A Taste of Love

by Willis, Susan

  After a welcome talk with coffee and biscuits Helen walked the retailers alongside the table stopping at each pack while she explained the rationale and they tasted a sample. Amongst others, the cucumber-wrapped Gunkans looked amazing while Helen explained her choices of smoked salmon and prawn cocktail fillings. The Japanese Tofu, wrapped in a cone shape around flavoured rice, had excellent vegetarian connotations and was thought by all to have enormous potential. The new samples Helen had cooked of tempura prawns, pork dumplings, chilli rice crackers and dim sum parcels were all tasted enthusiastically and packed into imitation Bento lunch boxes to show the concept and variations they could consider.

  For lunch Helen had prepared large platters of mackerel, tuna, squid, crab and salmon with piles of edamame beans, and open flatbreads with salad. By the end of the visit Helen had a list of the product lines they liked and wanted to take forward, a list of changes to make to some lines and only a couple of ideas in which they had no particular interest.

  *

  After they had all left, Richard sidled up behind Helen in the kitchen. ‘That was a great visit. The packaging and marketing ideas were well received. But I think your presentation stole the show,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘I can see you are as impressive at work as you are in the bedroom.’

  ‘It was a team effort,’ she giggled, and continued to clear away the left overs. ‘But I think we all, especially you and I, work well together.’

  He breathed heavily and felt a stirring of desire creep through him. It still amazed him what an effect this woman could instantly have upon him. It didn’t matter where he was or what situation he was in – he wanted her. ‘Oh, we are good together, Helen. Never doubt that for one minute.’

  She turned to face him but warily looked over his shoulder always conscious of the fact that anyone could walk into the kitchen. She smiled. ‘Hang onto those thoughts till Monday night and think of me this weekend. I know I’ll be thinking of you…’

  ‘You need have no worries on that score,’ he said. ‘Even when I go up to Durham to watch Christopher play rugby I’ll be thinking of you and wishing you were with me.’

  From the night Helen had told him about Rachel he’d decided to do something constructive about his relationship with his children and although his efforts with Emily had not produced any positive outcome as yet, he was determined to keep trying. Christopher, however, had been delighted with his interest – they’d been emailing and texting each other and he’d invited him to Durham, accompanied by Patricia.

  ‘You’ll have a lovely weekend, especially as it will mean spending some time with your mum too,’ she said.

  Richard agreed, then pulled her firmly behind the door out of eyesight, and kissed her with every inch of passion and strength he could muster. He pulled away from her gasping for breath. ‘Hold on to that for two days,’ he urged, cheekily squeezing the cheeks of her bottom as he bid her farewell and strode out of the kitchen.

  *

  On Saturday night, after supper with Karen, Helen knew her sister had a determined, I’m going to find out what’s going on, look in her eye. She’d dropped a few hints as they’d eaten a Chinese takeaway and Helen knew she wouldn’t be able to lie to her about Richard. She settled herself on the settee with a cushion under her arm to protect the operation scar and swallowed the last of her coffee. ‘Helen, I want to know who the man is who’s making you grin like a Cheshire cat.’

  Helen took a deep breath and told her all about Richard from their first night at Sushi Samba to how he had left her in the kitchen the day before. She told her how he made her feel, how fantastic the sex was between them and how she never wanted it to end.

  ‘And he’s divorced or a widower?’ Karen quizzed, raising an eyebrow.

  But Helen could tell by the dubious expression on her sister’s face that she already knew the answer and flatly replied, ‘No. He’s still married but very unhappy…’

  ‘Christ, Helen,’ Karen said, shaking her head slowly in dismay. ‘Don’t you know that’s what they all say?’

  Helen got up and paced around the lounge with her stomach tightening. ‘I know. Of course I know that. But it’s different. It isn’t just a casual few nights of rampant sex,’ she shouted.

  ‘Sit down,’ Karen uttered, staring up at her. ‘It’s hurting my neck having to watch you pace around.’

  She sat back down on the corner of the settee and grabbed a cushion holding it defensively in her arms. She wished he was here to help explain their relationship. ‘I know it sounds just like the old cliché and I’ve gone over and over it in my mind,’ she said, licking her dry lips. ‘A-and I’ve been racked with guilt over the last few weeks. And when he goes home for the weekend I decide I’m going to stop seeing him but the minute I’m within an inch of him my feelings just override everything else and I simply can’t do it!’

  Karen took her hand. ‘And have you thought of his wife and children in all of this and what’s going to happen? I mean, does he intend to leave them and get divorced?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ she wailed, snatching her hand away. She could feel her cheeks flushing at her sister’s accusations as if she was the world’s biggest home-wrecker, and she was shocked at Karen’s reaction.

  She’d thought Karen would have been more liberal in her views, but she could see by the look of disappointment on her face that she wasn’t. ‘I can’t believe you’re making such a fuss.’ Helen said. ‘I mean, for years I’ve listened to your stories about people in the theatre company having affairs and you’ve always been blasé about it.’

  ‘Yeah, well it’s different when it’s my sister doing it!’ Karen tutted and then snorted slightly. ‘And my advice for what it’s worth, is to finish it now before anyone gets hurt. I can’t believe after all the years you’ve been on the receiving end of Rob’s affairs that you would even contemplate it.’

  ‘Exactly,’ Helen countered. ‘I mean, after all those years – don’t I deserve a bit of happiness?’

  Karen lowered her head and stared at her hands. ‘Not at someone else’s expense, Helen.’

  Helen felt like she was a teenager again and Karen was telling her off for not doing her homework. Miserably she mumbled, ‘I didn’t mean it to happen – it just did. And I never thought for one minute that I could be the other woman but there again, I’ve never felt like this about a man – ever!’

  ‘Maybe it’s some type of reaction to Rob leaving you, and you’ll soon come to your senses,’ Karen said.

  Helen could tell Karen was trying to make excuses for her, which is what everyone did when someone they loved was acting out of character. But an uneasy silence settled between them and Karen rang for a taxi claiming tiredness and the need for an early night. Although they kissed and hugged each other goodnight, when Karen climbed into the taxi, Helen felt wretched. It wasn’t very often they ever argued or disagreed about matters but she could feel the upset hanging between them like a big black cloud.

  *

  One of Rob’s colleagues was interested in buying their house and a deal was quickly put together to which they both agreed. For once in her life Helen was thankful that Rob was good with money matters and had negotiated the best figure he could get – it meant more money for her. She took Richard along with her to an early morning viewing at a two-bedroomed apartment on Uxbridge Road and was surprised when he went from room to room raving about the design and architecture.

  ‘But you live in an old cottage?’ she queried. ‘I thought you’d be into old wood beams and thatched roofs.’

  He grinned at her while they stood in the state-of-the-art kitchen, and ran his hands along the smooth surfaces. ‘The cottage was Angela’s choice – not mine,’ he said. ‘It ties in with her vision of our wealthy lifestyle. In fact, I think she loves the place a damn sight more than she ever has done me…’

  How could any woman treat him this way, she wondered, when all he’d done was give her everything she wanted? Helen smiled sympatheticall
y at him. ‘Oh, right,’ she teased. ‘You like the modern look?’

  He grabbed her tightly. ‘I love the new sleek designs. But if you wanted to live in a tent in the garden I’d love that too.’

  ‘That’s good because I’m going to put an offer in and because it’s empty things should move pretty quickly,’ she said giggling excitedly. ‘I’ll just bring Rachel along to double-check she’ll be happy here on weekends and then go for it…’

  As they drove back to work she wondered what he’d meant about the tent and if he was thinking of them being together in the future. This had, so far, been unspoken territory because he seemed as happy to live in the moment as she was. But Karen’s warnings tumbled through her mind making her frown – she hated to think that she’d upset her sister.

  ‘Hey, what’s up?’ he asked. ‘Having second thoughts already?’

  She shook herself and smiled. ‘Oh no. I’d just remembered it was Friday and you’ll be heading off later this afternoon.’

  She’d promised herself that night after Karen had left that she would make a conscious effort to cool things between them. But she’d failed and now six weeks later they were inseparable. When they were together she felt as if she had no choice – it was beyond her to even try and stay away from him.

  The previous morning they’d been down to the retailer’s head office and presented the new products Helen had changed, and later in the afternoon they’d shown the proposed range to all the management on site. The factory manager was confident they would work well in production and the MD was delighted with the new working relationship between herself, Richard, Annette and Tom.

  While she began to request specifications from suppliers for their technical manager and drew her paperwork together for the new lines, Richard sat on a stool in the corner of the room talking to Tom about packaging.

  ‘How interesting,’ Annette said. ‘Listen to this article. It states that the next city, outside of London, to have the highest sales in Sushi is Glasgow.’

  ‘Hmm,’ Richard said. ‘I’m quite partial to a bit of haggis!’

  They all burst into laughter and he winked at Helen. As Helen lay in bed alone that night she opened a text from Richard which read, “please keep next weekend free I’m flying us up to Glasgow. XX”

  *

  At eight o’clock the following Friday evening they checked in to the Hotel du Vin on Devonshire Gardens, a lovely tree-lined Victorian terrace in the fashionable West End of Glasgow. Half of the walls in the room were dark wood panelling and in the centre stood a huge four-poster bed. She gasped at the luxury of the room and interior design. ‘Oh, Richard, it’s beautiful,’ she said, hugging his arm while they stood in the doorway.

  He threw their bags onto the floor and walked across to the corner desk where there was a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket. ‘I thought we deserved the best,’ he said as she closed the door and slipped her jacket off. He popped the cork and she held the two glass flutes while he filled them.

  She took a sip and giggled. ‘The bubbles have gone right up my nose,’ she said teasing him with a look of pure lust.

  They clinked glasses and he leered at her. ‘Here’s to us. And you still haven’t told me what the surprise is that you bought at the shops.’

  She gulped her champagne, felt the relaxing calm feeling spread through her veins and wanted to squeal with happiness and excitement. ‘OK,’ – she drained the champagne from the flute and placed it carefully on the table – ‘I just need a moment in the bathroom.’

  He raised an eyebrow. ‘Don’t be too long. I don’t want to waste a minute of having you all to myself for two days.’

  ‘I think it’ll be worth your wait,’ she threw over her shoulder as she headed into the bathroom.

  She stood in front of the long mirror and removed the black pencil skirt and shirt letting them fall to the floor. For one quick second she thought back to the days with Rob and knew she would never have had the confidence in her body to do this in front of him. But then realised she had never wanted to please him as she did Richard.

  She pulled her shoulders back, straightened the tartan plunge bra and hipster knickers around the black suspender belt and stockings, then took a deep breath and walked slowly in her kitten heels back into the room.

  ‘I thought I’d get into the spirit of things as I’ve never been to Scotland before,’ she said, her hands on her hips wiggling from side to side. ‘What do you think of the tartan?’

  He threw back his head and howled with laughter, and then almost running across the room, he picked her up and spun her round in the air. ‘You’re my beautiful, gorgeous, sexy woman,’ he said. Then he set her back onto her feet, cupped her face in his hands and stared longingly into her eyes. ‘I love you, Helen. I quite simply adore every inch of you…’

  She caught her breath at his admission. She’d wanted to say the same on numerous occasions but had always held back because she wanted to hear it from him first. ‘And I love you too, Richard. I have done for ages now but was scared to say it.’

  He slid his hands around into the back of her knickers and hooked his fingers into the suspender belt and stroked the silky top of her stockings. The stockings and belt looked and felt fantastic – they were something he’d only ever seen in magazines or on shop posters. He groaned with lust, pulled her firmly against him and began to cover her face with kisses. ‘Never, ever, be scared to talk to me, darling – there isn’t a word you could say that would change how I feel about you.’

  She kissed him passionately, sucking his tongue till he thought he would burst, then he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed.

  Chapter Twelve

  The following Friday evening Richard wearily put his key in the cottage door and called out a greeting. Toot and Floot raced towards him wagging their tails and barking. At least the dogs are pleased to see me, he thought, as he wandered into the kitchen. Emily sat at the table picking at a chicken salad.

  ‘Hello, love,’ he said planting a kiss on the top of his daughter’s blonde head. ‘Where’s Mum?’

  Emily looked up at him with Angela’s same blue eyes. ‘She’s at a council do and won’t be back till late. Your salad is in the fridge,’ she said.

  It was nearly three weeks since he’d seen his daughter, and although he’d sent her numerous text messages and an email he’d only had replies in one or two syllables.

  He tucked into his salad, trying to make normal conversation with her about school, the show jumping competitions and her friends, but found it awkward. When he’d told Helen about this she’d laughed, reassuring him that all sixteen-year-olds were the same, that he shouldn’t worry and within a couple of years she’d be like Christopher – much more amiable.

  The one piece of news he did get from her though was that there was a new chairman on the council who had just moved into the village and was causing quite a stir, especially with the women as he was a bachelor.

  *

  Angela was so late that evening and he was so tired that he didn’t hear her come to bed and the first sight of her was at breakfast next morning. She sat at the kitchen table with an angry scowl on her face. ‘Who the hell is Helen Walker?’ she snarled, waving the Glasgow flight tickets in her hand.

  He was furious that she’d been in his bag but was even more annoyed hearing her foul voice saying his lovely Helen’s name. ‘She’s a development technologist who works for me,’ he answered her stiffly. ‘And I’d rather you didn’t go through my bag and private things.’

  She slammed the tickets down on the table making the toast rack rattle, and hissed, ‘I can’t think for one minute what type of woman would have an affair with the likes of you, but if I find out you’re carrying on behind my back I-I’ll ruin you.’

  He hated her now. There was no other word to use for his feelings towards her but pure hatred. Just the sight of her made him shudder in repulsion and he wanted nothing more than to repack his bags and walk
out for good. But that would spoil his plans. He took a deep breath knowing he had to play it cool for another couple of months. ‘I am not having an affair – you are being ridiculous. Helen came with me to Glasgow to look at all the Sushi products they have which are different to London.’

  She glared at him, scraped back the chair and stormed upstairs.

  *

  Richard whistled for the dogs then set out across the field to get away from her. He wasn’t a violent man but his blood was raging through his veins at a rate of knots and he needed to walk the temper out of his system. It was obvious that Angela thought him so boring and mediocre that no woman could possibly want him, which he found truly insulting. But there again, wasn’t that what he’d thought the very first time Helen had kissed him?

  He slowed his pace and slumped down on a split tree stump, bent forward and ran his hands through his hair. He should have torn the flight tickets up instead of pushing them down the side of his bag. But, he mused lightly, when you have a woman in tartan bra and knickers to handle it robs your mind of all sensible thoughts. He imagined her standing in front of him now in the suspender belt and stockings and that “come and get meˮ teasing look in her eyes and he tingled all over.

  Not only did Helen want to make love to him three or four times a night but she really loved him. Which, he decided, was just as well because he was absolutely crazy about her and he knew it wasn’t just their sexual relationship that had irrevocably changed his life but it was her as a genuine, caring and generous person. Most days he felt glad to be alive; he noticed everything that was good in the world and appreciated all the little things in his life. And, he thought, as he gazed across the countryside, he felt so much more confident in himself. He loved the job, and was working hard to build better relationships with the children and generally felt much more optimistic about his future.