by Anna Jacobs
He looked at her over the rim of his coffee mug. ‘There’s just one thing. I was thinking as I unpacked the groceries – would you mind – um, pretending to be – well, pretending that we’re seeing one another? In love, even. It might give me a few months’ grace afterwards.’
His blush was back. She was a sucker, but she still couldn’t resist him when he blushed. ‘No, I wouldn’t mind. As long as that’s all it is, just pretending. I meant what I said about not wanting another relationship.’
‘Your marriage was that bad?’ he asked gently.
She stared down into her mug. ‘Worse than bad. Roger turned out to be violent.’ She had never told anyone else the details. ‘I was stupid at first, kept giving him another chance, because in between he could be really nice. But it didn’t work. He kept promising to get therapy and not following through, though I made enquiries and they said they could help him.’
She sipped more coffee, then said it aloud for the first time, ‘When I decided to leave, he came home and caught me moving out. He thumped me.’ She swallowed hard. She’d thought he was going to murder her but he’d stepped back and, for no reason that she could figure, had left the house.
Hal gave a long, low whistle, and for a moment his hand covered hers. ‘I’m sorry.’
She clung to his hand for a moment or two more, then let go and told him the rest, ‘He stalked me for a while. They didn’t manage to catch him. Then he found himself a new woman.
‘I’ve not seen him since, but it’s left me a bit – nervous. Which is why I love living in this gated development.’
Silence drifted around them for a few moments, then he said, ‘I moved in here because of my equipment. It’s insured, of course, but I can’t bear the thought of some thieving burglar getting his hands on it.’
Another silence, then he added gently, ‘Thank you for your help. And for your confidences. I won’t take advantage of your goodwill gesture, I promise. I’m definitely not looking for a permanent relationship.’ He got up, put the mug on the sink and went out of the back.
She didn’t know whether to be glad or sorry about that last statement.
Glad! Of course she was glad! She didn’t want anything permanent either. She didn’t dare.
Bianca stared at herself in the mirror, twitching the skirt down a little, but of course it shot up again. Was it too short? You could wear any length you liked these days, but did she really want to show so much leg? What would his family think of her? No, she’d better change into her long blue skirt.
The doorbell rang just then and she nearly panicked at the thought of him seeing her like this, but she took a deep breath and told herself not to be stupid. They had an agreement, right? No involvements.
She went to open the door and slammed it in her ex-husband’s face so quickly that she managed to push his foot out again before he could jam the door open. Without thinking, she rushed for the buzzer and pressed it to call Hal. Then she realized she should be pressing the alarm button and let go of Hal’s home-made buzzer to press for security.
A siren began to ring and a blue light flashed outside her house. A figure came running round the front of the villa and for a moment she tensed, then realized it was Hal. He grabbed hold of Roger, who was still banging on her door.
She rushed to open the door. ‘It’s my ex.’
The two men stared at one another, then Roger shoved Hal away and ran off.
‘Are you all right.’
When he pulled her to him, she went readily, leaning against him and shuddering.
His voice was soft, anxious. ‘Bianca? Did he hurt you?’
‘No, but he tried to – to push his way inside.’ She couldn’t help shivering at the thought of what might have happened if he’d succeeded.
A car squealed to a halt outside and she moved back from Hal. ‘Sorry. I meant to press the security alarm, but pressed your buzzer first by mistake. This is none of your business.’
‘I’m there if you need me. That’s what friends are for.’
‘You all right, Miss Marella?’ The security guard was eyeing Hal suspiciously.
‘I am now. My neighbour came to my aid.’ But she was still shaking.
‘Shall we go inside?’
She nodded and held the door open.
As he entered the house, the security officer asked quietly, for her ears only, ‘Is Mr Crawford here with your permission?’
‘Yes. I – he’s a good friend.’
‘Perhaps you should sit down and tell me what happened?’
She explained and then found them a photograph of her ex so that they’d be able to keep an eye open for him.
‘Will you be all right now, Miss Marella?’
‘Yes. Hal and I are going out soon. And I always leave the alarm system on.’
When he’d left, Hal drew her close and simply held her again, which was just what she needed. She allowed herself to cling to him for a minute or two longer.
‘That must have been a dreadful shock.’
‘It was. I was so – unprepared to see him again.’ She managed a shaky smile. ‘I thought I’d got over that – the fear, I mean. I even took self-defence classes.’
‘How about a brandy?’
She nodded, sipped it and found it comforting. ‘I feel a fool. Why don’t you join me?’
‘I’m driving. And you’re definitely not a fool. But I will have a lemonade.’
It was half an hour before she declared herself ready to leave. She double-checked that the windows were locked and set the alarm, stepping into Hal’s car, relieved to be getting away.
Then she clutched his arm. ‘Oops! I forgot the chocolates for your mother!’
‘There’s no need.’
She shook her head. ‘I can’t go empty-handed the first time.’
‘My family has that custom, too.’
His smile curled her toes and she was the one to blush this time. It was a relief to dive out of the car and go back into the house, where she stood for a moment, with her hands pressed against her burning cheeks.
‘Heavens, he’s so good-looking when he smiles,’ she muttered. ‘I’ve got to be careful here.’
Hal’s mother eyed the chocolates in approval and kissed Bianca’s cheek. ‘Thank you, dear. That was kind of you.’ The look she gave their linked hands was so knowing that alarm bells rang in Bianca’s head and Hal took her away quickly to get a drink.
His father was behind the makeshift bar. ‘For a lovely young woman like this, it must be champagne,’ he announced loudly.
Everyone nearby turned round to stare at Bianca. She pressed closer to Hal for moral support. He put his arm round her.
The faces all smiled at them in a sentimental way.
‘I’d forgotten how they stare,’ he muttered. ‘Sorry about that.’
‘It is a bit unnerving. But my relatives will be as bad.’
‘Here you are!’ Mr Crawford pressed a glass of champagne into Bianca’s hand and clinked his own against it. ‘I’m delighted to meet you, my dear. Delighted. It’s about time Hal brought someone home.’ He winked at her.
She didn’t know what to do, so gulped down some champagne.
Brandy plus champagne made her feel very relaxed, she found. She decided it was good to be surrounded by people on New Year’s Eve and she might as well enjoy herself. She was grateful to Hal for helping her, and what did it matter if she went along with the fiction that they were in love? It was just a game – a very pleasant game, too.
She went across to join him. ‘Stare into my eyes, lover boy! Let’s give them something to talk about.’
As they gazed into one another’s eyes, he whispered, ‘Could you bear to let me kiss you, Bianca? Only, my mother’s still determined to introduce me to the new girl – just in case. We have to prove that we’re together beyond all reasonable doubt.’
She nodded. ‘Go ahead.’
He took the champagne glass out of her hand and set it down carefully next
to his orange juice. As she lifted her lips to his, it seemed as if there were only the two of them in the whole universe. Slowly he bent towards her.
When their lips met, it was even better than she’d expected, far better than that other kiss when they first met.
The kiss deepened and his hand came up to cradle the back of her head. When he moved his lips away, she heard herself murmur a protest, then realized what she was doing and moved quickly back. She took a long, slow breath and told her heart to slow down. It didn’t.
He was also taking a deep breath and staring at her as if he’d never seen her before.
This had to stop.
Part Three
Hal’s mother’s voice broke the spell and Bianca jerked away from him, suddenly remembering that she and her handsome neighbour were at his family’s New Year’s Eve party, pretending to be in love.
‘Hardly the place for that sort of thing, Hal,’ Mrs Crawford said disapprovingly. ‘There are children around, you know.’
‘Sorry. It – um, kind of took us by surprise.’
She gave them a fond, understanding smile and gestured to the young woman beside her. ‘I wanted to introduce my friend’s daughter. She’s a librarian. Rosemary, this is my son, Hal. He wasn’t here when you arrived. And this,’ her glance was speculative but not unfriendly, ‘is Bianca. I thought you young people might enjoy a chat, Hal. Rosemary must be fed up of us older ones and our talk of grandchildren.’ She turned and walked away.
Rosemary grinned at them both impartially. ‘Nice to meet you, Hal, Bianca. And I’m really sorry we interrupted you. Actually, you don’t need to worry about keeping me entertained. I know what matchmaking relatives are like. I met a rather dishy guy last week and I’ve arranged to meet him later.’ She wandered off, smiling.
Hal’s flush was fading. ‘I don’t usually kiss women in front of my family.’ He looked across the room, saw his mother still watching them and turned red again.
Bianca followed his glance and linked her arm in his. ‘Don’t worry. I know just what it’s like. And actually, your mother is very like mine, so you’ll probably face the same sort of thing tomorrow. Come and dance with me.’
‘You are . . .’ he hesitated, then finished, ‘the best of good friends.’
But she wondered if he’d been going to say something else.
It wasn’t till midnight that Bianca realized she’d had more drinks than she’d intended. She wasn’t drunk, but she was a bit unsteady. That was why she was holding Hal so tightly.
As the old year ended, everyone counted down from ten to zero, then cheered the new year in, Hal pulled her close again, moved until they were standing behind a potted palm and kissed her till her toes curled.
He was definitely the best kisser she’d ever met. The best everything. Why couldn’t she have met someone like him the first time round? Before she’d been spoiled for marriage.
When he said they’d better leave, she was feeling so happy she insisted on dancing down the front path. In the car, she sang ‘Auld Lang Syne’ to him and he harmonized in a rich baritone. Then she lay back and let the lights whirl past . . .
She woke up in her own bed the next morning, with her clothes still on but her shoes placed neatly on the floor next to her. When she raised her head too sharply she groaned and stood up slowly and carefully.
In the living room she squeaked in shock and Hal jerked upright on the sofa, where he’d been asleep.
‘What are you doing here?’ she gasped.
‘I was worried about you. You were – um, a bit tight last night. I didn’t want you leaving any windows open, letting anyone in.’
She went over to the sofa and gave in to the temptation to ruffle his wild curls still more. ‘You’re a wonderful friend, Hal Crawford. Let me show my gratitude by cooking you breakfast.’
‘I’ll just nip home and shower first, if you don’t mind.’ He glanced at the clock. ‘And it’s brunch, really.’
She gasped and looked at her watch. ‘Oh, no! We’re supposed to be at my mother’s in an hour.’
‘Oh, hell! I’d forgotten that.’
She wasn’t going to let him off the hook. She needed him beside her if she was to face her family. ‘Go and change. I’ll do the same, then I’ll make some toast. And Hal –’ he halted by the door – ‘I’ll drive this time, so you can have a drink or two.’ She grimaced. ‘I don’t usually drink so much and I’ve got a bit of a headache. Don’t forget your bathers. My parents have a big swimming pool.’
While he was away the phone rang. She picked it up without thinking.
‘Bianca—’
She slammed it down. How had Roger got hold of her phone number? Heart pounding, she went round to check all the doors and windows before diving into the shower.
When footsteps crossed the back patio, she glanced out, relieved to see Hal, skin flushed from his shower, curls still damp. Her heart did a little skip. He really was a beautiful man.
‘It’s just chemistry,’ she said aloud. That was it. Chemistry. Could happen to anyone. They were both young and fancy free, after all, so why not make the most of it? She rushed to open the back door.
‘Wow, you look stunning.’ He stared at her as if he’d never seen her before.
‘Um – so do you.’
‘I’m – having trouble feeling platonic about you.’
‘I’m having the same trouble.’ She could feel herself swaying towards him, see his arms reaching out for her.
The phone rang. That jerked her out of the weakness. She turned round and slowly approached it, making no attempt to pick it up.
Her husband’s voice came over the answerphone. ‘Bianca, please get back to me. It’s important.’ He reeled off a phone number.
She shuddered and moved closer to Hal. ‘It’s my ex. That’s the second time he’s rung this morning.’
He put an arm round her. ‘Well, you don’t have to call back, do you? And you can change your phone number tomorrow.’
‘I know. But I have to admit it does make me feel shaky to hear from Roger. I can’t think how he got my address and phone number.’
Hal guided her into the kitchen. ‘Toast,’ he demanded. ‘I’m very hungry.’ His eyes said he was hungry for other things than food.
Toast was safer. She stared at him for a moment, then pulled herself together. ‘Toast it is. With honey.’
He rolled his eyes in mock ecstasy. ‘I loooove,’ he lingered on the word with a wicked grin on his face, ‘honey.’
She rushed to put the bread in the toaster and clattered around the kitchen, offering him a piece of fruit till it was ready. It was safer to keep away from close contact.
She would never have believed that eating could be such a sensual experience, but as they ate the hot toast, which she’d slathered with honey, sticky streams of it trickled down their fingers.
He licked his fingertips slowly and carefully, clearly enjoying every drop, and she watched him, entranced. He looked up, caught her eyes on him. ‘Shades of Tom Jones, isn’t it?’
‘Do you like that old film, too?’
‘Love it.’
He took another bite then ran his tongue over his lips in an exaggerated gesture.
She picked up her toast and bit into it with a snap.
He put his remaining piece of toast into his mouth very slowly.
She couldn’t keep it up any longer and giggled.
They both burst out laughing.
‘I don’t know how the actors kept their faces straight,’ she said. ‘I didn’t realize eating toast could be so much fun.’
‘You’re always fun.’ He began to fiddle with the handle of his coffee mug. ‘Look, I think we’re going to have to rethink our relationship. Would you . . . mind?’
She couldn’t lie to him, not with those clear blue eyes fixed on her. ‘No. As long as we take it slowly. I don’t believe in falling into bed with anyone.’
‘Neither do I. It’ll be your call on ho
w fast we go,’ he assured her.
That thought was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. She stood up and became very brisk, getting them both out of the house in five minutes flat on the pretext that they were already late.
He did as she asked, but his eyes lingered on her more than once, and his hand lingered on her shoulder for a moment as they walked towards her car.
There were vehicles parked all round her mother’s house. Bianca stopped and drew a deep breath, then looked at him and asked in a voice which came out rather husky, ‘Ready for the fray?’
‘I’m completely at your service.’
She led the way in and Hal followed, clutching a bottle of grappa for her father and a bunch of orchids for her mother. It was nice that he had the same feelings about not going to a new house empty-handed the first time. It was nice that they agreed about so many things.
And it might be nice to get to know him better. But she was not diving head first into any relationship again. Definitely not.
On the other hand, she was only thirty-one and she wasn’t made of stone.
Her mother came forward with raised eyebrows, made a fuss about the beauty of the orchids and did not for one second stop studying Hal. ‘So. How long have you known my daughter?’
He raised one eyebrow at Bianca. ‘How long is it, darling? To me it seems for ever.’
‘Mama, you can stop grilling him right now!’ she exclaimed.
Her mother made a puffing noise, waving her fingers in a gesture of dismissal. ‘He calls you “darling”, so I got a right to ask, hey?’
‘We’ve known each other a while, but we’re taking things easy,’ he informed her, putting his arm round Bianca. ‘It’s understandable that she’ll not rush into another marriage, don’t you think?’
Bianca’s mother nodded. ‘You’re much nicer than him. Better looking, too.’
Hal blushed.
Face also red, Bianca tugged him away, muttering, ‘You don’t have to play up to my matchmaking mama quite so much.’
With the bottle of grappa still clutched in his hand, Hal followed her round the edge of the garage to the back patio where dancers of all ages were gyrating more or less in time to the music under the shade of the big awning. He put down the bottle and held out his arms.