Free Her Heart's Desire by Lauren Wilder Page B

could tell! She felt all warm and fuzzy, as though she were floating on air. She glided towards the lounge, rehearsing what she would say to William in her mind.
    William sounded pissed when she told him. Silence hovered over the phone line. Marisa felt uncomfortable, She hadn’t realized it meant so much to him.
    She felt bad when he told her he had reservations for Langan’s restaurant and VIP passes for Whiskey Mist, both exclusive London venues!
    All she could do was apologize when he said he had been looking forward to seeing her and showing her the town.
    She felt real bad, and it was obvious he was trying to make light of it when he joked that she should think herself lucky, women were falling over themselves to date a handsome young aristocrat!
    She finished the call by promising to catch up with him soon.
    Marisa hoped they would still be friends.
    She thought about James’s reaction and his obvious jealousy. He had been so eager to get her to change her plans; surely he wouldn’t just take her to the office and back to Highcroft?
    No, he wanted her. She was sure of it. Friday night could be the night. She felt a sudden rush of excitement and hugged herself. If things went her way, she hoped she would be spending the weekend in James St. John’s arms!

Chapter Six
     
    Marisa dressed for the London trip. She was bursting with excitement as she got ready. She chose a smart figure-hugging dress with short sleeves and a deep V-neckline, serious and sexy. She made sure her makeup was perfect. She wanted him to notice her, to see she was making herself pretty for him. She wore her hair loose, trying to look sexy and elegant—a perfect balance. She wrapped up in a full-length cashmere coat, coveted from last spring’s Barneys sale.
    He smiled at her when she walked into the room, and she could see he was a bit flustered as his eyes travelled all over her body. He was openly staring, and she shivered with excitement seeing his reaction was thrilling to her. He fancied her, it was obvious!
    He was quiet on the drive up, and Marisa felt the attraction between them as strongly as ever and wondered if he felt it, too. She hoped he would make a move on her soon or she would explode with the tension!
    They left the car at the back of the office in his private parking bay and took the lift to the fifth floor. The office was a swish and corporate affair, gleaming and sedate. The receptionist was pretty, and Marisa felt a twinge of jealousy. Did he have other interests here, she wondered.
    He introduced her to the small team who ran the London hub, and she thought they were all charming. They clearly adored him, but then who wouldn’t?
    ‘Right, Marisa, I expect you would like to see the sights now?’ he said.
    ‘Oh, really?’ She smiled broadly, feeling excited like a little kid at Christmas.
    ‘Yes, really. I have been very selfish; I should have brought you up to town last week. It won’t take long to have a peep at the Tower and London Bridge at least, as they are on our way to the restaurant.
    ‘OK, sounds great, thanks.’ Marisa was delighted and could barely contain her glee.
    He left his car behind the office and they took a black cab across Tower Bridge. She marvelled at the sight of the Tower of London, lit up in the evening dusk.
    It looked amazing, and she could barely believe it was in such fantastic condition. She knew it had been built over a thousand years ago, yet it had been preserved and reconstructed over centuries and remained perfect in every detail. They passed Tower Bridge with its blue trim and high walkways across the top, she stared in awe and made a mental note to return and have a look inside.
    ‘Meets your approval, I hope.’ James smiled at her.
    ‘Oh, yes, it’s fabulous.’ Marisa felt giddy with joy. She was beyond excited.
    ‘I sometimes forget how wonderful London truly is,’ James said as he gazed out of the window.
    The taxi pulled up in front of Shad Thames, a narrow