‘Nate honey, oh there you are.’ I watched as she sashayed herself over to him, completely ignoring me and dropping her various shopping bags on the way. She attached herself literally to every curve of his body. Surprised by the fact he could still balance, on his one crutch with her weight hanging off of him, I quickly passed him crutch number two.
I knew as he looked at me my face had, as always, portrayed to Nathan exactly what I was thinking. She really was everything I hated in a woman. She was everything I wasn’t and would never lower myself to be. Putting my sneer away and uncurling my flared nostrils, I shouted a goodbye from the door.
‘See ya, chocolate drop,’ rolled off his tongue. And just before the door closed behind me I heard, ‘Right babe, we got some exercises to do,’ looking back I was just in time to see her sucking his face enthusiastically, he still had his eyes open... the bastard looked straight into my eyes and winked at me!
The blush came, but too late for him to witness, thank God. The door had slammed shut.
Six
My
bath water was wonderful; I slipped under until the frothy bubbles came up over my shoulders. A deep appreciative sigh left my lips and I closed my eyes. I had music playing in the background. My taste in music was eclectic. It always expressed everything I hadn’t the words to do.
This afternoon I had been shopping, Bella would be mortified that she hadn’t been with me. But it was an afternoon well spent. I couldn’t believe the amount of free time this new position was going to offer me. Edwards had agreed to drive me to a second hand store, much to his disgust and a rather animated phone call to, I presume, Alex. He had tried to convince me that I could shop elsewhere and charge it to Blackmore Industries, anything we needed could be charged.
I had stuck to my guns and just said I wanted a few bits to make the apartment feel like home and they didn’t need to be expensive. We had left the second hand place with a few cushions, some dried flowers and a canvas depicting a heart made of sticks laid out on an empty beach, it reminded me of home and was nothing fancy, but I loved it, I knew Bella would too.
Once I had placed the few bits around the apartment, I had decided to make an English dinner of beef stew and dumplings, ready for Bella’s return from work. It was cold out and I thought it was appropriate.
I had run a deep bath and turned on my music. After stripping off I lay in the biggest bath I had ever seen and luxuriated in the bubbles, awaiting her return. A ping on my phone snapped me out of my thoughts and I dried one hand haphazardly on the nearby Egyptian cotton, raspberry coloured towel.
Grabbing my phone, I opened the text message. My right hand quickly flew to my mouth to suppress a laugh. In front of my eyes a picture opened of a very dishevelled looking Candy, it sure looked like she was leaving in a hurry and Bella had snapped her coming out of the penthouse lift, God knows how? Underneath the picture she had written.
JACK RUSSELL ALERT!!!!!
Laughing out loud I wondered why she was leaving so hurriedly. Just then my phone pinged again.
Hi Frankie
I have just spoken to Nathan. He tells me the first appointment went well. I hope you left him in enough pain today, he will rethink wanting to get back on his bike? Ha-ha. Sorry about his choice of companion today. I asked him to refrain from sharing these with you. But that’s little brothers for you!
I do hope you enjoyed your shopping trip? Please remember anything you need I will be only too happy to provide for you; we have accounts at many of the stores in New York.
Have a nice evening.......unfortunately my evening will be spent in a conference call to Japan (but that’s business for you)
Speak soon
Yours Alex
CEO Blackmore Industries
Hi Alex
The first appt went well and I left Nathan with exercises to do before I return tomorrow. I think he had other exercises in mind though! Lol.
He was fairly worn out and achy when I left but not enough I don’t think to put him off his motorbike. Don’t worry about his companion we have met before and I am not easily squeamish.
It was really kind of you to offer to buy my shopping, but I am paid enough already!
Hope your call is short. Have a nice evening
Frankie
I pressed send, just as I heard Bella shout out an arriving hello. Calling back,
I had let her know where I was. I looked at the sent text again, shaking my head.
What on earth had come over me to send such a casual reply to my employer? There must be something narcotic in these bubbles. How would he take my reply? I didn’t have to worry for long.
Well she certainly makes me squeamish!
I didn’t realise you had the misfortune to have met before? Sounds like a story you will have to tell me at a later date.
Do try to hurt him more tomorrow will you? I could do with the help at the family business.......only joking, he would be useless. I’m hoping the call is short too.
Yours Alex
CEO Blackmore Industries
Relief washed over me, he seemed quite relaxed about it. I found myself wondering about him. I suppose he probably wasn’t too much older than Nathan. My thoughts were interrupted by Bella bouncing into my bathroom.
‘God, she looked awful, did you get the text I sent to you. I suppose her being here today means you didn’t manage to seduce the lovely Nathan?’
‘No, although it’s got to be said I wish I could have, he really seems like the full package.’ I proceeded to tell her about how comfortable he had made me feel, our similar taste in music. But I saved the wonderfully low-slung, grey shorts until last.
‘Here.’ I reached out to take the very large glass of wine she was passing my way. Listening to her as she started to sing along with Pink’s U and UR hand, I had playing.
‘Can I smell beef stew? I do hope I wasn’t imagining it. I have had a shit day at work, only made better by the fact I was coming home to you. Beef stew would erase the bloody day completely,’ she expelled a deep sigh, kicked off her heels and sank down onto the raspberry coloured, floral armchair, placed in the corner of my bathroom.
‘So tell me, do you fancy the lovely Nathan? If you do, we so need a plan... I know how long it’s been since Luke.’
‘I don’t know Bella, he’s gorgeous, but I’m not like you... as you know I have only ever been with Luke and I don’t find this whole relationship thing very easy at all.’
‘Bloody hell! That’s the problem right there,’ she sat up quick, as if to emphasise what she was saying, ‘who was talking about a relationship, Frankie. You just need to be screwed by a man who knows what he’s doing. Unlike the excuse for a man, Puke.’
Laughing at her nickname for Luke, I started to fidget in the bath, realising that the temperature of the water was dropping, or was it because the temperature of my body had risen with the embarrassment of being told I needed to be screwed? Bella passed me my bathrobe, leant down and retrieved her heels, ‘How long until dinner?’
‘Oh give me fifteen minutes,’ I answered.
I spent ten minutes drying and creaming my body. My long hair, I brushed through and left to dry naturally. It would mean it would be wavy, but I could tame it tomorrow before I went to Nathan’s next appointment. I quickly put on my very comfortable fleecy PJs. Walking to the kitchen, humming and feeling the under floor heating beneath my bare feet. I proceeded to fill two big bowls of stew; cut up some crusty bread and took my offerings out to the sitting area. ‘Here you go,’ I took a look around the room unable to find Bella. Sitting down I picked up the TV remote and switched it on, looking for a chick flick to share. Filling my mouth with the delicious goodness and smacking my lips together for effect, I suddenly heard a deep baritone voice behind me.
‘Mmmm... smell
s damn good, do you have another bowl you could share with your poor neighbour?’ the resonating voice came from behind me.
I closed my eyes instinctively. ‘I’m not really dressed for company.’
‘Get over yourself!’ shouted Bella.
‘Help the guy out, his overbearing brother got rid of the very lovely Candy today,’ well that came out subtly sarcastic, but that thankfully only I would recognise, ‘and she was going to make him dinner, too. As she was got rid of, so not to embarrass you, I think we owe him some English stew.’
I checked out the masculine presence in the room, he was wearing old, faded jeans and an even older T-shirt, stretched out magnificently across his chest, but surprisingly nothing on his feet.
‘Of course, I’ll get you some, sorry I was just a bit concerned about my rather scruffy attire,’ I smiled at him then, and slowly he hobbled around to sit down.
‘Ignore her, Nathan, what she really means is, she doesn’t want you to see her in what she normally wears to bed.’ I narrowed my eyes at Bella as she sat down next to Nathan and laughed, openly checking out the magnificent specimen that was Nathan Blackmore.
‘But, Bella, I sleep naked,’ I retorted, thinking two could play at this game.
‘Ladies, lovely as the conversation is, I am a red blooded male and I really need... some food, pretty please. Now what are we watching tonight then?’ Shaking my head, I left for the kitchen to fill another bowl, for the rather gorgeous male sitting in my new apartment in New York.
I should pinch myself.
The three of us spent a very companionable evening, watching movies, eating my stew, sharing a few beers and laughing. I couldn’t remember having such a relaxed time with a male, except for years ago with JJ. Nathan had the most infectious laugh and he loved to mimic people. I was beginning to feel very at home.
‘I know you have just fed and watered me, and shared the best film I have ever seen,’ he raised his eyebrows in disgust. ‘But I have to ask, what the fuck is with those hideous dried things that sort of resemble dead grass?’
Bella’s beer bottle jerked away from her lips and she laughed, spraying some of her mouthful over Nathan. ‘I was just thinking the same, how old are you, Frankie? You obviously cannot be trusted to shop by yourself.’ Feeling chastised I glanced at my arrangement of second-hand, dried flowers, bought earlier that day. Although it went against every grain in my body I burst out laughing with them. They were right it was vile. I probably had only bought them to prove a point to Alex about second hand thrift; thank God he hadn’t laid eyes on them.
‘And why the fuck are you women always covering me in alcohol?’ Nathan flicked some of the sprayed droplets back at Bella and she giggled shamelessly. It was very obvious she was starting to see some of his attraction.
Leaving Bella and Nathan deep in conversation, I took the dirty dishes to the kitchen. I started loading them into the dishwasher. This should be hilarious, having never used one in my life. It can’t be that hard. After moving the dishes around several times, I finally managed to turn the bloody thing on, promising myself to wash up in future. Raising myself up I caught sight of my iPhone, which I retrieved from the kitchen worktop, remembering hearing an earlier ping.
Unfortunately, the business call was anything other than short.
I hope your evening was fun. Dinner smelt great from the hallway.
Don’t let my baby brother take advantage of you both........make him go home soon!
Yours Alex
CEO Blackmore Industries
I chuckled to myself; oh God was this his way of letting me know I had stunk out the whole of the penthouse floor?
Sorry Alex! About your long call and the stench in the hall!
Frankie
Stupidly, I hadn’t thought Alex might also live here. Another ping sounded an incoming message; hastily I pressed what I needed to read the reply.
Frankie
I never said it stank, did I?
I love home cooked food, even if it is English!!!!! Ha-ha
Remember to Make Nathan go soon and please inflict lots of pain on him
tomorrow.
Yours Alex
CEO Blackmore Industries
Walking back into the living area, I took in the beautiful open fire and the lights of the city beyond. We had no curtains for the windows.
Who needs to shut anything out from this high up?
It was clear that my very presence was interrupting the now flowing conversation between two very animated people. Somehow Bella’s legs were now thrown over Nathan’s lap. His hand was running up and down very gently on her shin bone. Mmmm... interesting. I raised my eyes questioning her, sniggering inside. She smiled shyly back, shrugging her shoulders.
Shyly?
‘Your brother is intent on trying to get me to inflict pain on you,’ I said showing them my iPhone, jiggling it from side to side in my hand, ‘and he also wants you to go home soon.’ Nathan looked at my smirk.
‘Fucking dominant control freak,’ he ran a hand through his always just fucked looking hair. ‘He can never just butt the hell out, big brothers who’d have em... eh?’
Bella sat up quick, realising what Nathan had just uttered. I shook my head at her, she couldn’t protect me from everything and he wasn’t to know.
‘So Alex lives here, too?’
‘Yeah, symmetrically to my apartment,’ he waved his hand behind his head in the right direction. ‘I assumed you would know that, as he employed you? Not that he is here that much, always working, you know the type. Thinks he damn well knows everything, overprotective and overbearing. He spends his life trying to father the rest of us... which is a fucking joke as he is not even two years older than me.’
God I thought, having imagined an older family member in the first place. Now that brought his age down to what? Thirtyish?
‘Well I had better do as I am told; can someone please pass my crutches? I left them leaning on the back of the couch.’
‘Since when do you obey orders? You really don’t seem the type,’ Bella jumped up, looking more flustered than I thought I had ever seen her. I watched her pass Nathan the crutches and I swear if you could visibly see the electrical current called chemistry, it was right there between the two of them, almost using the crutch as a conductor, arcing uncontrollably.
‘You’re right, sassy, I don’t normally take orders from anyone, I do however like to give them.’ Nathan had literally moved himself into the very oxygen she breathed. I felt like a voyeur. His voice had dropped an octave, ‘But on this one and only fucking occasion, I have to concede he is probably right,’ he put out his left hand and with his index finger and thumb lifted her chin. He gently kissed her on the tip of her nose. Bella stood transfixed to the spot, her face redder than when we had scarlet fever.
Nathan moved over to me. ‘Thanks for the excellent dinner and company, chocolate drop; I’ll be seeing you tomorrow.’ I opened our door for him to exit, and he bent to kiss me on the cheek. Just like JJ would have done.
‘See ya.’
I closed the door behind him, and I turned my gaze to Bella. I placed my hands on my hips. I was just about to start questioning her, when I heard talking on the other side of our front door. Being ever nosy and realising that I couldn’t reopen the door now. I flung myself to the spy hole. Just in time to see Nathan hobbling, not towards his own door, but towards the door in the diagonal corner to ours. He was laughing loudly. Staring hard at the open door, I saw the largest hand I was sure I had ever seen, holding it open for him. Taking a further look I could see on the little finger, a signet ring. It held a green gem stone and looked like dirty silver, possibly titanium. Staring harder at the hand, I decided it had to be titanium; the hand was too masculine for anything else. I peeped until the hand and Nathan disappear
ed.
‘What are you doing?’ Bella made me jump back away from the door like a naughty child.
‘Oh no, we are not going there after the little show I have just witnessed. What were you doing, lady?’ I remembered to place my hands to my hips but my face broke into a huge grin. ‘You looked like you were going to spontaneously combust, when the ever so lovely Nathan kissed your nose.’
‘I am so sorry, Frankie, I know you like him and I would never shit on my own doorstep, but I couldn’t help myself... it was like being reeled in.’ Her blue eyes started to fill up. I could see she was struggling and she was wearing her guilty look. Not a look I had seen too often, as Bella rarely felt guilt about anything. She was a live and let live sort of girl.
‘Bella it’s OK.’ I gathered her into a bear hug. ‘It’s not a problem, he reminds me of JJ, and we interact like siblings. I realised that today. So however wonderfully delicious he is and he is deeliiiicious,’ I said emphasizing the vowels, ‘I think on that, we and all the rest of the female population, 100% agree. He isn’t for me; you know?’ I sat back down and pulled her down with me.
‘Thank God,’ she sighed. ‘I don’t want us to fall out over a bloke, even if he is delicious with just fucked hair,’ she closed her eyes and lay back on the settee blowing air through her lips.
‘Yeah, right I’ve noticed that on occasion,’ clutching a cushion to my chest ‘and he keeps running his hand through it, too.’ We looked at each other and burst into laughter.
‘Why did you stare out of the spy hole? What caught your attention?’
‘Oh I was looking at a hand.’
‘What?’ She screeched, throwing a hand to my forehead and pretending to take my temperature.
‘A hand holding open the door for Nathan, I think it had to be Alex, you know my employer. But I couldn’t see more than the hand. It was a nice hand though.’ I think I sighed after that statement.
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