we get there. Dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes.”
“Okay… I brought mostly flats with me. Everything I read said that coming here involves a lot of walking so I wasn’t going to get caught out.”
“You can take the bedroom to dress, but don’t be too long.”
“Yes, sir.”
“All I’m saying is that you don’t need to fuss over your clothing, because it’s cold out and you’ll be covered up in your hat and coat.”
Lucie headed into the bedroom and closed the white double doors behind her. As she turned around, she stared at the king-size bed. It was the biggest bed she’d ever seen, and it was made up with bright white, high thread count sheets embroidered with gold thread. Gold and silver scatter cushions adorned the surface and there was even a golden bolster pillow. It was pure luxury, and Lucie knew that Petra’s parents must be paying out a fortune per night.
Even so, as big as the bed was, Lucie hadn’t yet worked out how she and Dale were going to play things. Would she take the bed, or would he? Would they try to share? She wouldn’t mind sharing with him, as there was certainly enough room, yet the thought made her flutter. She’d fallen asleep on Dale a thousand times as they watched movies at her flat, and growing up they’d shared a tent in the garden many times after begging their parents to let them camp out, but being here in this expensive room with its elaborate décor and magnificent bed seemed to be casting a different light on things. It seemed almost criminal to have such a lovely bed and not to share it with a lover.
She shook her head. The long flight, arriving in Manhattan, and the promise of an exciting few days were probably playing havoc with her emotions. Dale was her best friend, her platonic soul mate and nothing more. They could sort out the sleeping arrangements later. Dale would have it all worked out.
Lucie marched along next to Dale, glancing at him every so often. The tip of his nose was red from the fresh evening wind and his eyes were watering.
“Will you tell me now?”
“Nope.”
“But why not?”
“I want you to try to guess.”
Lucie thought back to the hours they’d spent looking at images of New York on her laptop, but they’d talked about so many places that it could be any one of them.
“Give me a clue.”
“Okay.” He stopped and she turned to him. “It’s on 49^th^ Street.”
“Ummmm…” She tried to remember. What was on 49^th^ Street? Was it Macy’s?
“It’s between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.”
“Ummmmm…”
“No idea? Come on, we’re nearly there!”
“I’m trying to remember. Come on brain, work!” She tapped the side of her head, as if trying to dislodge the name of their destination.
Dale took her arm and carried on walking, but soon they were caught up in a crowd of people. Lucie felt Dale’s fingers tighten around her and she moved closer to him, suddenly terrified of losing him in the throng of people.
“Stay close, Luce,” he said as he pulled her to his side. They shuffled along and Lucie tried to see where they were going, but the crowd was thick, and being quite petite she couldn’t see above the people in front of her.
“I can’t see a thing,” she said, panic bubbling to the surface. Would it be like this all the time in Manhattan? It was all right for Dale, he was much taller.
“Over there.” Dale pointed. He stepped out of the flow of bodies and pulled Lucie in front of him.
“Wow!”
“The Rockefeller Christmas tree. Oh Dale, it’s incredible!”
They stood before the enormous tree, taking in its festive magnificence.
“It’s about seventy-eight feet tall. Can you believe that?” Dale asked her. “And there’s around forty-five thousand lights on it.”
“It’s breathtaking.” Lucie’s heart pounded beneath her warm coat and she realized that she was trembling – but she didn’t know if it was because of the cold, or emotion and awe.
“Now, I know you don’t like Christmas trees, Luce, but even you can’t say you’re not impressed with this one.”
Lucie glanced at Dale. He was staring at the tree and the twinkling lights were reflected in his eyes. He worked hard, he enjoyed simple things like a delicious meal, a walk in the park or a funny movie. He was an eternal optimist and usually saw the best in everything and everyone. He cheered Lucie up when she was low and always looked out for her. And even now, when she’d come all the way to New York, it was Dale who was with her.
Holding my hand.
She lowered her gaze to their joined hands, separated only by their gloves.
“Hey!” Dale placed a finger under her chin and gently lifted it. “You okay? You thinking about your mum?” His eyes were warm and dark.
Lucie shook her head. “I wasn’t, no. I was thinking about us… this… how amazing this is. How much I care about you.”
Dale opened his mouth then closed it and turned back to the tree. He blinked rapidly a few times and adjusted his warm woollen hat.
“Dale?”
He shook his head.
“Dale, what is it?”
“Come on, let’s check out the ice rink. It’s pretty impressive, but I thought we could go to the one in Central Park if you prefer. Unless you want to skate on this one. It’s up to you, really. Whatever you want to do.” He was speaking quickly, as if his thoughts were racing the way Lucie’s were.
“I don’t mind,” she replied softly, following him. She was being an idiot, getting carried away with being in this magical place. She was tired, and probably a bit jetlagged. Dale had made it clear a long time ago that he wanted nothing more from Lucie than her friendship, and she’d just embarrassed them both with her soppy outburst.
Well, no more. No more.
Lucie would pull herself together and ensure that she didn’t get all mushy on Dale again. It clearly made him very uncomfortable.
As Dale led Lucie to the balcony overlooking the ice rink, he had to fight the urge to release her hand and run away. Perhaps this had been a mistake, coming out here, with her, at this time of year. Dale liked Christmas but he’d always reined in his enthusiasm for it around Lucie because he knew how she felt about it. He never wanted to make it harder for her than it had to be. But this year he’d hoped to make it better, to help her to move on, and he’d been convinced that Manhattan would be the best place to try to have a very merry Christmas.
But the problem was that he was getting all mixed up in the process. The way he’d just caught Lucie looking at him made something inside him shift, something that had been lodged there for a long time. It was an emotional shield, a barrier he’d erected when he was younger and had realized that Lucie only wanted him as a friend. Sure, at the time he’d been badly hurt, but he was a grown man now, with years of experience in suppressing his emotions – wasn’t that what all sensible men did? But Lucie got to him like no other woman ever had. It was because he felt protective of her and because he cared about her. Because she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen and because she had the tenderest heart, the warmest smile. When Lucie entered a room, the world came alive for Dale, and he knew that he’d probably never find that with another woman.
Which was why he hadn’t bothered trying to find it. He’d had odd flings over the years, but none of the women he dated were ever right. They didn’t have Lucie’s smile or tinkly laugh, they didn’t smell right or know how to tease him like she did. In his eyes she was perfect, and he knew it was idiotic, but unless he stopped caring so much about her he’d never allow himself to get into anything serious with someone else.
But Lucie was vulnerable, and there was no way that Dale was going to take advantage of that. She was probably just getting caught up in the festive excitement of Manhattan and trying to work through her grief over her mum. Twenty years might be a long time, but Dale knew from what he’d read on the subject that there was no time limit on grief. There was no clear beginning and end; it could ebb and flow, burn with acidic intensity or dull to a distant ache. And there was no telling when, or if, it would resurface and put someone on their behind again, like a powerful blow to the jaw.
It was what it was.
He had made his decision.
Whatever happened out here in New York, there would be no regrets. Not for Lucie. Not for him. This was all about getting Lucie through Christmas unscathed. This was not about what Dale wanted or needed; it was about her.
“What do you think, Luce? Up for a spot of ice skating tomorrow? Or do you want to try something else?” he asked as they stood watching the skaters circling the ice, some of them wobbly and nervous, some of them gliding gracefully.
Lucie gave what he recognized as her nervous laugh. “Maybe. Let’s see how the day goes.” She shivered. “But shall we go and get a warm drink now? I’m frozen.”
“Of course.” He hugged her to his side and they went off in search of refreshments. He had every intention of taking care of his best friend this week, but he hoped that he’d be able to look after his own heart in the process. Which meant being sensible and not letting his deeper feelings for Lucie get in the way of common sense.
Lucie and Dale stood in front of the bed, staring at it as if it were covered in spikes or hot coals. Lucie thought that spikes might be preferable to the nerves she was suddenly feeling. This was ridiculous! There was nothing to worry about here.
*So why am I so worried? *
“Why don’t I take the couch in the lounge?” Dale asked. “It’s certainly big enough.”
Lucie met his eyes. “Don’t be silly. There’s plenty of room here for both of us.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Lucie marched to the bed and started removing the throw pillows, placing them on the chaise at the base of the bed. She was about to move the bolster pillow, but then she had an idea. “If we stick that in the middle, then there’ll be no danger of me turning over and head-butting you in the night.” She smiled, hoping to lighten the atmosphere.
“Do you make a habit of head-butting men in your sleep?” Dale asked, his lips twitching. “No wonder your relationships never last.” He muttered the last sentence, but Lucie heard him.
“What did you say?”
“No-othing!” He held up his hands and shook his head.
“You did! You said my relationships never last. Right, that’s it!” She scowled at him then lifted a pillow and jumped onto the bed. “Arm yourself, Treharne.”
“What?”
“I said, choose a weapon. I won’t take down an unarmed man.”
Dale grabbed a cushion and held it up. “Oh, please don’t hurt me, Miss Quigley!”
Lucie growled then flew at Dale with her cushion raised. She brought it down with a thump, and Dale gasped as the cushion met his face. Suddenly, Lucie was falling through the air. She landed on her back on the bed and realized that Dale had swiped at the backs of her knees so she would lose her balance. She squealed and tried to turn, but he was there before she could move, pinning her arms above her head while he trapped her wriggling legs with his own. “What’re you doing?” She squirmed, trying to free herself, but Dale was right above her, and he was so much bigger than she was.
“Stopping you before you can ruin my good looks.”
“With a cushion?” She giggled.
“Yes. I have sensitive skin.” Dale rubbed his free hand over his stubble. “And you’re out of control.”
Lucie stared into his eyes. Her heart was pounding and she was breathless with exertion. And something else was surging through her body, something she thought she recognized. But she wasn’t sure. Couldn’t quite put a name on it. It felt good.
“How do I know I can trust you to let me sleep, Luce? Am I going to be woken up by you pounding me with pillows?”
She watched as his chest rose and fell quickly. Was he feeling it too?
“No, of course not. I promise that you will be safe while you sleep.”
“So you’re telling me I’m free from danger if I release you?” His pupils dilated.
“Yes.” She’d stopped wriggling now and was conscious of the heat emanating from his body, warming her right through.
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
For a moment he hovered there, his brown eyes reflecting her face like a distorted mirror. She could hear his short, sharp breaths, in and out; smell his fresh ginger-citrus scent and the clean washing powder fragrance of his clothes; feel the strength in his hands and his legs as he held her in place.
It was arousing, emotional and confusing.
So confusing.
Then Dale let go of her wrists and lifted himself from her, and Lucie allowed him to pull her to a sitting position at the edge of the bed.
“Let’s get some rest,” he said, avoiding eye contact. “Busy day tomorrow.”
She nodded, then went into the bathroom to brush her teeth.
She stared at her reflection in the large gilt-edged mirror above the double sinks. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes shone and her hair was a wild tangle. The way she felt about Dale sometimes baffled her, because she knew nothing could ever happen between them. Nothing like that, anyway. Yet just then, in the bedroom, she had wanted it to. And that scared her.
When she came back into the bedroom, hoping to speak to Dale about anything, everything; just to confirm that things were okay between them, that they were friends as they had always been and always would be, she found that he’d already fallen asleep. She gazed at him for a moment, lying on his side, facing away from her, his chest rising and falling slowly, his broad shoulders outlined by a fitted grey T-shirt.
Something in her deflated, as if she’d been filled with excitement and longing, then left too long in the sun.
She sighed, then climbed into bed next to him and switched off the bedside lamp, thinking it would take a long time to drop off, but within minutes she was drifting, her thoughts swirling around just like the snowflakes that had begun to fall outside.