by Penny Henry
Darren had been on the bike behind Ali and strode past her slim figure. “What the fuck is all this about, Beth? She’s a flaming lesbian. I knew something wasn’t right.” He wrinkled his brow. “You’re not telling me that you and her actually―” He was lost for words.
“Maybe you don’t know me as well as you thought you did, Darren. What do you want?”
Darren recovered his composure. “The hotel told me where you’d gone. I got there early. I needed to see you, Beth. It can’t be over between us. We’ve been sweethearts since we were kids.”
“I told you not to call me that, Darren.”
“I’m sorry.” He looked ashamed. “I’m sorry for everything, Beth. I’m begging you for another chance. Please, Beth, we can move on. There’s too much that’s happened between us to give up now. I need you, Beth.”
Darren looked handsome in his motorbike gear. His eyes were burning into hers. She had loved him for a lifetime and she had always forgiven him everything. Beth shook her head. “I’m sorry, Darren. Not this time. Not now. Not ever. It’s over between us. You’ll be hearing from my lawyers. I’m suing you for obtaining goods and money under false pretences. You’re never getting another penny out of me. I guess you’d better go and make eyes at Lucy. She’s the one in charge now.”
Darren’s gave Beth a thunderous look. “You’re doing what? “
“You heard me, Darren. I’m suing you. You’re despicable. I never want to see you again.”
So you’re hooking up with this little tart then? Is she that good in bed, Beth?” He swept a scathing look over Ali. “She’ll take you for everything you’ve got.”
“No. I’m not doing that either.” Beth looked at Ali. “I’m sorry, Ali. Thinking you’re in love with me isn’t enough. We’d just rip holes in each other. Let’s remember the good times we had together and stay friends. I’d like that.”
Ali’s feature’s clouded over for a second. Then she sucked in a breath and brightened up. “I’d like that too, Beth.”
“You’re a pair of fucking lezzas!” Darren took a threatening step towards Beth with his hand raised. Suddenly his legs were whipped from under him and he crashed to the graveled road.
“I’m just protecting the lady, sir.” The motorbike cop had walked up behind Darren and swept his legs away in one easy move. He hauled Darren to his feet. “I suggest you fuck off, sir.” The hard stare in his eyes stopped Darren from opening his mouth. He stumbled away, ignoring the smiling faces of two policemen sitting in a car that had glided up behind the motorcycle cop.
“Have a great holiday, Beth.” Ali blew Beth a kiss and pulled on her helmet. “I know you’re right. Buy me something nice.” She waltzed towards Asif’s big bike. The eyes of the coppers in the car were glued to Ali’s sexy walk. She winked at them before kicking the Yamaha into life. With a wave of her hand Ali gathered pace on the slip road and accelerated into her lane.
Beth was left speechless. Her mind was running riot as she stared at the tall policeman that had had been her hero. He took off his helmet and combed his fingers through his sandy hair. “Hello, Beth. Going somewhere?”
“Tom! I knew it was you!” She threw herself at him. He picked Beth up and spun her round. “You big palooka!” She wriggled out of his arms. “What about the redhead? The slim, tanned one. The one you took home. The one who stayed the night? I heard you laughing with her.”
Tom grinned. “I thought that might have been you. You should have stuck around. My mother wanted to meet you. You do remember when I told you she lived abroad, don’t you, Beth?”
“Y... your mother? But I thought that... the tan... of course.”
Tom laughed like a bell. “My mother is going to love you, Beth. She hasn’t been labeled as a scarlet woman in a long time.” He ruffled his hair. “That’s where the ginger comes from.”
“Oh, Tom.” Beth cringed at the names she had called Tom’s mother in her head. She distantly remembered Tom shouting something about a motorbike. God, why had she never talked to him? “I’m going away, Tom.” She thought for a moment. “I don’t want to go now. I want to stay here with you. I want to have a conversation with you.” She looked into his eyes and her heart jerked like a piston in her chest. “I love you, Tom.”
Tom bent his head to kiss her softly. “I love you too, Beth. From the first second I saw you. I needed you to work out your issues before I made a move. And we will have a long conversation, Beth. We’ll have it on the plane.”
“What are you talking about, Tom?”
Tom began to unzip his leathers and step out of them. He jerked his head at the policemen in the car. They both got out. One was wearing motorcycle leathers. The other was carrying Tom’s suitcase. “Put it in the cab please, Tony. Sling this lot in the back of the car, Jake.”
“Yes, sarge,” they said together. They did as Tom asked before strolling away to their respective machines. “Have a good holiday, sarge.”
“But, how did you know, Tom?”
“I play squash with Kierran.” He said it as though it would explain everything. Beth thought that it probably did. “You wouldn’t believe the stunts I had to pull to get here.”
“You’re here, Tom. That’s all that matters.” A thought struck her. “What about accommodation? I’ve already booked a hotel.”
“Guess where my mother lives?” Beth mouthed the word Florida and Tom winked a yes. “She’s staying on here so we’ve got the place to ourselves.” He jangled a set of keys in the air.
“We’d better be going, miss. The plane won’t wait for forever.” Beth’s driver was getting anxious.
They scrambled into the back of the car and held each other close as they kissed. It was a kiss that took Beth back to her first kiss with Tom. She should have known then. It didn’t matter. They were together now and it would be forever. “Tom... does your mother’s house have a swimming pool?” Tom nodded. “Can we swim naked?” Tom nodded his head again. “Can I walk round the house naked?”
“You can do anything you want to, Beth. Just as long as you don’t frighten the neighbors.”
She dug him in the ribs.
“Be careful, Beth. Remember you’re not too big to go over my knee.”
“Oooh, Tom. Promises, promises.”
The end
Copyright William Peter Blight © 2014
Titles in the Raw Romance series
Sporting Chance
Nymphomaniac
Double Take