Just for the Summer

by Fay Keenan

  ‘Oh, right,’ Kate replied. Corey was hanging back from her again, still overawed by Bane’s illustrious presence. ‘Well, it seemed to go well, anyway,’ she added. ‘But I’d better get on with clearing up now.’ She turned to Corey. ‘Can you go and load the rest of the glasses into the dishwasher for me?’

  ‘Okay,’ Corey said, clearly reluctant to be taken away from Artemis for a second. He took the tray that Kate gave him and ambled off to the back of the shop.

  ‘If you’re not doing anything later, why don’t you join me for a drink?’ Artemis edged closer to Kate once Corey was out of earshot. ‘Considering you stepped in at such short notice, I think you deserve a night out to celebrate. We could have a drink and go from there.’

  Kate’s eyes grew a little wider at the unspoken implication. Was Artemis really hitting on her? Once again, she cursed her lack of practise at reading signals from men. It would be just like her to misread the situation, though, and assume he was making a move when he wasn’t.

  ‘That is one sexy dress, Kate.’ Artemis lowered his voice suggestively, and suddenly Kate was in no doubt as to his intentions. ‘It’d be a shame to waste it by going home alone so early.’

  Christ, Kate thought, you really are used to getting what you want, aren’t you?

  Out loud she merely said. ‘After such a busy day, I’m shattered. And there’s Corey to think about, of course.’

  ‘Ditch the kid,’ Artemis said with the air of a man who had never had to worry about his own children. ‘He’s old enough to see himself home, surely.’

  Kate bristled at the imperative. She remembered what Harry had told her about Artemis’s liking for post-show groupies, and felt affronted that Artemis seemed to think she fell into that category. ‘No can do,’ she said briskly. ‘Perhaps you’d better go and find someone else to share a drink with.’

  ‘Oh, come on.’ Artemis drew even closer to Kate, so that he really was invading her personal space. Unlike when Harry had done so, when they’d kissed, this felt distinctly unpleasant. ‘You’re not going to refuse a world-famous author a night of your company, are you? After all, I’ve just made sure your mate, Harry, can pay the bills on his shop for at least the next six months, and all in one night. Isn’t that worth a drink or three with me?’ Artemis raised a hand so that his fingertips traced Kate’s bare skin from the inside of her elbow upwards, brushing over the side of her breast on its journey.

  Kate jumped back, feeling a sense of revulsion that this man, however famous and loved by his readers, could be so entitled.

  ‘I don’t think so, Mr Bane,’ she said firmly. ‘I’m sure there are plenty of others out there on the High Street who’d love to spend the night, er, evening, with you. But I’m afraid I’m just not one of them.’

  ‘Everything all right?’ As she stepped away from Artemis, who seemed about to respond with yet another persuasive gambit, Harry’s voice came from the bottom of the stairs that led back up to his flat above the shop.

  Kate took the opportunity to put some much-needed space between herself and her harasser. She turned her head and saw Harry standing at the bottom of the stairs. He’d thrown on a pair of dark blue jeans and a black T-shirt, seemingly for the sake of decency, but he was still sweaty, dishevelled and distinctly feverish, if the flush to his cheeks was anything to go by.

  ‘Everything’s fine, Harry,’ she said, smiling brightly in his direction. ‘Artemis was just leaving. It’s been a successful night; you’ll be pleased to know.’

  ‘Glad to hear it.’ Harry walked towards Kate and Artemis, but paused within about five feet. ‘I would shake your hand, Mr Bane, but I’d hate to give you the flu. Perhaps it’d be best if you headed back to where you’re staying. You don’t want to catch it.’

  Artemis’s eyes flashed with irritation as Harry’s tone of voice made his real meaning clear. He was obviously someone who wasn’t used to being turned down, and, on a high from the signing, was reluctant to let this go.

  At that moment, Corey and Eloise, who had offered to help him, returned from loading the glasses into the dishwasher, and that was when Artemis obviously decided he was beaten.

  ‘Well, thank you for hosting such a great night,’ Artemis said. ‘I’ll be at the bar in the pub if you change your mind.’

  Kate inclined her head slightly, unwilling to out Artemis as a pest in front of her son, who hadn’t, thankfully, clocked any of the previous conversation.

  ‘It was nice to meet you,’ Corey said as Artemis departed.

  ‘You too, Colin.’

  ‘It’s, er, Corey.’

  ‘Right.’

  As the shop door shut behind him, with Eloise not far behind, having quickly said her goodbyes, Kate took a deep breath and tried to stop the shakes that were running through her body as the adrenaline from the encounter subsided.

  ‘You okay, Mum?’ Corey asked, obviously noticing how pale she’d suddenly become.

  Kate smiled. ‘I’m fine. Why don’t you go and grab us a pizza?’ She crossed to the counter and handed him a twenty-pound note from her purse. ‘I’ll be back home in a bit, when I’ve finished clearing up. And then you can tell me all about that girl you were talking to before you got your book signed.’

  As Corey left the shop, muttering good-naturedly about nosy mothers, Kate turned back to where Harry was still standing.

  ‘Are you really okay?’ Harry asked gently, approaching the counter where she was still standing.

  Kate shook her head, suddenly unable to speak. She’d been on such a rollercoaster over the past couple of days, what with Corey’s sudden absence and reappearance in Willowbury, being taken completely out of her comfort zone by having to step into running this evening, Artemis’s most unwelcome pass at her and Harry’s kiss, which had been more than welcome, she wasn’t sure which way was up any more.

  Harry, obviously mindful that he himself wasn’t in the best shape, paused before he made his next move. ‘I know you’ve said you’re not a hugger, but would that help in this instance?’

  Kate looked up at him, took in the dishevelled hair, the glasses behind which the deep blue eyes looked tender and concerned, the black T-shirt and dark navy jeans and the fact that he clearly wasn’t on top form himself, and, considering in that split second that she’d spent enough time in his sick room to probably have caught the flu herself already, she stepped forward and into his arms. As she did, she felt the tension draining out of her, and the unsettling encounter with Artemis seemed to sail away on a tide of calm.

  Kate found herself relaxing and responding to the sensation of Harry’s admittedly rather too warm from fever body, she breathed out. ‘He might have been a money-spinning guest for you, but Artemis Bane is also a class one, grade A twat!’

  ‘I rather feared that he would be.’ Harry sighed. ‘But booksellers can’t be choosers sometimes. However, that said, I don’t think I’ll be agreeing to any return visits in the near future. I can’t have him hitting on the staff, even if you were only here for an evening.’

  ‘Staff?’ Kate snorted. ‘Who are you calling staff? I quit.’

  ‘Good,’ Harry said huskily. ‘I wouldn’t want to be accused of doing the same myself.’

  Before she could think of a suitable retort, Kate found herself leaning up to kiss Harry hard on the mouth. ‘Who’s hitting on who?’ she said softly as they both came back up for air.

  Harry, to his credit, managed to stay upright during the kiss, despite the fact he hadn’t eaten for twenty-four hours and was now even more wobbly than he had been when he’d come down the back stairs.

  ‘Wow,’ he murmured. ‘I wasn’t expecting that.’

  Kate smiled. ‘Let’s just say I’ve had a bit of time to think about the other night, and I’ve decided to stop worrying so much. There are plenty of other things to worry about at the moment; I don’t need to add angsting about kissing you to the list.’

  ‘Fair enough.’ Harry smiled back down at her. Then, regretfully, he
shook his head. ‘I wish I could make good on all of the promise that kissing you has just unleashed, but if I don’t get horizontal again soon, alone, I think you’re probably going to have to carry me back upstairs!’

  Kate noticed again how shuddery Harry still was, and her heart stirred. She stepped out of Harry’s arms. ‘So, would you like me to help you to bed, then? And not in the exciting way?’

  Harry grinned weakly. ‘I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes please.’ Turning back to the stairs, he limped up them, Kate not far behind.

  ‘Probably just as well, anyway,’ Kate said. ‘Corey’ll never let me hear the end of it if I disappear for too long.’

  ‘I might need a bit of a hand here next week,’ Harry said as they headed down the passageway back to his bedroom. ‘Do you reckon Corey might like some work experience in this place? I’d pay him minimum wage, of course. Bit of pocket money for while he’s staying here.’

  Kate laughed. ‘Well, he was supposed to be going home in a day or two, but I’m sure he’d jump at the chance of staying if he could work here. If you’re sure you want my sixteen-year-old son hanging around the place.’

  ‘He’s a good lad, from what I’ve seen of him.’ Harry sounded breathless as they reached his bedroom. Unfortunately, Kate realised it probably had more to do with the flu than excitement that she was there. ‘If you think it might keep him out of trouble, and you’re okay with it, that is.’

  ‘He’d love it,’ Kate said as she pushed Harry’s bedroom door open. ‘I have a feeling he’d be hanging out in Vale Volumes for free, anyway!’

  ‘Damn,’ Harry joked. ‘I should have kept my mouth shut about paying him!’

  There was a pause as Kate wondered whether she should now leave Harry to it. ‘Is there anything else you need?’

  ‘I think I can make it to my bed alone,’ Harry said wryly. ‘And all I really want to do is crash out.’

  Kate smiled. ‘I’ll let myself out, then.’

  Harry returned the smile. ‘Kate… thank you. You went above and beyond today, for me and the shop. I really appreciate everything you’ve done.’

  ‘It was fun, honestly,’ Kate said, conveniently forgetting the nerves she’d felt about hosting the evening. ‘Even if Artemis did live up to his reputation in the end.’

  ‘I wonder how Eloise Padgett puts up with him,’ Harry mused. ‘If he behaves like that every time he’s let loose, I think I’d have resigned ages ago!’

  ‘I bet she’s paid enough to look the other way,’ Kate replied. ‘And besides, he’s about ninety-five per cent ego. I never felt under any particular threat from him. I’m sure there are plenty of his fans who’d have loved to have been where I was just now.’

  ‘Well, I for one am glad you aren’t one of them,’ Harry said, rubbing his eyes.

  ‘Call me if you need anything.’ Kate decided now was the best time to leave Harry alone to recover. ‘And hopefully, when you’re feeling better…’ she trailed off, suddenly too nervous to end that sentence. In truth, she really wasn’t sure how to end it, anyway.

  Thankfully, Harry didn’t seem to notice. ‘I will. And thanks again, Kate. I owe you at least another lunch.’

  ‘When you’re up to it,’ Kate said. Leaning forward, she kissed his cheek, and felt a familiar tingle as her body responded to the warmth of his skin under her lips.

  ‘Oh, God,’ Harry groaned. ‘I hate the flu!’

  ‘See you soon,’ Kate said.

  ‘Kate? Are you there?’ Florence’s voice came drifting up the stairs. She’d been tidying up the back kitchen during the exchange with Artemis, and had only just emerged, having missed Kate and Harry’s cuddle, thankfully. Kate knew she’d never hear the end of it if Florence had seen that.

  ‘I’m here,’ Kate called back. ‘Just checking in on Harry.’

  ‘Okay, I’m ready when you are.’

  ‘I’d better go,’ Kate said. ‘But call me if you need anything.’

  ‘I will.’ Harry smiled. ‘And thanks again, Kate.’

  And with that, Kate headed back down the stairs and out of the front door of Vale Volumes with Florence. She breathed a sigh of relief that the evening, at last, was over.

  34

  As predicted, Corey was over the moon on Saturday morning when Kate told him Harry had offered him a job for a week or two. Partially fuelled by relief that he wouldn’t have to paint walls to earn a wage, and mostly by the fact that he thought it would ‘give him time to do some reading’ while at work, Kate gave him all the standard warnings about minding his Ps and Qs, asking questions if he was unsure of anything, and not slacking off, to the point where her eldest son just rolled his eyes and asked her if she realised he wasn’t nine any more.

  ‘I just want you to make a good impression,’ Kate said as she cleared away their plates and put them in the dishwasher. ‘After all, if you do this well, you can always ask Harry for a reference for another job when you need one.’

  ‘I’m sure he’d give me one anyway, he’s so keen on you.’

  Kate shook her head. ‘This isn’t about me.’

  ‘Sure. You mean he just decided to give me a job out of the kindness of his heart?’ Corey grinned at her and Kate was compelled to throw the dishcloth she was using to wipe the table at him.

  ‘Well, whatever it was, he wants you there bright and early on Monday morning.’

  ‘I’ll be there.’ Corey smiled. ‘And don’t worry, Mum, I’ll do a good job.’

  ‘I know you will.’ Kate smiled back. ‘If it was one of your brothers, I’d be more worried about them accidentally burning the shop down, but I think I can trust you not to let me down.’

  ‘Absolutely,’ Corey said, and sidled off to his room.

  Armed with Corey’s enthusiastic response, Kate phoned Phil and let him know that Corey was going to stay a bit longer. As soon as she was in a position to have her other two sons join her, she assured him, she’d make sure they did. For a few more days, though, she needed to properly break the back of the painting in Aidan’s house, without too many interruptions.

  A couple of days later, on the Monday after Artemis’s appearance at the bookshop, Corey started his first shift at Vale Volumes. After crashing out all weekend, Harry was feeling considerably better, and Kate was charmed to receive a large bunch of freesias and lilies via the local florist on the High Street as a thank you for stepping in to run Artemis’s evening. Attached to these was a card which read:

  You saved my bacon, so how about joining me for dinner at the Black Swan Bistro in Stavenham on Friday evening? Corey, if he’s free, is welcome too.

  Harry x

  Kate smiled. Harry was a hard man to resist, she was finding. Especially when he seemed intent on including Corey in things. Texting back a quick thank you, she walked back to the hallway that she’d almost finished painting and then nearly dropped the phone again as it pinged with another text, this time from Corey.

  Harry’s just told me he’s invited you and me to dinner. I think it would be a bit lame to have your son tagging along and I totes don’t want to be a gooseberry. Are you OK to go alone?

  Kate grinned. She could see his point, made articulately by text and complete with gooseberry emoji, and she was sure he’d far rather get some gaming time in on the PS4 with Sam, if Florence was happy to let Corey hang out with Sam for the evening, and her brother wasn’t on shift, of course. Texting back that yes, she was ‘totes’ okay with Corey not coming out to dinner, she tried not to think about what the outcome of that evening might be. Was it merely just a thank you for a job well done, or were there more kisses to come? She was surprised that she felt so keen for it to be the latter. Who’d have thought a summer fling was really what she wanted? Then she stilled that thought. Even without Corey sharing dinner with them, he’d still be here to come home to at the end of the night, and she couldn’t exactly pretend to be fancy free and spend the night with Harry, even if she wanted to. Did she want to? The thought of sleeping
with someone new for the first time since Phil was enough to make her back out of dinner altogether.

  Relax, she told herself. It’s only dinner. She didn’t have to do anything she didn’t want to. Her encounter with Artemis Bane was enough of a reminder of that. Dinner with Harry would be nice, but she wasn’t going to get in over her head; especially on a first proper date.

  So it was that Friday night arrived, and Kate was nervously pacing the hallway of the house, trying not to go off a cliff with nerves. Corey had gone next door for his gaming night with Sam, and Florence had texted her a picture of them both already ensconced on the living room sofa with yet more pizza and a big bottle of Coca Cola to keep them going as they tackled zombie Nazis on the latest Call of Duty incarnation on the PS4. From the sounds of it, they wouldn’t be moving for some time, and Florence had suggested that Corey crash out on the living room sofa if it looked like they were going to make an all-nighter of it, rather than frightening the life out of Kate by coming through the front door at whatever-o’clock. Kate tried not to let her thoughts drift to what might happen with Harry, now that she’d have the house to herself.

  As she saw Harry’s VW Golf drawing up to the kerbside outside the houses, she stepped back into the hall, glancing in the mirror by the front door to check she didn’t have lipstick on her teeth and her hair wasn’t flying in all directions. To her relief, she looked calmer than she felt. She’d borrowed a patterned top and a pair of skinny jeans from Florence, and teamed them with the same sandals she’d worn for the book launch, and even she had to admit, she’d scrubbed up pretty well again.

  Opening the door before Harry even had the chance to knock, she caught him in the slightly absurd position of raising his hand to the brass knocker. His look of surprise immediately put Kate at ease.

  ‘Sorry!’ she said as he stepped back from the door and she stepped out, closing it firmly behind her. ‘Sam and Corey gave me the “don’t stay out too late” speech earlier and I was beginning to feel like my own teenage son!’