Fergus
Fergus heard the click of the hotel room door and his hand slid across and found the warmth of the sheets next to him instead of the warmth of Ailee’s body.
He shuddered at the sense of loss that swept over him. ‘Ailee?’ He looked towards the bathroom but the door was open the large expanse of space echoing with emptiness.
She’d gone. Just like that. After the day they’d shared. After sleeping with her hand in his.
He shook his head, unable to believe she’d slipped away without a word. Fled. Yes, that was the word he sought.
He hadn’t picked that in her but he knew he’d pushed fast and inexplicably and he shouldn’t have been surprised. He’d been too desperate to cling to the sunshine she projected, the idea they were fated and had found each other.
The unexpected fantasy turned into an illusion.
He knew she’d gone, but he found final confirmation when he sat on the edge of the bed and his glance fell on the note she’d written.
‘Dear Fergus, Thank you for the day. Ailee.’
That was it? Nothing else? No personal touch, no reflection of her vibrant personality, no touch of humour.
No phone number. No meet in Sydney. No future plans.
He remembered the way she’d first ignored him in the plane, and he wished bitterly that she hadn’t turned to him a few minutes later. That he hadn’t asked her to talk.
Obviously their time together had left no impression on her, while he feared she’d pierced the protective shell he’d sworn to keep intact — and he wasn’t sure the wound would heal at all well.
How could such a short encounter affect him so deeply?
When he landed at Sydney airport Fergus handed his carry-on over to his driver and scanned the arrivals hall until he caught a disappearing glimpse of Ailee as she left with an older woman. He would recognise her anywhere. Now.
Disappointment made his breath catch. He’d seen nothing of her since she’d left his room in Singapore, neither at their hotel or the airport. He’d intended to arrange an upgrade for her on that final flight, but after her cool exit from his room and that cold little bedside note, he hadn’t thought she wanted him near her. He left well-enough alone.
So he’d travelled the last leg in the pointy end of the plane with Ailee back in Economy, and he guessed that was lucky because if he’d had to sit and watch her for eight hours, he would have weakened and reached out with a suggestion they meet at least one more time.
He hated weakness, especially in himself.
Fergus sighed and followed his driver from the terminal to the car park. It was better to suffer a little now because if watching her leave was this bad after one flight and one short day in Singapore, then long-term exposure to the woman could be fatal.
A sudden uneasy thought finally pierced his tired brain and made him wonder why he hadn’t thought of it before. What if there was another reason she hadn’t stayed? What if Ailee was sick, had been ill, or would be? What if she was awaiting medical results that could prove life-altering?
He shook his head. He’d never seen anyone healthier or more physically fit the woman who had strode around Singapore in the equatorial heat, her smile bright, her energy never flagging? His groin clenched and he gritted his teeth.
It was astonishing but egotistical of him that their time together hadn’t been as special for her as it had been for him. Should he have pushed his advantage when he’d had it? No. He’d seen something more precious than a one-night stand in Ailee’s company. Clearly, he’d been mistaken or totally missed her reasons for her flight.
He lacked practice in the art of wooing women but he’d have sworn he’d connected with Ailee during their time together. Connected on a level beyond physical desire.
He was a fool and a besotted one at that.
Enough. He had to let her go.
He and Simone made a good team. He might check with his daughter again to find out if the boarding-school thing was working, though. If one good thing came from his brief encounter with Ailee, that could be it.