Rosie smiled at him. ‘Of course I’ll stick around. Why not? In the meantime, aren’t you going to feed a hungry girl? I’m starving, Johnny.’
‘So am I, Rosie. For you.’ His face hovered over hers, and he kissed her on the lips, but lightly, and stared deeply into her eyes.
The expression on Johnny’s face was one of total adoration, and as he smoothed back her hair again his touch was full of reverence. ‘I’ve never felt like this before, Rosie,’ he admitted. ‘There’s never been anyone like you. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since we met in November.’
Rosie was silent, but she reached out, touched his cheek, smoothed one finger down it.
‘Say something,’ he whispered. ‘Tell me how you feel.’
‘Well and truly loved, satisfied,’ she replied.
This pleased him but he wanted more from her, and so he probed, ‘Did you think about me at all after we met? Have you thought about me since I started calling you?’
She nodded. ‘Yes, I did. And I have.’
‘What did you think?’
‘That I wanted to see you again. And, more recently, that I was looking forward to it. And…’
‘And what?’
‘And since Tuesday evening I wanted you, wanted you to make love with me. And I…’
Again her voice trailed off, and he pressed, ‘Come on, don’t be shy, talk to me, I want to know.’
A little smile played around her mouth. ‘I wanted us to be together like this, in bed. But I was also a little afraid.’
‘Why?’ he asked, sounding puzzled. ‘Why would you be afraid?’
‘Perhaps that’s the wrong word to use. Nervous might be a better one.’
He frowned but said nothing.
She murmured in the quietest of voices, ‘My marriage went on the rocks five years ago. Actually, a while before that. Anyway, I haven’t… you know, I haven’t slept with anyone since then. I guess that’s why I felt nervous.’
It pleased him to know that there had been no other men in her life since her husband, and that she had chosen him. He was the first in the five years. It was as though she were a virgin and this both pleased and thrilled him.
‘Were you disappointed in me?’ he asked.
‘That’s a foolish question, Johnny, and of course I wasn’t. I was only trying to tell you why I felt nervous. I mean, I’d been celibate for such a long time really.’
A mischievous glint entered his eyes, and he said with a grin, ‘Making love is like riding a bicycle, you never forget.’
Rosie laughed. ‘I guess you’re right there, Johnny. But as my mother used to say, practice makes perfect.’
‘If you’re on a fishing trip, honey, I can only say that you’re very perfect and without any recent practice.’
He leaned closer, kissed her on the mouth and then sat up on his knees. Bending over her, he gently traced lines down her body, stroked her breasts, touched every part of her, following every curve of her arms, her legs and her feet, and returning to her breasts. And again his eyes were full of immense tenderness, his expression one of devotion. He was besotted with her.
‘You’re exciting me too much,’ Rosie whispered.
‘I want to, and I want to possess all of you, Rosie. Oh God, you don’t know what you do to me, how much you turn me on.’
Rosie held him for a moment, and then she sat up, flung her arms around his lean body and hugged him very hard, holding him close to her. ‘Let’s order some sandwiches,’ she said. ‘I told you, I’m ravenous.’
‘Okay, I will. Just so long as you know that I intend to bring you back to this bed the minute we’ve eaten.’
THIRTY-FIVE
Johnny was waiting for her in her suite at the Dorchester Hotel when she arrived from Heathrow Airport a week later.
She walked in, followed by the bellboy with her luggage, and he jumped up off the sofa where he sat reading a magazine, and came to greet her.
Hugging her fiercely, he whispered in her ear, ‘Jesus, I’ve missed you!’
After tipping the bellboy, seeing him out, Johnny helped her off with her coat, dropped it on a chair and pulled her down onto the sofa with him. He kissed her deeply. She returned his kisses, as happy to see him as he obviously was to see her.
‘It’s been a lousy few days without you, Rosie!’ he exclaimed as they drew apart. ‘I’ve been miserable.’
‘I’m here now,’ she said. ‘And I’m all yours.’
Beaming, he rose, took hold of her hand and helped her to her feet. ‘Come on, I want to show you the suite. It’s pretty nifty.’
The moment she walked in Rosie had noticed how beautifully decorated the living room was; she had also seen the many bowls of peach roses placed around the room. ‘Thank you for filling the place with my favourite flowers, Johnny,’ she murmured as he led her across the floor. ‘They’re just lovely.’
‘So are you, and it’s my pleasure,’ he responded as he opened the door and drew her into the room beyond. ‘This is the bedroom: nice size, eh? And the bathroom’s over there. To your right there’s a dressing area. You can look at everything later. Do you want me to get the maid in? To unpack for you?’
Rosie shook her head. ‘No, that’s not necessary, but thanks anyway.’ As they walked past the bed she saw the small vase of violets on the bedside table, and she squeezed his arm, leaned into him and kissed his cheek. ‘You’re so sweet.’
He grinned at her. ‘No more kissing. Otherwise we’ll be in that bed, and I gotta do a concert tonight… I need all my strength. I gotta keep all my juice for the performance.’
They went back to the living room and Johnny walked over to a door on the far wall and opened it. ‘That’s my suite in there, so if you need me, all you have to do is holler, honey.’
Rosie merely smiled at this remark and sat down on the sofa.
Johnny came over and stood leaning against the mantelpiece, his eyes focused on her.
‘You’re doing it again, Johnny.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Staring at me.’
‘I can’t help it. You’re so beautiful, Rosie, I just can’t get my fill of you, I guess.’
‘You’ll probably be sick of me next week at this time.’
‘No way,’ he shot back, and went on, ‘You do know what today is, don’t you?’
She frowned. ‘Well… I, er… Of course. It’s your first concert tonight, the beginning of your British tour.’
‘Yep, that’s true. But it’s also Friday, February the fourteenth. Valentine’s Day.’
‘Oh gosh, I’d forgotten.’
‘But I didn’t.’ He put his hand in his jacket pocket and brought out a small, gift-wrapped package. ‘This is for you, Rosie. With my love.’
Rosie stared at him and shook her head slowly, a look of chagrin crossing her face. Smiling weakly, she said, ‘And I didn’t remember, so I don’t have anything for you. I feel awful, Johnny, really awful.’
‘Don’t. You’re here, aren’t you? You’re my Valentine’s Day present. But go on, open what I got you.’
She untied the white satin ribbon, tore off the paper, found herself holding a small, red leather box embossed with gold. Lifting the lid, she gasped and her eyes widened. Lying inside on the black velvet was a large diamond ring. Rosie looked across at Johnny, struggling with her emotions.
He stood watching her, waiting for her to say something.
But she didn’t say a word. She was speechless.
At last he asked, ‘Don’t you like the ring? Isn’t it nice enough?’
‘Johnny, it’s beautiful! Gorgeous! But I can’t accept it!’ she gasped, still reeling from surprise.
‘Why not?’
‘I just can’t take something so valuable.’
‘It’s not just a ring. It’s an engagement ring.’
‘Oh Johnny…’
‘I love you, Rosie.’
She gaped at him through startled eyes and bit her inner l
ip nervously.
He said: ‘I want us to be engaged. I want us to get married. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I told you last weekend, I’ve never loved a woman before, never wanted to marry anybody ’til I met you.’ His extraordinary blue eyes were fixed on her intently and his face was solemn. There was no mistaking his seriousness, nor the genuine sincerity of his words.
‘Oh Johnny, I’m so flattered, honoured, but I can’t take the ring now, or get engaged to you. I’m still married, darling.’
‘You’re in the middle of a divorce.’
‘Yes, I am, but it’s going to take months and months to come through, possibly even a year—’
‘I don’t care how long it takes,’ he cut in fiercely, giving her a hard stare. ‘I’ll wait. Anyway, we’ll be together ’til we can marry.’ Taking a deep breath, he said in a softer voice, ‘Please, take the ring. Come on, honey, let me put it on your finger.’
He took a step forward, smiling at her.
‘No, Johnny, I can’t!’ she exclaimed, and realized to her regret that she had sounded sharp, almost cold. She said quietly, shaking her head, ‘I just can’t, Johnny.’
He stopped dead in his tracks.
She said, ‘Johnny, please don’t look like that.’
‘How do I look?’
‘Hurt. And I don’t want to hurt you.’
‘But you don’t feel the same way I do, do you?’ he probed.
‘I’m not sure,’ she hedged. ‘You’re going too fast for me.’ She forced a light laugh and continued in a gentler tone, ‘Look, I’m just a bit slower than you, I guess. I’ve been badly burned and I don’t want to make another mistake. It’s far too painful. A failed marriage is a living hell. Take my word for it. I’ve been there.’
‘I’m not like Guy de Montfleurie. You told me he was soon chasing broads, being unfaithful to you, screwing around. I don’t want other women, Rosie. Only you.’
‘I know how you feel. It’s not that… I’m not doubting you, Johnny. I’m just trying to be… wise. And for us both. You’ve never been married, so you don’t understand what it feels like, how it is when it falls apart. It’s horrendous, really.’
‘We’re not going to fall apart,’ he countered. ‘I love you too much.’
Ignoring this comment, Rosie pressed on. She said, ‘I married Guy far too quickly. I hardly knew him. And we hardly know each other, you can’t deny that. We’ve only been together a week.’
‘Ten days, to be exact,’ he argued. ‘And I do know you, very intimately.’ He paused and looked at her carefully, his eyes narrowing slightly as he added, ‘Listen to me, you can be with somebody for fifty years and never know them, and you can meet somebody and boom! You realize at once that you’ve met your soul mate and that you’re experiencing something special… it’s total recognition. That’s how it was with us. We’re soul mates, honey. I love you. I adore you.’
She didn’t speak.
He said, ‘Don’t you feel anything for me?’
‘Of course I do!’ she cried, sitting up straighter on the sofa. ‘I adore you, too. I’m crazy about you, Johnny. You’re loving and sweet and kind.’
A smile flitted across his face. He was pleased to hear these words, pleased he was getting somewhere with her at last, and he said, ‘So why won’t you take the ring?’
‘Please, Johnny, let’s go one step at a time. And slowly.’
‘What’s the harm if you wear it on your right hand instead of your left?’
Rosie shook her head. ‘Let’s not rush this. Let’s at least wait until I’m free for symbols of our relationship.’ She closed the jewel box and placed it on the table. ‘But I want you to know that it’s the most magnificent ring I’ve ever seen, Johnny.’
He came and sat down on the sofa and put his arms around her, pulled her closer to him with urgency, kissed her passionately. Then he gently released her, looked into her eyes. ‘I can’t get you out of my mind, I want you all the time, Rosie. And I want you for keeps, honey. As my wife. As Mrs Johnny Fortune.’
‘Oh Johnny, Johnny darling,’ she sighed and let herself completely relax next to him on the sofa, at ease with him again.
He felt the tension slipping away from her, and he suddenly understood that she was as vulnerable to him as he was to her, and this pleased him.
Unable to resist her, Johnny began to kiss her once more, pushing her down into the cushions, running his hands through her hair. She responded ardently, her arms wrapped tightly around him, clinging to him.
Unexpectedly breaking away from her, he said, ‘I’m sorry, honey, I shouldn’t have started this. We don’t have time now.’ He sighed under his breath. ‘See what you do to me. You drive me nuts.’
‘You do the same to me,’ she whispered.
Taking her face between his hands, he stared into her eyes. ‘Just tell me where we stand,’ he demanded.
‘Exactly where we did last week and when I walked in here earlier. Nothing’s changed since Paris, Johnny. I wouldn’t be here if it had. I want to be with you. I just told you, I’m crazy about you.’
‘Do I have a chance with you?’ He dropped his hands, sat back on the sofa.
‘Yes, you do.’
‘Will you at least think about marrying me?’
‘Yes.’
‘Aren’t we great in bed together?’
She smiled at him. ‘You know the answer to that.’
‘Tell me, say it for me.’
‘We’re great in bed together.’
‘And out of it. Say it, Rosie.’
‘And we’re great out of bed.’
A little smile settled on his mouth, and he said, ‘So we’ve got everything going for us. Okay then, it’s settled. We’ll get engaged the day your divorce comes through. And the next day we’ll get married.’
Startled again, Rosie looked at him swiftly. ‘I didn’t say that!’
Paying no attention to her whatsoever, he jumped up off the sofa. ‘I gotta go, babe. Nell’s coming over soon. She’ll bring you out to the concert.’ He strode over to the door leading into his adjoining suite.
Rosie grabbed the Cartier jewel box from the coffee table, leapt to her feet and hurried after him. ‘Johnny! Wait! The ring!’ She held it out to him.
He shook his head. ‘I bought it for you. It’s yours. You keep it.’
‘I can’t. You must take it. I’d be afraid of losing it. Please, Johnny, you keep it for me. Lock it up safely.’
‘Okay,’ he said somewhat reluctantly, dropping it in his jacket pocket. Leaning closer to her, he kissed the tip of her nose. ‘You’ll marry me, Rosie. It’s in the cards. It’s our destiny. Che sarà sarà.’
She simply stared at him, once again lost for words.
As he opened the door, he explained, ‘Oh, there’s a couple of guys working in my suite. They’d never come in here, intrude. But lock the door if it makes you feel better.’
‘It’s fine. I’ll just close it.’
He nodded, then said, ‘You are going on the road with me, aren’t you?’
‘If you think I’m going to let you loose in the provinces you’re out of your mind. Naturally I’m coming with you,’ she laughed.
‘And don’t forget Scotland, Rosie, we’re going to Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. See ya later, baby.’ He winked at her and stepped into his own suite, closing the door behind him.
THIRTY-SIX
An hour later Rosie stood to attention in front of Nell in the middle of the bedroom, and asked, ‘Well, how do I look?’
‘Perfect,’ Nell said. ‘Elegant, refined, but terribly glamorous, Rosie mine. Just right for Johnny. We mustn’t forget—you’re his woman.’
Rosie looked at her quickly, started to laugh. ‘His woman. That’s an odd way of putting it.’
‘That’s how he puts it. “Rosie’s my woman,” he says, and he says it to everybody. He’s very proud of you, of having you in his life, you know.’ Nell pee
red at her closely, her brows furrowing. ‘Does it bother you?’
Rosie shook her head. ‘No, not really, it just sounds funny, that’s all.’
‘Well, that’s our Johnny. He’s hardly a Rhodes Scholar.’
‘That’s a bit mean, Nellie.’
‘I didn’t intend it as such. I’ve always cared about Johnny, and you know I have. In fact, I love him in my own way. He’s a good guy, a decent guy, which is saying a lot in this day and age and the business we’re in.’ Nell took a step backward. She regarded Rosie through critical eyes, her head to one side.
‘Turn around,’ Nell said. ‘Let me see the back.’
‘Yes ma’am,’ Rosie answered and saluted smartly as she turned very slowly, showing off her black velvet ensemble. This was composed of narrowly-cut trousers and an artist’s style shirt with long sleeves and a wide collar made of silk patterned in vivid red, orange, purple, yellow and black triangles. Over this she wore a tailored sleeveless coat with no fastenings in the front, which fell to her ankles.
‘You do look terrific,’ Nell pronounced and nodded her head in approval. ‘But where’s the ring?’
Rosie spun around. ‘You know about the ring?’
‘Of course. Who do you think he dragged to Cartier’s with him on Tuesday? And I’d just landed in London from New York the night before. I was exhausted.’
‘He bought it on Tuesday?’
‘Yes, once he’d got my stamp of approval. I gave it, of course. After all it’s ten carats, a pure white diamond, Starburst cut. The very best. So come on, Rosie, where is it?’
‘I gave it back to Johnny. And you know very well I couldn’t accept that ring, Nell. Johnny and I hardly know each other. We’ve only been involved for a few days. Besides which, I’m not divorced. So how could I get engaged?’
‘There’s really no reason why not.’
‘Come on, Nellie, let’s be sensible, grown-up women. Like we usually are.’
Nell laughed and shrugged. ‘You could wear it on your right hand.’
‘Don’t be so silly.’