by Rhoda Baxter
“Oh,” she said. Her feelings were so confused now that she didn’t know what they were. What she did know was that she wanted more of him. “I like you,” she said. “I’m just not very good at these things.”
Vinnie gave a little shrug. “I’m not so great at these things either,” he said. “But when you kissed me earlier... I have never, ever been kissed like that before.” He kicked off his shoes and lay down on her bed. He pulled her down until she was lying partially on top of him. “I like you too, Tracey,” he said. “And I really, really want to get to know you better. Just ... be gentle with me.”
She giggled and kicked off her own shoes. She lay next to him and ran her fingers through his hair. “You’re insane.”
In response he kissed her again and this time, there was nothing in world that could stop them.
Chapter 13
Vinnie woke up in the dark. There was someone asleep on his arm. Tracey. He smiled into the darkness. She made him feel... happy. It was a simple sort of happiness as though she was a tonic that he’d been needing all his life. He shifted his weight so that he could tweak the curtains a bit. He had to move carefully, not only because he didn’t want to wake her, but because they were in a single bed. One false move and he could add falling out of bed to his list of Tracey related accidents.
Dawn was streaking pink across the sky. The soft light fell on Tracey’s sleeping face. Without her glasses she looked delicate and young. Vulnerable. He didn’t want to ever let her go. All his concerns about being on the rebound had vanished the minute she kissed him. Nothing he had felt for Hayleigh compared to the head rush of being with Tracey. Except, she worked in London, he lived in Leeds. There were fast trains ... and the internet. It wasn’t ideal, but it was doable. He shifted his weight again and tried to extricate his arm.
Tracey started and eyes flew open. She stared at him like a frightened animal for a second, before her body relaxed. “Vinnie.”
“Tracey.” He grinned, took her hand in his and kissed it. “Morning.”
She smiled back, a satisfied, sated kind of smile that made him want to kiss her all over again. Then she stretched.
“No, don’t do th—”
Too late. She moved her body into the stretch and he toppled out of the bed.
He lay on the floor, tangled in the duvet which had come with him, and rolled his eyes. It had to happen.
Her head appeared over the side of the bed. Her red and black hair all over the place. “Sorry.”
“I’m getting used to it.” He sat up. “Actually, I need to get dressed and go up to the cottage anyway. I’m supposed to clear out by lunchtime.”
“Oh.” Her face fell. “Do you have to go?”
He pulled up his knees and rested his arms on them. “I promised my Mum I’d be home for dinner. I could pretend we’re still snowed in...”
She slid down onto the floor next to him. He pulled her to him and wrapped the duvet around them both. “It’s only a short term fix though,” he said. “I would really like to see you again... if that’s okay with you.”
The smile she gave him put a glow in his chest. “It’s definitely okay with me.”
“Excellent.” He moved closer to kiss her.
“Oh wait, there’s one thing.”
He leaned back again and raised his eyebrows.
“I can’t go out with someone without knowing their name. If you’re not really called Vincent, what IS your real name?”
He grinned. “Vinodh. It means ‘he who enjoys’ ...”
She gave it more thought that he’d expected. “It suits you,” she said, finally.
“Great. Now can I kiss you?”
She threw her arms around him and did it for him.
Chapter 14
Tracey sat in the car, working. She’d agreed to do a patch for Nifty Gift It’s new owners as a one-off. The Wi-Fi was just another reason why she liked Bob’s cars. She was so busy with her laptop that she didn’t notice they’d stopped until Bob said, “This is the place miss. Do you know the code to let us in past the barrier?”
She looked up and took a moment to surface into the real world. “No idea,” she said. “Just a sec. I’ll call Vinnie.”
He picked up after a couple of rings. “Tracey! Where are you?”
“Outside your gate thing. Can you let us in?”
“I’ll buzz you in. I’m in Ariadne block, the third one down. I’ll come down and meet you.”
As the barrier rose, Tracey relayed the information to Bob. It was February and it was dark outside. She hadn’t seen Vinnie since Christmas, but they’d spoken to each other by phone and Skype so much, that it was almost as though they’d never been apart. She peered out at the blocks of modern apartments and felt a flutter of excitement at the idea of seeing him again. She hadn’t told anyone except Giselle about him and Giselle had teased her about having an online relationship with a man she’d actually met.
Her phone rang. She checked the caller ID and clicked her tongue. It was the agent who was trying to find a tenant for her flat. She’d shown someone round earlier, maybe these people were interested in the renting the place. Tracey sighed and took the call. Bob stopped the car at the entrance to one of the blocks.
It took her a couple of minutes to sort out the phone call. She hung up and scrambled out of the car. Bob had taken her bags out for her.
“Tracey?”
She turned. Vinnie stood in the light from the building. He was evidently still in his work clothes, his shirt open at the collar. He looked... amazing. The butterflies in her stomach went mad. This man. This beautiful man... was her man. It was almost too good to be true.
He was looking at the car, a small frown between his brows.
“I’ll come pick you on Monday morning then, miss.” Bob touched his cap. She wished he wouldn’t do that. It made her look like some sort of moneyed doyenne.
“Yes please. Have a good weekend, Bob.”
Bob’s gaze flicked to Vinnie and back to her. “You too.”
Vinnie watched the car drive away and turned to Tracey. “Hello.” He leaned across and kissed her cheek awkwardly. “Here. Let me take that bag.”
She followed him and was nervous again. This had happened on and off the whole time she was on the way up. Would things still be the same, now that they were out of the Trewton Royd bubble? They’d been talking over Skype and messaging each other for the past few weeks, while busily getting on with their real lives off screen. With Valentine’s Day coming up, it seemed the ideal opportunity to meet up again. In real life. He’d offered to come to her, but she’d insisted on coming up. She couldn’t bear the thought of having to go out in London. Besides, there were things she needed to do in Leeds.
Now that Bob had gone off and left her there, the doubts returned. Butterflies in her stomach. Her throat was tight. What if the magic had worn off? What if he’d changed his mind? In the lift, they stood side by side.
Vinnie leaned his head back against the side of the lift and said, “So... when you said you were getting a lift up... you actually meant a chauffeur driven limo?”
That was the other thing. She still hadn’t mentioned about the money. She hadn’t wanted him to know at first, because she wanted him to like her as she was. And then it was too late to tell him without raising awkward questions. “Um... yeah. The train is... difficult sometimes.”
“Yes, but a chauffeur driven limo? What are you made of money?” He didn’t look annoyed, just puzzled.
“Well, actually. There’s something I need to tell you.”
He turned to face her. “Don’t tell me. You’re a millionaire.” He grinned. When she didn’t laugh, the grin faded. The lift stopped and the doors opened. “You’re not?” he said. “Are you?”
“Are we getting out?” She stepped out. He followed her, looking baffled.
“I knew you’d made some money. But when they said how much the company sold for, I assumed a lot of that was taken up by sharehol
ders. Were there no shareholders? Was it really just you and Giselle?”
She nodded. He must have Googled her. Of course. She had Googled him.
“I’m impressed. Well done, Tracey.” He started walking down the corridor.
She followed him. “You’re not weirded out?”
He stopped at a door and fished a key out of his pocket. “No. Should I be? I mean, it’s impressive, but you earned it.” He guided her in, his hand touching her back gently. She felt a thrill at the contact. She wasn’t sure what reaction she’d expected, but unruffled acceptance was just perfect. She should have known that Vinnie would take it in his stride.
“This is chez moi,” he said. They were in the hallway of a small flat. Music spilled out an open doorway to the side.
“Come through to the kitchen,” he said. “I’m making lasagne.”
The kitchen, to one side of the open plan living/dining room, was small and looked like a bomb had hit it. There was stuff everywhere.
“Wow. This looks ... complicated,” said Tracey.
“It’s not, really.” He grated cheese into a bowl. “I just ... tend to spread out a bit when I’m cooking.” He put the cheese down and pulled a corkscrew out of a drawer. “Would you mind getting the wine?”
There were two glasses already out. She poured the drinks carefully. “This is a bit more fancy than a pint in the Trewton Arms.” She pushed his glass towards him.
Vinnie picked up the glass. “Nicely done,” he said, nodding towards the clean work surface. “Not a drop of spillage.”
“I’m a lot better now that I’m not so stressed.” Which was true. She still had to concentrate, but it was easier now that she wasn’t so tired all the time.
“That’s great.” He returned to his cooking.
Tracey leaned against the worktop and watched him move. She could watch him for hours. The way he moved was something that Skype could never convey. What else was there that didn’t translate over the distance? Again, she felt a twist of fear. Oh please don’t let this get messed up. She had never wanted to be with anyone as much as she wanted to be with Vinnie. Please, please, please.
He finished sprinkling cheese on the pasta and put the dish in the oven. “There,” he said. “It’s going to be... bloody ages before it’s done.” He washed his hands and ran his fingers through his hair. “It was meant to be all sorted by the time you got here, but I was late leaving work.” He came and stood facing her. Took a sip of wine. They looked at each other.
“Well, this is weird,” said Tracey.
He smiled. “It is a bit, isn’t it? You look different,” he said.
“It’ll be the fact that I’m not wearing a bazillion jumpers and my nose isn’t bright red,” she said, a little more sharply than she’d intended. Old habits died hard.
He touched her cheek, as though moving a strand of hair off it. “You’ve changed the colour in your hair,” he said. “That’s all.”
“Oh. Yeah. I thought it was time to try shocking pink.” She finally looked up to meet his eyes. He was still gorgeous. That hadn’t changed. He stroked her cheek again and the butterflies in her stomach went crazy. That hadn’t changed either.
“You know what else is weird.” He moved closer.
“What?” It was getting hard to think.
“You’ve been here ten minutes and haven’t beaten me up once.” Closer, closer.
By the time he kissed her, she was smiling. It was a gentle kiss to begin with. Light and reassuring. Tracey leaned into him, the tension leaving her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. The kiss changed. Deepened. Now filled with wanting. Nothing had changed. She still wanted him and, heaven knows, he still wanted her. Thank goodness.
They finally drew apart. He held her to him. “I’ve missed you,” he said. “Talking on Skype is great, but it’s not the same.” He kissed the corner of her mouth. “Being so far apart sucks.”
“Actually, Vinnie, there’s something else I wanted to tell you.” She put her hands on his chest and leaned away so that she could see him. His shirt was lovely and thick, but she could feel the heat of him through it.
“Don’t tell me. You want me to be your virginal secretary,” he said. “I’m not sure I can do that, Tracey.”
She punched him gently in the chest.
“At last. The beating up. Now I’m on familiar territory.”
“Shut up for a minute,” she said. “I’m trying to tell you that I’m thinking of moving up to Leeds.”
He dropped his hands to her waist. “Really?” A huge grin rose on his face. “How? When?”
“Well, I’ve just found a tenant for my flat ... so in the next couple of weeks. I’ll need to go flat hunting here this weekend, if that’s okay with you.”
“But Tracey, all your work contacts. The prospects.”
“They can find me just as easily here. I tend to do everything online anyway and I can do that from anywhere. Anyway, I’ve got an idea for a new app. You were right about the ideas.” His grin was catching. Now she was beaming too. “So... is that okay with you?”
“Is that okay with me?” He laughed. “I love you, you idiot. Of course it’s okay with me.”
Emotion rose through her body. He loved her. Unexpected tears made him blurry. “Oh Vinnie.” She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him, her body pressed against his, his arms warm around her. “I can’t believe this is real,” she said into his shoulder.
“It’s real.” He drew back so that he could tilt her face up to look at him. “I’ve never been more sure of anything before. When I’m with you, I feel like I’m a better version of me. I don’t know how I’d be without you.”
Tears escaped down her face. “I don’t know how to be without you either.”
He wiped away the tears and took her face in his hands. “Awesome.” He kissed her and she kissed him back, her hands pressed against his chest. The kiss became more urgent. She slid her fingers in between the buttons on his shirt and felt the hot skin underneath.
He made an appreciative noise in his throat and scooped her up.
“But the lasagne...” Her protest was half-hearted at best.
“Ages,” he said firmly, and carried her off to his bedroom.
The End
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Rhoda
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Preview of Belonging – the next book in the series
Remember Harriet who runs the corner shop?
Belonging
Chapter 1
It was so dark, it felt like the middle of the night and when Harriet slammed the taxi door, it sounded like a gunshot in the deserted village street. There would be curtains twitching in a minute. The only place with lights on was the bakery where Sue would be at work on her bread already. Sanctimonious cow. Sue had caught Harriet doing the walk of shame at 4 in the morning many a time and made no effort to hide her disdain.
Harriet stepped with exaggerated care up to door at the side of the shop. Her feet were already numb in these stupid shoes and it wouldn’t do to twist her ankle as well. Angling her body away from the street light, so that she could see the keyhole, she had a couple of stabs before she got the key in the lock and stumbled in.
After the darkness outside, the light in the narrow hallway was blinding. She covered her eyes and peered through her fingers. The stairs seemed to pulse ahead of her. Urgh. Not good. The hangover was going to be brutal tomorrow... well, later today, technically. She had to open the shop in five hours’ time.
She went up the stairs on her hands and knees, pausing at the top to take off her heels. There was another door at the top. Harriet unlocked that door too, took a deep breath and pushed it open.
The flat was exactly as she’d left it. Fairly neat. Fairly tidy. Totally empty, apart from her. She chucked her shoes into the basket in the corner and padded to the kitchen where she got herself a glass of water. Of course it was empty. What had she expected? That he would miraculously be there waiting for her? And what if he had? What would he have said to find her staggering home smelling of booze and smoke and some random guy she’d pulled in a nightclub?
Harriet gulped down another mouthful of cold water. He’d be horrified and upset, that’s what he’d say. There would be tears and remorse and she’d feel awful. But she’d happily live through that... just to see him again for five minutes.
Oh balls. This was what she’d gone out to avoid. This... yearning. She didn’t have any more booze in the house. There was wine downstairs, in the shop, but she had enough sanity left to know that was out of bounds. Tears leaked down her cold cheeks. Harriet wove her way to the bedroom and, still dressed, curled up under the duvet and gave into the sadness until she fell asleep.
When the alarm went off four hours later, Harriet smacked it to snooze and uncurled, slowly, so that she didn’t shatter herself into pieces. Ow. ow. There was a band of pain around her head. She hauled herself up until she was vaguely sitting up, found the water and ibuprofen she’d put out on the bedside cabinet before she went out and gulped it down. She reset the alarm and sank back under the duvet. One snooze and she’d go downstairs. All she had to do was sort the papers.
