“I did – I’m sure I did” Cliona answered breezily, “Declan asked him weeks ago” she added for good measure.
“You most certainly did not or I wouldn’t have agreed to come” Katie answered out of the side of her mouth, “and I may not be staying now!”
“Oh come on, don’t be so dramatic” said Cliona, with a touch of the kettle calling the pot very dark indeed, “There are loads of people here – you won’t even have to speak to him if you don’t want to.” Katie accepted defeat gracefully, after all she was not going to make a show of herself by turning round and walking out – nor would she give Ben Wilson the satisfaction of thinking he’d won. Although judging by the way Declan was covering the back exit it was entirely possible Ben was having exactly the same idea as her.
Putting on her brightest PA smile, Katie moved to the first group of people and was soon introduced to Jenny & Mike and Lulu & Simon and spent the half hour before dinner chatting politely about Mike’s farm and Lulu’s handmade card business, all the time conscious of Ben talking animatedly to the other couple she later found out were called John & Sue, Sue was Declan’s front of house manager who was currently on maternity leave.
When Cliona called them all to the table Katie soon realised Cliona’s earlier declaration that she wouldn’t have to speak to Ben was not strictly true as Cliona had seated them next to each other, and, as she had cleverly manoeuvred everyone else to their seats first there was no alternative but to sit down next to each other with an attempt at good grace. Katie glowered at Cliona as she placed the bread baskets on the table and Cliona smiled sweetly back, safe in the knowledge that Katie wouldn’t really hurl the bowl of butternut squash soup at her – despite the huge appeal of the idea!
Katie studiously broke up her seeded wholemeal bread roll and proceeded to spread butter on it with military precision, consciously avoiding any glances to her left where Ben was involved in a similar process.
“So, Katie” a voice boomed next to her, causing her to drop the piece of bread she had so meticulously buttered, “Not married yet, and how old are you? Over 30?” Simon’s voice carried right round the table. Katie jumped as she hadn’t really heard him speak until now.
“Oh, no, not married at the moment” she confirmed. Simon waited expectantly; he had asked another question after all! Katie ate a spoonful of soup and a crust of the roll but Simon was still eyeing her and now Lulu joined in.
“I’m 29” Katie mumbled, waiting for the conversation to move on, but she wasn’t to be that lucky.
“So not quite 30 yet, but the clock’s ticking eh? Got your sights set on anyone? After all you don’t want to get left on the shelf do you?” Simon laughed heartily at his own joke. Katie smiled politely wondering what time machine Simon had found to enable him to make his appearance from the 1950’s.
“Well obviously it would be lovely to get married to the right man, but better single than with the wrong one” Katie managed to reply.
“Hmmm, yes I see” Simon pondered this information, “So no-one’s asked you yet then – Nevermind, someone’s bound to eventually!” With this he returned to slurping his soup as Katie felt the colour rise through her cheeks, forgetting who she was sat next to, she quickly turned away from Simon so that she didn’t have to talk about children and her ticking clock too. She found herself looking directly into the clear blue eyes of Ben, who was doing a poor job at repressing a smile.
“You had better not be laughing at me” she informed him in the haughtiest voice she could muster. Ben shook his head, not trusting himself to reply at first.
“No, no” he finally said “I’m sure you’ve been asked to get married lots of times” he added with a dead pan face. Katie took a deep breath intending to be very offended but the absurdity of the whole conversation struck her and she burst out laughing instead.
“Well actually for your information, no, I’ve never been asked, unless you count Jeremy Pitman when I was seven” she giggled, Ben laughed with her
“If he was serious I don’t see why you shouldn’t count it?” Ben’s cleared his throat and he became more serious “Katie, I’m so sorry about before – behaving like a total prat. I know it wasn’t your fault that Lucy was at Tolpuddle and I didn’t know she was. I was just terrified by the time I got to you. I had no idea where she was. I wanted to ball her out but I was convinced she’d disappear again so I balled you out instead. I’m so sorry.”
Katie thought for a moment, “Lucy was fine with me you know. I’d never let her do anything stupid.”
“I know, I know, I’m an idiot. I knew it the next day but I’m not great at apologising” he added ruefully.
“Show me a bloke who is” Katie said, “But to be fair, you did ok there. Let’s forget about it, if for no other reason than to stop me having to have another conversation with Victorian Simon here on my right.” She added in a whisper. Ben was only too happy to agree and soon they were chatting and laughing as they always had. Cliona allowed herself a triumphant wink and dig in the ribs to Declan who grinned back. The evening passed without further event, even Victorian Simon relaxed a little enough to loosen the top of his tie. Katie giggled as she stage whispered the news to Ben. They had demolished about 3 bottles of Declan’s superb Merlot between the two of them and despite a couple of espresso’s Katie knew she was certainly two sheets to the wind if not quite three and decided that as the other guests were starting to drift off that it was time for her to take her leave too. As she wobbled towards the door Ben jumped up and offered to walk her back home, Katie made a half-hearted attempt to decline but she actually welcomed the company on the way home, she was going to need someone to lean on and Ben fitted the bill perfectly.
Katie and Ben set off down the road in a rather haphazard manner. Declan and Cliona watched them to the bend and heard Katie’s giggle as she slipped off the kerb into the road dragging Ben with her, who was doing a rather ineffectual job at steadying her. By the time they reached Tolpuddle House they were both in the throes of uncontrollable laughter, Katie due to the large amount of Chardonnay she had consumed, Ben due to Katie’s drunken antics, and a soaring of his spirits that came from being with her.
After successfully opening the door on the third attempt Katie turned and saw Ben standing on the doorstep, looking uncertain. He wasn’t sure if the reconstructed friendship of the evening extended to actually coming into her house and clearly didn’t want to presume anything. Katie’s heart went out to him; he really was a sweetie when it came down to it.
“Aren’t you coming in for a coffee? I know I’ve maybe had a glass of wine too many but I think I’m capable of boiling a kettle” she asked. Ben smiled and raised an eyebrow replying
“Well, I’d love a coffee but I think you might need a bit of supervision to make sure you put coffee in the cup and not the gravy granules.” He winked as he walked past her into the hallway. Katie maintained a dignified silence and then caught Ben off guard with a good natured pat to the cheek instead. For a second their eyes met and it seemed to Katie that a tiny spark passed from one to the other but as Ben turned into the flat Katie thought she must have imagined it – another effect of the ‘one glass too many’.
Katie’s suspicion was confirmed as she followed Ben into the kitchen and he took up a seat at the kitchen table, surely if he’d had designs on her he’d have opted for the sagging sofa, whose over-worked springs would surely have brought them together. Feeling vaguely disappointed, though she couldn’t understand why, Katie threw her coat and keys on the armchair and set about making the promised coffee, all the time chastising herself for inappropriate romantic inclinations simply because Ben had been nice to her. After all he really wasn’t her type, she preferred the dark, handsome, thrusting successful man, not the sandy haired boy next door with a twinkle in his china blue eyes. Realising she hadn’t spoken in a while and fearing Ben may have nodded off with his head on the table Katie turned round saying brightly
“So how is
Lucy? Have you forgiven her yet or is she locked up in a tower somewhere until she turns eighteen?” she teased. Ben started, clearly he had been on the way to falling asleep she mused, and her question had startled him out of it.
“Oh, if I locked her in a tower it’d be until she was at least 35 and even then I’d only let her out for an hour at a time – unfortunately the namby-pamby laws of this country won’t let me. So she’s still grounded until Monday but she is talking to me again – although that’s not always a good thing!” he added, grinning.
“Well bring her round when she’s a free girl again. I know Poppy would like to see her – and me too. You know, if you don’t mind, if that’s okay?” Katie spoke hesitantly; remembering last time Lucy had been round and not wanting to trample all over their newly formed peace.
“Of course I will” Ben replied, pulling his hand through his hair in agitation, “Katie, I meant it when I said I was sorry. I was a total idiot; I don’t know what came over me. I know Lucy’s fine when she’s round here – honestly” a worried crease lined his brow as he strived to persuade her so that Katie found her hand was itching to smooth it away. Choosing to ignore this impulse she quickly turned and started banging cups onto the counter, opening and shutting cupboards as she made the coffee. Handing a mug over to Ben she asked
“I don’t suppose you want a biscuit after all that food at Cliona’s?”
Ben looked at her sheepishly,
“I could manage one if there’s one on offer” he said, Katie rolled her eyes at him.
“Why is it blokes can eat as much as they want whenever they want and girls put on half a stone just looking at a chocolate digestive” she moaned
“Well I’m a fit active man who needs plenty of fuel to keep going – I burn off all those calories in no time – maybe you should take up a sport or something?” he teased, as Katie absent-mindedly picked up and nibbled one of the digestive biscuits.
“A moment on the lips – a lifetime on the hips” he added for good measure with a twinkle in his eyes. Katie decided not to let that one pass and picking up the tea towel from the range she aimed a perfect flick on Ben’s left arm.
“Ouch” he screeched, rubbing his arm where the offending towel had caught him, “you’re gonna pay for that you know” he threatened, rising purposefully to his feet. Katie sought refuge round the other side of the table and aimed another flick at Ben’s right arm.
“You see” she goaded; “we’re all good at different things” Ben was already half way round the table as Katie tried to escape.
“Not so fast, Katie Crabsticks!” he shouted, as he caught Katie by the arms and swung her against the wall by the door, so she had no means of escape.
“You see” he continued “if you’d taken up sports sooner you might have got away – now where’s that towel?” he growled in an attempt to be menacing. Katie giggled.
“I don’t know why you’re laughing” he said indignantly, “you’re about to pay the price for your foolishness.” He started to sound like the villain from a bad Victorian melodrama. This just made Katie giggle even more as she held the towel behind back and Ben tried to wrestle it free. Suddenly the absurdity of the situation hit Ben too, so that he and Katie were collapsed in fits of giggles against each other, tears running down Katie’s face as she tried to catch her breath. Without stopping to think, Ben gently wiped the tears away from her cheek with his thumb. The desire to laugh left Katie abruptly and she caught her breath as a slow fluttering started in her stomach. She could still feel Ben’s touch on her face even though his fingers were now gently twisting a strand of her curled auburn hair, studying it with an intense fascination. The silence, heavy with anticipation, filled the room only broken by the loud thuds of the clock on the mantelpiece. At least Katie thought it was the clock, it could have been her heart thumping in her chest. Raising her eyes she could see Ben had stopped examining her hair and was searching her face with his honest, earnest blue eyes, as if for a sign. She could see the desire and the uncertainty etched in his expression. She slowly raised her face to his and smiled. Ben needed no further encouragement and wound his fingers into her hair and tilted her face to his, kissing her with a force, and an expertise, she hadn’t anticipated. Katie stopped thinking altogether then.
Several blissful seconds later there was an enormous bang as someone came into the house and shut the door with superhero strength. Ben and Katie jumped apart guiltily, the moment broken. Feeling awkward and uncertain as to what to do next Katie turned to the table and grabbed the coffee she had made earlier, trying to drink it in a nonchalant manner, hoping that Ben would follow her to the sagging sofa. Ben, however, seemed rooted the spot and appeared to be wrestling with some thought or other in his head, trying to help it escape by vigorously ruffling his hair distractedly with his hand.
“Sooo..” he breathed out eventually, “I guess it’s getting late you were probably wanting to get to bed an hour ago.” He continued, adding quickly “on your own, I mean, not with me or anyone – just you.” He added for emphasis.
Katie decided dignity was her only option at this point, that, and to get Ben out of the flat as quickly as humanly possibly so she could die of embarrassment in solitude.
Effecting a yawn she said, “Actually I am rather tired, heavy day tomorrow, gardening, shopping, that sort of thing. It was good of you to walk me home.” She added formally, holding open the door as she spoke. Ben needed no further sign and left, shuffling out like a guilty teenager.
Katie shut the door behind and leaned against it allowing the shame and humiliation to wash over her. How could she have behaved like a fifteen year old after their first bottle of cider, flicking towels, play fighting and snogging? No wonder Ben couldn’t get out of here fast enough, first she tells him what a wanton harlot she was having an affair with a married man and then she practically jumps on him the first time she’s alone with him. No this wouldn’t do Katie told herself sternly, it was about time she decided to live her life on her own terms and not on those of the men around her. Starting tomorrow she would be a man free zone (romantically at least!) She would show Ben that he didn’t have to worry about being pounced on by the local man-eater, she would turn into the friend/mate that he clearly thought she was.
CHAPTER 17
Ben woke the next morning with a groggy, vaguely pounding head and a nagging sense of disappointment in the pit of his stomach that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Rubbing his eyes to try and clear the fog in them and his brain, he padded into the kitchen and starting filling the coffee machine with the uber strength ground beans.
“You look like shit” Lucy’s clear tone startled him into spilling half the coffee onto the counter.
“Shit” Ben growled “Where did you come from? You shouldn’t spring out on people first thing in the morning? And you don’t swear either – it’s bad, very bad.”
“I didn’t spring out of nowhere, I was sitting here having my Cheerio’s” Lucy replied indignantly, “and you swore too.” She added for good measure.
“I’m allowed – I’m a grown up.” Ben argued, in a reasoned manner, “now go away and let me wake up in peace.” He started to shoo her away through the doorway.
“Jeez, bad mood much!” Lucy grumbled, “Who put you in such a strop?”
Ben’s stomach lurched and that nagging sense of disappointment solidified into a ball of shame. Katie! He had been thrown out by Katie after way overstepping the mark. What had he been thinking of? The poor girl was three sheets to the wind, and they had only just started speaking again and he had decided the best way to move forward was to jump on her at the first opportunity. No wonder the poor girl had run to the sofa for safety. Ben groaned inwardly as he remembered – what a git he’d been. Katie needed a friend, she’d told him as much and he’d taken that as an invitation to pounce. Well, he’d learnt his lesson, from now on he was going to be exactly that, a friend, he’d make sure that Katie knew she could trust him and rely
on him. Having taken this decision Ben pushed to the back of his mind how much he had enjoyed kissing her and resolved to focus on friendship – and work. There was much to be done now they had secured the Southampton site. Stewart had rung with the news earlier in the week to say the council had decided to let BW buy the site and redevelop as planned. Suddenly the dream had become a reality and Ben was going to leave no stone unturned to make it a success.
Ben slurped his freshly brewed coffee, wincing as he burnt the top of his mouth in his hurry to get the caffeine into his body. On mornings like this it really should be done intravenously he pondered grimly, and set about buttering a piece of toast to try and settle the churnings in his stomach. As the sleep receded further, clearing the fog on his brain, Ben realised the cement mixer effect wasn’t only due to the copious amounts of wine he had drunk the night before. Today was a momentous date in the history of BW Building. Today Charlie and John joined forces with him to become part of the business and they signed the contract for the Southampton project. It was all going to become reality. Ben was monumentally pumped up and terrified at the same time. He could feel the tingling of anticipation running up and down his arms. Deciding that both his hangover and his first steps to multi-millionairedom required a fairly vigorous shower to blast the last of the sleep out of his system Ben sauntered into the bathroom, casually throwing Lucy out as he got there. She was not pleased.
Two hours later Ben was, as his grandmother would have said, ‘scrubbed up, dressed up and thumbs up!’ and feeling on top of the world, or at least much closer to the summit than previously. He spent the whole of his bike ride to the office planning the first Bentley he would buy, the swanky resorts he’d visit and designing the penthouse suite he would soon be moving into, fortunately, it being a Saturday meant the roads were a lot clearer than during the week so his slightly erratic progress didn’t end up in an accident. Not even Jean’s disapproving stare as he slapped her fairly ample backside could dampen his spirits, although he still had the presence of mind to duck as her right hand snaked out to catch him a small cuff on the side of his head.
A Change for the Better? Page 14