‘Cream,’ Marianne said. ‘Elegant in an understated way! Happy birthday by the way … I’ve bought you a present.’
She thrust a box of Belgian chocolates into Grace’s hands. ‘I don’t know if you still like these?’
‘Of course I do – in fact they’re still my favourites, but you shouldn’t have.’
‘What nonsense! How’s the temping going? Sorry I haven’t dropped by sooner but you know how it is.’
‘Don’t worry about it, and work’s going fine. I miss having my own job but hopefully they’ll come up with something permanent soon. And in the meantime I’ve registered with the Open University. I’m going to do an English degree. Do you think I’m mad?’
‘No! That’s a brilliant idea. Good for you!’
Marianne’s eyes turned back to the cream dress, ‘So, what’s all this in aid of? Where are you off to tonight?’
Grace busied herself tidying the clothes on her bed. ‘I’m dreading it. Ellie insisted that she and Will wanted to cook me a proper birthday dinner, and now they’ve invited Nick along as well to make up the numbers. I don’t find him the easiest of people to get on with. It’ll probably be a complete disaster.’
‘With or without Suzanne?’
‘I’d feel a lot more comfortable if she was coming but not in the plan apparently. Will can’t stand her.’
‘Don’t blame him. She’s not easy to warm to.’
Grace put the blue dress back on its hanger and returned it to the wardrobe. She kept her voice casual. ‘What’s the situation with them? Are she and Nick serious?’
Marianne shrugged. ‘I think she’d like it to be, but she knows his history. He’s a funny chap in that way. He’s had a few girlfriends but they never seem to last very long. Difficult to pin down is our Nick.’
‘I’d still rather she was coming tonight.’
‘It’ll be fine, and much more fun without her. He’s easy company – I don’t know why you think he isn’t. Aren’t you just the teeniest bit excited about having a dinner date with him?’
‘Don’t call it that. And no I’m not. I only agreed because Ellie was so determined. It’s no big deal.’
‘So I see. That’s why you’ve got half your wardrobe laid out on the bed!’
Later, surveying herself in the mirror – a glass of white wine in her hand to boost her courage – Grace tried to quell the nerves in her stomach. Ridiculous that she should feel like this, she told herself, trying for the zillionth time to blot out the memory of that kiss. Why on earth did she keep thinking about it? She took a swig from her glass. She’d been stunned when Ellie had said she’d invited Nick and even more shocked that he’d accepted. It spoke volumes for her daughter’s powers of persuasion.
She took another swig. Maybe he’d phone and cancel.
She jumped as her mobile chose that exact moment to burst into life on the dressing table. She picked it up, glancing at the caller display. Withheld.
‘Hello?’
Silence.
‘Hello?’ she said again. ‘Who is it…?’
Just the sound of steady, rhythmic breathing, then, in a cracked whisper she could barely make out. ‘Happy birthday. I’m thinking of you.’ And a click as the line went dead.
Grace stared at the phone, waves of nausea rolling over her. Who would do that? It had been designed to be intimidating, there was no getting away from it – and it had been a man’s voice.
She put the phone down on the dressing table. Could it be…? No, of course not.
But if not him, who? Who knew it was her birthday today? Who would do something like that – other than Rory?
Her heart was pounding and she tried to calm herself, searching for a logical explanation. Just some joker not being funny, that was all. She wouldn’t let herself get paranoid about it … she wouldn’t.
‘Ooh … you look lovely,’ Ellie said from the doorway, making her jump.
She spun round, drawing a breath. ‘Do you think so?’ She was surprised at how normal her voice sounded as she pushed her thoughts away and looked down at her dress.
‘Yeah, I do! Are you all right?’
‘Yup, fine. I think I’m just about ready now.’
‘Well, you need to get over to Nick’s while we finish off here ... he’s expecting you.’
‘Oh, right.’ Grace’s disquiet was replaced by a different disquiet now. ‘Are you sure he’s quite happy about all this?’
‘Oh definitely … he was really chuffed to be invited.’
He was already sitting in one of the chairs on the patio staring pensively at the swimming pool, when she walked up the drive. He was wearing casual navy trousers and an open-necked short-sleeved shirt, and he turned to look at her when he heard her footsteps.
‘Hi …’ he said, getting up from his chair. He picked up a glass of champagne from the table and handed it to her.
Grace smiled as she took it. ‘Sorry you’ve been dragged into all this.’
‘I think it’s great that they wanted to do something special for you. Happy Birthday by the way.’
He pulled a small package out of his pocket and handed it to her diffidently. ‘A little something from Will and me – nothing much but I hope you like it.’
‘You shouldn’t have …’ Grace said, taking the package from him, noticing that he hadn’t included Suzanne.
She unwrapped it and stared down at the delicate antique earrings. ‘They’re lovely, Nick, but–’
‘No buts – it’s my way of saying thanks for helping out with Will and coming into the office. You’ve been a life saver.’
Grace shut the box and sank into the chair he indicated. ‘I’ve enjoyed it. I’m loving that I’m working again – it’s brought some structure back to my life.’
‘I thought you already had plenty of that. You strike me as being a very controlled and organised person.’
Grace took a swig of her champagne, and grinned. ‘I’ve had to be, I guess, but I do let my hair down occasionally.’
‘I’d like to see it.’ He sat back down in his own chair again. ‘Ellie seems to have settled back down again. I’m glad you and Evelyn have sorted things out.’
‘Yes, well, we just have to take it slowly I guess. Thanks for not saying I told you so.’
‘I wouldn’t dare – not if I want to stay alive.’ He chuckled. ‘I like the dress, by the way. It suits you.’
‘Thanks.’ She fingered the hem self-consciously, tugging it gently over her knees. ‘How’s Suzanne?’
Where the hell had that come from?
He looked surprised. ‘Fine, as far as I’m aware. We haven’t seen each other in a while as it happens. The last time we met up, things got a bit heavy.’
‘And you don’t do heavy?’ The alcohol was making her brave.
‘Not if I can help it. I’ve had one short but very happy marriage – the sort of relationship that comes along once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky. It’s enough for me. Now I try to keep my personal and family life separate – it’s less complicated that way with Will. You must have found it the same with Ellie, I’m sure?’
It didn’t take much pondering. Wasn’t that where she’d gone so wrong with Stuart? ‘I suppose so, but I’ve not had many boyfriends so I’ve not got much experience to draw upon.’
‘Really? I’d have thought you’d be fighting them off.’
Grace eyed him suspiciously, but his expression looked genuine enough. She shrugged. ‘Having a readymade family isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. And the Rory situation proved to be a complete passion killer both for me and any prospective partner I may have been interested in.’
‘So there was someone?’
‘For a while, but the strength of his affections didn’t weather the storm of having Rory on the scene.’
She took another sip from her glass and thought briefly of Stuart. He hadn’t called yet. Perhaps she’d put him off when he’d dropped round.
Nick glanced at his watch. ‘Dri
nk up … it’s about time we went over to yours.’
She finished her glass and stood up, surprised to find that her feet weren’t quite steady. ‘Good champagne,’ she said.
He laughed, slipping a warm hand beneath her elbow as he guided her towards the path. ‘I get the impression you don’t drink very much? You’ll feel better when you’ve got a bit of food inside you.’
There’d been a period – after Stuart – when she’d drunk far more than was good for her. Far more than was good for any single parent bringing up a young child. It had helped to start with, blanking out the anxiety, the misery. But then she’d come to realise that that was all it was doing – blanking stuff out. It wasn’t helping in any way. Wasn’t solving any of her problems. Fortunately, she’d managed to pull herself out of it before it became a problem. It was the only time she and Lynette had nearly fallen out in a big way.
‘Champagne goes straight to my head,’ she said now. ‘But it was a lovely thought. Thank you.’
They walked back to her house in companionable silence.
‘Are the new people moving in soon?’ Nick asked, looking over at the empty house as they opened her gate.
She followed his gaze and shrugged. ‘No-one seems to know anything about them – I think they’re getting some work done first. I guess it’ll happen when it’s ready.’
‘What do you think?’ Ellie asked excitedly, leading them through to the conservatory. ‘We thought it would be nice for you to eat in here. Do you like it?’
Grace took a deep breath, sobering up in an instant. Anything more like the setting for a seduction scene would be hard to imagine. All around the small conservatory, decorative scented candles flickered softly, with a further two candlesticks twinkling merrily in the centre of the small dining table. From somewhere, Ellie had retrieved the Christmas fairy lights, which were now draped artistically around one of Grace’s large ferns. It looked lovely – but so intimate. And, Grace realised to her horror, the table was only set for two.
‘Darling, you’ve done a fantastic job, but why haven’t you laid places for you and Will?’
‘Oh, you can’t eat with the staff,’ Ellie scoffed. ‘This is a special dinner. We’re eating in the kitchen.’
Grace didn’t dare look at Nick as she took her seat but when the silence seemed to be stretching into an eternity and she finally looked up, relief flooded through her at the laughter in his eyes.
‘I’m sorry …’ She shook her head, smiling herself. ‘I don’t know what they’re playing at. It’s all a bit over the top, isn’t it?’
‘I think they’ve done a great job.’ He reached for the bottle of wine in the centre of the table and poured some into her glass. ‘And we should just sit back and enjoy it.’
Grace relaxed, relieved that he clearly wasn’t as discomfited as she was. ‘You’re right – I hope Suzanne doesn’t drop by to check up on you though.’
‘Why would she do that?’
‘I don’t know…’
Shit. What was the matter with her harping on about Suzanne all the time? ‘I thought … maybe …’ She knew she was babbling. ‘She might not be too happy at the thought of you having a romantic dinner with another woman.’
‘Well, as she doesn’t know about it, there shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Are you suggesting then, that things might get romantic?’
‘No.’
‘Ah, of course, I was forgetting. I’m not your type, am I?’
So he had heard! She took another sip of her wine, wishing Ellie would hurry up with the food.
As if by telepathic response the door opened and Will and Ellie sailed in bearing a dish each of prawn cocktail salad and some brown bread.
‘Bon appetit,’ Ellie threw at them as they exited. ‘Ooh, I nearly forgot …’
And the next moment, strains of some melodious pop song that Grace had never heard of, floated atmospherically into the room.
As soon as they’d departed, both Nick and Grace burst out laughing.
‘I’m beginning to think that you’re right, and they are up to something,’ Nick said.
‘Well – you know of course that Will’s not very keen on Suzanne?’ Alcohol was loosening Grace’s tongue.
‘I had rather got that message. It’s a compliment to you if he feels you'd be a better bet.’
‘Hmm.’
She fell silent, realising they were moving into dangerous territory as her mind leapt back to that kiss again. Nick’s expression was unfathomable but his eyes suggested that his thoughts weren’t all that far away from her own.
Dragging her gaze away, she dived into her prawn cocktail.
A second course of roast chicken – undoubtedly cooked by Will – had been followed by Ellie’s one and only culinary speciality – trifle, and now as the table was cleared, Grace leaned luxuriously back in her chair and watched them fondly.
‘That was great, guys. Are you going to join us for coffee now?’
‘Oh, Mum, as if we drink coffee! We thought we’d get the dishwasher on and then if it’s all right with you, go back to Will’s to watch a DVD. Did you really enjoy it?’
Ellie’s face was so eager to please that Grace immediately swallowed her misgivings about being left alone with Nick, and was quick to reassure her.
‘You did a great job. Thank you both very much.’
After they’d gone she smiled at Nick over her glass. ‘Thanks for helping to make it such a nice evening … but don’t let me hold you up if you’ve got things you want to get on with.’
‘I think the kids would be seriously disappointed if I turned up at home so soon after them.’
Grace hesitated. ‘They’re spending a lot of time together. You don’t think they’re ...’
‘If they are, it’s all part of growing up.’
She frowned. ‘Maybe, but they’re too young to be thinking about dating.’
She couldn’t keep the disapproval from her voice and he laughed. ‘I’m sure there’s nothing like that going on between them. Will seems to view Ellie more like a younger sister than a potential girlfriend. Anyway, there’s some girl in his class at school that he’s keen on so I don’t think you’ve got much to worry about.’
He wandered into the lounge while she went to make the coffee and when she returned, Bryan Adams was melodiously filling the room.
She looked at him in surprise. ‘You’re not a Bryan Adams fan?’
‘No way, but I assumed you were, as you had so much of his music. And it is your night.’
She laughed. ‘Actually, he was one of my Mum’s favourites; it’s one of the few memories I have of her. She loved him and was always singing along to his music.’
‘How old were you when she died?’
‘Nine.’
‘Similar to Will then.’
‘Yes.’
‘Do you mind my asking how you coped? I worry sometimes how big the impact will be on Will, losing his mother like that. As parents we do our best to fill the gap, but there’s no way of measuring how you’re doing.’
‘I don’t think you’ve got much to worry about with Will. I won’t deny it’s a huge thing to happen, and I’m sure the psychologists have a lot to say on the subject. But I think if you’re brought up by a loving family, as both Will and I have been, it makes an enormous difference. The thing I find most upsetting is that I don’t remember much about my mother now – just odd memories and vague images if I sit down and really put my mind to it. It’s sad.’
Nick broke the silence by standing up and removing the coffee cup from her hands.
‘This is all getting far too morose. I think you should have at least one dance on your birthday, don’t you?’
He’d drawn her up before she even had time to say no, and the minute his arms were around her, she knew she’d have to be careful. It felt good.
They drifted to the music in silence but Grace’s body was having a disturbing reaction to the warmth of his. It was taking all her wil
lpower to keep her hands from looping around his neck and drawing him closer. She closed her eyes, breathing him in.
‘I know I’m not really your type,’ he whispered, his breath warm on her ear. ‘But I don’t think any girl should pass her birthday without a celebratory kiss. And I’m remembering that our last one was quite something.’
She shook her head in his shoulder. ‘Not a good idea–’
‘I know – it’s a terrible one.’ She could hear the smile in his voice. ‘But why don’t we give it a shot anyway?’
His lips brushed her earlobe, sending a lick of desire quivering through her and when she felt his fingers on her chin, gently tilting her head upwards, she didn’t pull back. Her fired senses were ready for him and the moment their lips met, her mouth responded to his with an enthusiasm that left them both in no doubt where this could be heading.
‘Let me take you upstairs and make love to you.’
‘Nick.’
‘What? We’re free agents, we can do what we want.’
‘Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.’
‘Tell me why we shouldn’t then?’
‘Because we’ll probably regret it …’
‘You only regret the things you don’t do in life, Grace. Haven't you realised that yet? But I don’t want to pressure you.’
God, she wanted to. It was turning her on just talking about it. And she was long overdue rejoining the human race. But there was one thing she needed to get clear first.
‘What about Suzanne?’
His returning look was direct. ‘I’m not saying she’d be thrilled at the prospect, and there was one occasion when things did go further than they should have – but because I know she’d like more than I can give her, I’ve kept it platonic ever since. I told you how I felt about my wife. I want to be honest with you – there’s a limit to what I can offer in terms of commitment to anyone. That’s a problem for Suzanne. And if it’s a problem for you too …?’
But all Grace felt was a huge sense of relief. Wasn’t that exactly what she wanted? No ties? No commitment? She drew slowly back and looked up at him. Everything about him seemed so right. She felt as if she knew every line, every expression on his face – which was a complete nonsense, because in real terms, they hardly knew each other at all. Yet, in the space of a few meetings, he’d managed to get under her skin in a way no man ever had before. It was exciting and why shouldn’t she explore it? As he said, they were both free agents. Maybe this was what she’d been missing out on all these years – what Lynette had been trying to get through to her.
Shadow Watcher, A Romantic Suspense Novel Page 19
