Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Chapter 18

*****

Ten minutes later, up to our chests in warm water and foam, I fill the flutes, passing them across.

“’Scuse me a mo,” says Charlotte, then slides under the surface. She rises again a few seconds later, snorting bubbles.

“How do you feel now?” I ask.

James tips his glass to me, smiling, but he doesn’t speak. Then, his lids drooping, he looks away.

*****

 

Klempner - Twenty-Six Years Ago

I step out, feeling bright. Everything is going perfectly.

Bech’s done well…

Nothing like a little competition to get the prices up

Another shipment like that and I can open the east wing at Blessingmoors…

So Yakovlevski wants a mix...

A couple of leggy Russian types ought to fit in well…

Back to Helsinki…

But first I want to see the apartment. Keys jingling in my pocket, I head out.

Will she like it?

But as the lock turns smoothly and the door clicks open, my doubts settle.

What's not to like?

The space is bright and airy, morning sunshine spilling through panes and onto, as I requested, new flooring and walls painted in cool neutral colours.

Much better than what she has…

And she can soon put her own stamp on it…

The carpets are deep and thick. Nonetheless, my footsteps echo in the empty rooms.

To furnish or not to furnish…?

Let her choose from the start?

Or furnish first then she can change it to suit herself?

the style

Not easy…

No.

of the bedrooms. The window overlooks the harbour, the better part with the marina, small shops selling souvenirs and knick-knacks and

She’ll like that…

like to run a

her own

She’s artistic…

and talented… Easily

Don’t get distracted.

of the apartment, the

How to play this…?

Bookshelves…

Definitely.

Double bed...?

occurs to me that I

take

she has a

for one

*****

Her phone rings.

“Hello?”

wondering, are you free this

Meet you at the

to show you something. I’ll send

“That’s great. What time?”

“About two?”

“I’ll see you then.”

*****

I cease from where my pacing is wearing a track in the carpet. I turn down the music

in Finland, enfolded in a huge woollen shawl and with a scarf covering

freezing. Come into the warm. Here,

“Hope you don’t mind…” She looks sheepish as she slips off the boots and fishes low-heeled court shoes

wrap, she offers the bag. “Housewarming

fire. What would you like to drink? Something hot first?

“Lovely.”

on a stool by the flames, she looks

owner’s stamp on it.

and even before I

as the cloth falls

… extraordinary…

I recognise your style from that

I painted it.” She moves around to look at it with me.

do, yes. Very

Helsinki Harbour at sunset. I

hell does she

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