The One Addicted(38)

He nods in agreement but shuffles away muttering to himself like a crazy person. Finn has an incredulous look on his face, which promptly reminds me that he’s not used to Colin’s full-on emotional tantrums. I forget how accustomed I’ve become to the force that is Monsieur Duttine and I grab his hand and explain in detail how Mummy’s friend was upset because he’d not had his quota of M&M’s today. He’d just decided to dress like one instead. This seems to explain everything to Finn and he shrugs it all off with a ‘whatever - grown-ups can be weird’.

We head over to the reception desk where Debbie, James’ PA who is deep in conversation, with one of the managers, breaks off to give us a warm welcome and make a fuss of Finn. She then takes time out of her busy schedule to book us in personally and arranges for our bags to be taken to the room. The woman endears herself to me every time I meet her - and if she didn’t work for James, I’d poach her for my own business - she was organised to a tee. Debbie assures us that apart from Colin, who practically lives here now anyway, we are the first of our party to arrive and that tonight we will have an intimate dinner for 12 in The Hudson Suite. She provides Finn with a small carrier bag filled with all manner of colouring materials and stickers and orders afternoon tea for us to eat in the library in 15 minutes.

Exactly 15 minutes later we arrive downstairs and head for our refreshments. I can see red and yellow flashes, fluttering around like a butterfly in each room but until Finn is settled I am not getting involved; besides I need this time with him. We are just about to take a seat in front of the large Georgian window on a bright fuchsia velvet sofa, when an immaculately dressed waiter presents our afternoon tea and cakes, served on a tea trolley, complete with doilies and crisp white linen napkins and then I smile when I see that Debbie has ordered Finn a large chocolate milkshake with a chocolate hollow straw and topped with marshmallows. Perfect, and it makes my little boy exceedingly happy and quiet for the next few minutes.

I can’t believe that it’s only been a little over a month since I was sitting in this same room, giving the pitch of my life to James Marcell and now we were here to celebrate the results. How much had changed in that time - what a whirlpool of emotions I’d been through and yet next to me, this content young man, oblivious to it all was unaffected and that made my heart ache with pride. My one fear about dallying with sex and romance again was that it would affect Finn and to-date I’d managed to keep him separate.

It helps that you are boning his Godfather my inner voice reminds me. It also helps that your colleague is boning your client - whilst he was kept happy in bed, you could have creative license in all other areas and I know that James’ fondness for Colin has encouraged his zest with this refit. This had been one time that Colin’s flirtations had paid off.

I return my attention to the window and can see that several other cars have now arrived and are parked uniformly next to mine. One in particular is like a beacon on the map; it’s silver tone winking in the sunlight. No Ralph today then. This immediately makes me remember our time upstairs only days before, seriously making up for lost time, before Ralph drove us home. Sebastian was here.

I can feel my pulse quicken just at the mere thought that he is close by and begin to fuss nervously with my hair and check my appearance in my compact. I wonder if he’ll go straight up to the room or have a wander around first? Should I call him?

“Sub!” Finn’s squeal of delight is enough of an answer and I turn in my seat to face the doorway, where Finn is now running full-pelt towards an incredibly sexy Seb, dressed in smart dark jeans, pale blue shirt and wax jacket. Utterly irresistible - how does he manage that - to look perfect in every setting? Country gent with a sexy edge - I’m fleetingly reminded of Colin’s tweed monstrosity and I smile to myself.

Capturing the missile in his arms Sebastian picks him up and tickles him incessantly until he screams, “I give in, I give in Sub.” and I smile. There are no other residents in the lounge or library area at present so it can’t offend anyone to hear children’s laughter. I’m happy to let him have some fun.

“So then, what have my two favourite people been up to? Business lunch?” his brow lifts jauntily.

“No silly, I’m too young for a business meeting. We’ve just had scones with jam and cream and tons of melted butter and then I had a chocolate milkshake and I met Colin again and he wants M&M’s!”

“Wow! No more sugar for you jabberwocky.”

I giggle at that, we’d always called him that when he chattered without a pause and then snigger further when I watch Seb mouth, “Random?” at me with crinkles at the corner of his twinkly black eyes, before saying to Finn, with a cheeky wink in my direction. “Mate, did you know the human head weighs 8lbs?”