‘Thanks. But Jules and I have things to discuss. Private things. I’m sure you understand.’
‘Not really. But fine. You know where we are.’
‘I hear Maggie is off on a cruise. That was a surprise.’ Ali watched clouds flit across Simon’s eyes.
‘It was to me, too. I’m really pleased though. It’s about time she got on with her own life.’
‘Yes. Well, you’ve clearly been getting on with yours.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘You figure it out, Simon. You’re the intelligent one, not me. Lovely to see you. But now I need a drink.’
She turned her back on him and leant her elbows on the bar. Shivers ran up her spine and her heart matched the pace of her breathing. Was this anger? Was it adrenaline? Or was it because she was sure another barrier had formed between her and one of her best friends?
Chapter Eleven
Ali didn’t want to wait for Bruce to arrive. Sitting in The Golden Dragon, a mere few metres from Simon, was making her feel sick. She wanted to have it out with him. To ask why he had lied. About the house, the inheritance. Everything. But what was the point? He could easily lie again.
She finished her drink and smiled at Jules. ‘If it’s OK with you, I think I should go on ahead, and pack a few things. Bruce should be here soon, shouldn’t he? And you could always sit with Simon and John. I’m sure you’d be more welcome than me. It’ll give me time to tell whichever one of my parents is home tonight, and write a note for the other. No point in telling either of them to pass the message on as they won’t speak to each other.’
‘Whatever works for you, babe. I can come with you if you want and tell Bruce to meet us there.’
‘Thanks. But I think I should be alone when I tell either Mum or Dad. Shall I give you a call when I’m ready?’
‘Yep. Sounds like a plan.’
Ali gave Jules a hug and, without looking in Simon’s direction, left the pub as quickly as her, still slightly painful feet, would allow. Blisters took longer to heal than she remembered. She wouldn’t be dancing in those sandals ever again.
She hadn’t been walking for more than a few minutes when the pounding of leather soles on the paving slabs behind her, grew closer.
‘Ali, wait.’
Damn. The last thing she needed now was a row in the street with Simon.
‘I’m in a hurry, Simon.’
‘Yeah. So Jules tells me. You’re really moving out? Why didn’t you call me? You could’ve stayed with me.’
He had caught up with her and fallen into step, but she stopped on hearing those words.
‘What? In the flat you paid to be converted, in the house you bought from your mum?’
‘Why are you looking at me like that? Anyone would think you hated me.’
‘I don’t hate you, Simon. But I am disappointed in you. I thought we were friends. I thought we were close.’
He screwed up his face in confusion. ‘Why? We are friends. We are close. What’s going on? Have I missed something?’
‘You don’t get it, do you? You lied to me, Simon.’
‘When? I … I haven’t lied. Not as far as I’m aware. Just tell me what this is about.’
‘It’s about you buying the house from your mum, and not telling me. About the idea of converting it into flats, being yours, not Maggie’s. About you having investments, large enough to pay for all that, and not once mentioning them to me. That’s what it’s about.’
He blinked several times, as if he didn’t understand. ‘That’s it? That’s why you’ve given me the cold shoulder? Sorry. But didn’t you get promoted without bothering to tell me? Haven’t you completely changed the way you look without mentioning that you intended to do so? I wasn’t lying to you. I simply didn’t tell you.’
‘That’s as good as lying. And, yeah, I should’ve told you about the promotion. Under normal circumstances, you would’ve been the first person I called. But that stupid proposal, made me feel … I don’t know. Weird. I knew you must be joking. But I wasn’t completely sure, and it made me hesitate, I suppose. I was going to call you when I got home, but Jules called and said you were going to the pub, so I thought I’d tell you there. Except you didn’t turn up. As for the hair. Jules must have told you she only asked me on Sunday in the pub. The colour was an accident. A mistake. It should’ve been Strawberry Blonde but it went wrong. But we’re talking about hours here, Simon. A day at most. Not keeping something secret for months. Even several years. You’ve known about your investments all of your life. You knew you were buying the house long before you bought it. Knew about the conversion. But not a word. Not one word. I even asked you if you were sure it was a good idea, because I thought it was Maggie’s. You could’ve told me then that you were buying it from her. That you were the one paying for the conversion.’
Simon shrugged. ‘You’re right. When you put it like that, I agree. I should’ve told you. To be honest, I don’t know why I didn’t. Except that, I thought Mum might feel a bit embarrassed if people in the village found out that her son was buying her house from her. You know how word gets around in a place like this. Mum coming into lots of spare cash might ruffle a few feathers. Now that I’m saying it out loud, I can hear how ridiculous that sounds. But you need to see it from my perspective. Mum’s spent her life taking care of me. I wanted to take care of her and I didn’t want every Tom, Dick and Harry knowing about it.’
‘So I’m just a Tom, Dick or Harry, am I? I wouldn’t have told a soul. You should know that.’
He nodded, a deflated look in his eyes. ‘Yeah. I suppose I should. What can I say? I’m sorry, Ali. Sorry about everything. About the secrets. About what you see as lies. But mostly, I’m sorry about that bloody, stupid proposal. I don’t know why I did that. The only excuse I have is that I was tired and I was drunk. If I could take it back, I would. I do. You’re one of my best friends, Ali and I love you. I don’t want to lose our friendship over a few stupid words and a few ridiculous secrets. Has any real harm been done? Can’t we get past this and still be friends?’
How could she resist that plea? How could she resist him? She wanted to throw her arms around him and cry on his shoulder. But she wouldn’t do that.
She shrugged. ‘I suppose we can.’
Simon let out a long, deep sigh. ‘That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day. D’you mind if I walk with you?’
‘Isn’t John waiting for you in the pub?’
He smiled. ‘Yeah. But I won’t be long and besides, he’s got Jules for company. After she told us you were moving in with her, and I got up to come after you, she was telling him why she coloured your hair. To match the bridesmaids’ dresses, apparently. She’ll no doubt be describing them in all their glory.’
A cool wind blew in from the west as he spoke, and with it came a sheet of drizzle. Great. Rain, just when things were beginning to look up.
Then she saw it. Hovering between the slowly setting sun and a cloud of rain – a rainbow. Just a small one, but definitely a rainbow.
She smiled and linked her arm through Simon’s. ‘I’m sure he’ll love that. I don’t suppose there’s any chance of a piggy back, is there? My feet still hurt from Saturday night, and I continue to blame you for that, you know.’
He raised his brows and beamed at her. ‘Jump on. But don’t even think about telling me to giddy up because you’re not the only one still aching from Saturday night. Oh, and if you get tired of Jules and her wedding planning, Mum goes off on her cruise on Friday morning, so her flat will be free for six weeks, if you need it. I know she wouldn’t mind one bit.’
‘Six weeks?’ Ali hoisted herself up and Simon caught her legs as she wrapped them around his sides. ‘I didn’t realise she would be away for so long. She really is pushing the boat out, isn’t she? Excuse the pun.’
‘There were several places she wanted to see and she couldn’t make up her mind. Neither could my aunt, so I suggested they go on one that took in as many of t
he places as possible.’
‘In for a penny, in for a pound.’
‘Exactly. And speaking of pounds...’ He threw her a grin over his shoulder. ‘As I said, you’re welcome to her flat, but as the owner, I may have to consider charging you rent.’
‘Oh yeah? Maggie would give you a clip around the ear if you did. And so would I, you twerp. In fact. Now that I know you’re rich, perhaps you should call a cab to take me home. It’s a much more glamorous mode of transport than a piggy back.’
‘It may be more glamorous, but it’s not as much fun. And this is more exclusive. I don’t let just anyone climb all over me, you know. Only someone very special is allowed to do that.’
Chapter Twelve
Ali was very glad it was Friday. She had only been living with Jules since Tuesday night and was already considering moving back home. She wasn’t sure which was worse: living with her parents and their constant arguing, or with Jules, who was increasingly turning into a first- rate Bridezilla. If this was what arranging a marriage did to a person, Ali was surprised anyone ever made it as far as the aisle.
She could easily return home. Her parents had both been out on Tuesday evening, so she had scribbled each of them a note and left them, in separately addressed envelopes, beside the wooden bowl on the hall table. The notes said the same.
‘I’m moving out for a while. I love you both, but I can’t stand the way things are. I wish you could remember how much you loved one another, and treat each other with respect. I want you to be happy and I understand that may mean a divorce. Can’t it at least be amicable? I’m staying with Jules. I don’t know for how long. Love, Ali.’
Since ten o’clock that night, both her mum and her dad had bombarded her phone with texts and voice messages. Some were apologetic; some simply asked her to return home. She ignored them all, until finally, this morning, she received one text from each which said the same.
‘We’re going to sort this out as amicably as we can.’
There was no mention of the fact that her dad, who was supposed to have been moving out on Thursday, had done so, or that Alejandro had moved in. No request from her mum to remember that she was having a dinner party that very night at which Ali was expected to be present. Just that one sentence from them both. And that of course, could mean anything.
But there was some sunshine on the horizon. Things were almost back to normal as far as she and Simon were concerned. She hadn’t seen him since Tuesday night because today was the last day of term at the Shimmering-on-Sea, River School, which meant they both had rather a lot to do in this final week. Simon would then be able to wind down for the school holidays; whilst Ali was gearing up for the same. But they had texted and phoned each other at least once a day. In addition to that, Bruce was taking Jules away for the weekend, so Ali would have the flat to herself. She would have to work on Saturday but she would have two days of peace, without a hint of some new drama on the wedding front.
But best of all, Aidan Rourke had just walked in to Ali’s office.
‘Good morning, Ali. Oh wow! What have you done to your hair?’
Instinctively, Ali’s hand shot to her head.
‘Sorry,’ he continued, ‘that didn’t come out right. What I meant was you’ve changed the colour of your hair. It looks fabulous.’
Her cheeks were now the same colour, she was sure of that. ‘Thank you. Have you come to check up on us? Oh. That didn’t come out right either.’ She laughed as she got up from her chair. ‘How are you? It’s lovely to see you again. Have you come to have a proper look around?’
He smiled, and somehow the world looked much brighter.
‘In a manner of speaking, yes. It’s lovely to see you, too. I’m going to ask two things.’ He moved closer to her. ‘Make that three. Number one. It’s such a glorious day. I’d like to take a kayak out. Will you come with me?’
‘Oh. Yes. Absolutely.’
‘Excellent. Number two. I came down here on Dad’s yacht and I’m planning to stay for the weekend. To get an even better feel for the place. I don’t know anyone, apart from you. Will you have dinner with me tonight?’
‘Dinner? With you? Tonight?’
He grinned. ‘Yes. Unless you have other plans.’
The only plans she had were to go and see a speech therapist as soon as possible. Why did she sound like a gibbering idiot every time she spoke to him?
‘No. No other plans. I’d love to have dinner with you. Thank you.’
‘Great. What’s your address?’
‘My address? Oh yes. Um. My parents are going through a separation so I’m staying with my friend at the moment.’ As if he needed to know that. She really must pull herself together. ‘It’s the flat above Shimmering Scissors Hair and Beauty.’ She grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and scribbled down the exact address. ‘Here. The village isn’t particularly large, but it is a bit of a rabbit warren. Unless you know where you’re going, it’s easy to get lost.’
He took the paper from her and his firm hand brushed against hers. A river of emotion flooded her body.
‘Thanks. Shall we say seven?’
Ali nodded. ‘Seven? Yes. Seven’s great.’
He leant forward as if he was going to kiss her. Instead he whispered: ‘I’m really looking forward to it.’
Her ear tingled as his warm breath seeped into it, but a second later, he was walking towards the door.
‘Aidan?’ She called after him, as soon as she found her voice.
He stopped, turned and his grin spoke volumes. ‘Yes, Ali.’
‘You said three. You were going to ask me three things.’
‘So I did.’ He turned away and continued towards the door where he stopped and leant against the frame, crossing his arms and tilting his head to one side. ‘It’s more of a rhetorical question really. Number three. How do you manage to look so breathtakingly beautiful and so incredibly hot and sexy in a tracksuit, and with your hair tied back?’
Ali’s heart pounded in her chest as she met the flash of desire in his eyes.
‘Don’t answer that now. You can tell me tonight.’ He pushed himself away from the door. ‘In the meantime, I’ll go and get changed out of this suit and into something more appropriate for messing around on a river. I’ll meet you downstairs in twenty minutes.’
He was gone. Which was just as well because she couldn’t speak if she wanted to.
Shaking, with more than a little desire of her own coursing through her, Ali picked up her phone from her desk and pressed the number for Shimmering Scissors Hair and Beauty. When Jules was working, it was easier to call her via the salon’s landline.
‘Shimmering Scissors Hair and Beauty,’ Daisy trilled. ‘How may we make you more beautiful, today?’
Regaining her equilibrium, Ali smiled. She was tempted to say: ‘By not mixing up the bottles of hair colour for Jules’, but even Jules had admitted that she should have checked the bottles Daisy had put aside for her. Instead, Ali said: ‘Hi, Daisy. May I speak to Jules please?’
‘Ali? Oh God! I’m so sorry about the mix-up. I got a right bollocking. I deserved it, of course and I’m really, really sorry.’
‘No real harm done. Don’t worry about it, Daisy. I’m getting to like it more each day. And I’m sure it won’t happen again.’
‘You can bet on that. I’m lucky I’ve still got a job. I won’t make the same mistake twice. Hold on. I’ll get Jules.’
‘Hi babe. What’s up?’ Jules said, a few seconds later.
‘If I work through lunch so that I can get away early, is there any chance of a quick wash and blow dry? Aidan has asked me to dinner tonight and I really need to look my best.’
‘The demi-god? Tonight?’ Jules was beginning to sound like Ali. ‘Definitely. We’re not leaving until six-thirty and as you know I’m already packed. Can you get here by five?’
‘Absolutely. Thanks Jules. But no colour, right? And check that it’s shampoo, not bleach, OK?’ Ali laughed into the ph
one.
Jules giggled. ‘Got it. No colour. No bleach. Just shampoo and conditioner. I’ll check everything twice. See you later, babe.’
‘See ya.’ Ali ended the call. Now all she had to do was decide what to wear. And find a pair of sandals she could actually walk in.
She collapsed onto her chair and put her feet up on the perpetually open, drawer, leaning her head back and smiling at the large clock on the wall opposite. Eleven o’clock. Only eight hours to go before Aidan picked her up. Then it was anyone’s guess what might happen. If the tingles of electricity racing around her body were any indication, she had a pretty good idea. Sexy underwear would definitely be called for, and so would her little black dress. If he thought she looked sexy in a tracksuit, wait until he saw her in that.
She leapt out of her chair, catching her foot in the drawer in her haste and almost falling over. Aidan was waiting for her downstairs. How could she have possibly forgotten that?
Chapter Thirteen
Aidan was feeling rather pleased with himself. Ali was already putty in his hands and he hadn’t even begun to turn on the charm. He was a little surprised she was keeping him waiting. He told her twenty minutes and it was already twenty-five. She was probably titivating in front of the mirror in the staff toilet. He had seen the effect his words had on her.
‘Sorry. Got held up on the phone.’
Clearly out of breath, she came to a halt, thankfully, before she careered into him. He caught her by the arm. ‘Careful. This floor is slippery. I think someone’s spilt some water on it.’
She glanced from his hand on her arm to the floor, before meeting his eyes; a curious look in hers. ‘Er. That’s water from the river. Even the kayaks have a little bit of water in them. It runs down from the paddles.’
She pointed to large white sign on the wall beside him, where bold red letters announced: ‘Caution. This is a water sports centre. There will be areas of wet on this floor, despite our best intentions with a mop and bucket. Take care. Broken bones will hamper activities.’ Beneath that, there was an illustration of both a man and a woman slipping on separate pools of water.
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