She shook her head regretfully. ‘I’m afraid not.’
Jake leaned closer, his eyes probing. ‘You mean you really are tied up, or am I rushing things, taking too much for granted?’
‘No,’ she said candidly. ‘You’re not. But this is where problems always arise with my social life. I’m never free at weekends because of Davy.’
‘Where was she last Saturday?’
‘Enjoying her very first sleepover with a school-friend.’
Jake eyed her thoughtfully. ‘But if you live with your grandmother wouldn’t she look after Davy for one night?’
‘I never leave Davy on the only two nights she spends at home.’ Sarah touched her hand to his to emphasise her regret. ‘Otherwise, Jake, I’d be only too happy.’
His hand captured hers and held it. ‘That’s some comfort. But I’m disappointed. Now I shan’t know what to do with myself on Saturday.’
‘What do you normally do?’ she asked, looking at their clasped hands.
‘Like you, I also had someone in my life until recently.’
‘Just the one?’
‘Absolutely. Though there were others in the past before her.’ He gave her one of his straight blue looks. ‘But just for the record, Sarah, I’m strictly a one woman at a time type.’
She returned the look steadily. ‘So what happened with your lady?’
‘Like your friend, she preferred someone else—ah, here comes pudding.’ Jake released her hand without hurry, but remained close as they ate, chuckling at Sarah’s unashamed sounds of appreciation.
‘That was wonderful,’ she sighed, scraping up the last smear of sauce. ‘All of it. In fact I enjoyed this meal more than any I’ve had in the most expensive hotel in town.’
And not just because of the food.
‘So have I.’ He leaned closer. ‘Did the idiot who jilted you take you to the Chesterton a lot, then?’
‘No,’ she said, and gave him a demure little smile. ‘Brian liked the one near the Pump Rooms.’
‘Ah! So that’s why you turned it down tonight.’
‘Partly. Though when you mentioned eating in a garden it was no contest.’
At last, with a reluctance Sarah shared, Jake got up. ‘It’s getting cool. Would you like to go inside?’
‘Not really. It looks very hot and crowded in there.’ She turned to look up at him as he helped her on with her jacket. ‘Would you like some coffee at my place instead?’
His smile was answer enough. ‘Just give me a minute to settle the bill.’
Sarah’s mind worked at top speed while she chatted on the short journey home with Jake. The leap of heat in his eyes at her suggestion warned her to make it clear, without offending him, that coffee meant just coffee. It was not a habit of hers to invite anyone back to share it. Sarah had always met Brian in town, and rarely asked him back to Campden Road to avoid encounters with the all too obviously approving Margaret. Oliver Bryce, the man she’d known before that, had always been in a hurry to get home to the babysitter after their evenings out, so the coffee situation had never arisen with him, either. Not counting visits from college friends, Jake Hogan, if he only knew it, was being granted a rare privilege.
When they arrived Sarah led the way to the sitting room, for the first time that evening ill at ease. ‘Do sit down. I shan’t be long—’
‘Sarah, don’t bother with coffee.’ Jake caught her by the hand, his eyes very serious. ‘Which doesn’t mean I’m about to leap on you. I meant I’d sooner have a glass of water.’
She flushed, feeling ridiculous. ‘Right. Water it is.’
When she got back with it Jake turned away from the photograph, looked at her closely for a moment, then turned back to study Davy again. ‘Exactly the same tortoiseshell eyes and shiny brown hair. Something in the expression, too. The resemblance is remarkable,’ he added.
‘Would you like to take off your jacket?’ she asked, to attract his attention away from Davina.
Jake put his glass on the table near the lilies he’d sent her, and removed his jacket, his eyes teasing as he grinned at Sarah. ‘Relax,’ he ordered. ‘I never ravish a lady on a first date, I swear.’
Sarah laughed awkwardly, feeling her colour rise. ‘I’m glad to hear it. Won’t you sit down?’
‘Yes,’ he said promptly. ‘If you will, too.’ He took her hand and drew her down beside him on her sofa. ‘Now, tell me why you’re on edge, Sarah. Bad experiences in this situation before?’
‘No, not at all.’ She braced herself. ‘I’ve never asked anyone back here before.’
He gave her an incredulous look. ‘Never? How long have you lived here?’
‘Nearly four years.’
‘Is this because your grandmother shares the house?’
‘Not really. She converted the house into separate flats for the express purpose of privacy for both of us.’
Jake took her hand. ‘I’m hoping against hope I know the answer, Sarah, but why me?’
Sarah shrugged. ‘I was enjoying the evening, and it’s not very late, so it just seemed the natural thing to do.’
His grasp tightened. ‘Actually, you pre-empted me. I was just about to suggest coffee at my place. Would you have come?’
She smiled a little. ‘You didn’t ask so we’ll never know.’
‘I’ll ask next time,’ he warned.
‘Is there going to be a next time?’
‘Damn right there is,’ he said, and kissed her. Then stared in astonishment as she immediately scrambled out of reach, her face flaming at the blank surprise on his face as he promptly removed himself to the other end of the sofa.
‘I meant what I said,’ Jake assured her. ‘No ravishing on the first date, Sarah. Just a kiss, I swear.’ He drew in a deep, unsteady breath. ‘Though from my point of view it was a rash move to share our meal in that particular way.’
Afraid to trust her voice for a moment, Sarah raised a questioning eyebrow, and Jake smiled wryly.
‘I meant, Miss Tracy, that for me the entire meal was a subtle form of foreplay. Couldn’t you tell?’
‘No. I thought we were just getting on well together.’ She hesitated. ‘So if you had asked me back to your place, and I’d agreed, you would have taken it for granted I was saying yes to a whole lot more than coffee?’
‘No, Sarah, absolutely not.’ Jake stood up, holding out a hand to help her to her feet. ‘Like you, I simply wanted to prolong our time together.’
She looked up into his eyes. And believed him.
‘So when can I see you again?’ he went on, as though the awkward little incident had never happened. ‘You said Saturday’s out, but how about Sunday evening?’
Sarah felt an overwhelming rush of relief. She had been so sure Jake would give up on her after her embarrassing little rejection. She couldn’t tell him that if she’d followed her instincts she would have let him kiss her as much as he wanted. Because with him she wanted it too. But that way danger lay. As she knew better than most, instincts had to be reined in, not followed blindly. Yet even on such short acquaintance she was sure that Jake would never force her to anything. And she wanted to see him again. She always felt a bit down after taking Davy back to school. Time spent with Jake Hogan would be the perfect antidote to her usual Sunday evening blues.
‘Yes. I’d like that,’ she said at last.
‘That took a long time,’ he said dryly. ‘What shall we do?’
She smiled at him. ‘If it’s fine I’d like a drive to somewhere pleasant with a view, then a long, leisurely walk.’
‘That’s a first,’ said Jake, laughing. ‘No lady in my past ever asked to go hiking before.’
‘No hiking—just a Sunday evening stroll, please!’
‘Whatever you want. What time do you get back from Davy’s school?’
‘About six.’
‘I’ll be here soon after, then.’ He looked down at her for a moment, then bent and kissed her forehead. ‘Goodnight, Sarah Tracy.’
‘Goodnight, Jake Hogan.’ She stepped back, her eyes suddenly serious. ‘Thank you for this evening. I enjoyed it very much.’
‘So did I.’ Jake followed her to the front door. ‘Next time you can introduce me to your grandmother,’ he said with a grin, and crossed the pavement to his car.
Sarah watched him get in, raised her hand in response to his wave as he drove off, then went back in the house and closed the door, her eyes wistful. The man was a charmer. Unlike comfortable, friendly Oliver, or staid, unimpassioned Brian, it would be all too easy to fall in love with Jake Hogan.
CHAPTER FOUR
SARAH was about to leave the office on Friday afternoon to collect Davy, when Alison Rogers rang her cellphone number.
‘Sarah, I’m in a fix. My car won’t start, and Don’s in London until tonight—’
‘No problem, I’ll pick Polly up,’ said Sarah promptly. ‘You just caught me; I’m on my way right now.’
‘You’re an angel! I’ll ring the school and let them know. See you soon—I’ll have tea and buns waiting.’
When Sarah collected them later Polly and Davina were in tearing spirits to be going home together, and full of their practice for sports day. They piled into the car, straw boaters askew, gingham dresses rumpled, both of them excited because Davy had beaten everyone in her class in the sprint.
‘But Polly came second at skipping,’ added Davy.
‘Well done, both of you!’
Polly smiled at Sarah expectantly. ‘Are you staying to tea? Mummy always bakes stuff on Friday, ready for when I come home.’
‘Please can we?’ urged Davy, hovering as Sarah stowed their belongings away.
‘Yes, but we won’t stay long. I’m sure Polly’s mummy saw quite enough of you last weekend. Now, tell me what else you two have been up to this week, besides races. How about boring stuff like sums, and so on?’
When they arrived at the Rogers house, Alison came running out to greet them. ‘You saved my life,’ she said gratefully, after embracing her daughter. ‘Take Davy off to wash hands, Polly. Sit down, Sarah,’ she added, ‘you look tired. Hard day?’
‘No more than usual. It’s just a rush on Fridays to get off on time to drive to Roedale.’
‘Davy told me you work at home in the evenings as well.’
‘Part of the deal with my employers. It only takes up an hour or so.’ Sarah shrugged, smiling. ‘In my circumstances the arrangement’s very convenient. When Davy’s home I work after she’s gone to bed.’
‘Hard graft just the same.’ Alison put plates of cupcakes and cookies on the table, went to call the girls, then sat down to pour tea.
‘Thank you,’ said Sarah, accepting her cup. ‘I rang my grandmother before I left to tell her we’d be later today.’
‘I’ve heard a lot about Grandma. Though I thought she was your mother.’
‘No, she dotes on Davy, but she’s actually my grandmother.’
Davina came running in with Polly, very much at home in her friend’s house. The girls polished off several cakes and cookies, swallowed down large glasses of the milk Davy always objected to at home, then rushed out to play in the garden.
‘Peace at last,’ said Alison with satisfaction, and refilled Sarah’s cup. ‘Have another cookie to assuage my guilt.’
‘Why guilt?’ said Sarah, amused.
‘It suddenly struck me that you’ll be picking Polly up next week as well.’
‘I don’t mind in the least. But I’ll have that cookie. They’re delicious.’
‘With the life you lead I don’t suppose you get much time for baking,’ said Alison with sympathy.
Sarah shook her head, laughing. ‘Actually, I do. Since Davy started boarding I have a lot more time to myself, socially and otherwise. But no baking. I’m hopeless at it. Lucky for us, my grandmother’s an expert. She also makes Sunday lunch for the three of us.’ Sarah smiled. ‘But during the week I fend for myself, or go out. Something I do a lot more than I used to now Davy’s in school. Beforehand I hated the thought of parting with her, even on a weekly basis, but now she’s settled in I confess I’m rather enjoying my new freedom.’
When she was finally able to tear Davy away Sarah drove home to find a message on her machine, but she sent Davy off to find Margaret before she allowed herself to listen to it.
‘Jake, Sarah,’ said familiar tones. ‘Just reminding you about Sunday.’
As if she needed reminding! But she played the message again twice, just to listen to his voice. Like a schoolgirl with a first crush, she thought sheepishly.
Margaret came down with Davy to announce that she was going out shortly, and had taken the liberty of making the sauce for their pasta supper.
Davy’s eyes lit up. ‘With lots of tomato in it? Goody.’
‘Thank you, Grandma,’ said Sarah shortly. ‘But I could have managed.’
‘Out of a jar, no doubt,’ said Margaret, after Davy rushed off to change. ‘By the way,’ she added coldly, ‘more flowers came for you today. I put them in water in the kitchen.’
‘Who are they from?’ said Sarah, surprised.
‘I’ve no idea. The card was addressed to you.’
Sarah hurried to the kitchen to take a card from the envelope propped beside an enormous bunch of brilliantly coloured zinnias. ‘They’re from Jake Hogan,’ she told her grandmother, who had followed behind to find out.
‘Again,’ commented Margaret. ‘He obviously enjoyed the evening with you.’
‘We both did. I asked him in when he drove me home.’
‘You’ve never done that before,’ said Margaret accusingly.
‘Don’t worry. He didn’t stay long.’
‘I know. I heard him leave.’
‘Then you know exactly how long he stayed,’ said Sarah evenly.
Margaret’s mouth tightened. ‘I don’t mean to be hard on you, Sarah, but you’re obviously attracted to this man, so do please be careful. Try to look at things from my point of view.’
‘Oh, I do. All the time.’ Their eyes clashed for a moment. ‘But sometimes, Grandma, try to remember that I have a point of view too.’
Davy talked non-stop through supper in the kitchen with Sarah, giving her a blow by blow account of every minute at school during the week. ‘It’s nice to be home, though,’ she said, with a heartfelt sigh.
Sarah gave her a searching look. ‘I thought you were liking school better these days.’
Davy nodded vigorously. ‘I am. But I still like being home with you best.’
Sarah gave her a hug. ‘You do your stuff in front of the TV while I clear up, then we’ll watch a video. Father Goose, if you like.’
The film was one of Davy’s favourites. And, because there was no such thing as too much Cary Grant for Sarah, they both enjoyed their evening together, as usual. But Davy sighed mutinously when Sarah rewound the video tape.
‘I suppose you’ve got work to do now.’
‘Afraid so. But it’s time you were asleep anyway. It’s way past school bedtime.’
‘Which is why I prefer it at home!’
Next day Davy was up early, eager to make the most of every minute as usual, and after breakfast Sarah took her into town for the usual programme of a swim at the leisure centre pool, followed by shopping for new jeans before Davy’s invariable choice of a pizza lunch.
‘What would you like to do now?’ asked Sarah, as they left the restaurant. ‘It seems a shame to sit in a cinema on an afternoon like this. There’s a craft fair on in the park.’
‘Hot dogs and doughnuts?’ said Davy hopefully.
‘Probably. Though how you can even think about them straight after lunch beats me,’ said Sarah, laughing.
‘I’ve had a week of school dinners! Let’s go.’
As they strolled together through the town centre Sarah caught sight of their reflections in a shop window, and with regret realised that her child was growing up very fast. Davy, as usual, chattered nineteen to the dozen as they
walked, her face animated in the frame of bright brown hair still damp round the edges from her swim.
‘Next year there’s a school trip to France,’ Davy said eventually, and gave Sarah a hopeful glance. ‘Will I be able to go?’
‘Of course,’ said Sarah without hesitation, though extras of this kind meant a lot of creative juggling with her finances. ‘But thank you for giving me due warning.’
‘I don’t have to go,’ said Davy bravely.
‘Of course you do. I can have some peace and quiet without you.’
Davy giggled, then tugged Sarah’s arm. ‘There’s a man waving at you over there, Mummy.’
Sarah’s heart gave a thump when she saw Jake crossing the road towards them.
‘Who’s that?’ whispered Davy.
‘A friend,’ Sarah whispered before he reached them. ‘Be nice.’
‘Hello, Sarah.’ Jake smiled at her, then turned his attention to Davy. ‘Hi, there. I’m Jake Hogan.’
Sarah, prepared to give a surreptitious dig to prompt a polite response, was surprised to see Davy return Jake’s smile far more pleasantly than she’d ever managed with Brian.
‘Hello, I’m Davy Tracy,’ she told him. ‘Well, Davina, really. But Mummy only says that when she’s cross.’
‘I know all about that,’ he assured her. ‘When my mother calls me Jacob I shake in my shoes.’
Davy’s eyes widened. ‘Even though you’re grown up?’
‘Especially now I’m grown up!’ He turned to Sarah. ‘Are you out for a walk, or can I give you both a lift somewhere?’
‘That’s very kind of you,’ she said, smiling, ‘but we’re not going home yet. We went for a swim, had lunch, and now we’re making for the show in the park.’
Sarah was tempted to ask him to join them. But from past experience with Brian she knew that Davy would probably object to having a stranger muscle in on her precious Saturday.
‘Sounds like fun,’ said Jake. ‘Enjoy yourselves. Nice to meet you, Davy.’ He smiled at Sarah, hesitated a moment, then with one of his straight blue looks said goodbye and went off in the opposite direction before she could thank him for the flowers.
‘Is that a new friend?’ asked Davy, as they made for the park.
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