Indigo Nights (Nights #3)(45)
“I’m building a pillow wall. I need to sleep tonight, and won’t if we’re lying naked next to each other.”
He sighed. “I can sleep at home. It’s fine and you’re right, as much as I’d like to keep you up all night, you’ve got to make whole sentences in front of a camera tomorrow. It’s best if you get more than thirty minutes of rest.”
I tried to peel his hands from around my waist, but he wasn’t budging. “But before we make it into the bed, anything goes, right?”
I grabbed the discarded menu. “What shall we eat?”
He leaned into my ear. “How about I eat you?”
“You did that already.” I smacked his hand. “Good job by the way.” He chuckled. “I think I’ll have the pasta. Shall I order you the steak?”
He cocked his head and smiled. “Yeah, that would be great.”
I placed the order and Dylan pulled me into the living room and onto his lap, facing the view of the river.
“I have to be up at six tomorrow. The car is coming for me at seven.”
“Friday has turned into a bit of a nightmare for me. I have meetings all day. I’m sorry.”
I leaned into his chest, savoring the feel of his skin against my cheek. “I’d planned to go and see my dad, then I’ll have to get ready for the gala. It’s fine.”
“We’ll have all day Saturday and Sunday together.”
I was concentrating on the vibrations in his chest as he spoke, so I didn’t register what he’d said at first. “Oh no, not Saturday. Didn’t I tell you? They’ve decided to show the first segment this Saturday, so I have to go into the studio for an interview, then meet with their publicity team. I think I’m going to be there most of the day.”
He took a deep breath and I sat forward so I could see his face. “Are you mad?”
He smiled. “Of course not. I just want to spend time with you.”
“Sunday, though. And I brought outdoor clothes.”
The door buzzed and I scampered off his lap. The sounds of the television filled the space behind me.
“Beth,” he called as I was answering the door.
“What?” I screamed when I saw my face on TV. “What’s that?”
I looked up at Dylan but he was staring at the screen. “That’s you.”
I sank to the sofa before my knees gave way. “Christ on a bike. What the hell am I doing on television?”
“Bake with Beth” scrolled across the screen, and then I was gone.
“Excuse me, can I get a signature?” a voice from behind me asked.
I couldn’t move. Dylan must have dealt with it as when I finally stood, the waiter had gone.
“Did you see that?” I asked.
Dylan nodded, his eyebrows raised. “Did you do publicity shots already?”
“I had some taken in London. I didn’t think, didn’t realize . . . I just didn’t expect this.” I couldn’t believe they were advertising my show. Or my slot on someone else’s show.
“You didn’t expect to be on television, even though you have a baking segment on television.”
“Well, when you say it like that it makes me feel stupid.”
Dylan chuckled. “You’re not stupid. But perhaps you’re not quite prepared.”
“I’m thinking you might be right. I’ve been concentrating on getting the recipes right, and making sure I’ve rehearsed. I guess I didn’t think about broadcasting into peoples’ homes.”
The more time that passed, the more it felt like I was leading some kind of double life. In one, I lived in London, dreaming up recipes and having my nieces spit up on me. In the other, I was in Chicago, on television, and had a boyfriend who looked like a Greek god and ordered me dessert whenever I wanted it.
I was living the best of both worlds but needed to mesh them together if I was going to be able to hold on to both of them.
Dylan
I glanced at the clock, again. This meeting had been dragging on far too long, and we were due to be at the gala in an hour and a half.
“Ultimately, if you’re not on board with this, then I’ll find someone who is,” I interrupted the guy telling me again why my integration plan wasn’t going to work. “We’re due to take ownership of Redux in less than two weeks so if you want out, let me know now.”
“It’s not that. I just want—”
“Let’s reconvene next week. Email me over the weekend with your decision. I don’t want to spend any more time debating this.”
I stood and strode out of the meeting room, and didn’t stop even for Marie. She’d expected me to catch up on my phone messages and emails, but that shit would have to wait. I’d not seen Beth properly all day, and I wanted to squeeze out every last drop of time together.
I took the elevator to my waiting town car and hit dial as I got in.
“I’ve just got into the car; I should be with you shortly,” I said as soon as she answered.
“I told you I’d be happy to meet you there. I know how busy you are.”
“Well, I need to change into my tux—”
“Which Marie could have had Don collect.”
I’d brought my things to the hotel yesterday so I wouldn’t have to go home. I still wasn’t quite sure why Beth wouldn’t stay with me, particularly when I was effectively staying with her. It wasn’t as if we were getting any space from each other. We’d slipped into coupledom—working during the day, racing home to get naked in the evening. We’d not even made it out for dinner yet. But tonight was different.