She (39 page)

“Mmm, I’m
really
looking forward to working with you, Miss. Samuels,” Logan purrs.

“It will be my pleasure, Mr. Leary.” It always is!

*

A short while later, once we’ve begun our descent into Nice International Airport, and only after I’ve been staring at Logan for two minutes straight, does he consent to enact his second distraction.

“You see, winding you up and purposefully avoiding your gaze is part of my ploy,” he tells me, “but I don’t like ignoring you. It goes against every instinct in me,” he says. “Now, you’ll have to get into position and press yourself up against the armrest, as close to me as you can.”

Oh? “OK,” I say, bemused. I move to occupy only one half of my seat, the half that’s closest to Logan.

Then Logan steals a quick glance around the cabin, his eyes skimming over the other passengers and the cabin crew who are seated and chatting amongst themselves. Once he’s satisfied that we’re not being watched, Logan focusses his whole attention on me, and he too, moves in his seat to be as close to me as possible.

“Alright,” he says, seriously, “are you ready?”

“Uh…”

“Just nod,” he tells me.

I nod, amused. Then, before I know it, his lips have found mine and are forcing mine open. He thrusts his expert tongue into my mouth and claims me passionately. I’m all gone. I forget I’m even on an airplane, let alone that we’re about to land (which is my most despised part of flying).

Well played
,
Logan
! Very well played!

*

We ‘park’ at the terminal, disembark, and collect our luggage. Then Logan leads us to the lineup of chauffeurs who are holding out name cards for their guests. We’re being picked up;
fancy
, I think. I spot a kind-faced middle-aged man who’s holding a piece of white card that reads:
M. Leary et Mlle. Samuels
.

We walk to him, shake hands and exchange the usual pleasantries, but then my attention is fully consumed by the card that the man is holding. Above our neatly scrawled names are two initials embossed onto the card: BR. I turn these over in my mind, knowing somehow that they’re significant. It’s not until we’re sitting in the back of the chauffeur driven car, driving away from the airport, that it clicks: Logan is taking me to my favourite place in France…the place that I’ve never
actually
been to before…the place that inspired the setting of my favourite novel: the Hotel Belles Rives!
BR
!

Abruptly and quite unpronounced tears well up in my eyes. I sit, silently sobbing, staring out of the window, feeling utterly overcome.
Dammit
! Logan’s overwhelmed me again! As if confessing that he’s named a hotel in my honour wasn’t enough for one day, now he’s gone and brought me to the one place in the world that I want to see above any other!
Oh
,
Logan
!

It takes him a few minutes to realise that tears are streaming down my face. “You know where we’re going now, don’t you?” he rightly guesses.

I nod and then burst into noisy tears. This time he leaves his seat and slides over to sit next to me, wrapping his arms around me.

“Happy…tears,” I mumble.

“So,
good
surprise?” he asks with a satisfied grin, knowing that this is the
best
surprise.

I stare at him incredulously. “This is
amazing
!” I gush. I hug him tightly, not wanting to ever let him leave my embrace. “Logan…” I breathe. I’m speechless once more. I don’t know what to say, but I settle for, “I love you. A
lot
.”

“I love you, too, baby,” he says, kissing me gently.

For a moment I’m lost in our kiss, my mind unable to comprehend the amount of happiness I’m feeling right now. Happiness caused by one man…

“Thank you,” I whisper against Logan’s lips.

“You’re welcome,” he says. “We’re going to have a
really
good time,” he promises me.

Spurred on by the alluring look in his eyes, I turn to the driver. “As fast as you can, please,” I request urgently.

Logan laughs,
enjoying my enthusiasm. As his lips meet mine, he smiles, “Watch this space.”

The End of Part One

The Playlist

Perhaps you’ve noticed that each chapter is named after a song? Below is the playlist for
She
, Part One.

I chose these songs because I felt their essence was a great reflection of the content of the corresponding chapter. All songs can be found on youtube or iTunes.

1.
Begin Again
by Taylor Swift

2.
My Funny Valentine
by Alice Fredenham (an Ella Fitzgerald cover)

3.
Searchlight
by Jamie Catto, Kelli Ali, Duncan Bridgeman, Paul Herman, Lévon Min

4.
Domino
by Jesse J

5.
Tell Me
by Mia Dyson

6.
Ready For Love
by India Arie

7.
Nothing At All
by Santana feat. Musiq

8.
You Shook Me All Night Long
by ACDC

9.
Mirrors
by Boyce Avenue (a Justin Timberlake cover)

10.
Happy
by Pharrell Williams

11.
Replay
by Zendaya

12.
Burn
by Ellie Goulding

13.
You Got It
by Roy Orbison