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?

it in the style she

Not easy…

No.

part with the marina, small shops selling souvenirs and knick-knacks and bars that play host to

She’ll like that…

she’d like to run a

Sell her own

She’s artistic…

and talented… Easily good

Don’t get distracted.

of the apartment,

How to play this…?

Bookshelves…

Definitely.

Double bed...?

me that I have

take her

has a

and head out for one of the large local

*****

Her phone rings.

“Hello?”

was wondering, are you free

Meet you

not today. I want to show you something. I’ll send a

“That’s great. What time?”

“About two?”

“I’ll see you then.”

*****

bell hums and I cease from where my pacing is wearing a track in the carpet. I turn down the music a trifle,

I bought her in Finland, enfolded in a huge woollen shawl and with a scarf covering half her face. Poking out from under the

into the warm.

that damp breeze…” She shivers. “Hope you don’t mind…” She looks sheepish as she slips off the boots and fishes low-heeled

I take her wrap, she offers the bag. “Housewarming

What would you like to drink? Something hot

“Lovely.”

on a stool by the flames, she looks around. “Have you moved

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

large and bulky, enveloped in a towel and even before I

as the cloth falls away,

… extraordinary…

of yours, isn’t it? I recognise your style from that

around to look

yes.

gave me Helsinki Harbour at sunset. I painted it to

hell does she

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