Romancing the Soul

by Sarah Tranter

  She shook her head and couldn’t help but match his grin. ‘I will never leave you and never betray you.’

  ‘Thank you,’ he said, sounding so sincere. And his eyes … He kissed her nose. ‘I will hold you to it. I may just need you reminding me now and again.’

  As he released her wrists, she used a hand to stroke his face while he threaded his fingers through those of her spare hand.

  ‘Can you still not remember what happened when we first met?’ he asked.

  She shook her head, playing with a dark flop of hair over his forehead. ‘No. I just get the biggest headache and—’

  ‘You too?’ George raised himself up, concerned. ‘Don’t try and remember then, baby.’ He kissed her forehead so tenderly.

  She could get used to this. Not that she should.

  ‘It doesn’t make any sense,’ George mused. ‘When Rachael did her regression thing on you … you can remember?’

  ‘Unfortunately, but I won’t,’ she ground out. Never. She added a few more chains to that box in her head for good measure. ‘It wasn’t real. None of it is. Loopy, but not real.’

  ‘I suppose we could have banged our heads or something … But …’ There was a long pause.

  ‘George?’ Susie prompted, gazing into his eyes.

  ‘Move in with me?’

  Chapter Nineteen

  Cassie loved her mum very much. But she was going to get lockjaw if she was forced to grit her teeth for much longer.

  ‘Mum. As I’ve explained, George is going to call you and arrange to meet up. It would not be appropriate to just turn up on his doorstep. He’s got plans and I don’t think—’

  ‘Cassie, the taxi is basically going to go past his door, so—’

  ‘No, it’s not. You asked the driver to take a detour en route to the hotel. The detour is going to go past his door.’

  ‘I’m just going to ring his bell and see if he’s there. I’m worried about him. When you finally have children of your own you will understand. His reassurances on the phone didn’t hold true. If I ever get my hands on the girl that hurt him like this, I will not be accountable for my actions.’

  ‘The same girl you had such high hopes for? The one you had such a good feeling about because she drove him to lose his head in public?’

  ‘She hadn’t hurt him then.’

  ‘I have it on very good authority that they’ve patched things up.’

  ‘Perhaps I’ll get to meet her then, and be able to gauge for myself whether she’s got the potential to break his heart again.’

  ‘That’s what this is all about!’ Cassie cried, turning to glare at her mother accusingly. She shook her head. ‘You suspect she’s what he’s got planned this weekend and you want to meet her! Mum, that isn’t fair. That really isn’t fair. I won’t allow you to do this.’

  ‘And just how do you propose to stop me?’ Addressing the taxi driver, she instructed, ‘Just over there behind the black car please.’

  Cassie bolted out of the taxi as soon as it pulled up. There was no way she could let this happen. On reaching George’s front door she pretended to ring the bell. After a moment’s pause, she announced, ‘He’s not in, so let’s go.’ She turned with the intention of heading back down the steps.

  Unfortunately her mother was right behind her. How could she move that quickly? And no way! She had just magicked a key from her handbag. ‘Where did you get that from? You can’t do this, Mum!’ Cassie cried, pressing herself tightly against the door to prevent her mother getting to the lock. In so doing she accidentally rang the bell. If George had a shred of sense he wouldn’t answer the door.

  ‘Cassie … Do you wish me to continue to pretend I do not know you have a second bedroom at which I could stay every time I come to London with little or no notice?’

  She knew? And boy did she choose her moments. The scheming … And George was going to kill her – her, Cassie, not Mum, although it was her he should be throttling!

  Cassie scooted around in her own handbag to retrieve her phone. ‘Mum, let’s just see if we can get hold of him on the phone rather than breaking and entering, shall we?’

  ‘I don’t believe a mother using the key her son gave her to access his property “whenever she wanted” is breaking and entering.’

  ‘The intent you have Mum is not innocent, so don’t try and play it with me. It won’t work. I know exactly what you’re doing here.’

  George had to move, although he could lay with Susie sleeping in his arms forever. He lowered his face into her hair and absorbed the sensation. The soft silkiness against his skin, her scent. This was heaven. There was no better word for it. And she’d said yes. He couldn’t help the grin that appeared on his face … And to think he was supposed to be taking things slowly! He’d never been more nervous of asking a question before in his life. In fact, he’d never before asked that particular question of anyone. And her pause had been agony.

  But she would be the first, the last and the only. He’d make sure of it. And those haunting fears? Susie had them of a sort, too, although hers were down to another awful experience courtesy of Rachael Jones. He really hoped he’d managed to reassure her. If he hadn’t succeeded quite yet, he would make it his priority.

  As for his …? He shook his head at himself. He wasn’t sure where the hell his fears came from. Did everyone experience this fear of loss when they’d found ‘the’ one? Whatever. He was going to work on getting a grip on them. He’d get them under control … somehow.

  Forcing himself to move, George very carefully extricated his limbs from Susie’s and sidled out of bed. He paused to watch her snuggle into the space he’d left. She was so beautiful. How could she possibly think she wasn’t? Lying with her glorious hair, blonde but with those amazing red tinges, fanned out around her on the pillow … She actually looked like an angel. He smirked as he recalled the passion that had led to this point. Perhaps not so angelic – but definitely his heaven.

  And she looked perfect in his bed. Right. Righter than right. He wanted to wake up every morning with her as the first thing he saw. Her breath and her voice, the first thing he heard. And forever had a good ring to it. But first things first.

  Food. He’d invited her into his – their, he grinned – home, and had offered her no food at all. He pulled on his jeans in order to head to the kitchen and cursed silently as the door buzzer rang again. He had no intention of answering it, but glanced anxiously at Susie to make sure she’d not been disturbed. She snuggled down deeper into the pillow and he gently pulled the sheet up to cover her. As George headed out of the bedroom door he retrieved his mobile from his pocket and switched it on. He’d not been able to find his watch to check the time. It lit up: 5.00 p.m.! He frowned. He really needed to get some food going.

  Absently scanning through the messages received, he clicked on Cassie’s to hear what she had to say. He froze as her panicked voice sounded in his ear. Bloody hell!

  Cassie stood in George’s entrance hall nervously shifting her feet. She had absolutely no idea what to do. She’d at least made it into the house first, managing to pick up and stuff into her handbag those garments littering the floor. Garments, she was quite convinced, George would not want their mother to see. She winced, trying not to think of the shredded item of clothing she’d found and what had evidently taken place in the entrance hall.

  Mum was currently in the living room off the hallway. Cassie was standing guard to make sure she didn’t wander any further. Cassie had already tried to convince her George was not at home, and even pretended to have checked upstairs. But her eagle-eyed mother had spied his car outside and insisted on waiting for a few minutes, as he had ‘most likely just popped out.’ Cassie explained the concept of taxis and limousines, but the scheming witch was refusing to budge. How long had she known about the second bedroom?

&n
bsp; Cassie had called and left a message for George and rung the door bell again, but failing actually going upstairs – which she was absolutely not doing – she didn’t quite know what to do to tip George off to the predicament.

  George walked down the stairs, pocketing pieces of Susie’s bra en route and some black shreds of fabric – God he’d annihilated her dress. He met Cassie’s relieved, but frantic eyes.

  She shook her head and pointed repeatedly to the living room. She then partook in frenzied gestures before reaching into her handbag, producing underwear and his T-shirt, before shoving it back in and dramatically rolling her eyes. As he got closer, she mouthed, ‘I’m sorry.’ It graduated to urgent whispers when he was before her. ‘I tried George. She diverted the taxi and then produced a bloody key on the doorstep. And do you know what? She knows about the second bedroom! She shamelessly used it against me.’

  George knew what his mum was like. He loved her desperately, but when she decided on something, there was no way she’d budge. He bent down and kissed Cassie on the cheek. ‘Thank you for trying.’

  ‘You forgive me?’

  He chuckled. ‘Of course. And thank you. I’m just relieved you kept her away until now, but I need her out of the house before Susie wakes up because Mum is the last thing I’d inflict on her at this stage.’

  ‘She says she can’t wait to get her hands on the woman that hurt you so badly.’

  George raised an eyebrow. ‘Help me get her out, yeah?’

  ‘Deal,’ Cassie declared, high-fiving his raised hand.

  ‘Well I must say you don’t look any worse for your ordeal,’ George’s mum declared as he walked into the living room.

  ‘I’m not, Mum.’

  ‘A shirt wouldn’t have gone amiss, though.’

  ‘I wasn’t expecting visitors.’ She knew exactly what she was doing here George realised, noting the sparkle in her far too alert blue eyes. She was seventy-three, had borne four children, but didn’t look a day over fifty. And her brain, he knew from experience, was as unmarked by the years. Cassie had it spot on in her message: Mum wants to meet Susie and nothing will stop her. Well, it wasn’t happening. Not yet. Exposing Susie to his mum was not a good idea; it wasn’t fair on her. And while he’d yet to control that fear of his, he was not taking any unnecessary risks.

  ‘So it’s serious,’ she stated. Not a question, just a statement. ‘Has she moved in yet?’

  She was uncannily perceptive, always had been. He’d never been able to hide anything from her.

  George cleared his throat awkwardly and looked to Cassie for support. She shrugged her shoulders and winced.

  Susie rolled over, stretched and grinned. She couldn’t help it. She didn’t think she had ever before felt this content.

  Betrayal …

  If she could lop off her own head and still function, she’d damned well do it!

  Susie continued with her body roll, intending to return the favour George had bestowed upon her. But instead abruptly sat up in bed. Where was he? She didn’t at all like not waking up next to him.

  ‘George?’ she called. Perhaps he was in the bathroom. Dragging the silk sheet off the bed to wrap around her, she ventured to the adjoining room. Empty. But such a stunning room. And she couldn’t wait to explore the sunken plunge bath, the size of a small swimming pool. And look at that! There was even a hook for a bathrobe right there at the steps into the thing.

  Grinning, she moved out of the bathroom and George’s bedroom, to tentatively explore some of the rooms upstairs. ‘George?’ She really didn’t feel right nosing around his house like this. It was gorgeous though. Other than his bedroom … and the shower room, how could she ever forget that shower …? she hadn’t really noticed anything but the entrance hall and the staircase last night. And even then she’d been … distracted. She blushed at the memories and let her body do its heating and tingling thing before she attempted a refocus.

  The house was huge, but very tastefully decorated and despite its size and George spending so much time in the States, it still felt like a home. She stopped in an upstairs corridor to look at what must be family photos. She played ‘spot George’ in some of the 1970s images full of children wearing striped jumpers. She was sure she had it right. One hundred per cent sure. It was his darned eyes.

  She wondered where he could be and, as her stomach grumbled, thought she’d found the answer. She was starving. It had to be the kitchen. And she would kill for a coffee. But that could wait until she’d wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly for a while or so; there was nothing so wonderful as that feeling of being in his arms.

  Holding onto the carved wood banister of the sweeping staircase she held such fond recollections of, she descended, being careful not to trip over the sheet. It was trailing behind her too and for a moment she felt like a fairy tale princess. She couldn’t believe she appeared to be … in a relationship with George Silbury! And he thought she was beautiful. And he didn’t want to lose her. He was mad, truly mad.

  At the bottom Susie pondered as to the direction of the kitchen. George could help. ‘George?’ she called. ‘Where are you? Could you perhaps come and ravage me again? Actually it’s my turn to ravage. When I find you, I’m going to suck your—’

  She stopped as George dived out of a room off the entrance hall. She grinned. God she’d missed him. He grinned back. That incredible lopsided smile that hit her soul deep, and his eyes … But his expression changed to a frown as the door he was attempting to close behind him, refused to shut.

  He rolled his eyes and was instantaneously before her. ‘I am so sorry,’ he murmured, before kissing her. That kiss did things … But he’d moved his head back on a curse and a frown. ‘I’m so, so sorry!’

  Amidst her confusion he moved to her side, wrapping an arm around her waist. She looked up to his face for clarification, but was distracted as a woman emerged from the room he’d exited. Tall, dark-haired, elegant, very beautiful … Why was …? Susie’s brow furrowed. She looked similar to the woman that was in so many of the pictures upstairs that she’d always assumed to be George’s—

  ‘Susie … may I introduce you to my mother?’

  Nooooo! No! No! No!

  George tightened his hold around her waist before his hand moved down to grasp hers. He squeezed reassuringly.

  ‘She decided to pay me – us – an impromptu visit, while letting herself in with the key she should never have been given and which will now, of course, be confiscated. I believe she wanted to meet you.’

  His mum? His mum? She was standing meeting his mum in a bed sheet and … Oh shit! Susie groaned as she recalled her words and it had evidently been audible, because George squeezed her hand afresh and pulled her closer. She looked up at him and he gave her a reassuring smile. She could see the concern in his eyes though. And a heartfelt apology.

  Susie turned to look at the woman again. His sister had now also appeared from the room and, looking at her sympathetically, mouthed, ‘I’m sorry.’ Perhaps she wasn’t too bad after all.

  Susie said the only thing that could be said in the circumstances. ‘Thumb. I was going to offer to suck that splinter out of your thumb.’ Turning to George, she asked, ‘Have you got the splinter out, George?’

  He grinned at her and raised an eyebrow in that amazing way of his, before lowering his head to say quietly in her ear, ‘Clever, very clever. Not so sure it worked though. I am so sorry. I had no idea she’d turn up. If it’s any consolation, I’ve been standing in front of my mother with an almighty hard-on thanks to your earlier suggestion.’ Susie couldn’t help the giggle. ‘She will be physically removed if she hasn’t left in one-minute flat.’

  ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Susie,’ his mother said, interrupting their intimacies.

  Susie turned her attention to her, noting with satisfaction
that George pulled her back against the front of his body and wrapped his arms around her front. She closed her eyes momentarily; she could feel the problem he had.

  ‘I can see I’m intruding though and must leave you to attend to my son’s … thumb.’ George cleared his throat behind her, while his sister had her head in a hand. ‘I won’t disturb you a moment longer. We will have our opportunity to talk properly. My apologies for the intrusion.’

  She reached out to grasp Susie’s hand with both of hers. Susie looked up to meet … was that a twinkle in her eyes?

  As she turned away and headed towards the door, she said, ‘Cassie – return their clothing, please.’

  That night Cassie collapsed in relief upon her sofa. Snuggling under the duvet she’d dragged from her bedroom, she looked contentedly into the relaxing flames of the log fire she’d lit.

  She owed Mark big time. He’d finally agreed to summon Mum on the pretence of needing help with childcare. She’d happily scuttled off to Kent to rescue her eldest son, having completed her mission here to meet Susie. And to drive Cassie up the wall. Mark could have been in no doubt as to Cassie’s desperation, but she wondered just what her oldest, very shrewd brother, would insist on in terms of repayment.

  Sighing, she reached out for her mug of tea. That was one thing she could say for her mum’s visits: Cassie appreciated her life all the more when she’d gone. And George and Susie seemed to be getting their act together. She’d never before seen that sparkle in his eyes. Yes. Life, bizarrely, despite the horrors of previous weeks, was good. Popping her mug down, Cassie stretched out to pick up a letter from the unread pile on her coffee table. Freddie’s, she noted from the handwriting as she snuggled up again in the duvet. She was actually managing to view these letters objectively now, she realised, for what they were. The past. A painful past, yes, but she could clearly differentiate the past from the present now.