Chapter 39

Cilla rolled over and looked at the clock, she had to go. She turned her head to look at the sleeping man next to her. She ran her fingers lightly across his cheek and shuddered involuntarily as she thought of what his mouth and fingers did to her just a few hours earlier. He had been so determined to get her to spend the day with him. He almost had her too, but she just couldn’t do it. She had a responsibility to her customers. She might not have to work, but she loved what she did and her customers counted on her, so did Sid. One day had been a gift, one that Sid had freely offered, but to exploit that, she wouldn’t, couldn’t do that to him.

With a sigh she slipped out of bed, gathered her clothes and crept to the bathroom. Coming back, she stopped at the side of the bed and looked down at Jon; he was going to be mad. Finding her purse she took out a pen and a slip of paper and wrote him a note, leaving it propped against the clock. With a last light stroke of fingers against his warm cheek, she left him and headed to work.

When Sid breezed in Cilla was on the phone. “Good morning…” he was cut off by her motion for him to be quiet. He rolled his eyes at her and went to the closet to get his apron. Hanging up the phone smiled at him, “good morning Sid.” He planted a kiss on her cheek, “how’s my girl today? Did you enjoy your day yesterday? Is Jon still upstairs?” Cilla laughed, “I’m good, yes and no.” Sid’s eyes widened in shock, “what do you mean ‘no’? He didn’t spend the night last night?”

Cilla grabbed five of her small signature pink boxes and laid them on her work table. “No he didn’t.” At his worried face Cilla tried not to smile. “If you must know, I stayed at his place last night.” His hand went to his heart, relief clear in his voice, “thank God for that. You had me worried there for a minute Cil.” He looked at the boxes lined up on the table, “what’s all this for?”

She glanced up to make sure Jon hadn’t shown up at the back door before looking back at Sid. “It’s a surprise for Jon and the guys. They are leaving tomorrow and when they get to their hotel, one of these boxes will be in each of their rooms.” Sid grinned, “I love it, but just one question. How are you going to get them where they need to be?”

Cilla folded the boxes and started filling the first one, “I was just on the phone with Paul Korzilius, their tour manager, he’s going to come by and pick them up and take care of getting them where they need to be by tomorrow.” Sid nodded his approval, “they’re going to love it Cil. Can I help?” She glanced up at the clock, “yeah, you can go open up.”

~

Jon rolled and found the other side of the bed cold and empty. Damn it. He thought he had convinced her to stay with him today. Apparently he had been mistaken. With a sigh he sat up and sat on the edge of the bed, grabbing the folded up paper that was resting against his clock. He traced his name that she had written in her pretty script on the front and sighed. He had been all set to be mad at her for leaving, but he couldn’t find the anger. He knew she was right, he wished she wasn’t, but she was.

She had her own responsibilities just like he did and maybe it was unfair of him to ask her to put hers on hold for him, but he had only wanted to spend the day with her, again. He was going to be gone for six weeks; they had only been together for two, how was this going to affect what had barely had a chance to get started?

He shook his head, he didn’t know but they were certainly going to find out if what they had was strong enough to survive the absence. Even with phone calls and e-mail, it wasn’t going to be easy to keep the relationship going, but he loved her and he was determined to do his part to keep her happy, even from the other side of the world.

Unfolding the note he sighed, it was just two words. I’m sorry. Opening the night table drawer he set the note inside. He felt like a bit of a heel. She had apologized for having her own life and being strong enough to say no to him. That wasn’t right. He never should have made her feel the need to apologize for who she was and what she did. He certainly wouldn’t, he never had and he wasn’t about to start now.

Stepping into the shower he thought about his day; he had to pack, make sure his papers were in order, check in with Paul, call the guys. He rinsed his hair, maybe it was just as well that she went to work. He’d stop in and see her later, maybe get her to close up a little early and have dinner with him. He was reasonably sure he could convince her of that much anyway.