‘I was on my way out.’ He picked up his bag again and headed back towards the door.
‘I’m sorry about disturbing you last night,’ I said.
He stopped and stared at me. He was taller and slimmer than Daniel with blue rather than brown eyes, but I’d definitely have picked them out as brothers in a line-up. They certainly came from a good gene pool. ‘Elaine, is it?’
‘Elise.’
‘Elise, you have nothing to be sorry about,’ he said. ‘He’s the one who should be apologising. Bringing you back here was completely inappropriate and disrespectful. As usual.’ Then he stormed out of the cottage, slamming the door. I heard an engine start up and the screech of tyres. I sipped on my tea and wondered what he meant by “as usual”. My stomach clenched.
Daniel appeared five minutes later, looking handsome in a sky blue shirt and coordinating tie. ‘I bet you can convince your lady customers to spend a fortune when you’re dressed like that,’ I said.
He laughed. ‘Speaking of clothes, I’m liking what you’re wearing. Or not wearing.’
‘Thank you.’ I did a twirl.
‘I’m going to have to stop looking at you because I’m getting very turned on right now and I will be so late for my first client if I do all the things I’d like to do to you.’
A shiver of delight ran down my body and I knew immediately that I’d do anything for an action replay of our morning together. ‘Fancy taking a rain-check on that?’
‘Tomorrow night?’
I nodded. ‘Give me two minutes. I’ll just gather the rest of my clothes then are you sure you’re okay to drop me in town?’
‘My first appointment’s in York so it’s not too much of a detour. And I can’t leave a beautiful lady stranded.’
As we drove back towards Whitsborough Bay, I thought about Michael’s comment. I knew that if I didn’t ask Daniel what he meant, it would niggle at me and then doubts would creep in about whether he was being honest with me. After what I’d just been through with Gary, I had to know.
He laughed when I told him. ‘He really said that? My brother’s such an arse.’
‘Daniel, you know we were talking this morning about how the lies were the worst part of what we’ve been through? You have been honest with me, haven’t you?’
‘About what?’
‘About your sex life since splitting up with Amber. If there’ve been others, I don’t mind. Just be honest. I wouldn’t blame you if you’d slept around.’
Daniel pulled into a side-road, stopped the car and turned to face me. ‘Do you really think I’d lie to you after what you’ve been through?’
I shook my head. ‘No. It’s just that—’
‘It’s just that my idiot brother’s done what he likes to do best: screw things up for me.’ Daniel banged the palm of his hand on the steering wheel. ‘He’s such a shit.’
I wished I hadn’t said anything. ‘Sorry,’ I muttered.
He turned back to face me. ‘Don’t be. It’s him. I told you we don’t get on and I think you’ve seen plenty of evidence of that last night and this morning. I didn’t tell you why, though, did I?’
I shook my head. ‘You don’t have to if it’s too personal.’
‘It’s fine. I want you to know. Michael’s two years older than me. When we were kids, we got on as well as most siblings do. You know how it is? Play great one minute, fight the next. Everything changed when I brought Amber home. Michael was eighteen, single and desperate to find a girlfriend. I could tell he liked her instantly. I only found out how much when we were at a family party and I overheard him trying to convince her to dump me and see him instead. He tried to make out he was joking, but he wasn’t. He made a pass at her a few years later. This time his excuse was that he was drunk, it was dark, and he thought she was someone else.’
‘But you didn’t believe him?’
‘No. I saw the way he looked at her. We had a huge fight about it one day and he told me I wasn’t good enough for her, never would be, and he’d never stop trying to convince her of it. We’ve barely spoken since. I know he’s my brother, but I can’t stand him.’
‘I’m not surprised. Why do you share a house, then?’
He rolled his eyes. ‘Good question. Nan decided she was too old to deal with the hassle of renting it out as a holiday home so was looking for a permanent let. Michael’s a photographer like my dad. They’d returned from a shoot in South Africa and Michael needed a place to rent so Nan agreed to let him the cottage on the proviso that I could use it too. I’d stay over occasionally if I had appointments in this area or further north, rather than trek back home to Lincoln. Then, when Amber and I split up, it made financial sense for me to move in permanently. Work-wise it’s better because I now live in the middle of my patch instead of at the bottom. As for Michael, my dear brother is happy to take half the rent off me, but he still likes to swan round as if he owns the place. The comment he made was nothing to do with me bringing other women back. You’re the first. He thought it was “inappropriate and disrespectful” when I couldn’t sleep and put the TV on too loud. And when I burnt a pizza. And when I forgot to take my washing out of the machine so he had to. It’s his favourite phrase. I think it makes him feel important. I’m sorry if he made you uncomfortable and dragged you into our little war.’
‘Why didn’t you move in with your dad instead of Michael? I thought you said he was local.’
‘I don’t get on very well with my dad either and I don’t like being in that house. My mum had leukaemia and he didn’t want her to go into a hospice so she died there. Too many memories.’
‘I’m sorry about your mum.’
‘It was years ago.’ Daniel pulled a face and apologised that he’d need to get going or he’d be really late.
I leaned over and gently kissed him. ‘Thank you,’ I whispered. ‘I didn’t mean to question you.’
‘Feel free to question me any time,’ he said. ‘I’d rather you did that than you worried I was about to hurt you like Gary did because that’s the last thing I’d ever want to do.’ He chatted to me about his appointments for that day and I told him I’d be doing what I always did on the first day of the holidays: sorting through piles of paperwork before getting my hair trimmed. We pulled up outside Smuggler’s View and he checked I was still okay for a date the next night, then he kissed me again.
Curtis had been right. I really had needed a “damn good shag” as he’d put it and Daniel had absolutely delivered the goods. I danced up Kay’s path, feeling all light-headed and girly. Very little paperwork got done that day.
Chapter 18
* From Daniel
Can’t stop thinking about you. Counting down the hours till I see you tonight. Bad news, though. Michael isn’t going out after all. If I cook for you, he’ll only make things awkward. Can I take you out for a meal again instead? xx
* To Daniel
Sounds great, but a bag of chips on the seafront would be fine by me ;) xx
* From Daniel
A meal it is then! I’ll book a table at that new vegan place on the seafront so perhaps we can have a walk along the beach afterwards. Can’t wait to see you later xx
‘Wow! You look stunning,’ Daniel said as soon as I opened the door to Smuggler’s View. He gave me a gentle kiss and, as I wrapped my arms round his neck, my heart fluttered and so did other parts of my body. I liked the sensation very much.
‘I don’t look too casual?’ I’d opted for some sparkly flip-flops and a long, floaty cream summer dress with small burgundy flowers embroidered round the hem and bodice.
‘You look perfect.’
‘As do you.’ He looked sexy in dark jeans and a light grey short-sleeved shirt. He smelled good too.
Daniel took my hand as we strolled into town. I was surprised at how natural it felt to be holding another man’s hand after
years of only Gary. Mind you, I’d been surprised at how natural it felt to have sex with Daniel after only ever being with Gary. I wondered whether it would have felt that way with any man or whether Daniel was extra special.
A waitress led us to a small booth in Bean Cuisine, a restaurant overlooking South Beach. A trio of candles in the middle of the table and a string of fairy lights across the wall provided mood lighting. The whole place had a very chilled, relaxed ambiance thanks to strings of lights, cushions and ambient music. ‘Good choice,’ I said.
I decided on my meal quickly, but Daniel was torn. While he was pondering, my Blackberry beeped in my bag. ‘Would it be rude if I checked that while you’re studying the menu?’ I asked.
‘Go for it. I may be some time. It all sounds delicious.’
* From Gary
Had a last minute viewing on the house earlier. They seemed keen. Sitting here looking at everything we’ve collected over the years and feeling melancholy. I know it’s the right thing, but I hate the thought of a stranger living in our beautiful home. Hope you’re coping better than me
‘Something wrong?’ Daniel lowered his menu.
I released the grip on my Blackberry and tossed it back into my bag. ‘Just Gary about the house. Emotional stuff that I’m not going to dignify with a response.’ I understood that we needed to maintain some level of communication while we were selling the house, but why couldn’t he have stopped the text after the word “keen”? Why add in all that other stuff? I looked up at Daniel and smiled. ‘Sorry. It’s fine. Have you decided?’
‘Yes. Decision definitely made. I agree with you on skipping the starter and going for a dessert, or I think I have…’
After we’d finished our main courses, I left Daniel pondering over the dessert menu and excused myself to go to the ladies. Our waitress pointed to a spiral metal staircase and explained that the toilets were at the top of it on a mezzanine.
When I was ready to descend the stairs, another customer appeared at the bottom so I waited on the landing while she ascended, looking down on the restaurant. Daniel was still studying the dessert menu in our booth and a young couple were taking their seats in the next one along. I glanced at the final booth and I swear my heart skipped a beat. Gary was in it. With Rob.
I gripped onto the railing as I stared at them, talking animatedly. The beard had gone and Gary looked relaxed and happier than I’d seen him in years. Our waitress appeared with desserts for them. When she’d gone, Rob picked up a spoon and dipped into his then leaned across the table and offered it to Gary who eagerly took the spoonful. Rob offered him another spoonful then Gary did the same with his dessert. He laughed and pointed at Rob’s face, indicating a bit of mess on his chin. Rob put his hand up, but missed it so Gary leaned across and wiped it away with his thumb. The look that passed between them was one of absolute adoration.
If they were on their desserts already, they had to have been in the restaurant when we arrived. Which meant that Gary hadn’t been sitting at home getting melancholy over our house selling when he’d texted me; he’d been dining with his boyfriend ten feet away from me. So we’d split up and still the lies continued. Why? What did he possibly have to gain from sending that text?
My legs shook with each stair I descended. I clung tightly to the handrail with my right hand, desperately hoping that my legs wouldn’t betray me and give way altogether. I stupidly stole one more glance in their direction and, at that very moment, Gary looked across. The smile faded from his face and I saw his lips move with my name. Rob turned too. Gary stood up and started towards me, but I put my hand up in a stop signal and shook my head. He nodded and slowly backed towards his seat, keeping his eyes on me.
Daniel stood up. ‘Elise, are you okay? You don’t look well.’
I reached for my bag. ‘May we skip dessert too? Actually, can we go?’
‘Of course. Do you need some water?’
‘Just some air. I’ll meet you outside.’
‘Do you want to talk about it?’ Daniel sat on the sand beside me.
I bit my lip. ‘Yes. But can we go for that walk?’
‘Of course.’ Daniel jumped up and helped me to my feet.
I picked up my flip-flops, then took hold of Daniel’s arm and steered him along South Beach in the direction of The Headland and the caves. We walked in silence for a while. ‘Gary was in the restaurant.’
‘Oh.’
‘In his text, he said that he was at home and feeling emotional about selling up yet he had to have sent it from the restaurant.’
‘More lies.’
I nodded. ‘You know how I feel about lies. The one he told in the text was so pointless.’ I kicked at a half-collapsed sandcastle abandoned on the beach. ‘The text was bad enough, but what really threw me was seeing them together for the first time since I made the discovery, behaving in a way that he never behaved with me. They were sharing desserts. He always refused to share food with me. He said you should be satisfied with your own choice and not expect to take someone else’s and that sharing a spoon passed on germs. Mind you, he also said showers were for soaping not shagging yet that’s where I caught them. And he used to absolutely refuse to deviate from his three favourite restaurants when we dined out yet there he was experimenting in a new vegan place. If I’d suggested dining there, he’d never have agreed.’
We’d reached the caves. I stopped walking and turned to stare at the dark waves lapping onto the distant shore. The tide was fully out and the sun had set, leaving an orange tinge in the darkening sky. The beauty around me helped to soothe my mood. Keeping my eyes on the sky I said, ‘What really hurts is that he’s doing all these things with Rob that he would never do with me and he looks so relaxed and happy about it. It’s more proof that our marriage was obviously a living hell for him. I had no idea I was making him so miserable so I feel like such a failure.’
Daniel stood behind me, wrapped his arms round my waist and put his cheek against mine. ‘Just remember that it wasn’t you who made Gary miserable. If he felt that way, it was because he was lying to himself about his sexuality. You could do nothing to change that.’
I sighed. ‘I know. But it still hurts.’
‘I wish I could take your pain away, but only time will do that,’ he whispered. ‘But if you’re willing to give me time, I’ll do everything I can to try to make things better for you.’ He gently kissed my cheek. The touch of his lips was so tender that it sent butterflies fluttering throughout my whole body again.
‘Are you cold?’ He ran his hands up and down my bare arms. ‘You’re shivering.’
‘I’m not cold. It’s the effect you have on me. I mean that in a good way. Do you really want to try and take my pain away?’
‘Of course.’
I twisted round to face him. ‘Can we re-enact yesterday morning? Right here.’ With Gary, it had always been the missionary position in a bed and, if he could try different things, so could I. And I think what I was suggesting was far more adventurous than a vegan restaurant or sharing desserts.
Daniel’s eyes lit up. ‘You want to partake in a little sex on the beach? I think I can be persuaded. Are you sure? What if someone sees us?’
‘Isn’t that part of the excitement?’
‘You’re an amazing woman, Elise.’ Daniel kissed me on the forehead as we lay on the cool sand looking up at the darkening sky. ‘And you’re full of surprises.’
‘Good ones, I hope.’
‘Very good ones.’
‘I might actually have surprised myself tonight,’ I admitted. ‘I’ve never done anything like this before. Not only was my sex life pretty much non-existent, it wasn’t very adventurous either.’
‘We’ll have to rectify that, then. Assuming you want to.’
I kissed his bare chest. ‘Definitely. But tell me if I do things wrong, won’t you?’
Daniel laughed and held me tightly. ‘God, I love you.’
I gasped. ‘What did you say?’
‘Erm… Something I didn’t mean to say out loud so soon. I haven’t scared you, have I?’
I propped myself up on my arm and gazed down at his worried face. ‘Say it again.’
‘I love you. I know it’s early days and I don’t want you to say it back because it would be like you feel you have to, but—’
I silenced him with a kiss. Did I love him? No. Whether that was because of what I’d been through, I wasn’t sure. I liked hearing the words, though, and I certainly felt very happy at that moment which was a surprise given how low I’d felt an hour earlier. Love or not, Daniel was certainly good for me. As was hearing it from the man first. I would always regret being the first to tell Gary I loved him.
I traced my finger across Daniel’s lips. ‘This is really short notice, but I don’t suppose you’d be my plus one at my sister’s wedding a week on Saturday? I’ve been dreading going alone.’
Daniel kissed my fingers. ‘I’d be honoured to.’
‘Really? You’d do that?’
‘Of course.’
‘Thank you. I was worried about being bombarded with questions about Gary. Hopefully having you by my side will mean some of the guests are a bit more tactful.’
‘Did you say you’re a bridesmaid?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then I’m sure you will be centre of attention, but it will because you outshine the bride rather than because you’re the subject of the latest gossip.’
I laughed. ‘I don’t think I’ll outshine our Jess, but I appreciate the sentiment.’
Daniel shivered. ‘I’m a bit cold now. Can we relocate? I know a little place up the coast. One of the occupants is a bit grumpy, but the other one has some moves he’d like to show you.’
I giggled. ‘Now there’s an offer I can’t refuse.’ I grabbed my bag and flip-flops then scrambled to my feet. ‘Race you to the car.’
Getting over Gary (Whitsborough Bay Trilogy Book 2) Page 14