Leaping Into Love

Leaping Into Love--Chapter 2

So SYTYCW may not have made me get very far this time, but let's hope NaNoWriMo will :P I know that this isn't a long chapter like the first one :/ Honestly, I made that one longer because of the contest. Sorry.

Also, be on the lookout. A new chapter of 'A Duke and A Damsel' is coming shortly!!

This chapter is dedicated to OurHideOut for making the amazing cover for me :D

As always, any form of feedback is greatly appreciated. I love reading all your comments :)

Leaping Into Love

Chapter 2

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A cool breeze greeted Ambar as she walked out of Heathrow Airport. She paused to take in all the sights and sounds around her. It was all so different from New York yet somehow the same.

"Taxi!" she called out. "The Tower Hotel, please," she said to the cab driver, ducking slightly as she got inside.

She smiled at the driver as he put the last of her bags in the trunk and walked past her to sit in his seat. It was odd to see him on the opposite side of where she expected him to be. She could feel her excitement mounting as it finally sunk in that she was in London. There was so much to see and experience, and for once, she could do everything her own way with no expectations from anyone. Her newfound freedom felt like a breath of fresh air.

"First time in London, miss?" the driver asked, looking back at her through his rear view mirror.

"Yes," she replied. "I haven't seen much yet, but I already have a feeling I'm going to love it here. Do you have any suggestions for good restaurants or pubs around the hotel? I'm absolutely famished after my flight."

“Ah, yes, I've heard the airplane fare isn't anything to rave about nowadays. You should try...”

The driver started rattling off places, but before he was even halfway through, Ambar found herself focusing more on his accent than on what he was saying. She was in trouble if even the gap-toothed, pot-bellied driver seemed attractive to her when he spoke. There was no telling who she'd find attractive next.

Clearly this trip was messing with her mind. She had even found that insufferable Kal guy on the plane attractive. She wasn't sure if it was the dark, slightly unkempt hair or the twinkle in his hazel eyes that affected her though. Or maybe it was the mostly British accent with a hint of something else that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Or possibly even the way his lips had curved into a smile despite her rude behavior towards him. She had been relieved to leave him behind at the airport, but now she couldn't stop thinking about him. This was unbelievable.

“We've reached the hotel, Miss. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“No, thank you,” she replied. “I really appreciate all your help! I'll be sure to check out as many of those places as I can before I leave.”

With a smile, she picked up her bags and headed into the hotel.

A mere twenty minutes later, she headed outside again, ready to check off the first item on her list. She wasn't entirely sure how to fulfill the first task on her list, but she decided to make it up as she went along. After all, she now realized that the creation of the list had been her subconscious telling her to get out and have some fun. Or at least, that was how she was choosing to interpret it.

As Buckingham Palace came into view, Ambar felt her breath catch. She had never seen anything so magnificent in her life. She walked past the elegant gates and as she turned the corner, she caught her first glimpse of the palace guards. They were more comical looking than she'd expected. Stifling a giggle, she looked around to find a ticket booth.”

“One ticket for the state room and garden tour, please,” she said to the bored looking man at the counter.

“That will be twenty pounds.”

Ambar fished through her purse looking for her wallet. Keys, face powder, a pack of gum, her hairbrush, a few bottles of nailpolish...

“Um, just a moment, sir,” she said, looking up at the man sheepishly. “I probably should have tried to find my wallet before coming up to the counter.”

The man just stared at her with a blank expression on his face. Watching all the guards had probably rubbed off on him. She went back to searching in her purse, but in her haste to find her wallet, she ended up dropping it, and most of the contents, on the ground instead.

Oh, great, she thought to herself as she blew a strand of hair off her face and bent down to retrieve her things. This guy probably thinks I'm even more of a moron now.

“Let me help you with that,” she heard someone say.

Before she could react, there were a beautiful pair of manly looking hands picking up her very pink bottle of Pure Seduction lotion and a few scraps of paper. He quickly put them back into her purse and stood up before she could see his face.

“Make that two tickets, please. Here's forty pounds,” she heard him say as she picked up the last few stray items. Of course, her wallet was nowhere to be found.

“Thank you for helping me pick up my things, but you really didn't have to buy my ticket,” Ambar uttered a little unsteadily, still thinking about the way the stranger's veins protruded sexily from his hands and gave them a distinctly more masculine appearance. “It seems I left my wallet back in my hotel room in my hurry to explore London. If you walk back with me after the tour, I'll be sure to pay you back.”

The stranger finally turned around and smiled widely.

“I assure you, that's not necessary. It's not every day I get to escort such a pretty lady through Buckingham Palace.”

Ambar struggled not to groan but felt a huge pit suddenly develop in her stomach. There was no way she was going to take a tour or accept any charity from the person standing before her. No way at all. He must have read something on her face because he began speaking again.

“I wouldn't think about refusing to accompany me if I were you,” he began. “What am I going to do with an extra ticket when I don't know anyone else around here? Plus, I can't really return your wallet after the tour if you don't actually come with me. I suppose I could come by your hotel later, but you don't really look like you would appreciate that very much.” He paused for a moment as he pointed out something in his left hand. “By the way, that was your forty pounds I used to pay for our tickets. Thank you for your generosity.”

She would have adamantly refused to go with him despite him having her wallet had she not been highly averse to causing another scene. After all, it was taking every ounce of willpower she had not to stamp her foot in annoyance like a toddler or throw a tantrum right there next to the Victoria Memorial. She vehemently hoped that this was not about to become her worst nightmare, because standing right in front of her was none other than Kal.