‘Where’s Ellie?’
‘At Evelyn’s.’
‘Really?’
His eyes twinkled mischievously. ‘How about we both pass on the coffee and make the most of that? Seems to me like you need a bit of cheering up.’
He lowered his mouth to nibble her lip, then his hands took hers, moving them up to encircle his neck as he pressed her against the worktop and deepened the kiss.
She kissed him back, grateful for the feelings that were surfacing. She needed this. Needed to lose herself in the heat of him for a while, so she could forget the fear that was threatening to cripple her.
‘Is that a yes?’ he whispered huskily.
For answer, she took him by the hand and led him up the stairs.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
She felt pleasantly drugged when she came too the next morning and as consciousness returned and she turned languidly over, her hand fell on the inert body lying next to her.
She smiled, remembering. Then her eyes bolted open in horror.
‘Nick.’
She couldn’t believe they’d fallen asleep and he’d stayed the night.
She peered at the bedside clock. Six o’clock. What if Will had been waiting up for him all night? She shook him roughly
‘Nick. Get up, you must go.’
Nick groaned, his eyes slowly opening.
She shook him again. ‘You need to get home before Will realises.’
His eyes flew open and he shot up. Then he relaxed and lay back again. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ he murmured, reaching out to pull her into his arms ‘He’s away this weekend doing his Duke of Edinburgh Award – come here.’
He rolled over, pulling her with him so that she was lying on top of him. He kissed the tip of her nose, then her chin, and then down to the little hollow in her neck. She could feel his arousal and a responding tremor surged through her as she allowed her hands to drift slowly downwards, enjoying their own exploration.
He stifled a groan.
‘Carry on doing that and you’ll have to take the consequences,’ he growled.
‘Oh yeah? And what consequences might those be?’
She gasped as he tipped her over, pinning her firmly beneath him with her arms above her head.
‘You’re about to find out, lady …’
And as they raced to satisfaction – even as she told herself it was just sex – no emotions, no complications – a part of her deep down inside, wasn’t fooled. She was playing with fire.
And the likelihood was, she was going to get burnt.
Afterwards, as he lay looking at her, he appeared deep in thought.
‘What?’ she murmured, trying to fathom that look.
He shook his head, and flicked the tip of her nose with his finger. ‘Private thoughts. Don’t want them going to your head. What’s for breakfast? All that sex has given me an appetite.’
She enjoyed cooking for him and as they cleared the dishes together she found herself thinking how she could get used to this. The easy conversation, the light-hearted banter. Maybe Lynette wasn’t so far out in her wish to see Grace settled after all.
The idea had barely formed before she was crushing it. She glanced at the kitchen clock. ‘It’s gone nine. You’d better make a move.’
‘I thought you said Ellie wasn’t due back until ten?’
‘She’s not, but you never know, they could get here early and it would be embarrassing if she and Evelyn were to catch us out.’
‘You make it sound as if we’ve got something to be ashamed of.’
‘I don’t mean to, but it would complicate things if people thought we were an item. Far simpler, as you said the other day, to keep our personal and family relationships separate.’
She felt Nick’s withdrawal as surely as if he’d walked out of the room, the easy camaraderie they’d been sharing slipping away with a swiftness that disconcerted her.
‘Right. So in effect, it’s just a sexual relationship that no-one else must know about – just so I’ve got it right?’
She forced herself to return his look coolly. ‘I wouldn’t have put it like that, but isn't that what we agreed? Neither of us is looking for commitment and you know as well as I do that Ellie and Will would probably quite like the idea of us getting together. It wouldn’t be right to give them false hope.’
Nick grunted but she saw with relief some of the tension leave his body as he considered her words. ‘I suppose you’re right. As long as you’re happy with that set up?’
‘Completely,’ Grace said.
It was only as he was taking his leave that she remembered the question she’d been burning to ask him. How could she have forgotten? ‘Nick – who identified Rory’s body?’
He looked at her in surprise. ‘Well, my father was the one who went to the morgue. I don’t think Evelyn could have faced it. Why?’
‘But it definitely was Rory? I know it sounds stupid, but I still find it hard to believe sometimes that he’s dead.’
‘Oh, it was Rory all right. His face was burned out of all recognition apparently but it was his bike and they found his wallet with credit cards and driving licence in it. Not much doubt there.’
Not much maybe … but enough. The dread seeped into her bones.
‘But if he was that badly burnt, wouldn’t they have used dental records or something, to identify him?’
‘I don’t know that they’d have thought that was necessary. They may have – why are you asking?’
She didn’t know how to answer that without sounding like a complete neurotic.
‘Is it because of what happened last night?’
She nodded, not looking at him. ‘It’s the sort of thing he used to do. And there have been a couple of other things that have made me wonder …’
‘Grace, stop. Rory’s dead. It can’t have been him – but if it makes you feel better I’ll ask Dad about the identification process, okay?’
‘Thanks.’
He flicked her chin. ‘Let it go and just accept that you have nothing to worry about apart from the usual problems that beset all parents – moody children and earning enough money to put bread on the table. Forget the other stuff, okay?’
‘Okay.’
But as he took his leave, she knew it wasn’t that simple. People could tell her until they were blue in the face that Rory was dead, but she knew his style – she’d lived with it long enough. If past history was anything to go by, it was only a matter of time now.
She thought of Ellie – how much better she was these days – and for the first time anger replaced her fear. She wouldn’t let him destroy all that.
Last night hadn’t been the right time or place to confront him, but she’d done enough running …
Bring it on, Rory. This time we’ll see it through to the end.’
‘Mum … we’re back.’ Ellie’s voice echoed through the hall.
‘I’m in here.’
Her daughter came bounding into the lounge, clutching a carrier bag excitedly in her hand. ‘Look what Grandma bought me – we went to the shops yesterday after school. It’s really cool … I’m going to wear it for the Christmas disco.’
She held the dress up against herself and did a little twirl.
‘I hope you don’t mind?’ Evelyn said, following Ellie into the room. ‘It was fun having a girl to shop with.’
‘It’s not too short is it?’ Grace asked, looking doubtfully at the frothy black-and-white creation. Ellie was a minx … she knew very well that Grace wouldn’t have let her buy anything so skimpy.
‘It looks lovely on,’ Evelyn said. ‘And not as short as it looks – really.’
‘I suppose we’ll have to get shoes to match now?’ Grace said, relenting.
‘Yup. And I’ve already seen a pair that weren’t too expensive – you and I can go and see them together,’ Ellie added with rare sensitivity. ‘I’m just going to phone Sophie. I want to tell her about my dress.’
When she’d gone,
Evelyn turned to Grace. ‘Thank you for letting her stay last night. It’s so nice getting to know her. What did you do? Anything nice?’
A perfectly innocuous question but to Grace’s annoyance, a surge of colour crept into her cheeks. ‘I went out for dinner with Marianne and then went back for a coffee with her and Matt. Very pleasant.’
‘Good ...’
Something in the way she said it made Grace look at her sharply. Was it her imagination, or was there a glint of conspiracy in the other woman’s eye?
‘Well, I’m glad you had a nice time. Now I really must be going. Gordon and I are off on our holiday to Italy tomorrow and I haven’t even started my packing. But we were wondering … would you and Ellie like to come to us for lunch one Sunday when we get back?’
‘That would be really nice, thanks,’ Grace said.
‘I’ll text you with a couple of dates.’
It was only as Grace was shutting the front door that her eyes focused in horror on Nick’s jacket still hanging on the coat stand. Had Evelyn seen it?
So much for discretion she thought, grabbing it quickly and stuffing it into the hall cupboard. They were going to have to be a lot more careful than that if they weren’t going to be found out.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
It wasn’t the easiest of situations, Grace mused that Monday morning as she once again knocked on a neutral grey office door at the hospital and introduced herself as the temporary secretary they’d requested. The Human Resources department had promised they’d let her know when a permanent full-time job came up and she hoped it wasn’t going to be too long. But in the meantime it was very useful having the extra income from Nick and Paul – which was more for two days than she earned in three days at the hospital.
‘Grace.’
She’d just finished her lunch in the hospital canteen and was making her way back to her office through the maze that was the main corridor, when a male voice had her swinging round.
‘Stuart!’ She watched him stride purposefully towards her.
‘I knew you were here,’ he said dropping a kiss on her cheek. ‘But I deliberately haven’t called you yet – you said things were hectic.’
Grace looked at him in surprise. ‘You knew I was here? How?’
He tapped his nose. ‘I have my contacts.’
‘Not Lynette again?’ She’d have words with her sister.
‘No, not this time. You’re in Paediatrics aren’t you?’
‘That was last week, but–’
‘Look, I’d love to chat but I’m due in Theatre in ten minutes.’ He smiled. ‘Are you ready for me to call you now? It would be good to go out for a meal and catch up properly.’
Grace hesitated, surprising herself by thinking of Nick and realising that the boot was suddenly on the other foot. Might he object? Did he have a right to? More than ever, she realised, they needed to set the parameters of their relationship – and until they did that ….
‘I’d like to but–’
‘You’re seeing someone?’
It was more a statement than a question and she looked at him curiously. Did he know about Nick?
‘Sort of – not really. Is that another thing you know about me that I wasn’t aware you knew?’
He smiled. ‘No. But it can’t be both, so which one is it?’ Despite his smile, his look was intense, as if it mattered to him. ‘Not that it’s any of my business, if you’d rather not say.’
‘It’s a bit tricky,’ she said, choosing not to answer his question. ‘I just need to sort a couple of things out and then maybe I can call you?’
‘You are all right, Grace? You know I’m here for you, if you need me?’
It was nice to know and she smiled her gratitude at him. ‘I’m fine, but thanks.’
‘Well, you’ve still got my card I hope? All my numbers are on it as well as my secretary’s number, Anna. You can always leave a message if I’m not around and I’ll get back to you straight away.’
He looked at his watch. ‘I need to get scrubbed. I’d better dash. See you around, and don’t forget to call.’
***
‘Sure you don’t want to take the job on full time?’ Paul asked her the following day as she began to pack her things away.
Grace grinned, mentally comparing the lovely bright, open offices she was working in here to the dull, windowless cubbyhole she was working in at the hospital. ‘It’s tempting, but I sort of feel committed to the hospital now.’
And it was also too close to home the way things were between her and Nick. Her body still burned from the memory of Friday night, and ached for more.
She collated her letters and handed the pile to Paul. ‘I’m off now. I’ll see you Thursday. Looks like Nick’s on the phone. Say goodbye for me, will you?’
She was relieved not to have to speak to him. It was weighing on her mind that they needed to talk about their relationship, but she didn’t know how to broach it. He was bound to pick up on the fact that something was bothering her.
She saw it before she’d even removed the key from the front door – a small, hand-delivered envelope lying innocuously enough on the mat, with just the one word Grace printed boldly on the front. She bent slowly down to pick it up and her hands weren’t quite steady as she opened the envelope and peered inside.
There wasn’t much to see – just another small photo. But when she pulled it out she saw that it was another picture of her with Rory, and attached to it, cut crudely out of newspaper cuttings, a note with the words: I’ll be in touch. Tell no one, or Ellie will be meeting me when she least expects it. I mean that.
The room felt as if it was closing in on her. She reached out to steady herself on the hall table. This couldn’t be happening.
Her eyes darted to the hall window. Was he out there, watching her?
But the only thing she saw was Ellie walking up the path, swinging her school bag nonchalantly in her hands – galvanising Grace into action as she thrust the picture clumsily into her bag.
‘Hiya,’ Ellie said when she opened the door. She did a double take and looked at her mother closely. ‘Are you okay, Mummy? You don’t look very well.’
Grace forced a smile. ‘I’m good … busy day, that’s all. How was yours?’
‘Boring as usual – except I got asked out by one of the boys in the year above me.’
‘I hope you said no?’
Ellie looked at her pityingly. ‘Oh, Mum, don’t be so stuffy. Of course I didn’t. He’s one of the coolest boys in the school. And he’s asked me to go to the Christmas
dance with him as well.’
‘Ellie … you’re not even fourteen yet. You’re not going out with boys.’
Anxiety made her voice sharper than it would normally have been and Ellie’s expression tightened.
‘Oh why do you always have to ruin everything? Just because you got pregnant young, doesn’t mean it’s going to happen to me you know! I’m not that stupid.’
‘Ellie.’
‘Well, I’m sorry but that’s what you think, isn’t it? I can’t not go. I’ve already told Tim I’ll go to the cinema with him and Will and Emily on Saturday. It’ll sound stupid if I have to say my mummy won’t let me go!’
‘I don’t care how it sounds, you’re too young and you’re not going.’
But she was talking to thin air as Ellie stomped up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door.
‘How about saying she can go to the cinema and the dance, on the understanding that after that, she must make her excuses?’ Nick suggested that evening in the kitchen, having dropped round on his way home. ‘That way she saves a bit of face. She’s going to have to dance with someone at the Christmas dance, and I know Tim. He’s a nice lad.’
‘He may be, but that doesn’t alter the fact that she’s too young to be thinking about boys.’
‘Come on, Grace … when did you first start taking an interest in the opposite sex? When you weren’t much older I’ll bet.’
&
nbsp; ‘I didn’t start dating until I was in the sixth form – there’s a world of difference.’
Nick sighed. ‘Well, it’s your decision.’ He looked at her closely. ‘Were you okay in the office today? You seemed a bit distracted.’
She was so tempted to confide in him about the picture, but she remembered what had happened last time she’d crossed Rory. She needed to think things through first.
‘It’s just a bit awkward, isn’t it? And before I forget, you left your jacket in the hall on Friday. I think Evelyn might have seen it.’
He grinned, taking her in his arms. ‘Seems to me we’re not really cut out for all this cloak and dagger stuff – but I’m sure we’ll get the hang of it.’
He kissed her lips softly, his hands sliding over her. ‘I’ve missed holding you. Today in the office I felt randy as hell just looking at you – not good for my concentration.’
His kiss deepened and Grace closed her eyes, allowing herself to forget her worries for just a moment. But after a while, she pulled back.
‘Ellie could come in at any time ...’
‘I know. And I’d better be going or I’ll have Will wondering where I am. Have a think about when we can next meet up though, hmm?’
At breakfast the next morning, Grace tackled Ellie.
‘All right. I’ve given it some thought and I’m prepared to let you go to the cinema with this boy and the Christmas dance, but after that – no more dates. You’re too young, Ellie, and that’s all there is to it.’
She thought from the mutinous look on her face that Ellie was going to argue the point, but clearly realising this was the best she was going to get, she shrugged. ‘Okay.’
‘I mean it, Ellie.’
‘I know you do. There’s no need to bang on.’
‘God, she’s unbelievable,’ Grace overheard her complaining to Will on her mobile ten minutes later. ‘What does she think I’m going to do? I’ve a good mind to give up on this business of trying to fix her up with your dad – she doesn’t deserve it.’
Shadow Watcher Page 22
