“Why did Joyce tell you?” I ask feeling a little betrayed that she must have been discussing me with Tristan.
“You came up at dinner last night. Joyce was saying that, well...that you haven’t had it easy, and that you’ve pulled through really well. She was saying that she’s really proud of you, and pleased that you finally got on the property market.”
I feel sick. Susannah was dinning with them last night.
“As you know I’m looking to buy, so out of interest I asked where you were...what?” He asks seeing the look on my face.
“Joyce was discussing my private life in front of Susannah?” I squeak feeling mortified.
“Good god no!” Tristan pulls me into him, crushing me to his body and kissing the top of my head. “Susannah had the meal then went back to her hotel room, Joyce and I stayed on.” He pulls back and lifts my chin so I have to look up at him. Oh crap! Please don’t kiss me; I don’t think I’ll stop if you do!
“Coral don’t you know? Joyce would never divulge personal information about you to just anyone. She knows I need to be filled in about the staff, you came up.” He says softly.
I nod feeling a little better, but I need to get out of his arms, his lovely strong arms. “Ok, it’s hot,” I say struggling out of his arms. I smile tentatively at him, then march away. “Are you coming?” I shout not looking back. Tristan is next to me again in no time at all. “I’m sorry about lunch.” I say still feeling guilty.
“There’s no need’ – “Yes there is. It’s something about me that you’re going to have to get used to Tristan, as your future P.A. I do something on the fly, without really thinking it through, then I mentally castigate myself for it, the guilt trips are well...” I wave my hand in the air.
“I was the one to blame there.” He argues.
“Doesn’t matter who’s to blame, point is I would never forgive someone for throwing a wobbly and storming out of a restaurant on me. I’m surprised you’re still talking to me, and that I still have a job. When people are nice to me after doing something bad I...I don’t understand it, I don’t get why they don’t just tell me to fuck off out of their lives.” As we reach the steps to the concourse, I stop and look up at him. “I really did mean it Tristan, I’m way beyond complicated. I’m a complete fuck-up, and you’re a fool to want anything to do with me.” I march on down the steps leaving Tristan standing there with a look of shock spread across his face.
He catches up to me again, pushing his hands into his pockets. “It is lovely here,” he says sounding genuine, not commenting at all about my little outburst. “Do you like boats Coral?”
I turn and smile up at him. “I don’t just like them, I love them.” I answer.
“What kind do you like?” He asks.
I shrug, unsure. “All of them, I guess – I’ve never really thought about it, can't afford one so...” I drift off again.
“You’ve never been on one?” He asks.
“No.” I sigh.
“Not even a dingy?” He chuckles.
“No.” I try not to smile. “Why?”
“Just curious,” he says shrugging his shoulders. “So, you don't know if you’d like say...a wooden schooner, a catamaran or a modern yacht?”
I stop walking and stare up at him. “No I don't. Why are you asking?” I'm already suspicious. Tristan shrugs again. I narrow my eyes at him. “Do you like boats?” I ask.
“Yes.” His tone is clipped.
“What kind do you like?”
“Yachts.” Figures! He’s rich, he can afford one!
“Let me guess, a big ass luxury one?” I question sarcastically.
“That’s not a bad idea,” he says, stroking his chin. He’s laughing at me.
“Tristan!” I scold. He smiles a slow, sexy smile at me.
“If you like boats so much why haven’t you taken a sailing course or something?” He questions.
My mouth pops open, he has no idea. “Tristan, do you have any idea how expensive it is?” I say my hands on my hips.
“No, do you?”
“Yes.”
“How much?” he asks, his smile still visible – Ok, I'm getting wound up again.
“Half my monthly wage for one day out, I'm sure you know how much I earn, so work it out for yourself.” I huff and walk off. Oh, I'm mad at him! He thinks this is funny, well it’s not – He has no idea how fucking crushing it is to have something that you really want to do, that sits in front of you every day, but can't afford to do it – Rich bastard!
Reaching my patio door, I unlock it and walk inside. I’m instantly bowled over by the heat. I march straight over to the bathroom, and yank open the window. Tristan follows me in, casually looking over the place, his cheeks start to pink and I wonder if he’s going to pass out, he looks really hot. It feels very strange having him in here, I want to tell him to go, that I got back safely so he’ll leave, but I feel like I should refresh him with something...?
“Come outside,” I say. “Its cooler on the sun-deck,” I add.
Walking back outside I see Bob, he’s leaning back in his chair with his sunglasses on. I can't tell if he’s sleeping, and I can't believe I missed him when I got here – My brain is definitely not working properly.
“Know you’re there,” he shouts making me jump just as Tristan joins us.
“Bob, meet Tristan.” I chuckle. Tristan wonders over and they shake hands. “Anyone for lemonade?” Bob loves Gladys’s homemade lemonade. “It’s homemade,” I tell Tristan, he nods in approval. I walk back inside feeling instantly zapped from the heat, get three tall glasses from the cupboard, add lots of ice from my tiny freezer, then top them up with lemonade.
Taking my wedges off, I quickly pad back outside and hand the drinks out. Bob drinks his down in one go and hands me back the glass, I put it on the little table next to him. Within a couple of minutes Bob is softly snoring. Guess I’ll be asking him to Lily’s party later then.
“Excuse me a moment.” Tristan gently touches my arm and walks back into my studio. I watch him pull his mobile out of his pocket and make a call. I can't help wondering what that’s all about? I lean on the railing and stare out at the boats. I’m so lost in thought that Tristan makes me jump when he rejoins me.
“Jesus Coral, it’s like an oven in there,” he says, dabbing his top lip and his brow with his hand. Then he leans against the railing, his body mimicking mine.
“Well I’m not normally home till late, and by then it’s really cooled down – and I have my electric fans.” I add, although I’ll probably spend the afternoon in the pool at the gym; it’s too hot to stay indoors.
“Like that’ll make much off a difference.” He answers dryly. I laugh and look out over the water - there are lots of boats out today. “So why boats?” I shake my head not wanting to tell him. “Is it that they can give you adventure, travelling to different places?” He asks.
“That’s a huge bonus.” I reply.
“What then, escapism?” My eyes widen. How is he doing that? Hitting the nail on the head all the time? He’s starting to make me feel like I’m easy to read. “That’s it.” He says grinning triumphantly.
I nod solemnly. His face falls, turning away from me he looks out at the boats bobbing on the water. “Must have been pretty bad for you to want to escape Coral,” he adds darkly.
“You know why I bought this place?” I say. Tristan turns and looks down at me. “When I first came here’ – I take a deep breath – ‘to Brighton I mean, Gladys used to take me to all these different places, the beach, the parks, the pier, it didn’t matter what she did, I was...uncontrollable. Then one day she brings me here, I remember it clearly. We sat right over there’ I point to the wall ‘and sat eating ice-cream, three ice-creams actually. We were here so long. Gladys was astonished, it was the only place I was calm and still, and as far as she knew...happy.”
I shake my head remembering how I used to be. “So after that first day, we came back every day, no matter w
hat the weather.” I can't help chuckling at myself. “I think more so that Gladys could get some peace and quiet for the day, but the more she did it, the better I got. I think it’s because I had my place to escape to, I would get lost in thought imagining I was on one of those boats, sailing to distant islands having an adventure. It still feels like that to me...” I drift off.
Tristan nods once, staring down at me with those captivating eyes of his. He puts his arm around my shoulder and squeezes me tight. Then leaning in, he softly kisses my temple. I melt, that was so sweet!
“I don’t want to leave you,” he murmurs.
I grin widely at him. “Have you been listening to a word I’ve said?” I tease, bumping his shoulder, trying to ease the magnetic pull I can feel resonating from him.
“I have to go back to Leeds tomorrow, it’s going to seem so dull compared to this place.”
I chuckle loudly. “Yep...Brighton certainly has charisma!”
“I wasn’t thinking about Brighton,” he says gazing affectionately at me.
“Tristan,” I admonish softly, and try to pull my gaze away but it’s just so difficult. He’s looking at me that way again, as though I’m the air that he breathes, so I give in. I close my eyes and rest my head on his broad shoulder. I really don’t understand why this feels so...so, right?
I’ve never felt this safe with a heterosexual male before, not even Justin, took me weeks and weeks before I even kissed him, and I know nobody really liked him. Gladys didn’t trust him at all, even told me so ‘he’s not to be trusted that one, be careful Coral’ in fact, I would go so far as to say she secretly hated him. Of course she was right.
I push the memory away, I don’t want to think about him, not while I have Tristan here with me, for some reason it seems insulting to do so. A fleeting thought enters my mind – I know Gladys would really like Tristan, and approve of him. I huddle even closer to him feeling safe and peaceful, knowing somehow, that he’s completely and utterly who he is. There’s no mask hiding any monsters, he’s honest and up front.
God, I must be confusing him so much by now? I think through the day we’ve had, the truths, the disputes, yet he’s still here, he hasn’t run for the trees, even though my behaviour has been pretty despicable. I’m reminded of my rudeness towards him on Monday night, which reminds me?
“Were you following me Monday night?” I ask opening my eyes to gauge his reaction. Tristan shakes his head slightly.
“No, I was headed to the gym.” We gaze at each other for a moment I really like the fact he loves swimming as much as I do. “For a swim,” he spookily adds. “I wanted to offer you the courtesy of a lift.” He smiles.
“But you didn’t know where I lived then?” I say surprised.
Tristan shrugs. “Wouldn’t have mattered, I’d have still driven you wherever you needed to be. It would have given me peace of mind to know you were safely there.”
“Why?” I ask incredulously.
He stares at me for the longest time then looks out to sea. “Honestly? I don't know.” He says, shaking his head slightly. “I just wanted to make sure you were home safely,” he adds.
“Oh.” Tristan smiles shyly at me then gazes out to sea again. “So where was Stuart then?” I ask a little confused. I don’t get why he would bring two cars down here, seems a little over the top to me.
“At the hotel with the rest of the team,” he answers.
“Oh.” I frown trying to work it out. “So you drove your car down?” I ask.
Tristan chuckles. “Yes...I like driving it,” he says excitedly.
“And Stuart drove down alone?” I ask.
“No, he brought the team down.” I quickly work it out – there were four others in his team.
“That must have been cramped.” I chuckle sarcastically.
“Not really, Susannah was with me.” Tristan says.
I turn and lock eyes with him, then stand up straight, backing away as realisation dawns. “She...she was in your car?” I gasp the green eyed monster in me rearing its ugly head.
“Y-yes?” Tristan stutters, confused. I grit my teeth and go to walk away from him. “Hold on a minute,” he says tugging my elbow. “Is there a problem?” He asks sharply.
“No.” I bark trying to yank my arm out of his grasp.
“Coral,” he admonishes. “There’s nothing there, Sus’- “I don’t want to know.” I bite, interrupting him.“Hey!” Tristan doesn’t let go of me. “You’re jealous?” He guesses, his lips quirking up at the corners.
“No.” I answer sounding like a sulky child.
“You have no need to be.” He softly says trying to reassure me.
“I’m not convinced.” I snap.
“Susannah is happily married,” he snaps back. “And even if she wasn’t I have no interest in her.”
But I still don’t believe him, all those pictures I found on Google, all those tall leggy blondes.
“You know, for someone who isn’t interested in me, you’re putting on a mighty fine show of being upset about other women. So which is it Coral, either you don’t care if I date, or you do?” I’m stumped, he’s caught me out.
I’m about to answer him when he suddenly looks up over my head. I follow his gaze only to see Stuart walking down the concourse, struggling with a large cardboard box. Tristan hands me his glass and runs over to him. They both pick the item up and walk over to where I’m standing, bypassing me entirely, they enter my studio and place it down on the floor. I follow them both in, placing our glasses on my tiny coffee table.
“What’s going on?” I ask irritably.
“Where are your scissors Coral?” Tristan asks ignoring my question.
I glare back at him. “Why?” I huff, feeling aggravated.
Tristan rolls his eyes at me and starts searching in the kitchenette drawers, finally locating where I keep them. He quickly snaps the plastic binders, then he and Stuart start pulling the cardboard off, until finally, standing in my studio is a tall white electrical item of some sort? Stuart picks up all the cardboard, plastic, and styrofoam padding, and leaves my studio, nodding once as he passes me.
“Um...what’s this?” I ask. Again Tristan ignores me, which is winding me up a treat. “Tristan!” I scold. “Answer me.” He plugs it into the nearest empty socket and switches it on. A low humming sound fills the room. Then Tristan fiddles with a couple of buttons and stands in front of it, holding his hands out. I think it’s a fan?
“Marvellous,” he says, grinning widely. “The joys of technology,” he adds turning that dazzling smile on me. His dimples deepen again and I can't help but smile back at him. Then, curiosity gets the better of me, so I walk over to him.
He pulls me in front of the machine and I’m shocked by how cold the air is that’s coming from it, and how amazing it feels to have his body brush against mine. Then Tristan walks over to the patio door and pulls it shut.
“What is it?” I ask.
“An air-conditioning unit.” He tells me.
My eyes widen. “Aren’t they really expensive?” I gasp.
Tristan shrugs. “Can’t have you melting in here Coral, I couldn’t bear to think about it.” I eye the machine again. My little studio is quickly dropping in temperature, becoming cooler, more bearable.
“How’ – “When I made the call earlier it was to Stuart, I asked him to see if he could locate one for you.”
“But’ – “No buts,” Tristan playfully tells me off. “I want you to have it.” I pout back at him. He stands behind me again. “See how much nicer it’s already becoming in here,” he adds.
I nod in wonder. “Thank you,” I gush. “It’s great.” And I have to ask myself why I didn’t use my own savings and purchase one? My two electric fans weren’t really doing anything. I turn around, reach up onto my tiptoes and kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you,” I say again. “It’s really wonderful...and thoughtful,” I add.
The atmosphere in the room charges, his eyes become intense,
dilated, as he stares back at me. His jaw sets and I can see the passion swimming in his eyes, I’m sure mine are reflecting the same intensity back to him. He’s dying to kiss me as I am him, but if I let it happen I don’t think I’ll stop.
Tristan finally pulls his gaze away, picks up his lemonade and drains the last of it. Placing it on the kitchen counter, he silently looks back at me. I frown when I see that his expression looks tortured. He takes two quick strides towards me, and without a word, he pulls me into him, wrapping his one arm around my waist and his other around my shoulders, crushing me into him.
After a moment, I do the same, feeling the muscles in his back ripple. It feels heavenly divine. I don’t want him to let go...
“Please think about it,” he whispers. I know he means us, think about us. I look up at him, his eyes are wide and dark. He leans down and kisses my forehead...Oh Tristan, I’m trying, I’m really trying!
He squeezes me one last time then pulls away, and when he does, he takes his wallet out of his pocket and hands me a card. I take it off him, and look down at it. It’s a business card. I can see the home line of his other houses, his mobile number and all the other numbers to reach him on at work.
“Only five people have one of these, be careful with it, I’m very private Coral. I don’t want just anyone getting hold of my personal numbers.” I frantically nod unable to speak, because I know I’m not going to see him again for...till...and my heart feels like a steel hand is crushing it; and he hasn’t even left yet.
I bring my hand to my mouth, trying to block out the nauseous feeling that’s taking over me, literally petrifying me. My lungs feel as though all the air has been sucked out of them, I can't breathe! I feel like I’m free falling into some horrible nightmare, never to wake again...
“Ok?” Tristan asks, lifting my chin to look at him.
I nod silently again, trying to get my lungs to work.
“So long Coral, I’ll see you soon,” he says desperately, a hint of hope in his voice. Then with one last kiss to my forehead, I watch his tall, strong stature disappear out of my studio. I stare numbly at the door. Why do I feel so empty?
CORAL (A Romance Trilogy, Book 1) Page 17
