by Penny Henry
Ali snuggled into her seat and smiled at Beth. She was joyful and thrilled to be a part of Beth’s happiness. She watched Beth ease the gleaming car through the traffic that was building up on the ring road and turn off to join the highway to the coast. The open roads would give Beth a chance to gain a sense of the car’s performance. Ali leant back against the leather seat and focused on Beth as she tried to keep the whisper-quiet motor under the legal speed limit.
The car ate up the miles and they were gliding into a familiar coastal before they knew they were there. They found a place to park above the quay and a pathway that led them to the crescent of the secluded bay. Beth wanted to walk through the pretty gardens at the top of the cliffs and Ali was happy to stroll along with her. Their hands brushed at times and they didn’t avoid the contact. Beth had forgotten her pledge to keep the relationship with Ali as strictly business. The urge to hold hands was almost irresistible. Before they wanted to they were reluctantly heading back to the car park.
"Let's find a restaurant," suggested Beth suddenly. "I'm not in the mood to go back just yet."
Ali stared at Beth across the roof of the car. "Do you know what you’re asking, Beth?"
"I couldn't be more certain." She returned Ali’s stare with an unflinching emerald gaze. "Get in the car."
Ali obeyed Beth’s command, slipping into the car and curling up on the front seat. "I know a lovely little place nearby." She said it in a nervous voice. "Do you like Mexican, Beth?"
The atmosphere inside the car was electric. Beth was fighting to control her breathing. "As long as I'm with you, Ali, I don't mind where we eat and, yes, I do like a good Mexican."
Ali was trembling. She was fearful that her words would come out as a nervous squeak. She coughed into her hand to free her throat. "This place is the best, Beth. The owner lived in Arizona and brought the finest Sonoran recipes with her." Ali was amazed at how normal she sounded. "Follow this road and head towards the seafront. If we're lucky we can park outside. It's called the Mariposa, that's Mexican for butterfly."
The silence between them spoke louder than a torrent of words. They both stared ahead as Beth rounded the bends in the narrow streets and brought the deserted seafront into sight. She found an empty space near the restaurant.
"Hey, Ali. This is a surprise.” The owner spotted the couple as they entered. She weaved her way through the crowded restaurant to say hello. "I didn’t expect to see you at this time of night. If you can fight your way through to the bar I'll fix you a drink." She set the example by easing her way through her good-humored customers.
They reached the bar and Ali asked for a white wine for herself and an orange juice for Beth.
"And who is this beautiful woman?" asked their hostess without a trace of embarrassment.
"This is my friend, Beth."
"Hello, Beth. I’m Eleanor. It’s about time that Ali found herself someone."
Beth smiled at Eleanor's directness and made no attempt to correct her guess. "I’m very pleased to meet you, Eleanor. Ali’s told me a lot about your cantina.” She looked over her shoulder. “Everything she said is true." The atmosphere was getting inside her skin and she liked the no-nonsense owner.
Ali's cheeks burned scarlet as Eleanor and Beth introduced themselves to each other. She knew that any objection to Eleanor’s assumption would be futile. Her eyes would contradict any explanation she might come up with. Ali was in love with Beth and there wasn't a thing she could do to hide it.
Eleanor stole a table from a party at the end of their meal and Ali took great pleasure in guiding Beth through the delights of genuine Sonoran cooking. Even in the crowded restaurant they found a way to be alone, barely noticing the subtle service or the gradual departure of their fellow diners. They were wrapped in a cocoon of their own making, oblivious to the stares they attracted and content to be in their private world. Beth and Ali were been left to dine alone for the last hour until Eleanor appeared from the kitchen followed by her regular chef. Beth offered her generous compliments and a further fifteen minutes went by in cheerful reminiscing before Eleanor wished them a fond farewell. With goodnights ringing in their ears Beth and Ali departed the Mariposa in a haze of warm feelings that overpowered their senses, leaning into each other, looking and acting like lovers.
"Where shall we go now, Ali?" Beth's words were barely audible.
"My car is in the hotel car park."
Beth started the gutsy engine as Ali nestled into a comfortable position. She nosed the classic automobile through the narrow streets and headed out of town to find the highway that would take them back the way they had come. They had hardly exchanged a word by the time that Beth hit the motorway section and allowed the car to roar its power. Beth stared at the road and Ali avoided looking at her, each of them knowing what the other was thinking, both dreading the reality that awaited them at their destination. Neither of them wanted the day to end. They both yearned for and feared the unspoken desire that burned in their souls. They had a need for each other that could not be ignored. Ali let out a sigh and Beth chanced a glance in her direction before turning her attention back to the road. There was a decision that had to be made with consequences they were not prepared to acknowledge. The silence became almost unbearable as the Jag effortlessly devoured the miles, bringing nearer the moment they would say goodnight or turn the world on its head.
Their nerves were screaming by the time Beth glided into the hotel car park. She switched off the engine and turned to look at Ali. She was staring straight ahead. Beth could not believe she had seen anyone more beautiful. The soft light of the moon bathed Ali’s features in a golden glow. The smooth skin of her forehead shone dully above a small straight nose that was in perfect balance to the fullness of her lips. A magical turn of the sculptor's art had carried her fine boned jaw into a slender neck that was made for kissing. Beth leant forward as Ali turned towards her. Her eyes were wide beneath high-arched brows and filled with a wonderful tenderness.
Beth bent her neck and Ali’s eyes fluttered shut as Beth claimed her mouth with her own. They kissed tenderly at first; whispering their lips across each other's, then more urgently as their arms reached out to bring their pounding hearts closer. Then they kissed fiercely as their passion ignited and their mouths grew hot. Beth's right hand moved beneath Ali's jacket, lifting her blouse and pushing up her bra to caress the satin mound of Ali’s breast. She felt Ali’s nipple grow stiff under her circling palm. Ali lifted from her seat as Beth's other arm snaked round her waist to draw Ali closer, pulling them tightly together and communicating their need. Beth was twisted in her seat as Ali tugged Beth’s top from her waistband, whimpering at the sensation of her hands on Beth’s warm body.
"Ali, Ali, stay with me tonight," Beth implored the fragrant female. "Stay with me, please." Her words dissolved in a passionate, searching kiss that was heightened by Ali’s hands on her skin. Ali was passionate. She pushed up Beth’s top and tugged down her bra before bending her head to suck on Beth’s aching nipples. Beth was wet and shifting her position. She unconsciously dropped her hand to Ali’s groin. Ali’s legs opened wide. Beth ran her hand under Ali’s skirt to cup her moist sex. Ali’s hips rose and Beth eased past her panties to slip a finger inside the wet tunnel, rubbing the palm of her hand against Ali’s rising groin. Then Ali seemed to stiffen. She pulled back from Beth’s demanding kiss. “Beth, Beth. We’re in the hotel car park. This is madness.” Beth withdrew her hand and they broke apart, gasping for air.
Beth nuzzled into Ali’s neck and whispered into her ear. "Stay with me, Ali. You can leave early in the morning."
Ali froze. Her arms straightened to push Beth away. "What? What did you say, Beth?"
Beth paled. "I didn't mean it like that, Ali."
Ali wriggled upright in her seat. She reached under her blouse to adjust her bra and tidy herself up before she again looked at Beth. "Are we forgetting ourselves again, Beth? Is that it? It’s just a bit of fun, right?”
"I'm not the one about to be married," mocked Ali. "Look, Beth, we seem to be repeating ourselves. We've had another wonderful day. Let's not spoil it by getting serious." She was tearing herself apart but she couldn't allow Beth see the pain she had caused.
"How can you say that, Ali? Please, just give me some time. I need to get my head round this. I've never felt this way before, not about anyone."
"Oh? And that includes Darren, does it?" she snapped. "Grow up, Beth. You're going to marry Darren. You were always going to marry Darren. I'm just your bit on the side." Ali could feel hot tears in her eyes. She twisted round to her door. "I'll see you tomorrow." She pushed the door open leaving Beth stunned and speechless, slamming the door behind her and running towards her car. Her cheeks were wet with sobbing as she blindly started the engine and crunched the gears before wiping her eyes with her sleeve and accelerating into the night. She had said she would see Beth tomorrow. Why was she torturing herself? She could as easily ask Kierran to relieve her from her role as Beth's account manager. But then she might never see Beth again. She loved her. And it was killing her to know that Beth was in love with someone else.
Beth didn't blink until the rear lights of Ali's Peugeot were lost in the night. She considered that she might be truly in love. She had always thought she was in love with Darren, but she had never felt the way that Ali made her feel. She was so overwhelmed with emotion that she felt like sobbing. Ali had torn out her heart when she had dismissed Beth’s apology. Ali wasn’t prepared to be anybody’s bit of fun. Beth hadn’t wanted that. She had handled it badly and made Ali feel cheap. How could she have been so thoughtless? Beth sat in the car feeling a sadness that weighed in her heart. Today had been one of the best days of her life. She would treasure the memory. She didn't imagine there would be many days like this in her life with Darren.
She pressed the start button and nosed the car out of the car park. There was only one person that she knew would take her pain away. She nudged the gas and the Jag leapt forward. Tom would know what to do.
Chapter Ten
Beth was back in the car park in an hour. Tom hadn’t been home. It was late. Maybe Tom was a shift worker. She had shocked herself by realizing how little she knew about the big man. She just absolutely trusted him and knew he would never let her down. Did Tom have a girlfriend? Was Tom with her now? Beth had felt an unreasonable pang of jealousy. Her shoulders had slumped as she turned away from the door. It had been a stupid idea in the first place.
She dragged herself out of the car. Then it dawned on her. She was going to have to explain her shiny new car to Darren in the morning. She trudged towards the hotel doors. She’d be sleeping alone tonight. Maybe that was part of the problem. She knew she was suffering mental abuse from Darren. She was obsessed with sex. She was needy. She could fall in and out of love at the drop of a hat. Beth realized that Tom had been right. She was in serious need of professional help.
"Where were you last night?" Darren’s voice scraped on Beth's nerves like a rasp across a metal edge.
"Good morning. It’s nice to see you too, Darren."
"Well, Beth? Are you going to explain?"
Beth stumbled over the last few steps into reception and turned towards the breakfast room. She normally liked to get up late on a Saturday and she hadn't slept well at all. She had tossed and turned thinking about Ali. But when her thoughts had drifted from Ali she had felt annoyed that Tom hadn’t been there when she needed him. She hadn’t thought about Darren once.
Her sleeping pattern was reflecting the way her life had been turned upside down. She had naively thought that the Lottery win would make everything right. She had got Darren back and her life was mapped out. She would have everything a woman could need. But sometimes she wondered if any amount of money could make Darren happy. With Ali she had glimpsed emotions that had ripped through her heart with the impact of a hurricane through a shantytown. She couldn't get Ali out of her mind. And she was still angry with Tom.
"I asked you a question, Beth." Darren wasn't going to let it go. "I wanted to talk to you. You weren't anywhere. You weren’t even answering your mobile—"
"Oh, let me give you my new number," said Beth patiently. She pulled the iPhone from her handbag as she seated herself at the breakfast table.
"Where did you get that?" asked Darren grumpily. He pulled out a chair for himself.
"Ali bought it for me."
"Did she?" Darren’s face turned ugly. "I would have bought you a new one if you’d asked."
“I didn’t need to ask Ali.”
Darren went quiet.
"I need to be able to contact Ali if something comes up. She was kind enough to replace my old one. She’s trying to bring me into the 21st Century. It’s not a big deal."
Darren moodily entered the number that Beth repeated into the memory of his mobile phone. Beth ordered breakfast and Darren settled for a cup of black coffee.
"Where were you anyway?"
Beth arranged her cutlery without looking up. "I bought a new car and took it for a spin. Is that all right with you?"
Darren almost spat out his drink. "You bought a new car without telling me?" He didn’t ask about the time she was meant to have spent with her mother.
Beth looked at him coldly. "It is my money, Darren."
He had never seen this side of Beth before. A warning bell sounded in his head. "Of course it’s your money." He waited until the waiter had finished serving Beth and pinned a grin to his face. "So you finally spent some money on yourself. I’ve been saying that you should.” Beth couldn’t think when. Darren was looking interested. “So, what did you buy yourself?"
A smile of satisfaction crept onto Beth's face. "A Jaguar XKR," she said proudly. "It’s fabulous. The top of the range. Ali said I could easily afford it..."
Darren gritted his teeth and kept his as Beth became animated and boring, listing the top-end specification and adding a vivid account of the car’s performance. Darren listened with as much self-control as he could muster. Ali was becoming a pain in the ass. The cunning little tramp had a hold over Beth that he couldn’t work out. Darren was going to have to work fast. He intended on screwing as much as he could out of Beth before Ali tied it all up in sensible investments. Clive Francis had called that morning with news of a property that would suit their plans perfectly. He had also spent time with Lucy yesterday, assuring her that the franchise scheme was on track. He had neglected to mention that his dad was planning on buying Alfie out. Lucy had been so appreciative that they had spent the afternoon doing things that would have made Beth die of embarrassment. Beth was still enthusing over the Jag and Darren was wondering what he had ever seen in her. The thought of spending the rest of his life married to Beth appalled him. As beautiful as she was, Beth was dull. She would be horrified if he suggested doing the things he did with Lucy. The poor thing hadn’t a clue when it came to sex.
"The car sounds great, sweetheart," said Darren as Beth’s lively story came to an end. "You’ve got to take me for a drive in it.”
"What about this morning?" Beth was pleased that Darren was happy for her. She had surprised him with the news but now he was delighted for her. She could see it in his eyes. It was a shame that Ali never saw Darren for the way he really was.
"I'm so sorry, Beth. I’d love to, but Clive Francis called this morning. He’s had a tip-off on a property that would suit us perfectly. The thing is we have to move quickly. I didn’t know what your plans were for today.” He couldn’t resist an accusing look. “So I said I’d meet him there and give the place the once-over. It’s just a preliminary look. If it has potential we can make the final decision together.” Darren finished his drink. “Clive has put himself out for us. It would be rude not to show up. Why don’t you rela
x and finish your breakfast. Maybe you should go for a drive?” He pushed back his chair and stood up before bending to kiss her cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
"Okay, Darren. Thank you. I don’t think I’m up to trudging round an empty house this morning. I’ll meet you later. You're an absolute sweetheart. What would I ever do without you?"
"You know I’d do anything for you, Beth." Darren gave a wink. "We can meet up here. Say, around five o'clock."
"I'll look forward to it." Darren walked away and Beth relaxed. She had her own agenda in mind. She planned on driving to the restaurant to see how the business was doing for herself. If Alfie was around she’d be happy to bring him up to date. Beth was also thinking about making an offer for Alfie’s shares. She would give him a good price and bring her own holding up to thirty percent. She’d hold the balance of power between Darren and Lucy. She’d be damned if she’d let Jacob take control. Alfie would appreciate the truth - unlike the drivel he got from Lucy. Beth was also interested in finding out exactly where Lucy had disappeared to yesterday. It was something that Beth had resisted the urge to ask Darren. If she could get Lucy on her own she was sure she would find a way to force it out of her.
Darren was stepping through the door when he turned to call to Beth, "You won't mind if my dad comes along, will you, Beth?" Then he walked away without a waiting for an answer.
Beth was left with little choice. She had promised she would talk to Jacob. Darren had coolly sprung the trap. She watched him strut away with the gut-feeling that she had been set up. She couldn’t help but be in awe of Darren’s nerve. And she had to admit he looked good. She couldn’t help but feel that things might be different if Darren hadn’t insisted on avoiding sex until their wedding night. Sometimes she wished he had a more liberal attitude towards sex.
The engine had barely warmed up by the time Beth found a parking spot close to the restaurant. It was Saturday morning and the town was bustling. Beth had to admit that Lucy had worked wonders. The restaurant was already busy. She squeezed through the door and staff she mostly didn't recognize were buzzing around keeping the customers happy. A pleasant young man escorted her to the office. There had been a lot of changes in the time she had been away. Lucy never stopped for breath. She was the driving force behind the progress the restaurant had made. She would be a tremendous loss if Darren got his way.