‘Shall we?’ he asked.
‘That would be lovely,’ she said giving him a smile.
They walked hand in hand across the manicured lawn, past the long rose bed towards the steps where jasmine grew entwined with passionflower up over the granite wall. The delicate scent filled the air and he wondered if he could ever feel this happy again.
Daisy breathed in deeply. ‘For some reason this place reminds me of that hostel in Hội An that we stayed in briefly,’ she said. ‘I think it’s the pungent smell of these flowers.’
‘I had that feeling too,’ he admitted. The scents might be different, but being with Daisy again, on a warm evening and in love took him back to those precious times where nothing else mattered.
He waited for her to go ahead of him down the steps and onto the soft sand. They kicked off their shoes and Gabriel placed them down on the sand. As they walked each stared out at the almost glasslike sea.
‘Poor Lydia.’ Daisy sighed. The sound was so heartfelt, so filled with emotion.
‘What’s the matter?’ It was extraordinary to see someone care so much for his grandmother: usually it was only he who noticed how special she was.
‘Don’t you wonder about Lydia and Lorenzo wasting a lifetime of love by their falling out in the fifties? It’s tragic.’
He thought so too. ‘Who knows what they went through, or why neither of them tried to reconcile years ago. Maybe the hurt was too deep for her ever to forgive him properly.’ He stopped walking and held her from carrying on any further along the beach.
She turned to him, a frown on her pretty face. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘I think that if nothing else you and I need to learn from what Nan and Lorenzo. Nan has had a happy life, but it’s been filled with making others happy. I want us to live our lives. I don’t want to spend a second longer than I have to without you next to me.’
She smiled up at him, making words unnecessary. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled his head down towards her and kissed him.
Gabriel held her tightly, losing himself in the sensation of her mouth on his. He wanted her so badly, but needed to take things slowly. He’d let her down and now he had to work hard to ensure she never had a reason to leave him again.
Something wet and cold brushed passed his leg, but he ignored it until Daisy shrieked and jumped back. He looked down just as a black Labrador decided to shake the sandy sea water from its coat.
‘Bloody hell, Carson, come here,’ shouted an angry voice. Gabriel and Daisy looked at the red-faced man carrying a tennis ball. ‘Sorry about that,’ he called to them. ‘We didn’t mean to disturb you.’
Gabriel bent down and patted the dog. ‘No problem,’ he said wanting to reassure the man.
Daisy slipped her arm around Gabriel’s waist. ‘Lovely dog,’ she said. ‘Wet though.’
The man laughed. ‘We’ll leave you to get on,’ he said, throwing the tennis ball in the opposite direction to distract the dog who immediately bounded off across the beach in hot pursuit.
‘It seems we’re never going to get any privacy,’ Daisy said. ‘There’s always someone around.’
He was relieved to hear a need in her voice that matched his own. ‘Stay with me tonight,’ he said before remembering that he was going to take things slowly. ‘We don’t have to do anything; I just want to sleep with you next to me again. I’ve missed the nights in Vietnam when we shared a bed.’
‘So have I,’ she said, looking up at him, a distinct glint in her blue eyes. ‘Although I hope you don’t have a small bed like those were.’
‘Does that mean you will?’ he asked, barely daring to believe she’d agreed.
‘Yes,’ she said, pinching his waist lightly.
They walked a little further, each in their own thoughts. Gabriel wanted nothing more than to take her immediately back to his tower, lock the door and the rest of the world outside and lie with her in his arms. They had to return to his family first though and see how things were getting on between his mother and grandmother.
‘Won’t Lydia mind me staying overnight?’ she asked, a pink glow coming to her cheeks.
‘No. She never comes into the tower and has always respected my privacy. I’d have to rent my own place if she didn’t.’
Daisy considered what he’d said and seemed to relax a little. ‘We’d better go and see how they’re getting on,’ Daisy said eventually.
They arrived back into the garden, where they could see Lydia and Francesca still talking quietly. ‘They’re looking pretty civil,’ Gabriel joked as he pushed his feet into his shoes. ‘Although they’re all actors, so they could be putting on a good show for our benefit.’
‘Don’t be mean,’ Daisy said, putting on her own shoes as she held onto his arm for support.
‘You never did have very good balance, did you?’ he teased. He tickled her waist and she screamed and writhed away from him. ‘Stop it,’ she said pushing her hand through her dishevelled hair. ‘I’m supposed to be acting like a lady. Your mother’s my boss, don’t forget.’
‘She’s not going to be worried by you having a little fun,’ he said tickling her again. When she’d stopped laughing, he grabbed her and holding her tightly against him, stepped back behind a tall cluster of palm trees and kissed her.
Eventually, she broke the kiss and pushed him gently away. ‘Come on: we need to go back and join them. I hope they didn’t see you pull me into the bushes.’
He laughed. ‘They’re not bushes, and I doubt they saw anything from where they’re sitting; they’re too involved with their own conversation.’
‘Good.’ She straightened her top and tidied up her hair. Then looking up at him, studied him briefly and reached up to smooth down his unruly mop. She took a deep breath. ‘Right, now we can go back and behave like sensible adults.’
‘If you insist,’ he said, raising an eyebrow and making her laugh.
They reached the table and the conversation stopped. Lydia studied them briefly and smiled.
‘Good walk?’ she asked. They nodded. ‘Sit down and we’ll let you know what we’ve been saying.’
‘This sounds serious,’ Gabriel said, concerned. He held out Daisy’s chair for her to sit before taking his own next to her. ‘Is everything OK?’
‘It is, darling,’ his mum said.
Lydia took a sip from her almost empty glass. ‘Stupid pride,’ Lydia said. ‘She turned her attention to Daisy and added, ‘Which is why I was so determined you should give Gabriel a chance to put things right over his marriage to Bella. I couldn’t bear to see two young people making the same mistake Lorenzo and I made. We were headstrong and very foolish and have wasted far too many years by ourselves when we could have enjoyed a life together.’
‘Or not,’ Francesca said.
Gabriel frowned. ‘What do you mean by that, Mum?’
‘Oh come on,’ she said, direct as always. ‘You’re both young: you could get back together and hate each other.’
‘Mum …’ Gabriel wasn’t going to allow her to put his relationship with Daisy down.
‘Are you saying you’ve never been happy?’ Francesca asked leaning forward and resting her chin in her cupped hands.
His grandmother smiled. ‘No. I’ve been very happy with my family and friends. I’ve had a delightful life, but not when it came to love. I’ve been lonely a lot of the time, but it was of my own making.’
‘Mum,’ Francesca said, shocked.
‘Just listen and stop arguing, Mum,’ Gabriel said, resting his hand on his mother’s arm to comfort her.
Their meal finished, Francesca stood up. ‘Right, I think it’s time I left. There’s a lot going on at the moment and,’ she looked from Gabriel to Daisy, ‘I have a lot to mull over. For now though, I’m tired.’
Gabriel nodded. ‘I’ll give you a lift home,’ he said. ‘I’ll leave Daisy here to chat to you, Nan, if that’s OK?’
His grandmother took Daisy’s hand in both of hers. �
�Of course it is. We have much to discuss.’
Gabriel waited for his mother to kiss Lydia goodnight and the two of them walked across the lawn to his car. He held the door open for his mother to get in and looked up to see Daisy and his grandmother watching them in silence. The evening had gone better than he’d expected. He just wished his father was back from his tour to be able to hear his news.
The last thing he needed to do now that everything seemed going so well was to push Daisy away. He’d have to tell her what he’d done, and sooner rather than later.
Chapter Eighteen
Daisy
Daisy was content to stay with Lydia at her home while Gabriel dropped off his mother. No one seemed to think it odd that he’d left her here. I’m being paranoid again, she mused, deciding to make a concerted effort to worry less about what others thought of her. She wasn’t her mother and she’d seen how poisonous it could be to focus too much of negative thoughts. Above all it was a waste of energy.
Lydia stared out across the garden towards the beach before answering her. ‘I think I realised for the first time since running away from Lorenzo with Francesca, how much long-term damage his infidelity had caused me, when I watched you and Gabriel coping with your relationship. I knew it deep down, of course, which is why I’ve been so determined to see you and Gabriel find a way to work through your issues,’ Lydia said.
Daisy swallowed the lump forming in her throat. She couldn’t help thinking of her own mother and her wasted life waiting for Peter who was never free to be with her. ‘So many wasted lives,’ she said quietly. ‘Why do people make choices to spite themselves, do you think?’ she asked aware she’d almost done exactly the same thing.
‘I have no idea,’ Lydia said. ‘Foolish pride, most probably. None of us want to lose face or be humiliated.’
Daisy watched the beautiful lady she’d come to love and wished she could erase the hurt she’d suffered for far too long. ‘Thank you for being so bossy with me and making me at least give Gabriel the chance to put things right.’
‘Bossy?’ Lydia laughed. ‘I supposed I can be, but you’re both well suited. I could tell the instant I saw you together that you felt about each other the same way Lorenzo and I had done when we were young. I couldn’t bear to sit back and watch two people I was fond of make an unnecessary mistake. Gabriel and you didn’t deserve to suffer because of a bad choice he’d made and preconceived ideas where you were concerned.’
‘You’re right,’ Daisy said thoughtfully. ‘I’ve spent too many years watching Mum suffering because of her choices with my dad after he walked out on her that time. I didn’t want to have to go through the same thing.’
‘And that’s completely understandable,’ Lydia said, giving her a hug. ‘But you’re clever enough to listen to advice and act on it.’
They sat in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.
‘Gabriel showed me the pictures he’d taken of your paintings,’ Lydia said eventually. ‘They’re exceptionally good, you know.’
Daisy couldn’t help smiling gratefully. ‘Thank you. I wasn’t sure I should have let him take the pictures,’ she said. ‘But he was so insistent and I do know that I have to step out of my comfort zone if I want to eventually have the confidence to exhibit them somewhere.’
‘You were right to let him take the pictures,’ she said. ‘Others should be allowed to appreciate your work. It would be a dreadful waste for them to be kept languishing in your room at the back of the hotel.’
They heard the low roar of Gabriel’s Triumph Stag. Daisy’s heart contracted.
‘He’s back quickly,’ Lydia said unable to hide her amusement. ‘I suppose he didn’t want to waste any of the time he could spend alone here with you.’
Daisy could feel the heat rising through her cheeks.
Lydia smiled. ‘I shouldn’t tease. I enjoy the fact that two young people who I care so much about seem to be falling in love with each other. It brings out the romantic in me.’
In love? She didn’t doubt for a second that her feelings towards Gabriel were exactly that, but could she dare to believe that he could feel as strongly towards her? She didn’t have time to mull over the idea because seconds later Gabriel called out to them both and joined them back at the table.
Lydia smiled. ‘I think you gave your mother a lot to think about tonight, Gabriel,’ she said.
Gabriel frowned. ‘I can ask to speak to her under some context to check if she’s OK, if you like,’ he suggested.
He looked at Daisy while his grandmother mulled over this suggestion and mouthed a hello to her. Daisy spotted Lydia’s amused expression when she caught him.
‘No, darling,’ Lydia said. ‘I think I should call your mother. I need to have a quick word with her anyway. Why don’t you to enjoy the rest of this beautiful evening and I’ll catch up with you both in the morning?’ Without waiting for them to reply, she stood up, blew them both a kiss and giving Gabriel’s muscular shoulder a gentle squeeze, headed back inside.
Neither of them spoke until Lydia had disappeared, then Gabriel smiled at Daisy and said, ‘Did you get the impression she was trying to be subtle just then?’
Daisy giggled. ‘Just a little.’ She wasn’t sure what to say next. The thought of an entire evening ahead alone with Gabriel caused her stomach to flip over. Stay calm, she told herself.
He looked a little uncertain. ‘What would you rather do?’ he asked leaning towards her slightly over the table, his eyes narrowed. ‘We could go for a walk again. The tide is fairly high but it should be quiet at this time of night.’
‘Sounds lovely,’ she said, picturing their stroll.
‘Or I could show you round the tower?’
She could see he was trying to keep from smiling, but didn’t quite manage to achieve a serious expression.
She pretended to consider her options. ‘The beach,’ she said eventually, standing up. ‘It’s a glorious evening and we should make the most of this hot weather.’
She noticed his expression slip very slightly for a split-second, only for him to smile and stand to take her hand. ‘Great idea,’ he said.
Daisy enjoyed him being disappointed in her choice, but didn’t want to appear too keen. They might have spent glorious nights together when they were in Asia, but they were on his home turf now and she didn’t want his grandmother to discover that she’d gone with him to the tower as soon as she’d turned her back.
She breathed in the warm salty air enjoying the scent of tea roses and jasmine that she’d become to associate with this beautiful place. ‘I love it here so much,’ she said, not meaning to voice her thoughts aloud.
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and looked down at her smiling. ‘I’m so pleased you’re happy here,’ he said. ‘I want you to stay here, with me.’
He led her down the steps onto the beach where the sand was warm and the lowering sun coloured the sky in the brightest oranges and golds Daisy thought she’d ever seen.
‘With you?’ What did he mean? ‘I …’
He looked out across the gently rolling waves. ‘I probably shouldn’t have said anything.’
She was glad he had.
They came to the end of the small beach and turned a slight corner past a large rock. Daisy spotted an opening and without giving herself time to think, pulled him with her into the dark recess. He opened his mouth to speak, but she reached up and putting her free hand around his neck pulled his head down so his lips met hers in a kiss.
Gabriel let go of her hand and pulled her into his arms. Holding her tightly he kissed her with a passion she’d fantasised about since leaving him behind in Asia. Daisy’s heart pounded against his firm chest. He held her so tightly her body was almost crushed against his; she hoped she wouldn’t wake up and discover that these delicious sensations were something from a dream.
Unable to resist, she let one hand travel down his back, over his gorgeously tight bum. Gabriel froze for a second and she th
ought he was holding his breath. Neither spoke. She drew her hand around between them and ran her fingers the length of his erection.
‘I don’t want you to stop,’ he whispered hoarsely. ‘But if I have to walk back to the tower without being reported for indecency, then I think you’ll have to.’
She moved back lightly and looked down to where her hand was resting on him. ‘Sorry,’ she fibbed. ‘I couldn’t help myself.’
He cleared his throat. ‘Don’t apologise. I’d love for you to carry on, but maybe we should do so somewhere a little more private.’
She let her hand drop. ‘I thought this was private, sort of.’
He kissed her cheek and lowered his voice. ‘It is, to a degree.’ He motioned his head so she looked up over her left shoulder. ‘I don’t want to give my Nan’s elderly neighbour too much excitement for one evening.’
Daisy couldn’t see anything apart from the edge of a house. ‘What do you mean?’
He bent his knees so he was her height and pointed a little further to the left. ‘The sun room, can you see it?’
She gasped. Sitting at the window staring out to sea was a wizened old man. ‘You don’t think he saw anything, do you?’ she asked, horrified.
‘Put it this way,’ Gabriel said trying not to laugh. ‘When I spotted him a few moments ago, he wasn’t as interested in the horizon as he now seems to be.’
Mortified, Daisy turned away. ‘I’m so embarrassed.’
Gabriel hugged her tightly to him. ‘Don’t be silly,’ he soothed.
She looked down at the bulge in his trousers. ‘Maybe I should walk slightly in front of you,’ she said unable to help laughing. ‘Come along, I don’t want to give that old guy anything more to think about.’
They made their way towards Lydia’s garden as the sun set down behind the hills towards the west of the island. Just as they reached the steps Gabriel hesitated.
‘What’s the matter?’ Daisy asked noticing his troubled expression.
‘I need to tell you something,’ he said.
Her heart pounded. It had been such an exciting evening so far, she didn’t think she could bear for him to disappoint her by confiding something that would ruin everything between them. ‘Go on then,’ she said.
The Jersey Scene series box set Page 112