'Did he leave any family?' I say cautiously, and immediately Jack's face closes up.
'Some,' he says.
'Do you see them still?'
'Occasionally.' He exhales sharply, then turns and smiles. 'You have tomato sauce on your chin.' As he reaches up to wipe it away, he meets my eyes. Slowly, he's bending towards me. Oh my God. This is it, this is really it. This is—'
'Jack.'
We both leap in shock, and I drop my cocktail on the ground. I turn round, and stare in utter disbelief. Sven is standing at the gate of the tiny garden.
What the bloody fuck is Sven doing here?
'Great timing,' murmurs Jack. 'Hi, Sven.'
'But … but what's he doing here?' I stare at Jack. 'How did he know where we were?'
'He called while you were getting the pizza.' Jack sighs and rubs his face. 'I didn't know he'd get here this quickly. Emma … something's come up. I need to have a quick word with him. I promise it won't take long. OK?'
'OK,' I say with a little shrug. After all, what else can I say? But inside, my whole body is pulsing in frustration, bordering on anger. Trying to keep calm, I reach for the cocktail shaker, pour the remains of the pink cocktail into my cup and take a deep swig.
Jack and Sven are standing by the gate having an animated conversation in low voices. I take a sip of cocktail and casually shift along the bench so I can hear better.
'… what to do from here …'
'… plan B … back up to Glasgow …'
'… urgent …'
I look up and find myself meeting Sven's eye. Quickly I look away again, pretending to be studying the ground. Their voices descend even lower, and I can't hear a word. Then Jack breaks off and comes towards me.
'Emma … I'm really sorry about this. But I'm going to have to go.'
'Go?' I stare at him in dismay. 'What, now?'
'I'm going to have to go away for a few days. I'm sorry.' He sits down beside me on the bench. 'But … it's pretty important.'
'Oh. Oh, right.'
'Sven's ordered a car for you to take you home.'
Great, I think savagely. Thanks a lot, Sven.
'That was really … thoughtful of him,' I say, and trace a pattern in the dirt with my shoe.
'Emma, I really have to go,' says Jack, seeing my face. 'But I'll see you when I get back, OK? At the Corporate Family Day. And we'll … take it from there.'
'OK.' I try to smile. 'That would be great.'
'I had a good time tonight.'
'So did I,' I say, staring down at the bench. 'I had a really good time.'
'We'll have a good time again.' Gently he lifts my chin until I'm looking straight at him, 'I promise, Emma.'
He leans forward and this time there's no hesitation. His mouth lands on mine, sweet and firm. He's kissing me. Jack Harper is kissing me on a park bench.
His mouth is opening mine, his stubble is rough against my face. His arm creeps around me and pulls me towards him, and my breath catches in my throat. I find myself reaching under his jacket, feeling the ridges of muscle beneath his shirt, wanting to rip it off. Oh God, I want this. I want more.
Suddenly he pulls away, and I feel as if I've been wrenched out of a dream.
'Emma, I have to go.'
My mouth is prickly wet. I can still feel his skin on mine. My entire body is throbbing. This can't be the end. It can't.
'Don't go,' I hear myself saying thickly. 'Half an hour.'
What am I suggesting? That we do it under a bush?
Frankly, yes. Anywhere would do. I have never in my life been so desperate for a man.
'I don't want to go.' His dark eyes are almost opaque. 'But I have to.' He takes my hand, and I cling onto his, trying to prolong contact for as long as possible.
'So … I'll … I'll see you.' I can barely talk properly.
'I can't wait.'
'Neither can I.'
'Jack.' We both look up to see Sven at the gate.
'OK,' calls Jack. We stand up and I discreetly look away from Jack's slightly strange posture.
I could ride along in the car and—
No. No. Rewind. I did not think that.
When we reach the road, I see two silver cars waiting by the pavement. Sven is standing by one, and the other is obviously for me. Bloody hell. I feel like I've suddenly become part of the royal family or something.
As the driver opens the door for me, Jack touches my hand briefly. I want to grab him for a final snog, but somehow I manage to control myself.
'Bye,' he murmurs.
'Bye,' I murmur back.
Then I get into the car, the door closes with an expensive clunk, and we purr away.
SIXTEEN
We'll take it from there. That could mean …
Or it could mean …
Oh God. Every time I think about it, my stomach gives an excited little fizz. I can't concentrate at work. I can't think about anything else.
The Corporate Family Day is a company event, I keep reminding myself. Not a date. It'll be a strictly work occasion, and there probably won't be any opportunity at all for Jack and me to do more than say hello in a formal, boss-employee manner. Possibly shake hands. Nothing more.