The South West Series Box Set

by Rebecca Paulinyi

  The next day, Lee woke up with a start at nine am - quite a lot later than she normally woke up - and took a second or two to remember where she was. In the winter morning light, the exposed beams were highlighted and the frost on the windows made the light dance in mesmerising patterns on the wall. The air in the room was chilly, but the body next to her was oh so warm that, without even thinking, she cuddled up in order to keep the iciness from chilling her.

  James looked just as gorgeous in the morning light as he had done the night before; hair slightly tousled, mouth slightly open, and with a hint of stubble on his chin. She watched him sleep for a few moments, before laying her head back down on his chest and contemplating her actions,

  It had been six years since she had last slept with somebody other than Nathan. Her count wasn’t particularly high; there had been a fling in university, then a long term boyfriend in law school and then Nathan. Three - which had now become four. Did she regret it? She couldn’t bring herself to. Both times had been utterly electric - a chemistry she couldn’t remember ever feeling with the others. And she had been very clear; she could not commit right now. So she didn’t have to worry about hurting anyone - although she thought, somewhere in the back of her head where the little reasonable voice spoke, that she might be lying to herself there. That there were two people who were very much in danger of getting hurt…

  James stirred then, wrapping his arm tightly around her as he stretched out his legs, his toes poking out from under the duvet at the end of the bed.

  “Morning,” James said, as Lee tilted her head to look up at him. For a second she worried about how she must look after a night of passionate sex. Perhaps the time watching him sleeping would have been better spent combing her hair and brushing her teeth…

  But it was too late for that now. And as his lips pressed onto hers in a sweet, languishing kiss, she found she stopped caring. Her back arched as her fingers tugged at his hair, and his arms snaked around her, pulling her closer to him as their tongues met.

  “Good morning,” Lee said eventually, her breathing not as calm as it had been before their lips had met.

  “What time is it?” asked James.

  “About nine-thirty, I think.”

  “I thought you had an early start.”

  “I did… but Gina offered to open up.”

  “So you can stay in bed while I make love to you all day?” James asked. His body covered hers and he pressed his lips into the curve of her neck, the crevice of her collar bone, between her breasts…

  Lee giggled a little and wriggled her hips as she felt the desire building in her again. “Well, maybe not all day… she said to go in when I was ready.”

  “That may not be for a few hours, because you’re naked in my bed and I don’t see any reason for us to change that situation…”

  ***

  An hour later, and after a steamy shower together (that probably took twice as long as individual showers would have taken), Lee decided that she really should be getting to work.

  “It’s not fair on Gina,” Lee said for the fifth time as James tried to persuade her to stay for lunch. “And I have a feeling that lunch will turn into us heading back upstairs, and then having dinner… and I’ll never make it to work.”

  “That might not happen,” James said with a smile.

  “Oh, I think it will.”

  “Okay, okay. Can I take you out again?”

  “I’d love that,” Lee said with a smile. She was a little self-conscious of the fact that she was wearing yesterday’s creased clothes (that had been picked up off the living room floor that morning), and that she’d had to use James’ comb to try to get her hair to become manageable again.

  “How about tomorrow afternoon? I’ve got an idea…”

  “I’ll check my calendar - but that sounds like a plan.”

  They drove down the hill and through the town, listening to Christmas tunes on the radio and laughing about the lyrics. Luckily, James found a spot to pull up right outside the café, and so Lee didn’t have to brave the rain.

  “Thank you,” she said, un-clipping her seatbelt and lifting her handbag from the floor.

  “For the lift?”

  “For the lift… and the amazing night.”

  “It was my pleasure. Literally…” He said with a cheeky grin. “It was a mind-blowingly brilliant night. Thank you. And I can’t wait to take you out again.” He leant over and kissed her cheek; a soft, gentle kiss that nevertheless set her blood racing and her cheeks aflame.

  “See you tomorrow, Lee.”

  “See you tomorrow James.”

  She watched as he drove off, wasting that close parking space by standing out in the rain for longer than was sensible. She felt as though she was walking on air, skating through the doorway with the most ridiculously big smile on her face.

  The café was heaving when she finally came back to down to earth for long enough to realise; every table was full and there was a queue at the counter.

  “Sorry!” Lee said, rushing behind the counter and tying an apron on quickly. “Sorry, sorry, sorry!”

  “No worries,” Gina said, passing her three orders to make. “But I’m glad to see you! And I want all the details once we get through this rush.”

  Lee blushed, and nodded. “Okay. All the details…”

  It was gone four o’clock before things even calmed down a little - their new kids’ hot chocolates seemed to be going down very well with all the children on their holidays, and the parents were generally persuaded into a coffee and a cake as well. All in all, very good for business - but not so good for sharing the juicy details of Lee’s night. It wasn’t until they were closing up that they had any chance to share more than orders - but the second the door was locked behind the last customer, Gina wheeled round to face her with a big grin on her face.

  “You sweep, I’ll mop, you give me the details. Agreed?”

  “Oh, go on then,” Lee said with a laugh. She grabbed the broom from behind the counter, and waited for Gina to fill the mop bucket with boiling water before talking.

  “So, as I’m sure you guessed, our drink went well.”

  “Where did you go?”

  “That little place, just up the road - The Bear, I think it’s called? We went, had a drink, flirted, kissed…”

  “Oh, quick mover then!”

  “And then he asked if I wanted to go back to his for a drink…”

  Gina wiggled her eyebrows. “Which you obviously said no to and came straight back home for an early night.”

  “Oh, of course.” Lee laughed; Gina began to follow the path she had swept with the steaming water from the mop. “I told him, though. I told him I can’t commit right now, that it’s too soon after Nathan, that I don’t know where my life is going…”

  “And?”

  “And he said that while it wasn’t what he’d choose, he was happy with it for now and he understood. And then we went back to his…

  “Does he live far?”

  “No, just up over the hill towards Kingsbridge, in the most gorgeous little cottage. There was a real fire, he cooked me pasta…”

  “And he banged your brains out?!”

  “Once or twice!” Lee said, her grin accompanied by a blush.

  “Get you - it’s always the quiet ones! Didn’t I say it was a good idea to talk to him about it, rather than just write him off? So, you had a good night.”

  “I’m so confused by all of this but, yes, yes I had a great night. And a great morning, and he wants to take me out again tomorrow night…”

  “What’s there to be confused about?” Gina asked, finishing the mopping only moments after Lee had finished sweeping. “You’ve got electric chemistry, you flirt whenever you’re around him, you’ve had amazing sex with him - at least, I presume it was amazing from that grin on your face - and he’s okay with the fact that you just can’t look at the long term at the minute.” Lee began to cash up and Gina emptied the now dirty wa
ter down the sink. “I say you enjoy it and see how it goes. Don’t stress about the future - it’s always been my philosophy, and things are going all right for me!”

  It wasn’t until they were walking down to where Lee had left the car the day before that she thought to check her phone. Two messages popped up on the screen.

  I hope you weren’t too tired at work. Thanks for a wonderful night - until tomorrow! James x

  That one made her grin, and she planned to think of a response on the drive home. The next one, however, sent her brain back into the disarray it seemed to have been in for the last month.

  Just checking, we’ll definitely be seeing you when we open January 2nd? We miss you and we’re crazily busy! Tania and Gemma xxx

  January 2nd… that was the day she’d said she would return to work. Start a new year and then back, back to the office, back to real life. Less than two weeks away…

  As she contemplated the fact that she was leaving Totnes - and the café, and Gina, and James - in under two weeks, she felt the smile dissolve from her face. Life felt even more complicated than before.

  Chapter 16

  James was waiting outside in his car the following day when Lee had locked up. She wasn’t sure where they were going, so she’d quickly changed out of her work gear in the back room and put on some black jeans and a smart, green knitted jumper that she had borrowed from Gina. On Gina’s suggestion, she had also thrown a spare toothbrush and a fresh pair of knickers in her handbag - well, Gina insisted that it was always good to be prepared, and Lee thought it wasn’t the worst idea she’d ever heard.

  He threw the door open as she stepped out onto the pavement, and she gratefully climbed in to the front seat of the warm car.

  “Good evening,” he said with a smile, and she laughed as she saw he was wearing his police officer hat with his jeans and polo shirt.

  “Good evening,” she said, and James leaned over to kiss her, his lips lingering just a fraction longer than was necessary in a greeting, his hand placed lightly on her waist. He took off the hat and placed it on her head, then laughed and pulled away from the café.

  “How come you’re wearing this?” she asked, removing the hat and turning it over in her hands.

  “You said you liked the uniform, and I was worried you hadn’t seen me in it in a while…”

  “Nice touch,” Lee said. “You do seem to have been off work for a couple of days!”

  “I’d been on ten days straight before, so I’ve got four days off now. Then back in tomorrow - I’ve managed to get Christmas day off though, which is nice.”

  “Ah, and here I thought you were skiving just to spend time with me,” Lee said with a grin.

  “I would,” James said, and although there was a smile on his face he didn’t laugh.

  “So,” Lee asked, “Where are we going?”

  “Ahh, you’ll see. Somewhere to keep that festive spirit alive… after all, it is only five days until Christmas!”

  “Five days… I feel like the last six weeks have just disappeared. I can’t believe we’re that close to Christmas…”

  “They’re saying it’s the best chance of having a white Christmas in years!” James said, tapping on the temperature reading on the display. “Certainly cold enough for it.”

  “Do you think it will? I can’t remember the last time it snowed on Christmas day.”

  “Don’t get your hopes up,” James said with a smile. “It never snows this near to the coast.” They were leaving now, heading on the dual carriageway. As the speedometer began to rise on the largely empty road, Lee turned up the Christmas songs on the radio and soaked up the festive spirit.

  ***

  They pulled up outside a large garden centre, covered in lights and open despite it being six o’clock. Lee couldn’t help but feel a little confused as they parked and she glanced out into the dark night sky to see why they might be here.

  “Right this way,” James said, noticing her quizzical looks but not answering them - yet. He took her hand and Lee was amazed how natural it felt, walking in the cool night air, hand in hand with this tall, fair police officer. Both had coats and scarves pulled tightly around themselves, and as they approached the crooning of Frank Sinatra could be heard from speakers just inside the door.

  They stepped into a winter wonderland. The entrance was filled with fake snow - on the floor, falling from the ceiling, around the feet of the amazed children running all about. To each side were snowy scenes; a large model polar bear alongside a deer; and on the other side, Santa in his sleigh filled to bursting with presents. Lee couldn’t take her eyes off the magical displays.

  “What is this place?” Lee asked, eyes wide.

  “It’s a garden centre, like it looks,” James explained, leading Lee in through to main shop. “But they do the most amazing Christmas displays, and tonight they’re staying open late with hot chocolate, and mince pies, and carolling…” He glanced at her sideways, looking to see how she was taking this choice of venue.

  “I know it’s a bit of an odd choice for a date, but I thought-”

  “It’s wonderful, James,” Lee said, and she turned and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Come on, there’s so much to see!” James laughed at her excitement, her impatience, and together they ducked under an archway covered in holly and entered the festive magic.

  Magical scenes from fairy tales, staff dressed as elves, a Santa’s grotto and some of the most beautiful ornaments Lee had ever seen awaited them inside. Lee gasped at so many things that night, and James grinned at how much pleasure she took from every little detail. And as they walked they talked; a beautiful glass ballerina ornament started off a story from when Lee had been in ballet classes up until the age of seven - lessons that had never gone particularly well since Lee had always been tall for her age and lacking in co-ordination. A handsome felted black Labrador ornament led James to talk about his childhood dog, Mikey, and the adventures they’d had on the beaches of Devon.

  Eventually they sat to drink hot chocolates and eat mince pies on tables lit by candlelight with the background of carollers singing Christmas classics.

  “What a lovely evening, James - I don’t think I’ve felt this festive all month. Thank you.”

  “I love seeing how excited you get - makes the Christmas magic feel all the more special.”

  They clinked mugs and sipped the creamy hot chocolate. “Can I ask you a sensitive question?” James asked, just as Lee had bitten into a mince pie and was focusing on not having crumbs and icing sugar across her lips. She nodded, intrigued.

  “How long were you married for?”

  It wasn’t what she’d been expecting, and not a topic she particularly wanted to discuss - but she guessed she couldn’t blame him for being curious. “Five years,” she said once her mouth was empty. “Together for six. Although now I feel like I never really knew him at all.”

  “What’s he called?”

  “Nathan. Nathan Jones… that’s why I’ve gone back to my maiden name. I feel like I didn’t know him, didn’t really know myself during that time. It’s put a whole difference perspective on the last few years of my life. It doesn’t quite feel real…”

  “I bet,” James said, taking hold of her hand across the table. “I know it was longer ago, but I felt the same when - when Sofia left me. And now I can look back and see that my life is so much better now than it was then. You will find your bearings, and it will be better than before. I’m sure of it.”

  Lee was embarrassed to realise that there were tears pooling in her eyes. “Thank you. That does make me feel a bit better about it all. And,” she blinked to clear the tears that luckily had not been shed, “I’m very, very happy right now. Tonight feels truly magical.”

  They wandered happily through the last few displays that they had missed, and reached a Christmas photo booth with a small queue.

  “Shall we?” Lee asked, a smile on her face, fairly sure that James would not deny her this.

/>   “After you,” he said. The queue disappeared quickly and then they stepped through the curtain where there was a screen, a few props and a bench. Santa hats and beards, candy canes and elf ears were all there, and Lee grabbed a green elf hat with a jingling bell on the end and pushed it onto her head; James chose a red Santa hat tipped with white fur.

  “Right, I’ll press the button, you make sure you look gorgeous,” James said with a wink, and he reached forward to press it before leaning back and putting his arm round Lee. For the first they smiled; the camera counted down and James pressed a kiss to Lee’s cheek; as it counted down the third time neither saw it reach zero, for their lips were on each other’s, and it was more than just a gentle kiss.