Even as she walked away, Claire regretted it. Her old attraction to Sean had never quite gone away, no matter how deeply she thought she’d buried it or how much she denied it to herself.
But she knew it had been the right thing to do. Because no way could things work out between her and Sean, and she’d had enough of broken relationships and being let down. Keeping things platonic was sensible, and the best way to avoid heartbreak.
* * *
Claire spent the rest of the evening socialising with the other guests, encouraging the younger ones to dance. All the time, she was very aware of exactly where Sean was in the garden, but she didn’t trust herself not to make another stupid mistake. She’d got it wrong with him in the past. She couldn’t afford to get it wrong in the future.
Finally, she went back to the hotel with the last few guests, kicked off her high heels, and curled up in one of the wrought iron chairs on the balcony of her room, looking out at the moon’s sparkling path on the sea. She’d been sitting there for a while when there was a knock at her door.
She wasn’t expecting anyone, especially this late at night—unless maybe someone had been taken ill and needed help?
She padded over to the door, still in bare feet, and blinked in surprise when she saw Sean in the doorway. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘Yes,’ he said.
She went cold. ‘Ash?’
‘No.’
Then she saw that he’d removed his jacket and cravat. He looked very slightly dishevelled, and it made him much more approachable. And much, much harder to resist.
He was also carrying a bottle of Prosecco and two glasses.
‘Sean?’ she asked, completely confused.
‘I think we need to talk,’ he said.
Again, for a split second, she glimpsed that vulnerability in his eyes. How could she turn him away when she had a good idea of how he was feeling—the same way she was feeling herself? ‘Come in,’ she said, and closed the door behind him.
‘I saw you sitting on your balcony,’ he said.
She nodded. ‘I was a bit too wired to sleep, so I thought I’d look out over the sea and just chill for a bit.’
‘Good plan.’ He gestured to her balcony. ‘Shall we?’
Sean, the sea and moonlight. A dangerous combination. It would be much more sensible to say no.
‘Yes,’ she said.
He uncorked the bottle with a minimum of fuss and without spilling a drop of the sparkling wine, then poured them both a glass.
Claire held hers up in a toast. ‘To Ashleigh and Luke,’ she said, ‘and may they have every happiness in their life together.’
‘Absolutely,’ he said, clinking his glass against hers. ‘To Ashleigh and Luke.’
‘So you’re too wired to sleep, too?’ she asked.
He nodded. ‘I was walking in the hotel gardens. That’s when I saw you sitting on the balcony.’
‘So why do we need to talk, Sean?’
He blew out a breath. ‘You and me.’
The idea sent a shiver of pure desire through her.
‘I think it’s been a long time coming,’ he said softly.
‘But we don’t even like each other. You think I’m a flake, and I think you’re...well...a bit too organised,’ she said, choosing her words carefully.
‘Maybe,’ he said, ‘because it’s easier for us to think that of each other.’
She took a sip of Prosecco, knowing that he was right but not quite wanting to admit it. ‘You turned me down.’
‘Nearly ten years ago? You know why,’ he said. ‘I think we’ve both grown up and got past that.’
‘I guess.’ She turned her glass round. ‘Though I’m not in a hurry to put myself back in that situation.’
‘You won’t be,’ he said softly. ‘Because you’re not seventeen any more, you’re not drunk, and I’m not responsible for you.’
The three barriers that had been in the way, back then. It had hurt and embarrassed her at the time, but later Claire had appreciated how decent he’d been. Not that they’d ever discussed it. It was way too awkward for both of them.
But, now he’d said it, she needed to know. ‘Back then, if I hadn’t been drunk, if I’d been eighteen, and if you hadn’t been responsible for me—would you have...?’
‘Let you seduce me?’ he asked.
She nodded.
His breath shuddered through him. ‘Yes.’
Heat curled in her belly. That night, she’d wanted him so desperately. And, if the circumstances had been different, he would have made love with her. Been her first lover.
All the words were knocked out of her head. Because all she could think about was the way he’d kissed her tonight in the garden, and the way he looked right now. Sexy as hell.
‘Ashleigh’s engagement,’ he said softly. ‘You turned me down, that time.’
‘Because I was being sensible.’ She paused. ‘This isn’t sensible, either.’
‘I know. But your perfume’s haunted me all evening,’ he said, his voice low and husky and drenched in desire. ‘Your mouth. And you’ve been driving me crazy in that dress.’
She made a last-ditch attempt at keeping the status quo. ‘This is a perfectly demure bridesmaid’s dress,’ she said. ‘It’s down to my knees.’
‘And I can’t stop thinking about what you might be wearing under it.’
Her breath hitched. ‘Can’t you, now?’
The same heat that curled in her belly was reflected in his eyes. ‘Going to show me?’ he invited.
‘We’re on my balcony. Anyone could see us. You saw me,’ she pointed out.
‘Then maybe,’ he said, ‘we should go inside. Draw the curtains.’
She knew without a shadow of a doubt what was going to happen if they did.
There would be repercussions. Huge ones.
But the old desire had lanced sharply through her, to the point where she didn’t care about the repercussions any more. ‘Yes.’
Without a word, he stood up and scooped her out of her chair. Carried her into the room and set her down on her feet. He turned away just long enough to close the curtains, then pulled her into his arms and kissed her
That first kiss in the garden had been tentative, sweet. This was like lighting touchpaper, setting her on fire. By the time he broke the kiss, they were both shaking.
‘Show me,’ he said softly.
She reached behind her back to the zip and slid it down; then she held the dress to her.
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Shy?’
She shook her head. ‘I’m waiting for you to get rid of your waistcoat and undo your shirt.’
He looked puzzled, and she explained, ‘Because, if we’re going to do this, it’s going to be equal. Both of us. All the way.’
‘All the way,’ Sean repeated huskily. He removed his waistcoat, then undid his shirt and pulled it out of the waistband of his trousers. ‘Better?’
‘Much better. It makes you