Lost in You Read Free

bars on the double doors. The way the chains were tangled it was unclear. ‘Can’t tell,’ I muttered.
    He followed me, silently, down to the darkest end of the hall and let me push the bars to assure myself that all was not just secure but chained. ‘Good,’ I said.
    ‘You’re very conscientious,’ he said.
    ‘Is that a bad thing?’ I asked. It was a serious question. I was often told I worried too much. A habit I seemed unable to break.
    ‘Not for me,’ he said, giving me a soft touch on the back of my arm as we turned in the gloom. Nothing more than a gentlemanly steer with his hand, but it did strange things to me. Made me feel something I couldn’t recall feeling before.
    A brief and vivid image of him kissing me right there, pressing me to the cool, beautifully tiled wall of the corridor filled my head and, when I coughed to focus myself, it burst and flitted away like a rainbow-hued soap bubble.
    And then: ‘It means you’re looking out for me.’
    ‘I didn’t even know you,’ I said. I felt stupid for having pointed that out.
    We walked back towards the light and he said, ‘You knew
of
me.’
    ‘True. Just one more stop and then we can go. But Mr –’
    ‘Dorian,’ he corrected, looking slightly stern.
    ‘Right. Dorian, you can go. I really am fine by myself. I’m here all the time. I mean, it’s like I practically live here.’ I laughed. We passed a stretch of tiny eateries. A bistro, a bakery, a gourmet preserves store. I wished they were open – I was starved.
    Wind licked at the building so fiercely we heard the huge old structure creak. ‘Let’s finish this so we don’t end up living here,’ he said.
    ‘Right.’
    Just a few more minutes together. We checked the dome to see that all the industrial work lights were off and then looked at the last exit door to make sure it was bolted and secure.
    ‘Done!’ I said. His eyes were darker in this light, the green less noticeable, his expression unreadable as he studied me again. Had I done something?
    ‘Good. I’ll walk you back. Make sure you get on the road safely.’
    Safe.
How long since anyone besides my grandmother had fretted over my safety? To be honest – brutally so – with myself, I couldn’t remember the last time a man had bothered himself with my safety. Of course, in their defence, it had been years since I’d done anything but casual dating. And you cannot expect a man whom you see once every six weeks or so to fret over your safety.
    ‘Thanks. I appreciate it.’ My voice did a new and interesting weird thing at the end. I sounded almost like I was about to cry.
    Dorian Martin caught it, gave me a quick second glance but then covered with a smile.
    Great, not just handsome and kind, but intuitive too. I’d have to remember to keep my big fat mouth shut until I was in my car. Then I could freak out.
    * * *
    ‘I think –’ Outside, the wind ripped my voice away. My skirt was lifted by a stiff blast of wind and the rain suddenly changed direction, dousing me in an instant.
    White blouse.
    But Dorian didn’t seem to notice because a decorative bench was slowly being blown across the brickwork of the patio. ‘We might have waited too long,’ he yelled.
    Another blast of wind and rain and I screamed when more cold water smacked me. I felt like a fool but couldn’t help it.
    I had to be positive. This was just a storm. No big deal. Surely the weather people were exaggerating. They had to talk about
something
, right? ‘Oh, I’m sure we’ll be fi –’
    With that, the second biggest oak on the property gave a mighty groan. We’d had rain all week already and the ground was soaked. The wind and added rain had taxed the poor thing to its limits. With another gust and another fierce moan it seemed to surrender and down it went, as if in slow motion.
    ‘I think we won’t, Clover,’ he shouted, taking my hand.
    I’d imagined him doing it, but the reality of his big warm hand curling around mine was