‘Christ, that was incredible,’ he said when his breathing had slowed.
Maria didn’t speak – she couldn’t. Pressing her face into his shoulder, she clung on tight, struggling against a sudden urge to cry.
That had been wild and raw, yet intimate and tender, too. She had never experienced anything like it before – and doubted whether she ever would again.
If this was love, she was about to enter a whole new world.
14
‘You did what ?’ Beth squawked, sitting bolt upright and switching the phone to her other ear. ‘The one from the club with the snotty-bitch girlfriend?’
‘Believe me, she is not his girlfriend,’ Maria informed her primly. Lying back in her own bed, she stroked the pillow where Joel’s head had been just a short while ago. ‘Like he said the other night – he was only taking her out as a favour to a friend. He hasn’t seen her since, and he won’t be seeing her again. Or any other woman,’ she added, laughing softly.
‘Good luck with that,’ Beth said sceptically. ‘I’m not being funny, Maria, but he’s probably got women throwing themselves at him left, right and centre. And men as good-looking as him don’t tend to say no when it’s being handed out on a plate.’
‘Joel’s different,’ Maria said confidently. ‘But it’ll be easy enough to keep an eye on him while he’s staying here, won’t it?’ she added with a sly chuckle.
‘Do what ?’ Beth yelped. ‘Christ, Maria, what the bloody hell’s going on up there? I only left a few hours ago. Did you call him from the station while you were waving me off, or what?’
‘No, I didn’t,’ Maria protested, dismayed that she was being so funny about it. ‘I called him when I got home and asked him round for dinner. What’s wrong with that?’
‘Nothing – if that’s all it was. Come on, Maria. It’s one thing having an old friend over for dinner and things going a bit too far. But moving him in . . . ? That’s just crazy. You haven’t seen him for years. And people change. You don’t know the first thing about this man.’
‘He’s not moving in,’ Maria corrected her irritably. ‘He’s just staying for a week or two until he finds a new flat, that’s all. It’s not his fault that his landlord gave him twenty-four hours’ notice.’
‘Nice and convenient, though, you’ve got to admit,’ Beth countered scathingly. ‘You just happen to call at the exact time he’s heading out the door with his bags. You, with your big empty old house.’
‘Actually, that’s exactly what happened,’ Maria said, miffed that Beth was trying to turn this into something it wasn’t when she didn’t even know Joel.
It was quite beside the point that Maria didn’t really know him either. Beth didn’t know that – and she could never find out if this was the way she was going to react.
‘It was me who called him,’ Maria reminded her. ‘And he didn’t even know about the house, so it’s not like he thought, Oh, I know, I’m being made homeless, I’ll move in with Maria. He didn’t even tell me he was getting evicted till I asked what he was doing today, and he said he was going flat-hunting. When I invited him round last night, he just saw it as a chance to relax for a few hours before he had to start walking the streets.’
‘Then he tripped over your bed and lost his way home?’
‘What can I say?’ Maria gave a little self-conscious laugh. ‘He’s drop-dead gorgeous – I couldn’t help myself. To think I actually thought you’d be pleased for me,’ she added with a sigh. ‘Stupid, huh?’
‘I can’t help being protective,’ Beth said quietly, feeling a bit guilty for taking the shine off Maria’s obvious joy. ‘You’re my best mate. I don’t want to see you hurt.’
‘Yeah, well, I won’t be, so there’s no need to worry.’ Maria softened her tone. ‘Joel’s really different from everyone I’ve ever been out with. And I know there’s not been that many to compare him with but that just makes it better, because it feels really sort of pure.’
At her end, Beth pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it incredulously. Maria had definitely lost the plot! Joel was certainly a looker, but he was a player. There was no way the blonde they’d seen him with that night hadn’t been his girlfriend. Any fool could see they were a couple by the way she was having a go at him in the taxi. She must have got wise to him and dumped him.
Of course! That must be it!
He’d been living with the bitchy blonde, and she’d kicked him out – probably because he kept giving his number to other girls. Then, just in the nick of time, Maria calls to invite him round and Bingo! New girl – new place to stay.
‘Are you still there?’ Maria asked after several moments of silence.
‘Yeah, I’m here,’ Beth said, wondering how best to voice her suspicions. ‘Look, you know this girlfriend of his—’
‘He hasn’t got one.’
‘So he says.’
‘And I believe him,’ Maria replied tersely. ‘Look, I invited him to dinner, we got drunk and ended up in bed – end of. Nothing suspicious. Nothing pre-planned. You just don’t like him for some reason.’
‘That’s not true,’ Beth protested. ‘I don’t even know him.’
‘Exactly. So you’ve got no right to judge him.’
Beth sighed heavily. Maria was digging her heels in, and pushing the issue would make her do something rash – like marry the idiot, or something equally ridiculous.
Well, okay, maybe she wouldn’t go quite that far. But Beth knew her well enough to know when to back off.
‘Right, fine,’ she said softly. ‘I won’t say another word about it.’
‘Good.’
There was an awkward silence that lasted several long, long seconds. Then Maria said, ‘Right, well, I’d best go. Want me to give you a ring later?’
‘Yeah, do,’ Beth replied with a soft chuckle. ‘And I promise I’ll have my nice head back on.’
Grateful that she was trying to lift the tension, Maria said, ‘Thanks. And sorry I got so snotty. I just wanted to talk to you, ’cos I miss you like mad.’
‘Me too,’ Beth said. ‘But I’ll be back before you know it for that holiday, so don’t go doing anything stupid without speaking to me about it first – okay?’
‘Like what?’
Oh, I don’t know . . .’ Beth drawled. ‘Tattoos, piercings – wedding rings.’
‘As if!’ Maria laughed. ‘Right, I’m definitely going now. Joel should be back any minute, and we’ve got loads to do. I’m buying all the kitchen stuff today.’
‘It’s Sunday,’ Beth reminded her. ‘The shops will be shut.’
‘I’m not in Tinny now,’ Maria chuckled, happy again. ‘Manchester never shuts. Joel’s taking me to an electrical goods warehouse he knows about. He reckons we’ll get loads of discount if we get everything in one go.’
‘And are we paying for it?’ Beth asked slyly.
If Maria’s new man was only supposed to be staying for a week or two, shouldn’t he be out looking for a place of his own instead of shopping for domestic appliances that he wouldn’t even be using? He seemed to be shoving his attractive feet pretty far under the table.
‘Don’t be daft!’ Maria gave an embarrassed little laugh. ‘I wouldn’t dream of asking him for money. It’s my house, so it’s my responsibility.’
‘So what’s the rush?’ Beth asked reasonably. ‘You don’t even know if you’re staying yet. Why not wait until you’ve made up your mind? Then at least you won’t have wasted money on stuff you don’t need.’
‘Actually, I, er, will be staying,’ Maria told her, quickly adding, ‘Well, you said I should. You said the house was gorgeous, and there was nothing so great about Tinny.’
‘Yes, I know,’ Beth conceded. ‘And I meant it. Just as long as it’s what you want.’ And not something you’ve been manipulated into. ‘Just do me a favour,’ she said then, ‘and don’t go overboard with the spending, or you’ll find you’ve got nothing left and you won’t have a clue where it’s gone. M
aybe you should give Nigel a ring? Tell him what you’re planning, and get some advice.’
‘No need,’ Maria said breezily. ‘I’ve talked it over with Joel and he’s helping me. Actually, just having him here is helping. I was a bit freaked out after you left, but I felt a lot better when he came round. And I know he’ll be gone soon, but I think I’ll be fine by then.’
‘Oh, babe, I’m sorry,’ Beth said guiltily. ‘I didn’t even think about how you’d feel on your own. I should have stayed a bit longer.’
‘I’m all right,’ Maria assured her. ‘And I didn’t say it to make you feel bad, so don’t. Anyway, I’m going before we upset each other. I’ll call you later and let you know what’s happening.’
‘Okay, but leave it till after three,’ Beth said. ‘I’m going to see my nan in a bit, then my dad’s giving me a lift to pick your stuff up. He says you can store it in the garage till you’re ready to pick it up, but I wouldn’t leave it too long if I was you, or it’ll get damp. I’ll keep your clothes in my room so they don’t get wrecked.’
Thanking her, Maria said, ‘There’s not much I’m taking, actually. But don’t forget to take my birthday mobile down off the curtain rail. I didn’t pack it ’cos I liked looking at it, but I’ll never forgive myself if it gets left behind.’
Assuring her that she wouldn’t forget, Beth said goodbye. Lying back against the pillows then, she mulled the conversation over, frowning thoughtfully.
It had been quite a shock to hear about Joel. Talk about a fast worker! If he really had been on the verge of eviction, he must have thought it was Christmas come early when poor lonely Maria invited him to stay in her big old mansion.
Beth didn’t quite believe the story about the landlord, though. She was sure it was illegal to evict people at such short notice; and a whole blockful . . . ? She couldn’t see it, somehow. Anyway, it was way too convenient, and she thought her version about his girlfriend kicking him out was probably much closer to the truth.
But, cynical theories aside, at least Maria had someone to keep her company for a week or two until she had settled into her new home. And if she was happy, then Beth should be, too. And she could be totally wrong about Joel. He might be a perfectly nice man, who had genuinely only gone along for an innocent dinner with an old friend and had ended it realising just how beautiful and lovely she was – no ulterior motives whatsoever.
Highly unlikely, but time would tell.
Maria had just finished getting dressed when she heard the key in the door. She ran down the stairs just as Joel lugged two heavy-looking cases and several plastic bags into the hall.
‘I didn’t hear a car. Don’t tell me you walked with that lot?’
‘No, I got a cab, but I needed to go to the shop, so I got it to drop me round the corner.’ Dropping the bags, Joel kicked the door shut. ‘But, never mind that . . . come here.’
Taking Maria in his arms, he held her to him for a while, then kissed her hair and eased her away.
‘Enough, or you’ll get me started, and we’ll never get anything done.’
‘Want me to help you unpack?’ Maria offered, thrilled by the easy intimacy between them.
‘Best not,’ Joel said, checking his watch. ‘It’s half-nine already, and I’m afraid I haven’t got quite as much time as I’d have liked to help you choose your stuff. I’ve got to be free by two to see the flat.’
‘The flat?’
‘Oh, sorry, yeah. I meant to tell you when I got here, but you distracted me. One of my neighbours knocked when I was getting my stuff, to tell me there’s a vacant flat in the place she’s moving to. Long story short, she knows the letting agent, so she rang him and put in a word for me, and he’s asked me to go and see it at two. If it’s okay, I thought I might as well move straight in. Is it all right if I leave the bags here till I’ve seen it, though?’
‘Yeah, sure,’ Maria said disappointedly.
She’d thought they would have a bit of time together before he moved on. Now it felt like the prize had been snatched from her grasp. And not only that, she was actually a bit miffed about this neighbour of his setting him up for a flat near her own.
‘That’s very nice of your neighbour,’ she said, trying not to let the twinge of jealousy show in her voice. She’d bet this woman friend hadn’t gone to those lengths for any of the other neighbours. ‘You must know her quite well if she’s prepared to put herself out for you like that?’
‘Oh, yeah, she’s a lovely girl.’ Smiling, Joel lit two cigarettes and handed one to Maria. ‘And her new flat’s right next door to the vacant one, apparently, which is cool, because it’s nice to have someone you know nearby, so you can pop in for a chat, or a drink.’
‘Where is it?’ Maria asked, trying to sound interested rather than irritated.
‘Salford,’ Joel said, shrugging. ‘Wouldn’t be my first choice, but it’s better than nothing. Anyway, are you ready to get started?’
‘Suppose so,’ Maria said, taking her jacket down from the peg with a sigh.
Walking around White Warehouse a short while later, Maria couldn’t summon the enthusiasm to do more than glance at the huge array of fridge-freezers, cookers and washing machines. Everything was as cheap as Joel had promised, and ordinarily she’d have been jumping for joy, but she had more pressing things on her mind just now.
Like, how much she’d enjoyed waking up next to Joel this morning – and how much she would miss him tomorrow.
God, if she didn’t know better, she’d swear she was falling in love – and that frightened her as much as it thrilled her. If Joel could see what was going on in her head right now, he’d think she was some kind of psychotic stalker and run a mile. One night, and she’s already declaring undying love and affection. Help!
‘Seen anything you fancy?’ Joel asked, glancing pointedly at his watch. ‘Apart from me, obviously,’ he added with a grin.
Smiling sadly. Maria shook her head. ‘Not really. Have you?’
‘Yeah, there’s a brilliant fridge over there – one of those big American jobs: brushed steel, double doors, ice-maker. I’d get it for the flat, but I doubt I’ll be able to fit anything bigger than a worktop cooler in there. Still, I’ll only be using it as a base until I find somewhere better, so I’ll bide my time on buying stuff. But it would look great in your kitchen. Come and have a look – see what you think.’
Reaching out as Joel began to walk away, Maria touched his arm. She didn’t want to frighten him off, but she just wasn’t ready to lose him quite so soon. Especially not to let him go and move in next door to a woman who probably had the hots for him. He didn’t know Maria as well as he obviously knew Little Miss Helpful, and she didn’t want to risk them getting even closer until she had established her own foothold in his emotions.
‘About that flat,’ she said nervously. ‘I’ve been thinking, and . . . well, if you really don’t want to move to Salford, you could always stay with me until you’ve found somewhere better.’
‘No, I couldn’t.’ Joel smiled gratefully. ‘Thanks for the offer, but you’ve been away from Manchester too long if you think decent flats come along every day. It might be months before I find something else.’
‘That doesn’t matter,’ she assured him, throwing caution to the wind. ‘Honestly. You could stay as long as you liked. Can’t say I haven’t got the room, can I?’
‘Really?’ Joel looked down at her with narrowed eyes as if he was actually considering it. Then, shaking his head, he said, ‘No, I couldn’t impose on you like that. I wouldn’t want to risk ruining what we’ve got. But thanks, anyway.’
Biting her lip when he hugged her, Maria laid her head on his chest, saying quietly, ‘Have we got something?’
Raising her chin with a finger, Joel peered sincerely into her eyes. ‘Do you really need to ask?’ he said, his voice so soft that it curled around her heart. ‘I’ve felt something with you these last few hours that I never thought I’d feel with anyone.’ Pausing when a te
ar slid from her eye, he wiped it away with the tip of his finger. ‘Hey, what’s this?’
‘Nothing.’ Embarrassed, Maria shook her head and looked down. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.’
Holding her to him until she had composed herself, Joel smiled inwardly. He’d taken a gamble and it had paid off. And he didn’t feel too bad about it, because he wasn’t outright using her – he actually did like her. Quite a lot, as it happened. She was sweet, kind, smart and sexy. And all in nice manageable amounts. If she’d been too sweet, she’d become sickly really fast. Too kind, he’d start looking on her like an aunt. Too smart, she’d have to go. Too sexy . . . Well, no, sack that. You couldn’t be too sexy.
‘Come on, gorgeous,’ he said after a minute, taking her hand. ‘Let’s go find what you need to make that house of yours a home. Oh, and if you meant what you said, by the way, then, yeah – I’d love to stay until I find somewhere decent. I just hope you meant what you said about not caring if it took a while, though, because this could drag out. If you think I’ve been there too long, just say you want me out and I’m gone.’
Maria felt like a princess as they walked hand in hand through the store. Beth would be less than impressed, but Maria didn’t really care what anybody thought right now. This felt right, and that was all that mattered. And whatever came of it – whether it developed into something serious or not – right now she was happy just to know that there would be more nights like last night, and more mornings like this morning.
After choosing and ordering all of the kitchen equipment, Maria and Joel headed into town and spent the next few hours in the Arndale Centre, splashing out on clothes, shoes, towels, dinner service, TV, DVD player, hi-fi . . .
Staying in town to have dinner at a great little Italian restaurant that Joel had been meaning to try out, they didn’t get back to the house until seven, by which time Maria was exhausted.
Helping her to lug the bags up to the bedroom, Joel said, ‘You unpack, and I’ll make coffee. And if you tell me where the immersion switch is, I’ll put the water on so you can have a bath.’
The Charmer Page 16