Chasing Daisy

inside.
    ‘What’s up?’ I prompt, standing just inside the door as he closes it behind him.
    ‘Um . . . Are you going out tonight?’
    ‘Yes, to a club in the Pudong district. You’re welcome to come, if you like.’
    ‘Er, no, thanks.’
    I look at him, perplexed.
    ‘I was just wondering if . . . I’m sure you won’t, but . . .’
    ‘What?’ Now I’m dying of curiosity.
    ‘I think I’m just going to watch a movie in my room.’ He crosses his arms and then uncrosses them again. ‘If you fancy it . . .’ he adds.
    ‘Oh.’ I’m gobsmacked. To be honest, I wasn’t really up for another night on the town. I’m getting a bit bored with the late nights and drinking. I must be getting old.
    ‘But no chick flicks,’ he adds, forcing a grin. He looks uncomfortable, which is odd because he’s usually so composed.
    ‘Okay,’ I say. ‘What time?’
    He looks relieved. ‘What time do you finish here?’
    I glance at my watch. ‘Probably not for another couple of hours. Are you going to the hotel, now?’
    ‘Yeah.’
    ‘Shall I come up to your suite later, then?’
    ‘Sure.’ He uncrosses his arms.
    I reach for the door handle, but he gets there before me, holding the door open.
    ‘See you later, then?’ I say, awkwardly stepping under his arm.
    ‘Cool. Okay.’
    He shuts the door behind me, staying inside the room. I walk back down the stairs into the hospitality area, my mind racing.
    Holly is not very impressed when I tell her I’m blowing her out, but when I come clean and explain what happened, she’s all ears.
    ‘Do you think he fancies you?’ she asks, her eyes wide.
    I shake my head. ‘I doubt it.’ Although a tiny little voice inside my head isn’t so sure.
    ‘Then what’s going on?’
    ‘I don’t know. But I’ll fill you in later.’ I refrain from adding, I won’t keep secrets from you . . .
    Does he like me? His behaviour in Monaco when he asked me for a drink was strange, and he clearly didn’t like me spending time with Luis. Maybe he’s just bored and wants some company?
    But what if it’s not just that? What if it’s something more? If he made a move on me, would I have the willpower to say no? Nerves bombard me at the thought.
    I don’t want to look like I’ve made too much of an effort, so when I get back to the hotel, I just change into some jeans and throw on my green jumper. I do take my hair down, though. What the hell, right?
    ‘Hey,’ Will says, stepping aside to let me pass when I turn up at his door. ‘I was just looking at the room service menu.’ I spy the card in his hand. ‘Are you hungry?’ he asks.
    ‘Depends what they’ve got,’ I reply.
    ‘Go through, go through,’ he says, using the menu card to wave me in the direction of the living area as he shuts the door behind me.
    ‘Wow!’ Floor to ceiling windows look out over the city of Shanghai, its vibrant lights shining like multicoloured stars in the darkness. My room is only on the third floor, so I don’t have much of a view, whereas Will is up on the forty-third.
    The living room is softly lit by myriad table lamps. There’s a two-seater, soft cream leather sofa and a yellow fibreglass Eames chair in front of a large television. I opt for the sofa, thinking he can have the hard chair if he wants it. But he slumps down on the sofa to my right, making me move involuntarily a little to my left.
    ‘Can I have a look, then?’ I nod at the menu.
    ‘Sure.’ He puts it in front of me, but doesn’t let go, shifting in closer so he can continue to study his options. I feel distinctly on edge and struggle to stop myself from moving away again.
    ‘What are you having?’ I glance at him, sideways. He looks back at me with those beautiful blue eyes and my stomach flips.
    ‘Um . . .’ He studies the menu again. ‘I’ll have a burger,’ he decides, letting go of the card so that I’m left holding it. He shifts back to his side of the sofa and I stifle a sigh of relief.
    ‘I’ll have the same.’ I put the menu down on the dark-wooden coffee table.
    ‘Cool.’ He grabs the phone from the side-table next to him and calls room service, placing the order.
    I squash myself further into my corner and tuck my feet up underneath myself. Feeling much safer, I turn to face him. He puts his foot up on his opposite knee and looks across at me.
    ‘I missed you after Monaco,’ he says.
    ‘I know. You’d already gone when I came back from cleaning up the pits.’
    ‘I was