Page 23 of One Night with the Doctor

He smiled at her annoyed expression which was super irritating. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Yeah, right.’ Callie snorted. ‘I thought she was about to offer you the chance to join the mile-high club.’

Chuckling he cocked an eyebrow. ‘How do you know I’m not already a member?’

An image of her and Sebastian going for it in the squashed confines of an aeroplane loo imprinted itself on Callie’s brain which was not only inconvenient right now but ludicrous! With his height and width and her less than elf-like figure they’d probably maim each other.

Still, the idea fascinated her. ‘Are you?’

A small smile touched his lips. ‘I don’t kiss and tell.’

She watched as he took a calm sip of his coffee and her heartbeat skittered madly at the thought that maybe he actually was a member. ‘Anyway, as I was saying,’ she continued, desperate to dispel the idea, ‘the woman at the check-in counter practically had her tongue hanging out.’

‘Hey.’ He shrugged. ‘We got upgraded, right?’

Callie blinked. ‘Oh, my God. You always get upgraded, don’t you?’

‘It’s the red hair.’

Yeah… she didn’t think it was just the red hair. But for whatever reason, Callie was miffed. She spent her flying hours shoehorned into an economy-class seat, her legs up around her ears as the person in front invariably reclined their seat, and usually ensconced next to an inconsolable baby or a rotund gent with major sleep apnoea. While Sebastian used his charisma and, apparently, his ginger hair to swan around in business class!

And what a luxurious experience it was – large comfortable seats of soft leather and enough room for her to completely unfold her long legs and stretch out. Discreet but attentive – perhaps too attentive – service.

And not a crying baby in sight.

‘Well?’ Sebastian asked after a while, draining the dregs of his coffee. ‘Are you nervous about your paper?’

She shook her head, pleased for something else to think about other than quickies in aeroplane bathrooms. ‘No. I’ve presented a lot of papers over the years most way more interesting than this.’

Callie would rather talk in front of people all damn day then catch a flight.

‘The study findings are important, though,’ he said.’ It’ll garner a lot of interest.’

Callie knew he was right but she found presenting facts and figures and reams of stats very dry. ‘Yeah, I know. Yours just sounds so much more interesting.’

‘Well… let’s hope everyone else will think so, too.’

She frowned. He seemed a little uncertain which was surprising given she’d never seen him anything other than 100 per cent confident. On the bridge, confronting an oaf in a restaurant, with Ginny and the numerous other clients she’d seen him with.

In bed.

It was the first time she’d seen even the briefest flash of doubt in his usually assured gaze and she almost reached out and put her hand on his sleeve.

Dangerous. Very, very dangerous.

She’d fought hard to put their night of passion behind her and something told her this was not the moment to test her resolve. This wasn’t a dirty weekend away together.

It was work. It was business.

‘Headphones, sir?’

Megan was back and this time Callie was actually grateful. ‘I will thanks,’ she said, reaching for one.

Anything – anything – to occupy her for the next ninety minutes.

Almost three hours later, Callie was standing in the classically elegant foyer of the Langham Hotel. It was dominated by a grand, sweeping, marble staircase and cascading fountains crowned by magnificent chandeliers. The ambience was one of hushed, timeless luxury.

‘We’d like to check in, please,’ Sebastian requested of the elegant older woman behind the reception desk. ‘We’re attending the C.M.H. conference.’