Your Lying Eyes

Your Lying Eyes Chapter 53

Standing at the bar, Howard turned so that he could see Anna at the table.  He saw her talking to Nina, their conversation not too friendly judging by the expression on Anna's face. He finally managed to get drinks and as he turned back, he saw Anna leave through the door to the garden.  He glanced around for Jason, spying him at the other side of the room, so deep in conversation with one of the other guests he was unable to attract his attention.  By the time he got back to the table, Sandy and Chloe had joined Nina and were politely chatting to her.

"Excuse me," he told them, putting the drinks down on the table and leaving them immediately.  He crossed the room and went out into the garden, the air still and heavy.  

There was no sign of her on the terrace and he took the path down the lawns, through the shrubbery.  Following the path as it wandered down to the side of the hotel, he heard a low rumble in the distance.   He glanced towards the sky, ominous black clouds covered it.  The storm that had been threatening all day wasn't far off.

No one else was around in the garden, no one for him to ask if they had seen Anna.  He carried on, calling her name as he did so.  Rounding a corner he saw her.  Her head bent down as she sat on the bench at the side of the lake.

"Anna!" he called softly to her, making her start as he came up to the bench.

"Howard!" She stood up, her back to him as she quickly wiped her eyes, not wanting to let him see that she'd been crying.  

"What do you want?" she asked him abruptly.  "Surprised that you're not in there with your girlfriend," she added, nodding towards the hotel.

"Just wondered if you were ok," he said, looking at her closely.  "You looked upset.  And she's not my girlfriend."  He took a step nearer to her, his hand going to her chin and lifting it up so he could see her face clearly.  He saw that she'd been crying and ran his thumb gently down the tearstains on her face.  "What did she say to upset you?" he asked her softly, resisting the urge to take her into his arms.

Anna's head came up defiantly, as she took a step back from him.

"I'm ok.  She's certainly not upset me."  She looked at him, so close to her, looking at her with so much concern in his eyes.  She took another step back from him, turning away.  "If she's not your girlfriend, then what was she doing sitting with you at our table?"

Howard sighed, and stepped towards her.

"There was a mix up and there was only one place available."

"And that just happened to be right next to you did it?" she said glancing over her shoulder at him.  "Huh, that's what Gary said too!"

"Well perhaps it just happens to be the truth then?" he suggested to her.  "It's not a cover up.  There's nothing to cover!  It's the truth.  She's not my girlfriend.  I don't want one."

"Oh?" Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming quickly, "Don't you?"

He moved closer towards her, standing behind her.  She glanced to the side, his face so near to her she could feel his breath on her cheek.

"No," he said softly.  "I don't."  He reached out to her, his hands going to her shoulders, his fingers trailing gently down her arms.  Anna felt her heart race as his fingertips touched her.  She tried to breathe normally.

"What do you want?" she asked him as he leaned ever closer to her.

"You," he whispered, his hands slipping to her waist.  Anna's heart missed a beat.  She could feel his warm breath on her bare shoulders and neck now.  She felt almost dizzy at his nearness to her.