She wasn’t sure she had much to offer anyone as a friend, because she wasn’t clever or interesting, but she was going to make the effort. She really liked Jane. Perhaps something would come of that, in spite of the difference in their ages? Oh, she did hope so!
* * *
Gina went to her room to ring Mel privately on the new mobile phone. She felt nervous as soon as she left the lift, worse when she shut the door, and she shivered as the room seemed to close around her. She couldn’t help it, she had to check the bathroom and wardrobe before she could do anything. Only then did she dial.
Her daughter picked up the phone. ‘Mum! How are you?’ She listened as Gina explained about the mugging and gave her the new mobile number. ‘I can’t bear to think of someone hurting you like that. Please be careful where you go in future. You were crazy to walk back to the hotel on your own in the evening.’
Gina tried to make light of it but shivered involuntarily. She was dreading sleeping here alone tonight. ‘It was just bad luck. Now, the other thing is, I won’t be at this hotel after tonight. Brad and I are going to share a self-catering holiday flat for a couple of weeks to save money and—’
‘You’re what?’
‘We’re going to share a flat. Two bedrooms and the tiniest living room-cum-kitchen you ever saw. We went to look at it this afternoon and rented it for two weeks. Well, Brad rented it. I can’t pay my share till I get a new credit card. I don’t want to carry big sums of cash round with me.’
‘Mum, are you crazy? You’ve only known this man for a short time. He may be a serial rapist or… or a murderer.’
Gina smiled at the thought of Brad being anything else but straight and decent, then her amusement vanished as she heard what her daughter said next.
‘You can’t do that, you just can’t. It’s asking for trouble. When I think of all the lectures you gave me when I was a teenager and now… Mum, have you gone crazy?’
‘You don’t have much faith in my judgement, do you? I know Brad well enough to trust him, thank you very much. He saved me from a bad attack and has been supportive since, a true friend. And he’s not only been kind to me but to an elderly lady we’ve both made friends with at the hotel.’
‘That could just be a ploy to lull you into a false sense of security. And actually, if you must know, I don’t trust your judgement where men are concerned. You’ve not dated anyone since Dad died and you don’t sound as if you knew many before you met him. Mum, please don’t do this.’
‘I have to live my own life, Mel.’
Silence, then, ‘Are you – involved with this Brad?’
‘Not yet.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘Exactly what I said. Not yet. I may or I may not get involved in the way you mean. I certainly find him attractive and I think – I hope – he’s attracted to me.’
As she put her phone away, Gina felt a thrill run through her at the thought of Brad. She was hoping… well, you could hope, couldn’t you?
And her daughters could just mind their own business, for once. She wasn’t old yet, so why act it? She twirled round and flopped down on the bed, lying beaming at the ceiling, arms outstretched.
It was such a good feeling to have a man wanting you. It’d been too long, far too long, since she’d made love to anyone.
As she sat up, her euphoria dimmed and reality intruded again. She was absolutely dreading sleeping here alone tonight, though she was trying not to betray that to Brad. It was stupid, really, because she’d not been mugged here, but that was how she felt.
CHAPTER 28
Australia
When she’d put phone back into its cradle, Mel turned to Lou and explained what was happening. ‘My own mother!’ she finished indignantly. ‘Doing something as stupid as walking round on her own at night.’
‘This Brad sounds like a nice guy. Maybe she’ll enjoy a little holiday romance.’
Mel shook her head. ‘Mum’s not like that. She doesn’t approve of casual sex. Anyway, it’s dangerous, living with a stranger. What if he’s only doing it to get her into bed? When he tires of her, he could drop her like a hot potato. Just think how that’d hurt her.’
‘Then let’s hope he’s a kind and considerate lover, and they have some good bonks before they part company.’
Mel covered her ears. ‘Do I want to hear this sort of thing about my mother?’
Lou laughed. ‘Auntie Gina’s not a fossil. She’s young enough to remarry and she’s very attractive for a woman her age. She has beautiful eyes.’
‘You don’t understand.’ But Lou refused to be drawn into an argument and Mel gave up trying. She hadn’t the energy.
She rang Lexie as soon as her sister got home from work and explained what was happening.
‘Good for Mum!’ was Lexie’s immediate reaction. ‘It’s about time she got a man.’
‘I don’t happen to agree with you. I can’t bear to think of her sleeping around.’
‘Do you expect her to be celibate for the rest of her life?’
There was silence as Mel tried desperately to work out what to say.
‘Hallo? I can hear you breathing so I know you’re still there. You do expect her to stay celibate, don’t you?’
‘She was happy with Dad. How can she turn to anyone else after him? And she’s got us, so she’s not alone.’
‘Oh, Mel. You always want everything to stay the same. Look at how angry you got with me when I started to go out with other guys after I split up with the Rat. I think Mum should go for it and enjoy some good sex while she still can.’
Did no one understand? Mel wondered angrily as she put the phone down and lay back on the sofa. Was she the only one worried about her mother’s safety? Look at what had happened already on this stupid trip. Mum had been mugged. That was bad enough, but what if it’d been worse? What if her mother had been killed?
CHAPTER 29
England
Gina waited in her hotel room until it was time to meet Brad for dinner. He’d assumed she needed time to get ready, but that hadn’t taken long and then she sat and waited, feeling nervous, keeping an eye on the door.
How long was she going to feel like this? She’d heard of people going to pieces after violent incidents and had always felt mildly scornful of them, sure that she’d never be like that. You had to pull yourself together when something went wrong and get on with your life, she’d thought.
Only it wasn’t that easy. She understood that now.
She looked at the clock again. Only five minutes to wait. Maybe she’d go down early.
On that thought she picked up her new handbag and went to the door of her room. Her heart started beating faster as she opened it and peered down the corridor. No one in sight. She rushed for the lift.
Standing there waiting, she felt naked, vulnerable, kept glancing over her shoulder, breathed a sigh of relief when there was a ping and an empty lift stopped at her floor.
The lobby was brightly lit, full of people, with a concierge standing near the main entrance. She closed her eyes and let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief.
‘You’re early.’
She jumped in shock at Brad’s voice behind her.
‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.’ He studied her in concern, as if he could see the fear behind her attempt at a smile.
‘I’m a bit jumpy. Silly, really.’
‘Not silly. A perfectly normal reaction.’ Without even asking, he put his arm round her waist and she was glad of it, leaning against his warm, strong body. They walked like that into the foyer café and she relaxed still further as they sat down in the corner they’d occupied before and ordered something to eat.
It was when they were going back to their rooms a couple of hours later that fear clutched at her belly again and she stopped, catching her breath, then forcing herself to move on again.
‘You’re still afraid to sleep on your own, aren’t you?’ he said quietly as they waited for the lift.
She couldn’t pretend and nodded her head.
‘Would you like me to sleep on your sofa?’
‘No sofa.’
‘Are there two beds or one?’
‘One.’
‘Same in my room, unfortunately. I could stay with you for a while, just till you get to sleep.’
The lift doors opened and they went inside. ‘I couldn’t trouble you like that. I’ll be all right with the door locked.’ She had to be.
It wasn’t until they were standing in the open doorway of her room that she said in a rush, ‘I don’t think… Brad, it’s a big bed. Please…’
‘I’ll stay with you, then. I’ll better go and fetch my things.’
‘I’ll come with you.’
‘That bad, eh?’ He pulled her into another of his lovely hugs.
You could get addicted to hugs like this, she thought. ‘After dark, it feels – more dangerous. And that’s silly, because I was mugged in daylight.’
They went for his things and with him there, her room seemed ordinary again.
She should have been embarrassed, getting ready to share a bed with a man who’d been a complete stranger a week ago, but she wasn’t. She didn’t know what there was about Brad, but being with him was so comfortable. She liked him as well as being attracted. They hadn’t stopped chatting all evening, no awkward pauses, no racking your brain about what to say next, no treading carefully around a topic.
He went into the bathroom to get ready and she took the opportunity to take off her dressing gown and slip under the covers.
‘Do you want the light on or off?’
‘Off.’
But as the room plunged into darkness, fear surged through her and she let out a whimper. He hurried to sit on the edge of the bed at her side. ‘Oh, Gina, I’m so sorry it’s left you like this.’
‘Could you – hold me?’
He gathered her in his arms and she nestled against him, feeling the terror subside.
‘Better?’
‘Yes. But it’s not just because of the mugging. I love it when you hold me. Will you kiss me?’
‘I don’t want to take advantage of you.’
She answered that by pulling him towards her and kissing him, aware that he was aroused. Well, so was she.
‘Are you sure?’ he asked as he pulled away, breathing deeply.
‘Stop being honourable and make love to me.’
Her worries about making love to a man other than her husband slid away, because this was Brad and he had only to touch her to start currents humming through her body. She caressed him and sighed with happiness as he began to caress her.
The shadows receded, to be replaced by happiness… and by an ecstasy that surprised her.
* * *
The following morning Gina woke early, feeling shy, lying with her eyes closed for a minute or two wondering how to face him.
As if he’d sensed that she was awake, Brad rolled over and ran one fingertip down the side of her cheek.
‘Good morning, lovely Gina.’ He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
‘What a nice way to say good morning,’ she said, smiling at his sleep-flushed face then returning the kiss enthusiastically.
When they came up for breath a second time, she asked idly, ‘What time is it? The clock’s on your side.’
He rolled over and squinted at it, then sat up. ‘Hell, it’s half past eight! I hate to stop cuddling you, but if we don’t get up quickly, breakfast will be over and we’ll not be out of our rooms in time. Do you want to use the bathroom first?’
She reached for her nightdress.
He grinned and snatched it out of her hand. ‘Do you have to put this on?’
She flushed. ‘I’ve not got the sort of firm young body I want to parade in front of people.’
‘I don’t want a firm, bony body. It’s your softness that turns me on.’
She compromised by grabbing her dressing gown and heard him chuckle as she closed the bathroom door.
After that it was such a rush getting ready to leave that she didn’t have time to worry about what came next between them. Something, surely? It had felt so right last night. She’d enjoyed making love and it’d had the added bonus of banishing the demons. And what’s more, her body felt great this morning, relaxed and yet full of energy.
Sorry, Mel, she thought, but I’m not going to be careful. If this is only a holiday romance, then I’m going to enjoy every second of it.
But already she was hoping it would be more than that.
* * *
They drove to the flat separately in their hire cars, parking in the marked bays behind the building.
‘You know,’ Brad said as they carried their luggage up to the first floor, ‘we could give up one of the cars and save some more money that way.’
‘I think we should wait a day or two before doing that. You might hate living with me and need to get away on your own.’
He stopped halfway up the stairs to smile warmly at her. ‘I doubt it.’
It was another of those moments that took all the oxygen out of her lungs and she could only stare back at him. Neither moved for a minute or two, then he hefted his case and strode up the last few stairs, opening the door of the flat with a flourish and waiting for her to trundle her wheelie case inside first.
The place wasn’t very big at all, but tiny as the kitchen was, it had the necessary equipment to cook simple meals. She went to open a cupboard and smiled at the few pieces of mismatched crockery inside, which included three red bowls, two yellow checked plates and some pink mugs with Blackpool written on them. She pulled two of the latter out straight away. ‘I’m so looking forward to choosing my own food and being able to make a cup of tea whenever I want one. I thought I’d enjoy having all my meals cooked for me, but you can tire of it very quickly.’
‘Me, too. We need to buy some teabags, though.’
‘What I’m longing for is hearty Australian-style salads and lots of big crunchy vegetables, not fancy towers of food with no substance to them, or steak sandwiches with two curls of lettuce and half a tomato.’ Her mouth watered at the thought.
‘We didn’t say which bedroom we’d each have.’ Brad walked from one doorway to the other – all of three paces – then looked at her. ‘Or may I have the pleasure of sharing your bed from now on?’
‘I’d like that.’ She’d have been upset if he hadn’t wanted to.
She wheeled her case into the room with the double bed, grimacing at the dark, old-fashioned wardrobe, wishing the owners had painted the walls white, not sickly lilac.
He followed her in. ‘Shall we go food shopping now or unpack first?’
‘Shopping. I’m hanging out for a cup of good tea and we need to buy some food.’
‘Lots of food. I don’t mind what I eat but I need plenty of it.’ He looked at her very determinedly. ‘And there won’t be any nonsense about halving the food bills. I eat more than anyone else in my family, and definitely more than you, from what I’ve seen.’
‘All right. You can pay for two-thirds. I’ll do the cooking, if you like.’
‘We’ll share it. You’re not here to wait on me and anyway, I enjoy cooking.’
They found a supermarket and selected their food amicably, then returned to the flat to sort everything out.
It felt strange sharing a kitchen with someone who wasn’t her husband. Gina had to stop for a moment as memories flooded back.
‘You all right?’
She turned to see Brad staring at her in concern. ‘Just – remembering my husband. Tom didn’t cook at all, except for barbecues, but he loved to hover near the kitchen when I was working in it.’
‘Helen was a brilliant cook, made the most wonderful cakes, but she didn’t let me do any cooking. It was most definitely her kitchen.’ His expression was sad, then he shrugged. ‘When she died, I went through her cookery books and taught myself to do some of my favourite meals, but I’ve never tried
to make cakes. Maybe I will one day.’
It was as Gina was turning to find a bowl for the fruit that they collided. His hands steadied her and he didn’t let go, pulling her into his arms. The kiss started off gently, but soon she found herself melting against him, wanting him again. When he pulled away, she dragged his head back and continued the kiss because she didn’t want it to stop yet.
Strange how comfortable she felt taking the lead with him, making her own needs felt.
They broke off the embrace and stood quietly, clasped in each other’s arms.
‘I’d forgotten.’ Her voice came out husky. It was a wonder she could breathe at all, she felt so roused by his nearness.
‘Forgotten what?’ His voice was slow and sounded deeper than usual.
‘How it feels to be thoroughly kissed.’
‘I’m a bit out of practice. You’re the first woman I’ve been attracted to since Helen died. I missed the sex, but I’m not into quick sex with strangers, never have been.’
‘You and I are nearly strangers.’
‘No, we’re not. We’re good friends already, have been from the very start. There was something sparking between us from the start.’
She couldn’t deny that, with her whole body tingling merely from his touch.
* * *
That night, Jake heard a noise he couldn’t explain. He usually slept very soundly, but since Peggy’s husband had tried to snatch her from the women’s centre – and he was sure that had been Hartley’s intention in going there, not merely a desire to speak to Peggy as the bugger had claimed – Jake had found himself waking up at the slightest sound. Like tonight.
There it went again, a very soft sound from the rear of the house. Had he locked the side gate last night? He couldn’t remember so he got up, slipping into his dressing gown and opening his bedroom door.
‘Jake?’ The door next to his opened.
‘Shh. Don’t put the light on. I thought I heard something outside. I’ll just go and check.’
Family Connections Page 23