With November here, and appearing to fly past, he had just over a month at the most. Steve had to return to LA after the Christmas holidays otherwise he would be kissing his career goodbye, and his agent.
Time to see if Lydia was the one.
***
A roaring log fire greeted Steve and Lydia as they entered the cosy pub, making them forget it was winter outside. Both shivered, rubbing their hands, as they found a table in a secluded corner, close to the fire. If it had been daylight, Steve knew that there was a great view to be seen from their window, looking out onto the Severn Estuary.
“This is nice,” Lydia said, gesturing to the room with its solid beams and open fire.
“Yeah, I used to come here years ago. It’s changed a lot though.”
The Golden Lion in Portishead had once been a regular watering hole for Steve and his pals. He was pleased when Ruby confirmed it still existed and served great food. She’d also said it had been refurbished a couple of times, the managers had changed, and the regulars had moved on. No one would recognise him – he hoped.
“So how are you finding work?” Lydia said, once settled, sipping her wine. He could see by the slight tremble in her hands she was nervous. “Is it hard working with Ruby as your boss?” She timidly giggled.
“Oh, no, not at all. Ruby and I have some catching up to do, so it’s rather nice.”
“Will you be looking for other work?”
“How do you mean?” Steve frowned, thrown by her question. He picked up his lager and took a sip. Had he hinted at leaving? That hadn’t been his plan. Though the time would come eventually when he’d have to leave. And it would be sooner rather than later.
“Well, I get the impression Ruby’s done you a favour, I didn’t think you’d be staying long. What did you do before you went travelling?”
“Oh, well, I’ve been travelling for so long, I’ve lost touch with what I used to do…” Steve realised he hated lying.
“Which was?”
“Oh, Lydia, I kinda bummed around for a while.” Actually, he’d worked his ass off since the day he moved to LA. And before that, paper rounds, working in corner shops, washing cars, flipping burgers, anything to save up for his flight over. “It’s embarrassing what I did before…” He couldn’t meet her gaze, concentrating on the bubbles rising in his glass.
“You can tell me. I won’t tell the others, if that’s what you’re worried about. It can’t have been that bad, could it?”
He looked around shiftily, thinking hard, then whispered, “I was…an estate agent.” Unable to meet her gaze, he chided himself, hating the fact he was lying to Lydia,
Lydia laughed, making him feel at ease.
“See I told you it was bad.”
“Not at all, I thought you were going to say something far worse.”
“Worse? Like what?” Steve grinned.
Lydia shrugged. “I don’t know. Double-glazing salesman?
“Oh, God, that is worse.” They laughed. Damn, he liked her laughter. “And I’m not that good at selling.”
“But you sold houses?”
“Houses sell themselves really. Either a person loves a house or they don’t.” He assumed, anyway. Nobody bought a house they didn’t like. Okay, some hideous looking houses probably gave the estate agent extra work.
“So why don’t you go back into selling houses?” she asked once she’d stopped giggling and sipped her drink.
“Because I hated it.” This in the trade was called improvising. He’d never been an estate agent. Not even played a part as one. All he had was daytime TV and all those property programmes as research, and he hadn’t watched many. Sometimes they were on in the morning whilst he got ready for the late shift at work.
“So where did you travel to then?”
Oh, hell, he really should have thought about some background more seriously. He and Ruby had winged it, and then nobody had really asked further. Where had he been with the film sets?
“Australia.” He did spend a couple of weeks there. Not filming, but when the money had started rolling in, he’d managed to get some trips to places he wanted to see, tying in with a couple of chat shows and interviews. Besides, anyone who travelled usually did Australia. He could have easily been there a year. Australia could explain his now fading tan, too.
“Oh, I would love to go to Australia. Tell me all about it.”
Unlike Alice, who talked about herself and gossiped about others, Lydia liked asking questions about Steve, wanting to know more about him. On the plus side, the conversation flowed, on the minus, it meant Steve found himself telling a white lie here and a white lie there to please Lydia. But he could hardly tell her the truth…yet. Though he had to stop himself spilling his guts. He hated lying to her. Every time she called him Stuart, he wanted to correct her, and say he was really Steve.
If this relationship blossomed…how soon should he tell her the truth? Ruby hadn’t thought this through…neither had Steve.
Lydia put her knife and fork together and pushed her cleared plate away. Erica would have only ordered the salad. But then she wouldn’t have sat in a cosy pub in Portishead and ordered the smothered chicken with chunky chips. One, she was a vegetarian, and two, Erica had to stick to a strict diet thanks to the career she’d chosen.
Lydia wasn’t fat. She had a superb figure, which Steve could not stop fantasising about, imaging her curves pressing into him.
“So, have you seen how Brett acts around Ruby?”
Steve frowned, although thankful Lydia had changed the subject from him to Ruby. “I have wondered, but then I just thought it was Brett being Brett, nervous around Miss Whiplash.”
“He never calls her that. Callum does.”
“Come to think of it, a while back they did seem cosy on the sofa together when the guys came over for a boys’ night in.”
“And Friday night, he stayed with her the whole time I was there.”
“He got her home safely, too.” Guilt stabbed at him again. “I’m sorry about last Friday. I invited you out and then ended up forgetting about you.”
“Not hard with Alice about.”
“I forgot about Alice, too,” Steve said, chuckling, trying to make a joke of it.
“Well…it doesn’t matter.” It looked as if Lydia wanted to forget Friday night as much as Steve did. He was thankful she shook her head and waved it off. Steve enjoyed watching how her hair flicked around her neck. “But anyway, I think he likes Ruby.”
“Alice reckoned you and Brett had a thing…” Steve swallowed down fear that this could be true. Although, Lydia was not on a date with Brett.
Lydia laughed and shook her head. “The gossip in that hotel. All you have to do is talk to someone of the opposite sex and you’re dating. No, Brett and I are just friends, and that’s how I’ve noticed how he is with Ruby.”
“I’ll have to watch out for him then,” Steve said, putting on a stern voice and a silly Popeye pose with his arms.
“Oh, how big brotherly.” Lydia giggled.
“What about you? When are you going to show the world you’re a great artist?” Steve leaned forward, resting his elbows onto the table. He took Lydia’s hand and rubbed her palm with his thumb.
“Illustrator. Soon…I want to send them off to some agents. I want to get commissioned. I’m just putting a portfolio and a website together.”
“What made you want to become an illustrator?”
“I’ve always loved drawing, but I always thought it would be my hobby. Then, never really knowing what to do, I decided I should try to turn my hobby into a living. This would be the perfect day job. Something I enjoy, love, rather than, like at work where half the time, I’m bored out of my brain. But it’s regular and pays the bills, so I have to stick at it for the time being.”
“Illustrating would be your dream job?”
“Yeah, I’d love to do children’s books, but I’m not the writer, I’m no good with words, at least writing them down. Kids’ stories are so
hard. Knowing what to write, what they’d understand. I tried having a go, and just couldn’t do it. Ideally, I want to illustrate the stories with my characters.”
“So…” Steve smiled, cheekily, “when are you going to show me the contents of that sketchpad. I want to see your drawings.” He’d seen them, of course, but he wanted her to show them to him, then his conscience would be cleared. “You know, we’ve dated once now. I should see them.”
“Oh, um, one day.” Her gaze dropped, withdrawing her hand from Steve, and she fiddled with the coaster on the table, turning it on the table.
“Lydia, you have nothing to be ashamed of. What you did show me were great. I want to see more. I’m interested.”
“I know. I need to get over this hurdle, but let me do it in my own time. It’s half the reason I haven’t submitted anything yet. I’m worried about the rejections.”
“Rejections toughen you up.” Did he know about rejections. “Your skin will thicken, but they will love your drawings.” He reached out and squeezed her arm reassuringly. “So, shall we get dessert, or just coffee?”
He didn’t want tonight to end, but it was getting late. He’d have to take her home soon.
“Maybe a coffee for me. I’m stuffed. I couldn’t eat another thing.”
Coffee arrived, and Steve wanted to know as much as he could about Lydia. “So, you know my family – Ruby – what about yours?” Steve said, offering Lydia a chocolate mint that had come with the coffee.
“Oh, I’m the youngest of three,” Lydia said, taking the mint, and placing it by her coffee. “I have an older brother – he’s getting married next year and an older sister, the oldest, who is married with two young children – two nieces.”
“Do you see your nieces often?”
“Yes, I spoil them rotten.” Lydia grinned. “I try to help out with babysitting when I can.” Tick, Steve thought mentally. She likes kids. “Actually, I’ve got to babysit in a few weeks – would you like to come with me and keep me company? Oh!” Lydia blushed. “Maybe that’s a bit presumptuous. You might not want another date.”
“Don’t be silly. Of course I do.” He caressed her hand, dying to touch her again.
“We could get in pizzas, watch a film,” she said happily. “It’s Emma’s thirtieth birthday and her husband, Paul, wants to take her out. They don’t get out much together. I agreed to it ages ago.”
“Sounds like a date.”
***
Steve parked up outside Lydia’s house, behind her maroon Beetle. He got out and followed her up the steps to her front door. Keys in her hand, she stood on the top step, and turned to face Steve who was on the lower one. They were the perfect height. He didn’t need to look down, she didn’t need to look up. Lips parallel.
“I’d ask you in for coffee…but…”
“No, no, I don’t want to come in…yet,” Steve said, pushing a strand of hair out of her face. “I want to do this right. You’ll go out with me again, won’t you? I’ve had so much fun tonight, you won’t believe how great it’s been to just talk, and listen.”
She smiled shyly. “I’ve had a great time, too.”
“Good. Plus, I think I’d better see you some more before I meet your sister.”
“My sister?”
“Yes you asked me to help babysit, remember?”
“Oh, yes. I did.”
Steve edged forward, lips an inch away, then gently cupping her face, he kissed her, softly. For a brief moment, she opened her mouth and welcomed his tongue. The kiss was exquisite. Lydia wrapped her arms around his waist, gently gripping his shirt. Blood raced to Steve’s groin so fast it surprised him. He pulled away and sighed, not wanting Lydia to feel his growing erection. She kept her eyes closed for a moment. Everything in the world seemed perfect.
“Tomorrow night, or Saturday?” he asked.
“Does tomorrow sound too eager?” She tucked some hair behind her ear.
“Absolutely not.” He grinned, then kissed her again, this time resisting his tongue tasting hers, because he really would find it hard to go home. He stepped down and walked to Ruby’s car and waved. “See you at work tomorrow, too.”
She looked at him puzzled, and he realised he’d done it again. He was the wrong side of the car. In his happiness, and feeling aroused, dream like, he’d been on autopilot. He slung off his jacket, chucked it inside as if he’d deliberately gone to the passenger side, and then went round to the driver side, trying not to show he was actually cold. It’s November for heaven’s sake. He waited, making sure she was inside her house safely, then drove off, his body thrumming with excitement.
Chapter 16
Monday 18th November
Ruby needed to do her usual rounds, make checks with the staff – sometimes she felt like a doctor on a hospital ward, only everything wasn’t so clinical, thankfully. She closed her office door behind her and headed towards reception wondering if one of the girls would need relieving for their break, and stopped. Cold fear crept up her spine.
Terence. What the hell was he doing here?
Instantly her heart pounded, Terence hadn’t noticed her, too busy being smarmy with Lydia, so she darted down the corridor and into the bar, closing the doors that usually remained open behind her. Steve stood with a tea towel slung over his shoulder – too casual for Ruby’s liking – at the coffee machine, frothing hot milk.
“Quickly, get out of sight, until I say you can come out.”
“What?” Steve frowned with a puzzled expression, glancing over Ruby’s shoulder towards some guests who sat patiently at a table. They’d actually stopped talking and stared at Ruby as if she was nuts. “I’m in the middle of making coffees,” Steve said calmly.
“Terry is here,” Ruby hissed and Steve stiffened. “And he must not see you. Get Callum to take over.”
Ruby rushed back out of the room, smoothing her jacket, and then ran her fingers through her hair in attempt to look cool and collected. Taking a deep breath, she approached the reception desk.
“Oh, Ruby, I was trying your office,” Lydia said putting the phone down. “This is Terence Smith—”
“Smythe.” Terry corrected Lydia.
“I know who he is. What do you want, Terry?”
“That’s not how you should talk to your guests.” He smiled, showing off perfect teeth Ruby would like to knock out – if only she had a baseball bat handy.
“Are you staying in this hotel?”
“No.”
“Well then, that’s how I talk to scummy journalists who happen to also be my ex-boyfriend.”
Ruby saw Lydia blush. Luckily Lydia knew when to make herself scarce, realising it was none of her business.
“Ruby, I’ve not come to argue, I’ve come to see how you are and make it up to you. I wondered if you’d join me for lunch.”
Ruby scowled. She no longer trusted a word uttered from this man’s mouth, however handsome his face; he’d lost his appeal long ago.
“I have to work.”
“What about in your own restaurant?” He gestured to the Avon Restaurant that was set off from reception. She had to get rid of Terry as Steve couldn’t hide forever in the bar’s storeroom. However if she tried to get rid of him too quickly, would he think her actions were suspicious?
“You can have an hour of my time,” Ruby replied sternly. “But I have some business to attend to first, so get seated and I will join you in a minute.”
Terry nodded, seeming pleased with Ruby’s decision, and walked off towards the restaurant.
“Who was that?”
Ruby turned to see Alice leaning against the desk, giving Terry’s backside an appreciative glance. Admittedly, the man did look good in a suit, only he no longer appealed to Ruby. Amazing how someone can turn ugly when you knew what they were made of inside; deceit, greed and a shallowness that ironically ran deep. He was like an exotic fruit, which was filled with maggots.
“None of your business. What are you doing here?”
> Alice, astounded by Ruby’s sharp tone, held her hands up defensively. “Lydia called me to reception.”
“Oh, sorry.” Ruby felt awful. She dealt with much worse in the hotel and always kept her head. She needed to stop acting like a headless chicken and gain control of the situation.
“Yes, your Decléor rep is over there on the couch.” Lydia pointed to a woman who looked every bit a beauty rep, and Alice, giving Ruby a ‘see’ expression, went to meet her visitor.
“Lydia,” Ruby said, noticing Terry entering the restaurant, and Alice moving out of earshot, “get my car keys out of my office, then find Stuart – he may be in the storeroom – and tell him to go home.” Lydia nodded but wore a puzzled expression. “You have to trust me on this one. Terry is an ex, and I don’t want my brother knowing he’s here – he might cause a scene.”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s Stuart’s nature,” she said.
“Please, Lydia, tell him Ruby thinks it’s best he stays at home. I’ll mind the desk until you come back.”
“No need, Maxine’s off her break now.” Sure enough, Maxine approached.
“Lydia, wait, actually, take the rest of the afternoon off too, and take Stuart out.”
“Are you sure? What about reception?”
“Maxine will manage, and I’ll cover if needs be.”
“Okay, well I only had a couple of hours to go. You’re sure?”
“Yes! Now go.” She ushered hastily.
Maxine’s confused expression said it all. “Don’t ask,” Ruby said. “I’ll be in the restaurant for an hour. In fact, come get me out after an hour, tell me there’s an important call, anything. And I’ll help cover afterwards. I promise.”
“I am just a small cog in this large wheel, I’ll do whatever you need me to do.” Maxine shrugged. “Go get him then. Whoever the hell he is?”
“Right.” Ruby took a deep breath, and headed towards the restaurant and the torturous hour of time ahead of her. If they weren’t dining in her restaurant, she’d hope Terry choked on a bone.
Seated at one of the tables in the conservatory, Terrance looked up from the menu as Ruby paced towards him and grinned, too smugly for Ruby’s liking. Did he know Steve was here?
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