All That the Heart Desires Read Free

me introduce myself,” he started. I knew he felt stupid and I was wickedly happy with that. Let him be just a little bit humble.
    “My name is Lorcan Shore.”
    I almost blurted out, I know , but kept my mouth shut. He offered me his right hand. I realised, watching his eyes that it was unusual for him not to be recognised on the spot.
    I took his hand and shook it. As always, my grip was firm, perhaps too strong for a woman, as I was always being reminded by Dame.
    I gazed into his face, which was illuminated by the setting sun, my own face in shadow. I didn’t know what to think when I saw surprise in his eyes. Was Dame right? Was my handshake really too strong for a woman? Did it unsettle him?
    I dropped his hand and hid mine behind my back. I knew he was waiting for me to introduce myself but I wasn’t about to give him my real name.
    “Anna,” I lied. He quickly realised that was all he was likely to get from me.
    “I confess, Anna,” he said, “I was distracted, which I’m usually not.”
    That was his poor attempt at an apology and explanation. But I knew he was telling the truth. I turned away from him, back to the car. Back to the edge. A foot—only a foot more and I would have driven right off. Dead and gone. I doubted much would be left of me. I heard him talking, obviously apologising, but my mind had wandered off.
    Turning around, I spotted his Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG almost in the same position as mine but facing up the hill, not over the edge. If a collision had happened, he might have been safe. I wouldn’t have been so lucky.
    I turned back to face him again. He was raking a hand through his black hair, his face a picture of remorse.
    “Can I go now?” I asked. My anger was gone but I didn’t want him to know that. I was still shaken from both the near accident and his presence; two things I didn’t want him to know.
    Surprise was written on his face and it was then that I realised I had missed something he had said. Too caught up in my own thoughts. He looked bemused and repeated his question.
    “Can I at least take you for a drink? As an apology.”
    I shook my head.
    “No thank you. I’m on my way home and, frankly, I’ve had enough excitement to last me the rest of the summer.” I saw he wanted to say something more, but I raised my hand to silence him. “I’m just too tired. Good night.”
    With shaking legs, I got in my car. I didn’t want to look at him again, although I knew the expression on his face must have been priceless. He’d been turned down. How many times had that happened in his life? In the last five years? I was pretty sure it had never happened.
    Before I managed to start the car, he was beside me holding the door. I didn’t want to, but I was forced to look at his almost flawless face again. Damn it! He looked so good and he smelled good. His scent carried on the breeze.
    “Please.”
    I couldn’t speak. Instead, I shook my head and started the car.
    “Where can I find you?” he asked again.
    “Can you move your car, please?”
    He stood beside the car for a few more moments and, if he had remained there, I might have been tempted to change my mind. However, he reluctantly turned and went back to his Mercedes.
    As I drove away, I glanced in the rear view mirror. He was standing in the middle of the road, then I turned into the bend and he was gone.
    It took me twice as long as usual to get home. The house Dame rented for me was small and the only one in darkness. I was still shaking. I wasn’t sure why. Was it the near car accident or was it meeting the golden boy, Lorcan Shore, face to face?
    I’d recognised him on the spot. His smell was just delicious. Great , I realised I was faced with another problem. Every time I saw him on television from now on, I would smell him. That was my curse. I was not able to forget a smell once I connected it to someone.
    Getting out of the car, I remembered almost every newspaper headline from the past few months.