Breaking All the Rules

by Rachael Richey

  Jenny took the phone and grinned when she saw the picture. “Did it help, seeing him?”

  “I guess.” Kate shrugged. “He is very good-looking. Even dressed like that.”

  “Ooh, they’ve just posted some more…” Jenny held the phone out to Kate and moved round so they could both look.

  “Well, it does look like they’re having fun.” Kate scrolled through the small collection of pictures that had appeared, a smile beginning on her face. “I’ve not seen him enjoy himself like that for ages.” She peered more closely at the screen. “There’s a girl in this one. God, I hope they haven’t got him a stripper!”

  Jenny was looking over her shoulder. “That’s not a stripper. That’s your sister.”

  “What the fuck?” Kate’s grip tightened on the phone and she peered more closely at it. “Bloody hell, it is. What the hell is she doing there? I told her to keep away, but I never really thought she’d try and join them. God, I hate her! She spoils everything I ever do.”

  “She does live there. Maybe she just bumped into them,” Jenny suggested reasonably. “She might have done.”

  “Yeah, right.” Kate gave a snort. “You know my sister. This was deliberate. Look, they’ve added more photos. Bet she’s in all of them.” She began to scroll through the ten new photos that had appeared on Richard’s page. In each one, the four boys were joined by the grinning figure of her sister, in most cases with her arms draped around at least one of them. Kate’s eyes flashed as she got to the end of the photos, and she slammed her phone down on the table. “That little bitch,” she muttered through clenched teeth. “She’s done this just to spite me. I specifically told her not to go and look for them. How can we even be related? She’s not being a bridesmaid. I shall refuse to let her in the house…”

  Jenny patted her on the shoulder. “Calm down, Kate. What’s she actually done wrong here? No, hear me out. She lives in Bristol, she knew the Stag was happening there, and she probably just wanted to go along and say hello. I agree that appearing in all the photos was probably designed to annoy you, but let’s face it, she’s not trying to steal Richard. He’s there on his Stag with his best friends. There’s no way they’re gonna let any woman molest him. Let alone your sister. They all know her, don’t they?” Kate nodded. “Well, there you are, then. They’ll know what she’s like. Stop worrying and drink your wine. This is supposed to be our night. Don’t let her spoil it.” Jenny sat back down and watched Kate across the table.

  Kate took a deep breath and slipped her phone back into her bag. “Okay. I guess you could be right. I shall try and forget it.”

  Jenny looked at her speculatively. “Well, at least that showed one thing.”

  “What?”

  “You do still care about Richard. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t care what he was up to.”

  Kate wrinkled her nose. “Maybe. Yeah, I guess so. I was really angry. Vicky does that to me, though. Would I have cared as much if there was some other woman draped all over him?”

  “I think you would.” Jenny took a sip of wine. “And you know what I think? I think you should definitely go up to London next week. You really need to see him. Can you get the time off work?”

  Kate shrugged. “Probably not. I have three weeks booked off for the wedding and the honeymoon. I guess I could pull a sickie.”

  “Right, well, really do it. You need to sort this. Will you tell him you’re coming?”

  “No. He’ll tell me not to, but if I just turn up, he’s stuck with me, and he’ll have to talk to me. I guess it would be a good idea. I can’t wait another week to see him, not feeling like this.”

  “Good girl.” Jenny nodded. “It’ll get you out of Sam’s way for a day or so, too.”

  “That’s not a problem.” Kate shook her head. “It really isn’t. He was just a crush.” With amazing lips, her mind continued silently. With amazing lips that had the potential to be even more amazing, given the right situation.

  “Kate? Are you all right?”

  “Yeah. Of course. Just remembered something. Come on, let’s have another drink and a good gossip. If you want to come back to mine after, we could watch a film. I have lots of chocolate.”

  Chapter 11

  Tuesday 14th July

  Kate stared out the window as the train hurtled through the countryside on its way to London. She had managed to convince her boss she had a bad headache, due to wedding stress, and would need the day off. He had been surprisingly sympathetic, and she had had a tiny qualm of conscience about deceiving him. Then she remembered his heart-to-heart with her about his sex life, and decided he could manage without her. She had taken an overnight bag in case Richard was delighted to see her and she was able to stay in his hotel with him. If so, she would of course need another excuse for missing work tomorrow. She’d cross that bridge when she came to it.

  She had very nearly told Richard she was coming, but they had ended up having a row via text messages, and she decided not to. When she had confronted him—quite calmly, she thought—about the presence of Vicky at his Stag, he had got surprisingly annoyed, for him, and accused her of paranoia.

  He assured her Vicky had come across them by accident and had in fact only stayed with them while they took the photos that Kate and Jen had seen. He claimed she had then left with a group of her own friends and they hadn’t seen her again.

  Maybe she was paranoid, but Kate was pretty sure he was lying, and in a couple of later photos, she could swear that Vicky was in the background. Richard had been quite condescending to her—no mean feat by text—and she had ended up shouting at him in capital letters, then terminating the conversation. That had been on Sunday night, and it was now midmorning on Tuesday.

  She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes, the rhythm of the train beginning to make her drowsy. She had only managed to get a rather slow train that stopped at nearly every station, and the journey still had another two hours to go. She may as well try and have a nap. It was going to be a long day.

  No sooner had she started to doze than they pulled into a station, and she was jolted awake by an overloud announcement. She wriggled into a more comfortable position and leaned her head against the window, carefully keeping her bag on the seat next to her, to deter other travellers. Luckily, the train was relatively empty, and she was confident she should be able to keep the seat vacant. She watched as the two newly arrived passengers took their seats, then with a judder the train set off again, picking up speed as it left the town and once more sped through the countryside.

  Kate sighed. She wasn’t going to get to sleep; her mind was far too active. Why on earth had she decided to travel to London? She already knew that Richard was going to be annoyed with her for surprising him, but hopefully he would also be pleased that she cared enough about seeing him that she had taken the trouble to travel all the way from Devon to London on a whim. Of course, he wasn’t spontaneous, so he might not understand at all. Richard always had to have things planned in advance, and had always abhorred Kate’s propensity for random actions. He usually viewed these events quite indulgently, and as Kate thought about it, she realised he could actually be quite patronising when he wanted. If she was going to marry him, that would have to change. She sighed. There was that “if” again. Still, in a way that was what this trip to London was about. She had to be totally certain she ought to be marrying him. And she needed to be well away from home, and Sam Somerville, when she made that decision. As her thoughts strayed to Sam, Kate found to her dismay that her lips started to tingle again. She rubbed her finger across them, unable to prevent her memory replaying the two kisses. However wrong it was of her, she was also unable to stop her mind wondering just what a proper snog with him would be like.

  With an annoyed sigh, she turned to stare out the window. How did her life get this complicated? It should all be so calm and easy. She should be happily preparing for her wedding to the man she loved, looking forward to the rest of her life in his company. Th
e rest of her life committed to him.

  That was the word that was bothering her. Committed. Why did people keep using that word? It seemed so final, so formal and, if she was honest, scary. Maybe she was scared of commitment? Could that be the problem? She didn’t think she was, but maybe that was it. She did love Richard, of course she did, but the idea of being stuck with—no, committed to—him for the rest of her life was scaring the shit out of her.

  She let her mind drift away for a moment and found herself in the field behind her house, Sam’s lips on hers. He didn’t scare her. He didn’t bore her, either. Kate closed her eyes and pressed her face against the window.

  But she was in love with Richard, and the wedding was all paid for. Sam had only just arrived back in her life, after eight years away. She didn’t even really know him any more. Just because he was a good kisser—she stopped herself.

  Just because the mere touch of his lips on hers had very nearly caused her legs to give way was no reason to cancel her wedding to a very suitable, sensible man who loved her. Sam hadn’t said he loved her. He hadn’t asked her not to marry Richard. In fact, he had seemed to accept the fact of her engagement quite phlegmatically, so he obviously wasn’t that bothered.

  Kate scowled at the passing countryside.

  No. She was marrying Richard. She just needed to see him again before she was totally committed. There was that word again. What she really needed was to have sex with him. He was good at that.

  She curled up in the corner of the seat and closed her eyes again. Yes, he was good at that. Maybe if they’d been doing more of that lately she wouldn’t be feeling the way she was. As she began to drift into a light doze, she found she was wondering just how good Sam would be in bed.

  ****

  Kate pushed open the door of the court building and walked into the large entrance hall. She had ascertained from Richard’s office where his case was being heard, and roughly what time he was expected to break for lunch, and had decided to take a chance and wait for him. Her heart was beating over-fast as she realised it probably hadn’t been one of her better ideas. He didn’t like surprises at the best of times, and to have his very stressed fiancée turn up while he was in the middle of an important case—a fiancée demanding a night of passion—probably wasn’t high on his wish list.

  Kate bit her lip. Maybe she should just go back home and never tell him she was there. But then she’d never be sure. She had to be sure. She perched on the edge of a blue plastic chair, partly concealed by a large rubber plant, and took a deep breath. What did she have to be sure about? Marrying him? She had to marry him. It was all paid for. Everyone was coming. The food was all ordered, even the nuts for Cousin Emil. She’d be letting everyone down if she didn’t marry him. Including him. And of course she loved him, so she couldn’t let him down, either. She just needed to do something to cement that love, and sex seemed to be the best way. She just hoped he felt the same.

  The sound of a door opening to her left, followed by footsteps coming closer, brought Kate to her feet, and she peered nervously around the plant. The door to the courtroom Richard was in was propped open, and several people were coming through it. As she watched, half a dozen members of the public, accompanied by a bewigged barrister, passed her and headed towards the main door.

  She glanced behind them just in time to see Richard emerge from the court, deep in conversation with a stout man in a shiny grey suit. The man was wiping his balding head with a white handkerchief while attempting to shake Richard’s hand. Richard patted him on the shoulder, murmured a few words in his ear, then moved away in Kate’s direction. As he approached her, she stepped out from behind the plant and smiled at him.

  “Hello, Richard.”

  He stopped short and stared at her in amazement. “Kate. You’re here. Why… What on earth… Kate, why are you here?” He sounded very harassed, and Kate felt her heart plummet.

  “I’ve come to see you,” she whispered, all her confidence ebbing away. “I was missing you. I thought maybe we could…” She realised her suggestion of an afternoon of passion wasn’t going to be well received.

  Richard stared at her for a moment longer, then moved towards her and gave her a quick hug. “I’m sorry. That was rather rude of me. I’ve had a very stressful time in court this morning, and I have to go back after lunch. I’m sorry, Kate, but it’s not really very convenient for you to be here. I have to meet some clients for lunch, and I have no idea what time I’ll be finished this afternoon.” He put his hands on her shoulders and smiled down at her. “I’m sorry, darling. Did you come all the way up here just to see me? I think you may have wasted your time. Even when I finish here tonight I have a dinner with some other clients. I’m sorry. I’ve missed you too.”

  “Have you? Really?” Kate looked up at him, her face serious. He was still just as good-looking. But he did look silly in that wig.

  “Of course, darling. It’s been hell not being able to see you these last couple of weeks. How are the wedding preparations going?” He glanced over his shoulder as he spoke, and nodded to a tall man in a dark suit who was standing by the main door.

  “Okay.” Kate sighed. “Go on, you need to go. I should have realised you’d be too busy to spend time with me. My own fault. I didn’t think it through.”

  “My impetuous Kate.” Richard smiled indulgently at her and dropped a light kiss on her head. “I really do have to go, I’m afraid. I should be back by Friday. We can do something then. Okay?”

  “Okay.” Kate nodded. “I’m sorry I disturbed you.”

  “That’s all right, but I really do have to go. See you soon. And remember, it won’t be long before we’ll be together all the time.” As he turned to leave, a tall grey-haired barrister appeared at his side.

  “Richard, are you off for lunch? We need to have a chat.”

  Richard paused. “Yes, Tom, just off now, running a bit late, but I can give you a couple of moments. Hang on. Just need to speak to someone. This is my fiancée, Kate.” He moved away to speak to the man by the door, and the newcomer held out his hand to Kate.

  “Hello again.”

  Kate took his hand and frowned. “I’m sorry, have we met? I’m usually pretty good with faces…”

  “Yes, a couple of times at parties, I think. Once was in Mayfair a few weeks back. Do you not remember? Well, I thought it was you. I’m so sorry, maybe I’m mistaken. What did you say your name was?”

  “Kate, I’m Richard’s fiancée.” She watched him closely. “I don’t think it could have been me. I’ve never been to a party in Mayfair. Or any parties in London with Richard.”

  The man looked a little uncomfortable and shook his head, peering more closely at her. “I’m so sorry. Must have been someone who looked like you. I don’t think I knew her name anyway. Sorry, don’t know why I thought it was you. Are you here to see Richard?” He gave a short laugh. “Well, I assume you must be.”

  Kate nodded. “Yes, I popped up on the off chance, but he seems to be really busy today. I shall be going back to Devon later.”

  Richard appeared at Kate’s side and gave an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that. Just needed to say I’d be a little late for lunch. Tom, I can give you five minutes. Will that do?”

  “Fine, fine. Nice to meet you.” He nodded to Kate and moved a few feet away.

  Richard smiled down at her. “Sorry, darling, need to go now. Must sort this out and then try and make it to lunch. I’ll see you on Friday.” He blew her a kiss, turned to join Tom, and they walked around the corner to talk.

  Kate sank down onto the blue plastic chair again. She’d got it wrong. As usual she had been too impetuous. She had even thought he might be pleased to see her, but although he had hidden it well, she could tell Richard had been slightly annoyed by her intrusion. She had to admit it had been a long shot, but she had hoped she might at least be able to spend the evening with him. It was probably better he never knew she had brought an overnight bag.

  She
got to her feet, shouldered her bag, and headed back out onto the street. She was in London now, so she may as well make the most of it. She had already checked out the return trains, just in case her little plan backfired, and she knew that the fastest evening one left Paddington at eight thirty. If she aimed for that one, it gave her all afternoon to do a bit of sightseeing. She very rarely got to spend any time in London, and almost never on her own. She could actually do whatever she liked.

  Whipping out the little street map she had been careful to bring with her, Kate worked out where she was, and was delighted to see how close Trafalgar Square was. That was always a good place to start; there was usually something fun going on there. And then she could pay a visit to the National Gallery, and the Portrait Gallery as well. She stuffed her map back into her pocket and set off along the crowded pavement, a little feeling of excitement stirring inside her at the thought of a day doing what she wanted in London, and skiving off from work. It wasn’t often she did things like that.

  As she walked, Kate considered her situation. It was true she was impetuous, up to a point. She often did things without thinking them through properly, but it was very rare for her to “misbehave.” Skiving off from work was something she had never actually done in all the five years she had been in the job. Maybe she was as boring as Richard. Maybe that’s why she’d never noticed until recently that he was.

  Until Sam Somerville had returned and tempted her to misbehave by going out with him, to be more precise.

  Kate smiled to herself. That had really been misbehaving to a huge degree. Not the first date, of course. That had just been meant to be a catch-up with an old friend, but the subsequent date, and the fact that she never mentioned she was getting married? That had been misbehaviour. The kisses hadn’t. She had had no control over them. It would have been rude to pull away.

  So maybe she wasn’t quite so boring after all, and that was why she had suddenly noticed that Richard was. He had looked very handsome in his court clothes, she had to admit that. Apart from the stupid wig, of course. But he wouldn’t be wearing that in bed.