“Where are we?” I inquired.
“This Nadine is my home.”
I watched him lock the car and motion to his front door at the same time, grasping my hand. I was slightly nervous with how the night would end. As he took me in his home, I was falling in love already with everything about this man. Clearly this property was of a contemporary feel, the lounge was massive in size, white in colour, and the flooring was wood or laminate; which I could not distinguish. There was also a sculpture which I glanced at, and the backdrop was of a TV on the wall. Nothing was out of place. Clearly Blake had so much style; he carried the aura around him which I had failed to notice.
“hmm this in an intriguing piece of furniture” eying up the sculpture, the stand that was holding it up was of granite but the main piece was of half a body which was predominately black which sparkled and off the shoulder was totally encrusted with diamonds.
“That was a gift from my sister; it was a decoration which at first I had not been so sure off but I decided to leave it in this room. Eventually I got used to it and at one point I was contemplating removing it but after her death; every time I was in this room and whenever I looked at it, it was a reminder of her.”
I touched his hand softly, gently squeezing it.
“I can feel your pain. Life is to be treasured and some people do not realise how precious it is. You think that the person you love the most will always be here, but the reality is that nothing lasts forever. The amount of times I had wished I had told both my parents how much I loved them everyday ate at me. I sometimes wonder if they really knew what they meant to me.”
“Nadine, I am sure they did. I told my sister how much I loved her just before she left here on that fateful night. I always think I could’ve done something to prevent it had I noticed something was bugging her.”
“Blake, sometimes you just don’t see it coming. I didn’t think my parents would pass away when they did, both my parents were so happy in each other’s company on that night. I do not think that one of them would have survived without the other.”
He stood right behind me, closing the space between us and had embraced me from behind with his hands resting flat on my stomach. We had both endured the pain of loss, and knew how much it hurt when someone you gravely loved had passed on. We remained silent for a few minutes, basking in each other.
“I could stay like this, having you hug me like this, I feel at peace. A contentment I had never thought I would feel after both my parents had passed away.”
I leaned into him even more, turning around whilst still in his arms. I felt his fingers brush the tear that was on the verge of submerging the waves of my emotions.
“We’ve both been through pain, things that we could not have foreseen. You’re a strong woman Nadine. I cannot thank you enough for saving my life.”
I felt the urgency as he stated that mere fact that I was the reason he was alive. I kissed him then, wanting him to feel every emotion that I was feeling; the pain, the sorrows that had cut both of us deep, hope and most of all love. I kissed him passionately like my life had depended on it, my tongue tasting him. I deepened the kiss whilst my hands were roaming this fine specimen. I was gulping for air and so was he once I had stopped the kiss.
“Wow, I had not expected to you be undoing me right here Nadine.”
“I felt like I had to show you how much you mean to me right at this precise moment.”
“I was not keen to devour you on the first night, Come let’s cook.”
Blake leads me into another room, as big as the living room. I knew instantly it was a kitchen/ dining room plus there was a seating area further. The entire room was spacious airy and light. There was also an island which looked more like a bar with white stools. It was a chef’s fantasy. I could not actually fathom that Blake would spend his time in this room either way I was finding myself in awe of everything this man had owned.
“Do you actually cook?” I asked.
“Sure I do, I can rustle up a good spaghetti bolognaise which is on the menu tonight.
“Want help?”
“I wouldn’t mind you helping cutting up the onions and washing the mince from the packet.”
I was onto it like a bee on honey. I worked meticulously on cutting the onions without trying to shed a tear and got onto opening the packet of mince and washed it slowly. I felt him then again behind me, so close hugging me from behind. His hands joining mine whilst rinsing the mince.
“If you keep this up, there won’t be much of a dinner.”
I manage to wrangle myself out of his grasp.
“Let Chef Saunders show you how it’s done.”
He grabs me and literally sweeps me off his floor and places me onto the breakfast bar. I watch him cooking with an ease whilst my legs are swinging from side to side like a little girl.
“Enjoying the sight?”
“Very much so” I beam at him.
I see him mixing the onions with the mince with a passion, then the tomato sauce for the bolognaise. It smells amazingly mouth watering. I watch him stir the spaghetti in a separate pot and who says men can’t multitask. Clearly Blake Saunders knew what he was doing.
“So tell me, when did you learn how to cook?” I asked.
“I learned at a young age, my mother made sure I was domesticated enough before I left America.”
“She taught you well, you happen to be the first man I have met who can multitask.”
“Is that so?”
“It is I’m sure that dinner is cooked.”
I watch him drain the spaghetti and adds a drop of oil. He plates up the food dividing it equally.
I slide off the counter like a teenager and head to the lime green chairs where the dining table is. I take a seat and wait for Blake to join me. I watch him intently, admiring him applying the final touches to the dish. I shake my head as I know spaghetti bolognaise is not a dish that you can make it look like a work of art. With two plates of food in his hands, he placed mine in front of me. The food looked appetising and I could not wait to tuck in.
“Wait, I need to bring the glasses of champagne.”
I waited for him to retrieve the glasses of champagne. I peered down my wine glass to see a little rose petal.
“What do we have here?”
“There’s a strawberry and a rose petal which is flavoured to enhance the taste.”
I took a sip as the curiosity got the better of me, the taste was exquisite. I took a forkful of the spaghetti and was pleasantly surprised.
“How does it taste?” Blake asked.
“Surprisingly tasty, I can’t even recall when I had spaghetti bolognaise that was mouth wateringly good, it tasted different.
“It is my mother’s recipe. American spaghetti bolognaise.”
“No wonder why it tastes even better than I remembered it.”
I could not remember a time whereby I was content with the food, especially homemade food. We sat in silence devouring the meal that Blake had rustled up and the champagne to add was to die for. It was amazing to see how fast a man like Blake could eat and drink. It was fascinating to watch.
“Could you make room for dessert?”
“Dessert? I feel stuffed.”
I decide to stand up to clear the plates, there was not even left over’s on the plate. We both downed the drinks at the same time.
“I can put the plates away in the dishwasher. Don’t worry about cleaning up.” I feel Blake beside me as he takes the plates, our hands brush together. I feel a spark between us. It’s electrifying that I back away and watch him bend over to put the plates in the dishwasher. I cannot keep my eyes off him. I attempt a poor wolf whistle whilst he fully has bent over.
“Check that booty out.” I say giggling.
“Just you wait and watch what I’ll do to you Miss Nixon.” He jokingly threatened me.
I loved how we had great banter between us. I was eyeing him up like a piece of candy that I could not wait to t
aste. Within a second he had swept me off my feet and was taking me to the living room.
“Put me down Mr Saunders.” I say in an outburst of giggles.
“Not yet. You are so going to p....” I broke him off in midsentence by kissing him lightly. My lips brushing his. He placed me down on the sofa whilst my lips were still kissing him softly. His lips were addictive, like a drug I could not get enough off. My hands were all over him and I had the urge to take things further. I wanted to feel his bare skin under my palms. The more we were kissing, the more caught up we were getting. He stopped the kisses, again breathing heavily, both of us panting like we had run a marathon.
“If you keep kissing me like that, you’ll tempt me and as much as I love kissing you it would be best we take things slow.”
“I agree, but you Mr Saunders are addictive, too addictive that I am struggling to keep away.”
I snuggled into his arms, whilst he turned on the TV.
“What movie would you like to watch?” He asked.
“What choices are there?”
“Nadine, you can’t answer back with another question, but hell there’s a few options mainly all action films which I hope you don’t mind.”
“Just put any on, I am not fussed so long as I am in good company which evidently I am.”
Blake had put on one of the films, it was a noir film. I couldn’t quite remember the name but I scooted closer to him and found myself practically in his arms. I felt so serene and at peace. This was something I could easily get used to. I could feel his hands tracing the outline of my body, it was a rare sensation that I ended up having goose bumps by his mere touch. My arms were tightly wrapped around his waist whilst his arms were around me with my head resting against his shoulders. I could feel my eyes slowly closing, so at ease with this man. I could feel him kissing my forehead and I was falling into a deep sleep. I could still smell him; the cologne was clung to him like a second skin. I felt weightless and knew that I was being carried off, my eyes had slightly opened to see myself in what I knew was his bedroom which was painted in white which was very spacious with the same airy feel, I noticed there was a tub at the side of the room. The sheets were as soft as silk, the room had felt warm and I could see the entire room was bathed in candle lights. I sat upright in this big bed, scanning the room for any signs of movement but there was nothing. I waited for what felt like an eternity and felt the bed had dipped slightly. I was looking in the other direction when I knew he was here with me right in this room. The giveaway was the cologne and then I heard his voice.
“I didn’t think I would startle you, I thought you had dosed off so that you could have a power nap.”
“I was merely closing my eyes, enjoying being in your company. You make me feel at home, which is something I had not felt in years since I lost my parents. I didn’t think it possible to ever feel a sense of belonging again but you Blake are making me feel all this things; all emotions I had not thought was possible to feel again.”
“You deserve as much happiness as I considering the loss we have had to suffer. I don’t think there would be a time where we would forget losing people who are important in our life; yours being your parents and mine was losing my kid sister. I don’t think I have stopped grieving the loss of her.”
“You didn’t tell me exactly what happened to her. But I won’t probe you until you are comfortable enough with me and trust me enough to tell me everything.”
“Nadine I feel I can trust you, I will always be in your debt for saving me. I have never disclosed it, obviously my parents in America knew and we decided to get her buried over there. Sometimes being alone in this house and seeing the sculpture in the living room reminds me of her. The pain will always be there, both my parents had asked me to take care of her, she came to the UK to experience life here. She was so wise and skilled in her work. Her forte was to make her mark in the fashion industry unless you had not gathered by the sculpture in my living room. One night she had decided to go out with a few friends she met, the hours had passed and I remained awake until I heard the door. I didn’t hear anything but received a call telling me she had been admitted to hospital. I was livid with whom-ever had laid a finger on her.” I remained quiet just listening to him. I could sense it was too much for him. He had abruptly stopped.
“Blake, you don’t need to tell me. I can see how bad you’re taking this maybe it would be best to tell me another time.”
I placed my hand on his cheek, he looked guilty and when he was talking about her the more distressed he had looked. He glanced at his watch and I knew instinctively it had to be late.
“I think I’ll make a move, I ought to be heading back home.”
“Allow me to drop you home please.”
I could see a pleading look in those eyes that always knew how to express his emotion. I silently kissed his cheek, lingering further down to his lips. It was a slow but sweet kiss. Clearly he was struggling with the death of his sister and I wanted him to know I would always be there for him. He took hold of my hand and led me back to his car. I would really have to get used to the idea that his car was this spectacular. Once seated in his car, I felt the seats warming me up whilst he drove me back home. I had placed my right hand on his lap; I needed the body contact, a reassurance to him that I would be his. The drive was fairly quick and it was a starry night when we had reached mines. He opened the passenger door, the gentleman that he was. I was out of his car, hugging each other like it was the last time I would see him. We remained glued to each other. I clung to him. I had not heard the noise but he did. He had shielded my body with his. I heard it then, the sound I recognised, a gunshot had echoed all around me.
Chapter 11
I was screaming so loud, my voice was cracking. I was sobbing, shivering with the sheer shock to only realise it was yet another nightmare. This dream felt so much real compared to the others, I was soaked in sweat not realising that my sheets were wet. I could see the sun rays gliding through my room and heard my phone ringing. I answered it on the third ring.
“Hello.”
“Nadine, it’s me Daniel, I just wanted to let you know that today will be your last shift working with Christina at Gatwick. You’ll both be working the late shift and you will be starting work with me in 3 days time so that you can try and get your body clock back into sync. You’ll be starting work at around 9am but just in case you forget, I shall drop you a text message with all the details. I will see both Christina and you later on as I need to fly to Europe this time. Trust me you will love the travelling once you start working beside me.”
“My last shift? Really? Today?”
“That’s correct, we have already filled both your vacancies with full timers who will be starting tomorrow but thought it was only fair that both you and Christina managed to work together one last time.”
“Thank you for informing me.”
The phone goes dead. I was dreading finding out when my last working day would be with Christina. I felt queasy after the nightmare I had and now this. I glanced at the clock and saw that it was 8am. I had to get out of these sheets and change them as they were soaked with my perspiration. I opted for a plain purple duvet. I definitely needed to shower. I headed to my bathroom and glanced at myself in the mirror, my eyes looked beyond puffy which hopefully by the time I had left to go to Gatwick it shouldn’t be as noticeable. I jumped in the shower, untied my hair and lathered it up with shampoo; I needed to be clean after waking up in sweat and no doubt my hair would’ve been greasy which definitely would not have been the best look had I not bothered. Once showered and hair washed, I grab the towel and wrapped it round me whilst another was wrapped around my hair. I quickly brushed my teeth and headed back to my room. I then located another pencil skirt which was grey and a blouse which was of a navy blue colour. Whilst I quickly got dressed I decided on wearing plain black tights and picked out another pair of shoes which were very similar to court heels, a tiny heel with a buckle. Hopefu
lly these shoes would not kill my feet like the ones I had managed to run in last night. I jog down my stairs like a little girl and decide on eating breakfast biscuits which are known as either belvitta or nutrigrain with a cup of tea. I quickly have the biscuits with the tea then start to apply minimal makeup. I apply a touch of foundation, powder, a hint of blush and eyeliner. I hear my phone ringing and see that it’s Chrissie. Surely she must also be aware that it is the last time we are working together. I answer her call.
“Nadine!!!Can you believe it? It’s our last ever day we’ll be working together!” She practically was screaming down the phone.
“I know, Daniel Richardson who will be my new partner from now on somehow got my number and had informed me also that it will be our last late shift ever where we will be working together. Sad times don’t you think?”
“Nadz things certainly won’t be the same. I’ll be starting University in two days time and plus I somehow was fooling myself with Tom. You were so right to just focus on my career which is what I intend to do, seeing someone whilst studying may distract me which I’m afraid off and done the wisest thing by letting Tom go. I told him that I would prefer to be his friend for the time being and maybe after I will see once I have completed my studies. Do you think that was fair?”
Vanished: What Would You Do If The Love Of Your Life Disappeared Without A Trace? (Nadine's quest to unravel the truth Book 1) Page 10