And then Rain’s lips were on hers, soft, warm and perfect. Lauren gasped at the contact, her eyes fluttering closed. The sensation was unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. Electric. Overwhelming. Right.
Lauren’s hands came up to tangle in Rain’s hair, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened. Her mind quieted. All her doubts and fears melted away until there was nothing but this moment, this feeling, this woman.
The shrill ring of Lauren’s phone shattered the moment. They broke apart, breathless, eyes locked. Lauren felt like she was seeing Rain for the first time, all the pent-up emotions laid bare between them.
The phone kept ringing.
They stood there, chests heaving, lost in each other.
‘Don’t answer it,’ Rain said, leaning in again.
The phone stopped, only to start up again a second later, insistent and urgent.
Lauren knew she couldn’t ignore it, no matter how much she wanted to stay lost in this perfect bubble with Rain.
Lauren slowly reached into her pocket and took out her phone.
‘Hello?’ Her voice sounded shaky to her own ears.
‘I’m just parking the car. Can you order us some food please,’ the voice on the other end said.
Lauren’s stomach dropped. She glanced at the time, realising she’d completely lost track of it.
‘Sure,’ she replied cheerfully, masking her true feelings.
She disconnected the call and turned her attention back to Rain. ‘You need to go. Now.’
Rain frowned, confusion clouding her eyes. ‘Why? What’s going on?’
‘I promise, I’ll explain later.’ Lauren gently steered her towards the front door. ‘Take the stairs, okay?’
Rain looked like she wanted to argue, but she didn’t. Instead, she walked out, and Lauren watched her hurry down the corridor until she disappeared from view. Lauren closed the door and sagged against it, pulse pounding.
That was way too close.
Seconds later, she heard muffled voices outside. Lauren plastered a bright smile on her face and opened the door just as a small boy threw his arms around her waist.
‘Mummy!’ he cried. ‘The museum was so cool!’
‘I thought we’d never get out of there,’ Jake grumbled.
Lauren’s smile faltered as she met her husband’s eyes. Guilt twisted like a knife in her gut.
Things were about to get a lot more complicated. But she knew, deep down, that she had no choice but to face whatever came next head-on . . . no matter what the fallout might be.
Chapter Five
Rain gripped the armrest tightly as the train swayed and rattled through the dark tunnels. She was still struggling to process the events of the afternoon – the shocking revelation that Lauren’s family owned The Mayfair Heritage Hotel, the abrupt way Lauren had asked her to leave. It left Rain feeling unbalanced, unsure of where she stood or what it all meant.
Why the hot and cold act? She stared blankly at the worn posters on the wall of the carriage. One minute she’s kissing me like her life depends on it, the next she’s practically shoving me out the door.
Rain shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. There was no use obsessing over Lauren’s behaviour. She had more important things to focus on – like finding her sister.
God, Fay, you better not have run off with another ‘soulmate’. Rain clenched her jaw. If that’s why you’ve gone radio silent, I swear . . .
The train lurched to a stop at King’s Cross, and Rain gathered her things, stepping out onto the crowded platform. She felt small and lost in the sea of rushing bodies, just another anonymous face in a big city.
Following the map on her phone, Rain made her way to the address her mum had given her for Fay’s place. When she arrived at the building, she was shocked to find it was a dilapidated hostel with peeling paint and shattered windows, situated on a narrow road across from a canal. Rain paused for a moment, steeling herself for what lay ahead, before she walked inside.
Even with the door ajar, the air inside was thick with the smell of mildew and stale cigarettes. Rain could hear the muffled sounds of TVs and voices from the rooms above.
The building manager, an unkempt man with dishevelled hair and a worn-out jumper, glanced up from the makeshift reception desk as she entered, his expression wary.
‘What’d you want?’ he said.
‘I’m looking for my sister,’ Rain replied.
The man’s eyes narrowed, scrutinising her carefully.
‘Name?’ he gruffly demanded.
‘Fay Thomas.’
‘She ain’t in.’
‘Has she been around today?’
‘No.’
