Oh Crumbs

by Kathryn Freeman

  Emotion clogged in his throat as he stared down at this woman who’d been more of a mother to him than his own ever had. He didn’t know what to say; deny and he’d disappoint her, admit she was right and he’d scare the hell out of himself. Unable to do either, he bent to kiss her wrinkled forehead.

  When he straightened he saw Abby walking towards them, a soft smile on her gorgeous face. ‘I’m ready to face those lions now.’

  ‘Off you go then.’ Gwen’s eyes glistened as she looked first at Abby and then at him. ‘And come and see me again soon. Both of you.’

  That lump was still in his throat as he watched her disappear back into the hubbub of the kitchen.

  ‘You and she have something special. She’s lovely.’ Abby grinned. ‘And boy is she a great source of info on the enigmatic Douglas Faulkner.’

  A shiver ran through him. Did he dare ask? Deciding he had enough on his plate just getting through the evening, Doug wimped out and took her hand. As they walked down the long hallway towards the ballroom he heard her chant please don’t let me trip up and had to smother a grin.

  When they reached the entrance to the already crowded ballroom, she pulled up sharply. ‘Oh my God. It is Downton Abbey.’

  Doug tried to see the large, fussy room through her eyes. An over-the-top chandelier, gold embossed wallpaper. Large French windows, open to let in the balmy summer evening, leading to an expansive patio overlooking carefully maintained grounds. ‘I guess there is a resemblance.’

  ‘Are all the rooms as grand as this one?’

  ‘No.’

  She narrowed her eyes at him. ‘How many rooms are there?’

  He shifted awkwardly. ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Seriously?’ Those big brown eyes were now saucer-like. ‘I bet it was dynamite playing hide and seek. Our house was pretty useless for it. Once we’d tried under the bed and in the wardrobe all the good hiding places were exhausted. Here we could have hidden for days.’

  He decided there was no point telling her there were times he had. Not hidden exactly, just stayed in his room and not seen a soul.

  Suddenly her hand gripped his arm. ‘Oh, bollocks.’

  Doug followed her line of vision and saw his father striding towards them. My thoughts exactly, he thought grimly.

  His fears were soon realised. Five minutes into the conversation and his father still hadn’t acknowledged Abby, even though she’d tried to talk to him.

  ‘Abby asked you a question,’ he said coldly, before turning to the woman hanging onto his arm as if it was the only thing keeping her anchored. ‘Perhaps you could ask it again, Abby. I don’t think he heard you.’

  She bit her lip, something he knew she did when she felt embarrassed or awkward. Damn his family for making her feel that way. ‘I wondered how long your family has lived in this house. I mean how many generations.’

  Charles gave her a derisory glance. ‘Four. Why, have you set your sights on being part of the fifth?’

  She paled. ‘Crikey, no, of course not. I was just making conversation. I’d never dream, I mean, it didn’t cross my mind …’

  As her voice trailed off, anger coiled inside Doug. ‘Ignore him. He’s trying to make you feel awkward. It’s his speciality.’ His hands twitched and he briefly imagined the satisfaction of shoving his fist into his father’s face. Then he remembered the last time he’d had such a strong urge. Burying his anger he led Abby away to the other side of the room.

  ‘I’m not sure I like your father,’ she said, when they were out of earshot.

  Her understatement almost made him smile. ‘I’m not sure I do, either.’

  ‘Still, I’m sorry I’ve caused bad feeling between you.’

  He spun round to look at her. ‘Abby, Abby.’ Her expressive eyes stared up at him and he felt his heart clench. ‘Do you really think the bad feeling is because of you?’

  ‘Not all of it, no, though I’m clearly not helping. He’s hardly my number one supporter.’

  ‘He’s only attacking you to get to me. I’m the one he has the issue with.’ Gently he traced his finger down the side of her face. And then over her soft, soft lips. As he gazed into her eyes he felt the floor move beneath his feet. It was like drowning in a vat of warm, velvet chocolate.

  ‘Why does he treat you like that?’

  The softly voiced question snapped him out of his trance. ‘It’s a long story.’ Sighing, he dropped his hand back down to his side. ‘I’d love to leave now, but we can’t. Apart from anything else, Gwen would tan my backside if we missed her meal.’

  ‘Did she really used to spank you?’

  ‘What do you think?’

  ‘I don’t think she did. I can’t imagine anyone spanking you.’

  He quirked an eyebrow and immediately she started giggling. ‘I didn’t mean it like that.’

  As her cheeks grew pinker and pinker, he smiled. Time to shove his family out of his head and enjoy this funny, beautiful woman.

  From that moment on, the evening picked up.

  ‘Abby, how brilliant to see you again.’ Thea’s warm greeting was a sharp and welcome contrast to the rudeness of his parents. ‘I can’t believe Doug’s persuaded you to come to this. I hope whatever he’s bribed you with will be worth the tedium.’

  He cleared his throat. ‘Perhaps I used charm, not bribery.’

  Thea roared – yes, flaming roared, with laughter. ‘Of course you did. Charm is exactly what you’re renowned for. That and sparkling conversation.’

  That set Abby off too, though she was clearly trying – failing adorably, but trying – to keep her laughter to the demure end of the scale. Doug conceded that having the piss taken out of him was worth it to see two of his favourite women sharing a giggle.

  When it was finally time to eat, Doug found he and Abby had been put on a table with the Crumbs board members and their wives. As the older guests all knew each other, Doug was only required to nod his head and smile now and again. At each course Abby’s eyes darted questioningly towards him as she pointed to her choice of cutlery. When he nodded, yes, she grinned and drew a tick on the tablecloth with her finger.

  ‘I’ve so got the hang of this,’ she whispered, when they reached the dessert course. ‘You can officially put me on your suitable for Buckingham Palace list.’

  His chest rumbled with laughter. Here he was, attending another of his mother’s fusty balls, in the home he hated, yet he was actually enjoying himself. Bloody hell.

  The table was cleared and the coffee brought out. Moments later the small chamber orchestra began to play. Smiling, Doug held out his hand. ‘Miss Spencer, do you dance?’

  ‘I’ve been known to shake my butt a time or two.’ Her eyes travelled down to his outstretched hand. ‘Oh, you mean you want to dance now?’ She glanced over her shoulder. ‘To that?’

  He stifled a laugh. ‘What’s wrong with that?’

  ‘Nothing, if it’s background music. If you expect me to dance … well, jeeze, I need a beat.’ She wrinkled her forehead. ‘But you want me to do that ballroom dancing, don’t you?’

  ‘Well, we are in a ballroom.’

  ‘And that’s instantly going to make me into a waltzing diva, is it?’

  ‘Maybe not instantly, though a good teacher will help. Come on.’ He tugged at her arm, but she remained seated.

  ‘Seriously, Doug, no. I’ve never done this sort of dancing before.’

  ‘Don’t worry. I have.’

  He tugged again and she reluctantly rose to her feet. ‘I’m going to make a total arse of myself,’ she hissed. ‘And if I fall over and break my neck you’ll have to explain to my family that I can’t look after them any more.’

  ‘Relax,’ he told her softly as he led her smoothly onto the dance floor. ‘I’ve got you.’ He took hold of her left hand and placed it on his upper arm. An involuntary tremor ran through him as her fingers clasped hold and the tremor grew stronger as he placed his right hand on her shoulder blade, his fingers touching her
bare skin. When her other hand snuggled shyly into his left hand, Doug knew he was sunk. He could no longer see his personal assistant. All he could see was the woman he’d once kissed and whom he desperately wanted to kiss again. And again.

  Gently he nudged her leg with his, pushing her back a step. ‘Just follow my lead,’ he whispered into her ear. ‘We’ll keep it simple.’

  But as he carefully guided a very pliant Abby around the floor, Doug knew the time for keeping things simple was fast slipping away. It was impossible to ignore the throb between his legs as her curves brushed against him. Or the ache in his chest as he stared into her eyes.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Abby felt like a princess. She was dancing in a swish ballroom, in front of a real band, and in the arms of an incredibly handsome man. For a few minutes she allowed herself to imagine she wasn’t Abby Spencer the secretary but Lady Spencer, a woman with impressive connections who could glide easily into Doug’s world.

  A woman he’d want to take home, peel out of her fancy dress and carry up to his bedroom.

  She stumbled and Doug caught her, his arm tightening round her shoulder. ‘Oh bum, I’m sorry. I knew it was going too well.’ She tried to get back into the swing of it again, but her body wouldn’t relax. It was far too conscious of the muscular thighs pushing against hers. The strong hand that spanned her back.

  ‘Are you ready to go home?’

  The warmth of his breath as it fanned against her neck.

  Words that usually came so easily eluded her, so she nodded. Immediately he led her off the dance floor and back to her seat where he picked up her bag and shawl.

  In a matter of minutes they were in his car and driving away.

  ‘Was it as bad as you expected?’ he asked as he turned onto the main road.

  She stared at his strong profile, illuminated by the street lights. ‘It wasn’t bad at all. In fact, I enjoyed it.’ I enjoyed being with you.

  His lips twitched. ‘Seriously? Even the dancing?’

  ‘Yes.’ Especially the dancing. ‘I loved talking to Gwen.’

  ‘Ah yes. You never did tell me what you spoke about.’

  She smiled at the wariness in his voice. ‘Nothing too incriminating. Unless you count how you were bullied by your baby sisters.’

  ‘I let them bully me,’ he muttered. ‘There’s a difference. Is that it?’

  ‘She told me how obsessed you were with your painting. How when your parents tried to take your paints away you snuck them under your bed. Is that really true?’

  A muscle ticked in his jaw. ‘My father thought painting was cissy. He wanted me to undertake more manly pursuits.’

  ‘Oh.’ Her mind conjured a picture of Doug as a boy, painting furtively in his room, unable to show his parents his creations, and she felt the squeeze on her heart. ‘Gwen said she promised you you’d be the next Leonardo da Vinci, but privately she thought your paintings were a bit odd.’

  ‘She did, did she?’

  He sounded so offended, Abby spluttered with laughter. ‘Oops, maybe I shouldn’t have told you that, though she did say she loved the painting you did for her last year.’ Her laughter faded as she studied his profile. ‘She said you’d bought her a house to put the painting in, but that she’s not ready to leave your family just yet.’

  Doug’s shoulders dropped as he let out a deep sigh. ‘Gwen’s seventy years old and has worked there for over fifty years. I want her to enjoy a well-deserved retirement, but while Margaret’s still at home she wants to be there.’ He indicated to turn into her road.

  ‘She likes being busy, Doug. Maybe she doesn’t want to rattle round a new home doing nothing.’

  ‘I know.’ He eased to a stop and turned off the engine. ‘But I can’t bear the thought of her being at the beck and call of my parents for very much longer.’

  His face looked strained and Abby’s heart went out to him. ‘She’ll retire when she’s ready, and knowing she has a place she can retire to will make that decision much easier. It was a very kind, thoughtful thing to do, but then that’s not surprising because you’re both those things. Kind and thoughtful.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Slowly he angled his body to look at her. ‘And if now is the time for sharing what we think of each other, I need to tell you you’re warm, funny, off the scale smart, strong.’ His eyes blazed into hers. ‘And so beautiful my breath catches in my throat each time I look at you.’

  Her heart bounced beneath her ribs as her own breath disappeared. ‘I … wow. That’s you being kind again.’

  ‘No. That’s me being truthful.’

  Dazed, she shook her head. ‘I try to be warm and funny and strong. I’m quite smart but I’m definitely not beautiful.’

  He traced his finger over the planes of her face, making her shiver. ‘Your mouth, your smile, your eyes. They’re all beautiful.’

  ‘My eyes are brown.’ Her voice was no longer her own. It was lower, huskier. ‘Who’s ever heard of a brown eyed blonde? It doesn’t work.’

  He lowered his head and planted a delicate kiss on each eyelid. ‘Works for me.’

  The touch of his lips was feather-light, but Abby felt the zing of it all through her system. She could barely breathe, definitely couldn’t swallow. When she lifted her eyes to stare into his intense blue ones all the desire she was feeling, every pulsing, aching, throbbing ounce of it, was reflected back at her.

  Throwing caution to the wind, she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him.

  For a split second she felt his whole body stiffen. Oh crap, she was jumping her boss. But just as she was about to pull away he relaxed and then, thank you God, he began to kiss her back.

  As his tongue dived into her mouth and his hands wandered restlessly over her back, Abby tried to push herself closer but the gear knob kept jutting into her hip.

  She let out a groan of frustration and he instantly pulled back, his breath coming out in short, sharp pants. ‘Sorry, are—’

  ‘Don’t you dare apologise for kissing me,’ she cut in, smothering his face in further kisses. ‘I’m just having a little trouble with your knob.’

  His eyes glittered. ‘I don’t get many complaints.’

  ‘I’m going to ignore that appalling joke.’ Taking his gorgeous face between her hands, she gave him a long, soft kiss. ‘Would you like to come inside?’

  He stilled and she shrank back, slamming her eyes shut, as if that would prevent her from hearing his next words. I’m sorry. We can’t do this.

  But when she opened them again he was walking round to her side. Before she knew it he was helping her out and pinning her back against the car door. ‘Abby, Abby,’ he groaned and then he plundered her mouth again, grinding his hips against her so she could feel every hot, tantalising inch of him.

  Doug had lost his mind the moment Abby had turned those stunning dark eyes his way and told him she wasn’t beautiful. Hell, he’d probably lost it months ago, when she’d first set foot in his office, though he’d tried hard to do the right thing. Now he didn’t know what the right thing was any more. He only knew she’d kissed him and he didn’t have the will or the strength to turn away.

  Which was why he was now ravishing her against his car bonnet, on her driveway. Classy.

  She wriggled her hips, pushing against his arousal and making him ache even more. Realising he wasn’t far from exploding, he exhaled sharply and drew back. ‘I think you said something about going inside?’

  She gave her swollen lips a quick lick before straightening up and tottering towards the front door. Doug followed behind her, his body throbbing in places he didn’t realise could throb. As she fumbled with the keys he couldn’t resist cupping her breasts, squeezing them over the velvet bodice. Christ, what he wouldn’t give to see them.

  ‘You’re not helping,’ she gasped, then moaned as his fingers snuck inside the bodice and traced round her nipple.

  ‘Here, let me do it.’ He made to grab the keys with his free hand but she shooed hi
m away.

  ‘No. I’d rather you kept your hands where they were.’

  He did as he was told, leaning against the door so he could use his spare hand to pull down her zipper slightly, allowing him easier access.

  Abby chose that moment to unlock the door and it suddenly swung open, propelling them both, stumbling, inside.

  Abby let out a little shriek and immediately there was a bark, followed by a scamper of feet.

  ‘Pat, shush.’ She bent down to stroke the dog, her dress falling off her shoulders. The sight of all her exposed skin made Doug suck in a breath. ‘It’s only me and Doug,’ she soothed, fondling the dog’s ears. Doug imagined her hands fondling him and his crotch throbbed so much it was painful.

  She stood, the bodice of her dress falling down around her waist and exposing her full, naked breasted glory. ‘Now, where were we?’

  His eyes greedily took their fill but just as he reached out to touch, a small voice came from the stairs. ‘Abby, is that you?’

  Abby froze and Doug hastily grasped at her dress, lifting it up to cover the twin globes of perfection that would be forever imprinted in his mind.

  ‘Umm, yes, Ellie. It’s me and Doug.’ The sound of him zipping up her dress echoed round the room.

  ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘I’ve just invited Doug in for a cup of coffee.’

  Doug swallowed down his laughter as he glanced over at Abby. Her hair was wild, her dress looked like she’d shoved it on in a hurry and her mouth as if it had been thoroughly kissed. As Ellie walked slowly down the stairs he wondered how long it would take her to work out that sharing a drink with Abby hadn’t been on his agenda.

  ‘Why has Doug got lipstick on his mouth? Have you been kissing?’

  Slowly the night that had offered such promise began to shrivel and turn to dust. It was for the best, of course. He shouldn’t be leading Abby on, starting something that had no future. But God, the frustration, the crushing disappointment. He couldn’t even let out the stream of oaths circulating in his mind because Ellie was standing in front of them now, her eyes like saucers.