Leah finished there. She was out of breath, but still wasn't sure if it was because of what she had said or because James had leaned over the table, even further towards her and was gazing at her intently now.
"We both wanted what happened in Oxford," he stated calmly.
"True, admit that, but what do you want with me now, if anything?" Leah felt she had to try and get it all out of the way. She simply wouldn't be messed around any longer.
"Okay then,” he continued. “About the loan, I won't come and check up on you anymore, unless I need to put things straight from a business angle. Just send a financial report every three months, and don't miss one." He sounded hard, very business-like. "But what I would really like is to buy you a house, something with character by the river, let you furnish it any way you want, pay all the bills. Buy you your own shop to keep you amused, give you a large monthly allowance, and take you away occasionally on exotic holidays."
"Are you serious?" Leah could hardly breathe.
"I know you won't go along with the idea, but you did ask what I wanted," James stated, just as calmly as before.
"And what would you get out of all this?" Leah enquired, her head still spinning.
"Simple. Access to you, once or twice a week."
"Access? Access!" Leah choked on the word. "Uou're the most unbelievable person I've ever met."
"You're not going to call me pompous again are you?"
"And what about Elizabeth, where does she come in all this?" Leah asked.
"I don't know,” he sighed, brushing something from his forehead. “We have a casual relationship, but we're drifting at the moment, although I sense she may want to get serious at some point."
"And, of course, Elizabeth is marriage material, isn't she? Upper class, wealthy background, good education, her own business, while all you want to do with me is shag me on a Sunday afternoon!"
Leah shook her head. The ground felt as if it was shifting beneath her feet.
"That’s not a very ladylike expression," James remarked, his voice edgy.
"Well, it's how you described what you'd like to do to me at your house, just before you threw me out!" Leah had raised her voice. She wished she had something to throw at him, too, standing just a few feet away, so arrogant, so contained, but so ... hot.
"So, it's a no to being my mistress, then, is it?” James asked, in a deep, low voice. “Apart from all that, did you enjoy Oxford?"
"Yes," Leah replied softy.
"And it's Sunday again," James said.
The silence in the small kitchen stretched between them now, just the dripping of the tap and the faint background noise coming through the open door, the sound of someone, a few gardens away, mowing the grass.
James held his hand out towards her, over the small table and after a few seconds hesitation, Leah took it, holding on tightly.
He led her to bed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
It was night and James had gone. Leah lay on the tangled sheets, on her tiny single bed. Exhausted, sated, happy and in a total state of confusion. It had been even better than the heady excitement of Oxford. James had been tender, coaxing her towards a totally new level of desire. He delighted in her curves and actually made her forget about her weight and feel beautiful.
The afternoon had passed into evening, and the room grew dark around them. Leah had felt that she was, incredibly, falling in love with the overwhelming man beside her, his arms around her, his legs wrapped around hers. And now the room felt empty without him.
She knew that she’d gone against all her own intentions of being restrained around James; she recognised that her body shook and her common sense deserted her as soon as she saw him. He’d only come just to deliver a message and a key, and they had ended up in bed together. Again. It was no use pretending that she could keep away from him in future; he was just too magnetic.
Before he left, he’d written down his mobile number on a scrap of paper in the bedroom.
"What time do you finish work on Saturdays?" he asked.
"Pretty late, I always tidy up after the shop closes," Leah replied.
"Get someone else to do it next weekend, I could pick you up around six. And bring an overnight bag."
"What are you thinking of ..." Leah asked, hesitating. After all, it was all a bit unclear, and still so sudden.
"I just want to take you away for the weekend, to Norfolk, show you my family home," James said.
"Really?" Leah was surprised; she just never knew what to expect next.
"We don't really know each other, apart from the sex. I thought perhaps we could spend time together."
It was so unexpected, yet so definite, and so exciting.
"In the country? You're not going to be shooting small animals or anything?" Leah asked.
James was getting dressed. He stopped and looked down at her with a smile.
"That wasn't what I had in mind," he said. "Ring me if it's okay."
§
As asked, Leah called in at Sam and Lucy's flat while they were still on holiday. There was a definite smell in the kitchen and she opened the windows while she cleaned out the fridge. Lucy didn't really have a clue about housekeeping, but she was pleased that she’d actually managed to sort it out before they came home from France.
For the next few days she worked extra hard at the Flower Garden, too, trying not to think too much about the coming weekend and what it might hold.
She asked Charlie if he could stay later on the Saturday evening and he agreed. Then she rang James. His phone was on voice mail, so she left a message, then sent a text, just to be sure, saying that she would be fine for six on Saturday.
For a moment she wondered if it would actually happen, or would he phone saying he had changed his mind, or that he had urgent business and had to go abroad?
Norfolk, the Jacobean manor house in hundreds of acres; the thought was intimidating.
§
At the end of the week Emma and Simon returned from Brighton and Lucy called round to collect her key, all of them arriving at once. Simon went to unpack and Emma and Leah admired Lucy's fabulous golden tan.
"Thanks for clearing the fridge," she said to Leah. "I was really relieved when James agreed to call round and ask you to sort it out."
"That's okay," Leah replied, catching Emma's surprised glance.
Lucy explained what had happened, and how helpful James had been.
"When did he call?" Emma asked.
"Last Sunday afternoon," Leah replied, then tried to change the subject by asking to hear all about the villa in France and the holiday.
"Oh, it was just fantastic!" Lucy exclaimed. "Totally out of this world. I didn't want to come back. James and Elizabeth joined us for a few days, but that was okay, actually. I've sort of got used to him now ..."
§
As soon as they were on their own, Emma looked at Leah, raising her eyebrows.
"Last Sunday, you were here on your own and ... ?"
"Yes, James came with the message from Lucy and her spare key. And then ... well ... we spent the rest of the day in bed." It was just no use trying to hide the truth from Emma.
"I thought you were going to avoid him, and get yourself together!" Emma said.
"I've tried. And I've also tried not to think about him. But I just can't. I have images of him: his hands, his voice, even his hair. When he's there, in the room, I don't know why, but I just can't resist him." Leah was simply being honest.
"And are you seeing him again?" Emma wouldn’t let it go; she was like a dog with a bone.
"This weekend. He's taking me to visit his home in Norfolk, to get to know each other a bit."
"Oh, really! Well, that's something, I suppose."
Emma went to the fridge and poured out two glasses of cool white wine. She handed one to Leah and they smiled at each other, glad there were no secrets.
"Lucy seems to be comfortable with James at least, asking him to help,” Emma stated.
“She seemed a little shy of him when we all went out."
"Oh, she's so pretty and charming, any man melts around her," Leah answered.
"Apart from Sam, apparently. If you were on holiday in the South of France in a luxurious villa, would you be worrying about what you'd left in the fridge?"
"No, I guess not," Leah replied, considering Emma's remarks. "You don't think she's trying too hard to please Sam?"
"I think she's crazy about him, but she's also wary of him," Emma said.
Leah shivered. She still felt so confused about her own situation. What did she feel exactly for James? Love? Desire? It was certainly a growing obsession, and what could he possibly see in her, she wondered. He was wealthy, devastatingly good looking, he had a beautiful, talented girlfriend and could take his pick of any number of dazzling young girls.
She didn't know why he was taking her to Norfolk, but she had to go, she knew she was going to go; she was totally unable to stop herself.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
From time to time Leah experienced butterflies in her stomach, which increased as the weekend approached. She’d received no answer to her answerphone or text message to James. Perhaps he considered that everything was fixed? Or perhaps he wouldn't come. It was so frustrating. She rushed home from the shop on Saturday, had a quick shower, dressed in casual clothes and packed a small rucksack with a change for Sunday. It sounded as though the house stood in extensive grounds, deep in the Norfolk countryside so there would be plenty of exploring to do, country walks maybe. She really had no idea what James had planned, other than sex.
He arrived on time, in a sort of up-market Land Rover which she saw was called a Defender. It was very high off the ground, probably for seeing over hedges, and in a deep green colour.
Leah felt a great surge of excitement. After all, he was here; this fantastic man would be with her for the rest of the weekend. It was almost too much.
He took her small rucksack and put it in the boot. She thought she saw something cross his face as he looked at her, but she was never sure what he was thinking.
They were spending the weekend in the country. Surely he didn't expect high heels and a skirt? Had she got it so wrong? Until a moment ago, she’d thought that her casual clothes were just right.
They drove for a few miles, then James said he would have to pull in at a garage and fill up with petrol. Leah waited happily, luxuriating in the huge four-by-four, which was another new experience for her.
When he came out of the garage, he jumped in quickly and slammed the door, looking slightly annoyed.
"Is everything ok?" Leah asked.
"Yes," he replied brusquely. "Had to make a phone call, just a bit of a mix up."
He leaned down and turned on some background music, something classical.
"Do you mind if I don't talk much? Saturday night traffic, and I need to concentrate."
"Fine," Leah answered, settling back into the plush leather seat.
They drove out of London, and James seemed to be accelerating, taking risks, cornering quickly, skimming around the roundabouts, changing lanes.
Leah began to wonder what had upset him, but she kept quiet.
As they left London behind and got into the countryside, he seemed to relax.
"Sorry about the scary drive," he said. "Just had a bit of a busy day, and I guess I’m still rushing. I'll try and switch off."
"How long will it take to get there?" Leah asked.
"Depends on the traffic, but I’m guessing we'll be there around eight. I want you to see the house in the light. We're just having a simple meal when we get there. Is that okay with you, or are you hungry now?" he asked.
James was suddenly being considerate! He was the perfect host; Leah just hoped it would last.
"Do you have servants to prepare the meal or do we microwave it when we arrive?" she joked.
"Mrs Forbes, the housekeeper will have it ready in the Aga. She lives in with her husband who looks after the grounds. There are some part-time staff when the house is occupied," James answered, taking her question totally seriously.
"Does your mother usually live there?"
"Most of the year, yes, but at the moment she's in Italy. She goes every summer on a painting course and stays at the farmhouse in Umbria," he replied.
Another property, this time in Italy, but Leah was relieved that they would have the Manor to themselves. She didn't want to meet any of James's family. It was enough to cope with visiting the country estate.
"Mrs Forbes has been with the family for years," James continued, "but she prefers it when my mother's there. She has difficulties coming to terms with the fact that I inherited everything, and now I'm the one in charge."
"I shouldn't think anyone would have difficulty in recognising that!" Leah laughed.
There was a frosty silence, which grew, and Leah wished that she could learn to think before she spoke. James seemed so edgy. She knew very little about his background or family and she just wanted to enjoy the weekend with him, although she began to wonder if he was having second thoughts. She felt that, once again, she was out of her depth.
The reality of the situation suddenly hit her. She was going away, goodness knows where, with a man who she didn't even know very well, and mostly seemed to want her just for her body. He was sexy, generous with money, but so unpredictable, too, and she began to wish that she'd been able to resist him, to turn down this invitation.
"We're supposed to be getting to know each other," James eventually said, shattering the silence, "so tell me something. How about your family? Where did you grow up, Leah?"
Leah looked out of the car window at the passing countryside and wondered where to start.
"I come from Bradford. My father was made redundant a while ago, so he works part-time at the supermarket and potters on his allotment. My mother’s a dinner lady at the local school.
“I have two sisters – Carol who's married to a plumber and lives nearby, they have one boy. Then there's my younger sister, Fran. She's a single mum, and she had a daughter, Zoe, when she was only seventeen. She tried living in a council flat on benefits, but it didn't work out, she just couldn't manage on her own, so she moved back to live with our parents. There's also my Grandpa, just turned eighty, and with the start of Alzheimers. He lives in the front room."
There was a pause, while she was sure that James was realising how different her world was from his own.
"Wow. Quite a lot of generations all together," he said. "How many rooms do they have?"
"Typical, small three bedroomed semi," she answered.
Leah thought about that crowded house, how there was always a shortage of space and money, how it was always a bit disorganised, but even so, they were all happy there.
"My parents had one bedroom, my sister had the other and Zoe slept in the box room, then as I said the front room downstairs is for Grandpa."
"Where do you sleep when you go to visit now?" James asked.
"On an inflatable bed in my sister's room," Leah answered.
"I sleep in the store cupboard when I visit Jake in Crete," James stated.
They drove in silence for a while, and James seemed to be considering her story.
"And yet they managed to send you to uni? It must’ve been a struggle," he commented.
"Oh yes, but I had a student loan, which I'm still paying off," Leah explained.
"Still?" James sounded incredulous. "I can pay that ..."
"No!" Leah interrupted him. "Please, don't offer me any more loans. I'm still trying to sort my finances."
"I said pay it off, not a loan," James stated.
"I couldn't let you do that." Leah was very definite, and so James dropped the subject.
"Enough about me, what about you?" Leah asked.
But just then car slowed down, and Leah saw that they were approaching a large gateway with two stone columns and wrought iron gates which stood open. There was a gravelled drive lined by tall tree
s. James drove slowly along until the drive swept in an arc and opened out, finishing before a huge house, bathed in the red glow of the evening sun.
"This is my background," he said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Leah looked at the house in wonder. Rising up over three floors, from the stately rooms on the ground floor, to the upper level and the pointed roof of the attic bedrooms. It had large mullioned windows, twisted intricate brick chimneys and three stone steps leading to the ancient, heavy wooden door. James got out of the car and opened the boot.
"Do you really live here?" Leah asked, "or is it a hotel or something?"
She turned around and looked at the grounds, sweeping lawns surrounded the house and she could see the glinting shape of water. Beyond it were woods, and the sky was just beginning to edge towards a dusky evening light.
"It's been in the family for several generations," James said, holding an overnight bag.
"You're not titled or anything?" Leah asked. She was feeling uncertain; the house and its setting were much more imposing than anything she’d been able to imagine.
"No, the family were just wealthy landowners," he said. "Follow me."
He led the way up the steps and pushed open the heavy door. Leah followed, clutching her small rucksack, and as she walked she became aware of a female figure moving towards them, from across the expanse of the hall.
"Good evening, Mr Willoughby. I hope you had a good journey, and Miss ... ?" At this, the woman paused.
"Grainger," James supplied.
He turned back to Leah. "Mrs Forbes," he introduced briefly.
Leah smiled and wondered whether she was supposed to shake hands. The housekeeper nodded and glanced back at James.
Obsessed (BBW Billionaire Light Romance) Page 10
