Two reclusive people meet in a charity soup kitchen in a down-and-out area of London, and their mutual attraction tempts them to follow their hearts. Both know that breaking out of their social shells risks revisiting buried traumas, but it might re...
After they had refreshed, Valerie hugged Lorne close to her side as they stood at the railing of their south terrace, enjoying the view across the hotel's spa islands and the Cape Town waterfront to Table Mountain. "Do you come here often?"
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"With increasing frequency as I become more involved in the Cape wine trade." Lorne shrugged. "And now with the changes."
"So, it's not only for the high-tech, then?"
"I've done nothing at all with Silicon Cape. My focus here has been on vineyard and winery acquisition."
"Hmmm. I've not done any at the production end; only with distribution and marketing."
"We fit together well, then."
Oh, God! I love how we fit together. "Yeah, we do." She squeezed him tighter to her side. "In so many ways."
Lorne leaned and kissed her. "Yeah, thinking about that way as well."
"If you guys are going to get mushy again, I can go inside."
Valerie chuckled as she wrapped an arm around Chloe. "A perceptive little one, aren't you, Sweetheart? We'll have a girl-to-girl talk after Daddy leaves for his meeting."
"To talk about stuff he shouldn't hear?"
"Hmmm. No, not really." She shrugged. "It's just that some things are easier for women to discuss without men around."
"The things we keep should keep private and ..." She paused at the sound of the doorbell.
"That'll be lunch. I'll get it." Lorne kissed Valerie's cheek and headed inside.
"Yes, Sweetheart. We'll talk about it privately after lunch. Until then, let's put it out of our minds." Valerie picked up a stray tress of Chloe's hair and worked it into her braid. "What would you like to do in the spa?"
Chloe stuck out a hand and wiggled her fingers. "I just had a manicure and pedicure at the Four Seasons. We could do a sauna and a massage."
"When did you have your nails done?"
"Last weekend, while you were away consummating with Daddy."
"Chloe!"
"I know you were." She giggled. "You showed all the signs mentioned in the little booklet."
"Little booklet?"
"Yeah, the one tucked into the back of the book." A broad grin spread across her face as she looked up. "Parents' Guide to Puberty."
Damn! I wondered where that had gone. Now even more talk needed. "Yeah, that would have more detail."At the sound, she turned with Chloe to watch two women in kimonos arrive on the terrace and begin arranging the contents of a trolley onto the table.
"This looks splendid, Lorne." Valerie chuckled as she watched the white tablecloth slowly disappearing. "And huge."
"I ordered omakase for four hungry people." Lorne shrugged. "Didn't want to risk not having enough – I often eat for one and a half."
