Janet’s eyes widened. “You mean hours?”
“Days if you’re lucky, but it could take weeks. I’ll let Alex know what’s going on.”
“Would you care to fill me in?” Janet asked.
Gareth shook his head. “I’ll leave that for Alex.” Then he turned to Brooke and said, “Looks like you have to change. Want to walk back with me?”
Janet gave her a look then nodded. Brooke hadn’t realized her white blouse was practically transparent since she’d gotten sprayed. “I think that’s a good idea.”
As soon as they were back in the hall, Gareth said, “I’m glad you called me.”
“I feel horrible. It’s not your job to rescue us.”
“I wasn’t rescuing anyone. I came because you asked me to.”
Her heart skipped a beat. He came for me.
Nothing else needed to be said. Gareth took her hand in his and did as promised, walked her back to her room. When they arrived at her door he said, “I have a meeting today with Alex. I have a feeling it’s going to go longer than I expected with this new development. Would you be interested in having a late dinner with me?”
“Gareth, I really want to say yes, but people are beginning to notice I’m not following the rules.”
“You’re not going to be fired.”
She’d already figured that out, talking with Janet. “But it is not right that I can do what others can’t.”
“So have dinner with me in my room.”
Well there goes the rule entirely.“Gareth, I want to, but . . .”
Gareth reached out and placed his hand under her chin, tipping it up so she couldn’t avoid his gorgeous dark eyes. “Neither of us is going to be in Tabiq forever. Let’s enjoy the time we have. I want to spend that time with you.”
So much for her wanting to keep things private. Gareth leaned over and kissed her, and she didn’t even try to resist. She’d expected that last night. This morning, it was unexpected, and even sweeter than she could’ve hoped for.
His lips lingered, kissing her gently. When he pulled away she found herself leaning against his bare chest, not wanting the moment to end.
“Dinner?” he asked.
“I . . . I can’t go to your room. But I’ll be here if you want . . . to have dinner in mine.” Her room was far away from all the others, and the odds of anyone seeing them were slim.
He peered down at her and said, “I’ll bring something for dinner. No need to order anything.”
She wasn’t thinking about food. All she needed was a few more of those sweet kisses and she’d be lost. “Let me guess, you’re going to surprise me,” she teased.
He pulled her closer against him. “You, my dear Brooke, are the one full of surprises. And I’m starting to enjoy them very much.”
He claimed her lips again, this time teasing and tracing her lips with the tip of his tongue. When he let her go, she was breathless and leaned against her door for support.
“I’ll see you later for dinner.”
And I’ll bring the dessert.
She watched him strut down the hall, his body still glistening from the water. He was right. Neither of them were going to be in Tabiq for long. It was laid out on the table, no promises of tomorrow. How could she be disappointed when her knight in shining armor was so honest with her? She was getting what she wanted. Something real. Just something not lasting.
Gareth didn’t want to be the one to deliver Alex the bad news, but facts were facts.
“You mean the pipe is rotted right through? How can that be? It’s not like they’ve been there for twenty years,” Alex stated.
“No. But the salt water and climate all come into play.” Never mind the shabby materials used.