Chapter Two

CHAPTER 2

It's all coming back to me

The night she got word that he left wrenched her heart. The memory of that stormy night is still etched in the resides of her head. It was as though the menacingly looking clouds signalled his departure.

She remembered how broken he left her without a word...not even a"Goodbye"

she wandered in the heavy rain with hopes that she can at least spot him leave, even take one last glimpse at his broad shoulders! Even!!! She had never cried like that for a long time at least not after her mother died when she was barely twelve-that convulsive crying with hyperventilating breaths.

For months she was not herself. Her bestie, Hannah tried her possible best to bring back the chirpy Janice but to no avail. She had never in all of her life missed someone so terribly-the feelings he aroused in her were inconceivable. Yep, that was about the right word to describe it only that it cannot be fully described!

This man called Drake Heughan is sent to turn the tables on her and he's enjoying the show he's put up.  Damn it!  She can't get her eyes off him not even for a second!

He still maintained the power to make her insides quiver with anticipation.  Here he was, lounging majestically beside her. Her breaths quickened. She lowered her eyes to her coffee drink at the table, to avert her eyes from catching his. But Damn she could bloody well feel his curious gaze on her, scanning every inch of her body from the corner of her eyes.

The floral-print flared dress she wore hugged her body perfectly and her cleavage managed to peek out just a little bit but he could still see the swell of her breasts as they heaved in rhythm with her breathing.

"Ahem!" Hannah said attempting to break the deafening silence and jolt the two love birds back to reality. 

"Oh forgive my manners beautiful ladies!" Drake beamed with a smile as he reached out to take Hannah's hands in his. "Hannah it's very good to see you again. You look radiant by the way"

"And so do you, Drake," Hannah said with a smile as she returned the pleasantries.

" Jane...I-I mean Janice. What a wonderful surprise to see you again," he stammered. His soothing voice rung like a sweet melody in her ears like she was cuddled up against his broad hairy chest... " You look...absolutely stunning as always,"  he said peering at her with his eyes darkened with an emotion she could not fathom.

Regret? For the love of God why would he call her "Jane" at this instance? Or it would have been appropriate when they made love right? Because that was what he was fond of. Oh, when he thrust into her with a steady rhythm, whispering "Jane" and sweet nothings into her ears, made her shuddered with a steamy desire that she could not get over.

He reached out for her hands. His large palms covered hers as he looked at her. Her cheeks turned crimson and her heart began thudding intensely. At that moment, it was as if time halted for a minute or more. Janice stylishly released her hands from his grasp.

"Why Mr Hughen don't flatter me! You look well. How has it been going for you?" She said, smiling nervously Trying to keep it as simple as possible.

He chuckled softly then said," well it's been....a year hasn't it? It feels so good to be back in the hub-hub London life".

"And the first thing you thought was to stop by St. Lauren's tea shop? Unlike you. You Scottish lads love to drink a bloody lot." Janice smirked at Drake.

He laughed throatily and sipped his coffee.

"you got me there miss," he grinned at her. " I didn't expect today would grace me with your presence. I must confess that the memories this place holds are quite... dear to me."  His blue eyes, dimmed with an inscrutable emotion, pierced through hers as he emphasized the word "Dear".

The memories were priceless: Drake had never fancied the somewhat royalty treatment thingy-tea, cakes and whatever. He had always thought it was useless and a waste of time. He would rather go to the bar and guzzle down some brand whisky. But Janice had always convinced him to go with her and so one day he gave in. The aura around her was magical as if she was a princess and him, perhaps the prince.

They had been so immersed in each other that they had a quickie in the bathroom like some high school lovers. He had never seen her act the way she did that day-she was desperate and he could conjure the child fullness in her. It piqued his interest. He wants to know more about this mysterious tempting lady.

For what seemed like an eternity, the both of them were lost in each other's eyes. As though they were trapped in a bubble of long lost emotion that has now resurfaced, excluding the poor Hannah who sat across the table gawking at them.

She doesn't want to ruin this precious reconciliation moment for Janice so she got up and adjusted her skirts with an awkward smile plastered on her face.

Her sudden movement snapped the both of them back to the land of the living.

"Umm... I gotta head to the bathroom real quick. Take your time. Excuse me"

"Alright!" They both answered in unison

Making sure that Hannah is out of earshot, Drake turned to Janice. His blue eyes stared intently at hers. Then he said calmly:

"It was no coincidence. I deliberately came here with the hopes of seeing you again since you refused to answer my calls or return them. Why?"

"Why?!  I wasn't the one that left without a word asshole!" She shrieked at him.  This drew unwanted attention to them as some people sitting across the tables began to stare at them curiously.

"that's why I wanted to apologize to you. I'm truly sorry Jane... I had to leave. I had no other choice," he calmly said, searching her eyes, ignoring the onlookers.

"you had no other choice? You're speaking in riddles! I deserve an explanation and so does my father!" she teed off.

"It was an emergency-my mother was terribly unwell. I had to go. I'm sorry that I left without a word. It was....abrupt," he said somewhat mawkishly.

"Oh my God! I hope she's doing alright? I-I didn't know" she said as her eyebrows softened with concern.

"It was a major surgery, I had to be by her side. But she's recovering speedily."

After a pause he said:

"I miss you badly Jane forgive my impetuous behaviour I..."

His voice tapered off as he spotted Hannah emerging from the receding corner.

Janice cleared her throat ineptly.

Hannah gave her the knowing look with her eyebrows raised.

"Well, it's about time." she huffed as she stood up and clutched her roulette shoulder bag in her arm.

"You're leaving already?" Drake asked looking confused.

"I'm afraid so. Actually, we've got some shopping to do. Don't we Hannah?"  Janice lied, giving Hannah the "Play along" look.

"Y-Yes! I totally forgot about that."  Hannah nodded frantically at Drake.

"Oh...okay. When can I see you again? I will drop by the house tomorrow. I need to see your father after all," Drake said with an entreating look on his face.

"O-Okay I guess..." Her voice faltered.

He walked the ladies to the parked sleek-looking Grey Range Rover.

"Mr Briggs didn't drop you off?" Drake inquired pointing to the empty driver's seat.

"It's a little girl's out. I wanted the space for once so I had him laid off from work for a while."  Janice spoke as she rummaged through her bag in search of her car keys.  Phew! Found them.

Drake held out the driver's door for her as she unlocked the car. She gracefully slid in as Hannah entered beside her. The doors of the cars automatically locked. She wound down and then gave her final regards to Drake as she zoomed off raising specks of dust.

She has always been the rough driver. He shook his head as he thought.

One year huh... He needed it desperately to reconstruct his plans. Yes, he had one mission but ruin it when he didn't plan to fall in love with her. He's just not sure yet whether it's love or lust. Either way, he had to leave.

And this time if he screws things up, then it's all gone. For good!

Everything his family ever worked for-down the drain.

Either he fulfils this mission successfully or...his family will have his head for breakfast. And the latter is just going to make things worse.

"I'm sorry Jane." He muttered as he strolled to where his parked bike was.