Chapter Eight
April
I usually struggle to sleep in a new place but I woke from a deep and revitalizing slumber, stretched my limbs out in the bed, and let out a satisfied sigh. I took a moment to wake up then I remembered last night. I played the conversation I had had with Nate over in my head, and then my blatant lean in for him to kiss me. I pulled the duvet up and over my head and let out a groan. What was I thinking? Why would Nate ever want to kiss me? He must have thought he got a lucky escape when his phone went off. I wanted to kiss him but, more than anything, I wanted him to want to kiss me too. Hell, I wanted him to do a lot more than kiss me. I took in a deep breath then slowly let it out. Okay I was not going to think about that; I was going to get up, get dressed, and head down stairs like any normal person would.
I threw the duvet off and headed into the bathroom, turning on the shower and waiting for it to heat up. I caught my reflection in the mirror and was surprised to see that there was colour in my cheeks which I decided must be due to the wonderful sea air and not my previous thoughts. Stripping out of my pyjamas and stepped into the hot water I let it cascade over my body.
I played the events from last night over in my head again because apparently I was a sucker for punishment. Had I really leaned in to kiss Nate? It was a foolish thought but it didn't stop me from wanting to try it again or kicking myself for not waiting for his call to finish and then trying to kiss him there and then. He was a good man and I was very, very much attracted to him but that didn't stop all the doubt entering my mind. He was smart and thoughtful and funny and it all came down to one thing - I wasn't good enough for him.
Once I was relatively prune like I switched off the water and grabbed the large towel that hung up next to the shower cubical; wrapping it around myself I headed back into the bedroom. Through the window I saw that it would be another crisp day and so settled on jeans, a white long sleeve top and a thick woolly cream jumper. I moved over to the vanity and picked up my mascara, applying a generous amount to my lashes. I took a quick look in the mirror and thinking that it probably wasn't going to get better headed out of my room and down the stairs.
Maggie was sitting at the kitchen table; a cup of tea and a round of toast in front of her, and the paper open up across the rest of the table. She looked up when I walked in. 'Good morning April. Did you sleep well?'
'I did thank you.' I moved over to the kettle, my caffeine addition kicking in.
'Can I get you anything?' Maggie began to rise from her chair.
'No it's okay, I can sort myself out.' She sat back in her chair and I turned to lift a mug from where they were hooked on the wall and add coffee and sugar. Then, adding a splash of milk from the carton on the side, I waited for the kettle to finish boiling.
The back door opened and Milly and Toby padded in followed by a windblown Nate. 'Morning.' He smiled at me then moved to drop a kiss to his mother's cheek. I took the opportunity to take in his appearance; he wore loose fitting navy blue jogging trousers and a dark grey hoodie which slightly hid his slender yet toned frame. I saw him just like a Christmas present that when you took off the wrapping you were gifted the most amazing present you would have ever seen. His cheeks were flushed and his breathing still a little heavy, it was doing very bad things to my body.
'Good morning darling. Good run?' Maggie looked up at her son and smiled.
'Great run.' He turned to me and smiled, 'Are you making coffee?' He moved over to where I was standing and I wondered how he could smell so good after a run, it was like a mix of salt air and something else I couldn't put my finger on but it filled my head and settled in my memory.
'I am. Would you like a cup?' I managed to ask mentally pushing my feelings to one side.
'Please, if it's no bother.' I turned and set about making more coffee and not thinking about my proximity to him. Once I was done I handed one to Nate. He smiled at me again and I couldn't stop from smiling back.
Ella walked in from the hallway dressed still in her pyjamas and her blonde hair all over the place. 'Morning.' She yawned then took a good look at each of us in turn. 'How are you all up and dressed at this time of day? You know we are on holiday right?'
'We're just not as lazy as you are sis.' Nate grinned at her and leaned back against the counter next to me. Ella moved over to him, punched him in the arm, took his mug from him and ambled over to the kitchen table where she sat herself in the chair opposite her mother.
Nate turned to me and gave me the poutiest look I had ever seen; it made my heart speed up as I looked into his blue eyes and I realised that I wanted to give him anything he asked for. I smiled and, without saying a word, placed my mug on the counter next to me, lifted another mug from the wall and set about making another cup of coffee. When I turned to get the milk Nate was standing very close to me and was placing the carton he had already fetched for me down on the counter. I looked up into his smiling face, my brain turning to mush, and I had to turn away quickly before he distracted me so much that the boiling water meant for his cup went all over the counter. I pushed his mug along the counter in front of him.
'Thank you.' His voice was quiet and right next to my ear as he reached across me to pick up his drink, his breath on my ear made a shiver move down my spine; I was so turned on by his proximity and the heat I could feel coming off him I had to take a step back. I turned back towards the kitchen table and hoped to God that Ella and Maggie didn't notice the flush that I knew was now in my face.
'So, what are everyone's plans for today?' Maggie asked the room.
'April and I are heading over to the Hare and Hound later to meet up with some people. There is a guy I want April to meet, he is totally cute.' She grinned at me.
There was a thud behind me and we all turned to see Nate, stood with his hand on the counter, as though he had slammed it down. I turned back to Ella and Maggie who both looked a little confused but it was Maggie who spoke first.
'Are you alright Nate?'
'I'm fine.' He looked up, he had plastered a smile on his face and even though I knew he was a brilliant actor the smile was so obviously fake. 'Just thought I saw a spider.'
Maggie looked at him for a moment then smiled, 'What are your plans for today?' It seemed that Maggie was happy with his answer.
‘I have a few calls to make and some reading to do.’
‘Darling, do you have to work? It’s Christmas.’
‘It isn’t Christmas for another two days, and they can’t wait.’ I stayed silent; I noticed the tone in Nate’s voice. He had seemed in a good mood only a couple of minutes ago but now he stood ridged and tense, and his voice had an uncharacteristic harshness to it. A little part of me hoped it was the thought of Ella trying to set me up but I quickly brushed it away, Nate didn't seem the sort of man who got jealous very often and he certainly wouldn't care if I was being set up. It was probably the thought of having to work while on holiday which would put anyone in a foul mood. I heard him let out a sigh then he picked up his coffee and left. I could hear him walking along the hallway and up the stairs.
'He needs to get laid.'
'Ella!' Maggie raised her voice at her daughter.
‘What? It’s true. He has been so tetchy recently, and the last time I asked if he was seeing anyone he told me where to go and that was two months ago.’ She lifted her mug to her lips and took a long drink.
‘Yes well, your brother works very hard it must be difficult for him to meet people.’
Ella snorted. ‘He meets people all the time; they're just not the right people.’
Maggie looked over at her daughter. 'Well we could say the same about you dear. When was the last time you brought a boy home?' I looked from Maggie to Ella and was impressed with Maggie's sass towards her daughter. I knew Ella had dated a guy only last month but she had only seen him twice before she ended it; she told me he “just wasn't what she was looking for”. I do remember a night out we had just before she met him where Ella got a litt
le too drunk and mentioned something about a guy; all I got out of her was that she had known him for a while, he was really hot, and she didn't have the guts to go for it. When I had tried to mention it the next day she looked totally horror struck and just claimed she didn't want to talk about it.
Ella leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. 'I don't need a man, I am perfectly happy without one.'
'If you say so dear.' Maggie dropped her gaze back to the paper in front of her but I saw the smile on her face. Then she looked up, 'What about that nice boy from the village?'
Ella stared at her mother then dropped her gaze to her mug. Maybe the boy from the village was the guy Ella had drunkenly babbled about? She looked pretty much put in her place so I felt as though I should change the subject. 'So, what time are we going out?'
Ella looked over at me and smiled, her conversation with her mother maybe not forgotten but at least put on hold. 'About half twelve if that's alright?'
'That's fine; it will give me plenty of time to finish my book.' I sent her a cheeky smile.
'Out of curiosity how many books did you bring with you?'
I took a final drink of my coffee and placed the mug on the counter to my side. 'Only six.'
'Only six.' Ella echoed my words. 'That's crazy? I probably wouldn't read that many in a year let alone in a few days.'
I shrugged. 'I read fast and besides it helps me relax, you know that and you did say I had to try and relax and forget about work and stuff.'
'I did say that.' She stood and picked up her mug and moved over to place it in the sink, 'Just make sure you make some time for something real as well as fictional while you are here.'
I thought about 'really' kissing Nate, and very 'really' running my hands over his broad chest and then maybe 'really' stripping him completely naked. The thought brought a smile to my lips and Ella squinted her eyes as she studied my face. 'I'm sure I can find the time to fit something in.' I gave her a big grin and she just shook her head at me.
'Right well I best go and jump in the shower, you are all making me feel insufficient with your early rising.' I had to laugh as she sauntered out of the room as it wasn't exactly early.
I turned to make myself another cup of coffee. It was a habit I picked up a few years ago that if I was somewhere with a kettle I would quite literally chain drink mugs of coffee. It was also a sign that I felt comfortable and that brought a smile to my lips, it was only my second day in this house with this family and I was really looking forward to the next few days. Once my coffee was made I turned and wandered out of the kitchen leaving Maggie to read in peace and went to fetch my book, there was a very comfy armchair with my name all over it.
Chapter Nine
Ella and I had wrapped up warm for the fifteen minute walk into the village. It was bright and clear but bitterly cold and the clouds that loomed over the hills looked suspiciously like snow clouds. I hadn't seen a white Christmas in a few years and the thought exited me. Even at twenty eight I loved the thought of a white Christmas, crisp white snow covering everything, building snowmen and sledging, it all still excited me.
The village was quaint and picturesque in a way that made me want to buy a cottage and get a dog, and settle down in a simpler life. It had everything you could need, a small supermarket (if you could call it that), a cafe for a caffeine fix, a hairdresser which doubled up as a spa, and of course the most important, the pub.
We reached the Hare and Hound and I followed Ella through the heavy wooden door. We were greeted by a roaring fire and cheers from somewhere in the corner, I looked towards the noise and saw a table of five people, three men and two women, wave over. Ella waved back then nudged me toward the bar. I looked around and smiled to myself. I loved a country pub, they always felt so snug. Intimate and inviting, usually decorated in rich warm colours as this one was, and they always had a particular smell, like real ale and chips. Once Ella and I had been served by the very busty but friendly barmaid we wandered over to the table the cheers had come from and pulled up two seats from a nearby table to join the group.
Ella introduced everyone. There was James and Victoria who had been married for just over a year, and were expecting their first child. Where James was fair Victoria had an exotic look about her and I could tell their baby would be adorable. Then there was Sally who had been at school with Ella and who was, also, incredibly beautiful - I was starting to feel a little like the ugly duckling. The other two men were Daniel and Roddy who were locals but as the community was so small had become good friends. Roddy was built like a rugby player and looked like he could throw you across a room but the smile he sent Ella and I said that he wasn't rough or cruel but kind and caring. I was sitting with Ella on one side and Daniel on the other. He was handsome; with short dark hair, dark eyes and a friendly smile, but I couldn't stop myself from comparing him to Nate. It was a habit I had developed over the past year or so, whenever I met a guy I thought I could be interested in I would compare his appearance, and then his temperament, with Nate Hamilton. Now I knew the real Nate it made my comparison much more severe; Nate was taller, but with Daniel sitting I couldn't tell by how much; Nate was slender and well defined, but Daniel looked like he hit the gym on a regular basis and had the shoulder muscles to prove it. Daniel was someone I would consider dating, if I was being honest with myself, but the thought of spending as much time with Nate as I could was more appealing than thinking about someone I could potentially date. Interested or not, I was on holiday and it would be rude not to be at least friendly towards him.
'So Daniel,' I turned a little towards him and received an eager smile. 'Can I ask what you do?'
'You can. I'm a lawyer.' He lifted his pint and took a drink then placed it back on the beer mat in front of him.
'Really?' As soon as my shock came out of me I wanted to pull it back in; it was such a rude way to respond to him telling me what he does for a living and I could feel my cheeks heat slightly.
He chuckled and leaned back in his chair a little. 'You sound surprised.'
I sent him an apologetic look. 'Sorry, It's just you don't really look like a lawyer.'
'And what exactly do I look like?' He had leaned forward again and smiled at me.
'I'm not sure, a rugby player?' He laughed and I couldn't help but laugh too, 'Sorry.'
'No, no, don't apologise, I do actually play rugby. Not professionally, just for the local club but I get what you're saying I'm not your typical forty-something balding portly lawyer.'
'So, where do you practice? Do you work in London?' I took a sip of my gin and tonic which was refreshing in the warm pub.
He shook his head. 'No, actually I took over my dad's firm last year here in the village. I do occasionally pop up to London for work.' He looked down at the table and lowered his voice slightly, 'We should go for a drink sometime when I'm there.'
He looked back up at me and smiled. He seemed a little shy asking and I could see the anticipation in his eyes, waiting for my answer. What was I doing? Daniel was the sort of man I should be dating. He was cute, had a great job, and he seemed really nice. Maybe I should agree to go for a date; I knew nothing was really going to happen with Nate. Last night I had thought he was about to kiss me and maybe he would have if his phone hadn't rang but who was I kidding, I was so far out of Nate's league I was in a whole other solar system. Daniel was the sort of man I should say yes to, so why was I holding back? 'I'm not sure.'
'How about I let you know the next time I'm in town and you can say yes then?' His smile changed to a cheeky grin and I couldn't help let out a small laugh.
'Alright, that sounds okay.' His cheeky smile was replaced with a genuinely happy smile and I thought that maybe going for a drink with him wouldn't be such a bad idea. 'So, besides the lawyering and the rugby, what else are you into?'
'I rock climb in the summer and I try and take a trip to Switzerland every year. The range of climbing is huge because of the different types of rock they have. And
the country is stunning.'
'I have never been but I have always wanted to go.'
'You should. It really is a beautiful country and the food is great - especially the cheeses and chocolate, although not together.' I couldn't help smile at his enthusiasm over something he clearly loved.
Ella leaned over towards me then. 'April, Roddy just told me a cute story about the kids in his class.'
I turned my attention towards Ella and Roddy who I noticed were sitting a little closer together than they had been. I shifted my gaze to Roddy, 'You're a teacher?'
'Yeah, I teach year 3 at the local primary school.' He smiled at me and I thought he looked like he would be a really nice teacher. I would have guessed that he was a little older than me, in his early thirties, but he had a boyish smile and with his blonde hair slightly on the long side it made him look a little younger. He had bright blue eyes and if this was the guy that Ella had mentioned in her drunken state then I couldn't blame her for being attracted to him.
'So what's the story?'
'Well, we had our annual Nativity last week which we have in the church as a bit of a service for the kids and their parents, anyway halfway through Away in a Manger the kids playing Mary and the Angel Gabriel started fighting over who should hold baby Jesus. In the end the little lad playing Joseph grabs the doll from the both of them and holds it up and shouts, 'It's not Jesus any more it's Brian'. I thought I was going to get it in the neck from the Head but luckily she saw the funny side.'
I laughed at Roddy's story. 'I would have been mortified if that was my kid.'
'His mum was a little embarrassed but at least she will remember it and can bring it up when he's older.'
The conversation continued to flow easily the rest of the afternoon. We ordered food, and more drinks, and I found out that James and Victoria just couldn't settle on a baby name and their little boy was either going to be called Samuel after James's dad or Jeremy after Victoria's, I was certain they would come to a compromise as Samuel Jeremy Mason sounded like a good strong name to me.
An Unexpected Christmas Page 6