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 she already

Not easy…

No.

that idea, then hover in the larger of the bedrooms. The window overlooks the harbour, the better part with the marina, small shops selling souvenirs and knick-knacks and bars that play host to

She’ll like that…

like

her own

She’s artistic…

talented… Easily

Don’t get distracted.

of the apartment, the room

How to play this…?

Bookshelves…

Definitely.

Double bed...?

to me that I have

doesn’t take her clients

she has a

head out for one of the large local

*****

Her phone rings.

“Hello?”

was wondering, are you

Meet you at

not today. I want to show you something.

“That’s great. What time?”

“About two?”

“I’ll see you then.”

*****

from where my pacing is wearing a track in the carpet. I turn down the music a trifle, then open

in a huge woollen shawl and with a

Come into the warm. Here, let me take

read the thermometer, but that damp breeze…” She shivers. “Hope you don’t mind…” She looks sheepish as she slips off

she offers the

fire. What would you like to

“Lovely.”

mug cradled in both hands as she perches on a stool by the flames, she looks around. “Have you

“It’s all new. Waiting to have the owner’s stamp on it. On which subject,

towel and even before I unwrap it, fairly obviously

falls

… extraordinary…

isn’t it? I recognise

moves around to look at

do, yes. Very

Harbour at sunset. I painted it

hell does she do

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