by Sofia Grey
“They were lucky, all escaped with minor injuries. Pedro took the brunt of the impact when Jon’s car pushed him into it.”
“But he had nowhere to go!”
“I know. I’m not criticizing him. It was horrific luck it happened like that. A few seconds later and Pedro would have been clear, and Jon might have escaped it altogether. But this is what happened.”
I groped for my seat again. “So how badly hurt are they? Jon, I mean, and Pedro?”
Sara spoke up. “Jon has three cracked ribs, sprained wrists, and a concussion. Pedro was badly burned, even through his fireproof suit, broke his back in four places and has head injuries. They don’t know yet if there will be any brain damage.” She glared at Trevor. “I can’t believe you’re still encouraging him to aim for Formula 1. The cars are twice as fast; more people are killed and injured.” Her voice cracked. “How would you feel if it had been Pedro that pulled Jon out of the crash, and it was our Jon now lying in hospital in a coma?” She burst into tears and fled from the kitchen. I stared down at the plate of food Mrs. Pearce had given me. I agreed with her.
“Sara.” Trevor got up from the table and went after his wife.
I heard loud sobbing further into the house, and I gazed up at Mrs. Pearce. “This is all strange, I feel very out of place being here like this.” I decided to go for honesty. “I expect you’re used to Jon’s girlfriends coming and going, but I don’t normally behave like this.”
She took a seat and looked at me, oddly I thought. “Yes it is strange, but not how you’re thinking, lass. As long as I’ve known Jon, and it’s a few years now, he’s never asked a girl to stay before. We figure you must be something special to him.”
What?
“So, why don’t you take that sandwich and drink back upstairs with you, and go see if he’s still asleep.”
I rose from the table, but she hadn’t finished. “That friend you came with, Clare? She came back to the house with your bag, if you want your stuff with you.” Mrs. Pearce went to pick up my rucksack.
Oh well done Clare, at least I had a clean T-shirt and knickers for the morning.
“Thank you.” I looped the bag over my shoulder and headed back to Jon’s room.
He was still asleep, but restless. I wolfed down the sandwich and tea, and snuggled down beside him again. His left hand sought out my breast; he nuzzled sleepily against my neck and sighed as he drifted away again.
It was still a long time before I fell asleep. I kept replaying the crash in my head and marveling at his bravery, desperate to rescue the poor trapped Pedro, heedless of his own safety. He was a hero.
And despite the fact I had known him just a few weeks, one thing was clear. I’d fallen in love with him.
The moment I heard about the crash, that single, frozen second in time when I thought I’d lost him forever, it became crystal clear just how much he meant to me. I was heartened by Mrs. P’s assertion that he didn’t usually bring his girlfriends home to his parents. But I still knew I was just a temporary measure. If he stayed in motor racing, especially if he moved to Formula 1, as he so desired, I couldn’t stand by and watch him risk his life every few weeks. It would destroy me. In a way, Danny would be right.
Jon’s next race was in six weeks. That was all the time we had left together.
Chapter 17
17.1 Jon
I surfaced slowly, through a haze of half-remembered dreams and anxiety. Opening heavy eyelids, I gazed around, trying to remember where I was and how I’d got there. I appeared to be back at Mum’s, in my bed again. I thought I remembered Anita being there too, but I couldn’t see her. Was that just another narcotic-induced dream?
“Neeta,” I murmured, my voice croaky and my throat dry.
“I’m here, babe.” She materialized next to the bed, damp and fragrant.
So that wasn’t a dream. I gazed at her, absorbing her natural beauty, still trying to put my thoughts in order. My brain felt as though it was working at half speed.
“Do you need some more painkillers?”
I managed a smile. “A kiss would be good.”
She was careful not to lean on me, mindful my ribs hurt. We ended up in a sitting position, leaning against the headboard, so I could convince myself she was really there.
“Last night is a bit fuzzy. Did you say something about going away?”
“Yes.” She looked at me anxiously. “Do you still want to?”
I yawned, slid my arm slowly around her waist and took a sharp breath as my ribs complained.
“I do still want to. I also really want to make love to you. Having you sitting on my bed, smelling so delicious, is driving me mad.”
Her lips curled in amusement. “Well I was in bed all night with you, but you weren’t interested then.”
“These bloody painkillers knock me out.”
She stared back, as though thinking about something. “How about if you lie down, and I climb on top. If I’m really careful, I won’t put any weight on you. And then you can have another dose of your pills straight after.”
It sounded good to me.
She flashed a nervous smile as she knelt over me. “It seems a bit strange to be asking if I’m hurting you.”
“I don’t care. I’ve been looking forward to this all week.”
She was careful, slow and tender, and did all the work. Her thigh muscles were superb and I lay back, thoroughly enjoying the sight of her riding me. She gasped as she pushed down and took me to the hilt, closed her eyes briefly, then moved in a graceful rhythm. It was incredible.
She fetched me some pills and water and we cuddled together afterward.
“I need to get home and go to the stables.” She kissed me, long and slow. Already the pills were taking effect, like a heavy blanket wrapping over me. “I’ll be back this evening.”
I nodded. My eyelids drooped, and I yawned. “Uh huh, I’ll see you later.”
She stayed until I crossed to that place where the crazy dreams swirled again, holding my hand as I drifted into unconsciousness. The last thing I remembered—and I wasn’t sure if it was a dream or not—was the feeling of cool lips pressed against my hot forehead, and her whisper of, “I’ll be back soon, my love.”
17.2 Anita
Making the arrangements for our holiday was surprisingly easy. I rang the bookshop first and explained that my boyfriend had been in an accident, and I wanted some time off to help him recover. The manager was brilliant, and we arranged for me to take two weeks off, starting immediately.
I rang Mum and gave her the same story, but neglected to tell her any details of how the accident happened, just that it had been a car crash. She’d no idea I was even seeing anyone, so this came as a surprise. However, she sounded delighted that we’d be coming to stay at the B&B, assured me there were no guests booked, and went off to tell Dad.
Jon would sort out a hire car with his dad’s help, and I took a taxi home, braving the journalists that were still camped out, to pick up my car. I headed off to find Clare.
She was kindness itself. Giving me a monster hug, reminiscent of Danny’s bear hugs, she assured me Sam would be treated like a paying guest. Bev would exercise him daily, and she’d happily cover for my lessons. I hugged Sam. He’d been magnificent this weekend, and I would miss him badly, but Jon was my sole priority right now.
As I left, with Clare practically pushing me into my car to make me go, Bev came running out of the office. “Your trophy!” It’d been in Clare’s car overnight, still wrapped in the picnic blanket. Folded neatly inside was my red sash and the giant rosette I’d won. I took them gladly. I knew Mum and Dad would be thrilled to see them.
Then it was just a case of going home to pack. I wanted to see Colette and Danny too, before I left. I’d be staying at Jon’s again, and then we were off to Anglesey and not back until the end of next week.
Danny was home when I arrived, and he greeted me with a big hug. “What’s this about you going to your Mum’s? You�
��re not running away to get over splitting with Jon are you?”
What the hell?
“I haven’t split up with Jon. He’s coming with me, and we’re going to Mum’s for a week or so while he recovers.” I eyed him crossly. “And he’s going to be okay, thanks for asking.”
Danny’s face tightened. “I think we’d better have a talk.”
I sat at the kitchen table while Danny brewed some coffee, humming under his breath as he did so.
“What’s up?” I accepted the coffee with a smile. “Bev’s going to look after Sam, and Clare will cover my lessons. You won’t even notice I’m not here.”
He sighed, and ran a hand over his face. “I’m worried about you. After that article on Jon, and his wife, I’m concerned you’re getting in too deep with him.” He held up a hand to stall my interruption. “He’s married. He has a wife. And now a mistress. That’s all you are.”
I hadn’t thought of it like that. In truth, I tried not to think about his wife at all. My cheeks burned and I sought a reply, but Danny hadn’t finished. “Don’t be taken in by Jon’s pretty-boy face. He’s just like Rob.”
Wait. What?
“My ex?”
Danny nodded.
“How did you know Rob?”
“I met him.”
“You met him?” My head spun at the idea.
“I went looking for him. You never gave me the details, but I know it was bad. I saw you when you came home, Anita. I saw the mess he’d made of you.” Danny closed his hands over mine. “I couldn’t let him get away with that.”
It felt like an ice pick scraping my lungs. “What the hell did you do?” And why did I not know? Manchester was only twenty miles away, but could have been a different world.
Danny gazed at the table, where his hands wrapped around mine. “It didn’t take long to track down his favorite pub, and I had words with him one night. Told him to keep the fuck away from you, or he’d answer to me.”
The idea made me dizzy. “I had no idea. You never breathed a word about it.”
“You mean the world to me, lovey. I’d do anything to stop you getting hurt.” He played idly with my fingers. “You know,” his voice was soft now. “I always thought we’d get together one day.” He smiled at me. “Oh come on, would it be so strange? We’ve been working and living together for years. I could make you so happy.” He paused. My mind whirled.
“I was planning to ask you out after Charrington, but then Jon swooped in and dazzled you. Can you blame me for being jealous?” He raised my hand to his mouth and dropped a soft kiss on my knuckles.
This was wrong. How had he ever thought this? He gazed at me, and I swallowed. I had to let him down gently. I felt so sorry for him. “Danny, I don’t see you like that. I love you, but as a brother.”
He cocked his head slightly to one side and regarded me. “I know you do now, but things change. You know as well as I do that Jon will never be a permanent fixture—he’s too ethereal, too glossy. He belongs in the gossip rags and with supermodels. It’s a cliché, but he’s living in the fast lane.”
I stared down at the table. Danny was painfully accurate, and I didn’t want him to see how hard I found it.
“Hey?” He squeezed my hand, and I looked up. His teddy bear face, with all its wild red hair was just inches away. “When Jon’s off the scene, I’ll still be here.”
“You two-timing pair of bastards!” Colette stood in the doorway, yelling at the top of her voice. Danny shot back as if scalded. I stood, ready to make my escape.
Silent tears fell down Colette’s face as she gazed at Danny, and then flicked a glance at me. “Isn’t Jon enough for you? Why do you want Danny as well?”
“I don’t.” I was cold with anger. “This was the last thing I expected. Believe me Colette, I’m not interested in Danny that way.”
He stared up at me with a blank expression. “I’ll still be here when Pretty Boy is long gone.”
“And what about me?” Colette looked amazing when she was angry. Her spiky, black hair fizzed with a life of its own. I expected to see lightning bolts flashing from her eyes. “Am I just something to keep your bed warm in the meantime?”
“Babe. You know you’re more than that. Don’t be angry with me.”
“Angry,” she spluttered. “I’m not angry. I’m fucking furious!” She swung round, grabbed the plate rack from the sink and began smashing the crockery on it, piece by piece.
“Wanker!” She shouted as she hurled a plate at the wall. “Tosser!” Another plate followed. “Prick!” A mug followed the plates. I escaped to the sanctuary of my room and slammed the door behind me.
Sinking onto my bed, I still heard the mayhem downstairs. Colette screeching abuse, plates smashing, Danny roaring back. I sat there, my mind racing over the weird scene that had just taken place in the kitchen. Danny and me? A couple? He was like my brother for God’s sake. I could never see him as more than that. But if he thought that, while I didn’t, would we ever be able to go back to our old easy friendship? What a complete mess this was.
I grabbed my rucksack, emptied out the dirty clothes and repacked it with clean undies, T-shirts and jeans. I wouldn’t need any riding clothes for the next two weeks, and that limited my wardrobe straight away. I packed a lightweight sweater, a hooded fleece top, and dug out my walking boots. Then it was just toiletries.
It had gone quiet downstairs. Was that a good or a bad sign? I hoisted my pack onto my shoulder, picked up my jacket, and went down to see what damage there was.
As I peeped round the kitchen door, I was horrified at first to see Danny lying on the floor. Had she hit him? Then I realized that Colette lay underneath him and they were kissing, devouring each other.
“Ahem.” Thank Christ they were in the process of patching things up. There was a pause, and then they separated and stood, rearranging their clothing with some giggling from Colette. “Come on guys, keep it in the bedroom please. Besides, I’ll be out for the next two weeks. You can shag anywhere you like while I’m not here, apart from my bed of course.”
“You off now?” Danny gave me a hug, but it was a quick, brotherly hug again. “I’ve got something for you, hang on a minute.” He clattered upstairs.
I crossed the kitchen to Colette and put my arms around her. “It really wasn’t how it looked, hun. I don’t see Danny like that. I think he just wanted to reassure me about what happens when—if—Jon and I split up. I’m no threat to you. You’re both my closest friends, you know that.”
She gave me a little smile, but it looked strained. “I know you think that, but I’m not convinced he does.” She hesitated. “I don’t think we’ve got much longer together, to be honest. I’m planning to move out. A friend of mine works for a computer sales company in Manchester, and she says they’re looking for admin staff. I could move into her flat. She’s looking for another to share.”
I stared at her, tears springing to my eyes. “Colette, please don’t. I’ll miss you. So will Danny, even if he doesn’t realize it at the moment.”
“Don’t tell him.” She sounded fierce. “It’s my call. Let me enjoy these last few days with him.”
We hugged. It felt like the end of an era.
“By the way, my phone turned up. It was stuffed behind the seats in the horsebox, and Danny said it must have fallen there. Didn’t you see it when you were looking for yours?”
“No.” I thought back to my frantic search. “I looked all over the cab, behind and under the seats, since that was the most obvious place for it to be. I’m sure I would have seen yours.”
“Oh well.” She shrugged. “So where are you off to now? Moving in with Jon?” She gasped. “Oh my God, I forgot to ask. How is he?”
I updated her just as Danny walked back into the kitchen. “Here you are,” he announced. “I’ve done a CD of photos from the Charrington Show, and the Blackheath one. You can view it on any PC, or even stuff it into a DVD player, so you’ll be able to look at them at your mum
’s. And there’s this.” He held out the Daily Comet issue from Saturday. “I think you should take it, even if only to ask him whether any of it is the truth.”
I’d managed to block that unpleasantness from my mind, but I stuffed the CD and the folded paper into the front pocket of my rucksack, and then left. Behind me, I heard Danny saying to Colette, “So where were we?”
17.3 Anita
Jon greeted me with a huge smile and a lingering kiss, heedless of the fact his parents were watching. I was relieved to see the reporters had finally gone.
“The doctor’s given me approval to go away, as long as you drive us there. I’m not allowed behind the wheel for another few days. And Dad’s got us a car.” He guided me to the window and pointed out a massive SUV parked on the other side of his Corvette.
“What the hell is it?” I laughed in disbelief. “You can’t seriously expect me to drive that.”
“Come on.” He took my hand, and we walked outside. “It’s automatic. You just put it in gear and point it in the right direction. It’s also got cruise control, so it’s perfect for long motorway journeys.”
He opened the driver’s door for me. “In you go.”
I clambered up inside the cabin and sat behind the wheel. “It’s awfully high up.”
“Much better views of the road. It’s four wheel drive and a perfect off-roader, if you want to take it somewhere more adventurous.”
“I think Anglesey is as far as I want to take it, thank you.” I fiddled with the seat, and adjusted the distance to the pedals. It felt surprisingly comfortable, with generous leather seats and good visibility, but totally alien after driving my tiny car.
Jon leaned against his ‘Vette, and watched me, the corners of his lips tugging up with barely contained amusement. My heart did a little flip. Apart from the wrist bandages, almost covered by his loose fitting shirt, he looked perfect. His hair covered the Band-Aid on his forehead, his eyes crinkled as he squinted into the late afternoon sunlight, and he gave me his gorgeous come-to-bed grin. He looked even sexier with a few days stubble.