by Karen Klyne
Alan leaned forward. “But she’ll be back. So when she does return, remember that she’s out of bounds. Don’t you have any scruples?”
“Bollocks. If you’re so damned concerned, why don’t you forbid Kim to see me? Christ, Alan, she’s not a kid.” She could have kicked him on his newly healed broken leg. Sod him.
She was so pissed off. Her new playmate was going away, and all Alan could think about was her reputation with women. What happened between two consenting adults had nothing to do with him. Nothing had happened between Kim and her, and it possibly never would. So why was she protesting? She rubbed her head. It was aching from too many thoughts. And why was Kim always on her mind? Was it simply that Kim was a challenge? A woman who hadn’t fallen into bed with her, even though Phil was pretty sure she was at least curious? Or was it because she was refreshingly sweet and a genuine friend? Why couldn’t she walk away from Kim like she did every other woman in her life?
She tried so hard, and up to a point she’d succeeded. A month had already gone by, and she’d only had contact through email. She’d let Kim know the buyer of her house had deposited the monies into her bank account. Somehow, emailing wasn’t personal enough. She wanted to hear Kim’s voice. She checked the time. It was ten o’clock in the morning in the UK and eleven in Spain. She texted Kim. Can I call you?
Yes, of course.
“Hi there, you.”
Kim sounded miles away, which of course she was.
“Hang on a minute, Phil. I’m on the terrace, and the reception’s terrible.” A few seconds later, she was back. “Is that any better?”
“Perfect.”
“Anyways, hi to you, too. What’s new?”
“Cauthwell, as usual, is a buzzing metropolis of culture and elegance. What’s it like in Spain?
“Exhausting. Please remind me never to open a hotel. I’m enjoying it, but it’s damned hard work. And it’s so bloody hot.”
Just hearing her voice made Phil hot, and she could picture the light in Kim’s eyes. As well as the sweat on her body. “Lucky you. Anyway, I thought I’d better let you know about the new house. If you’re still interested, that is?” She had her fingers and legs crossed.
“Of course I am. Tell me, tell me.”
“I’ve valued it at two hundred and eighty thousand. I think it’s a fair price for both seller and buyer. It looks like it’ll be going on the market, and there’s already a lot of interest. News travels fast in Cauthwell, and of course we’ve given the same information to all interested parties. It’s only fair. I’ve told Alan you’re keen, and he seems delighted that you want to come back to Cauthwell.” As long as you don’t come anywhere near me. The thought made her grimace.
“Brilliant. When?”
“The end of August. We’ll display the house in the window, and it’ll be a question of first come, first served.”
“Brilliant. I’ll be back right around then, so as soon as I see it in the window, I’ll be inside in two nanoseconds.”
“Sounds good.” Phil cleared her throat. “Can I take you for dinner that evening? As a celebration?” She held her breath.
“Absolutely.”
“Wonderful.” She was so elated she couldn’t think of anything else to say. She heard some rustling and voices in the background.
“Sorry about that. We’ve got a barbeque on the beach at lunch time, so I’ve got to go and help prepare. It’s a shame you’re not here.”
Sun, sand, a feast, and wine. Followed by sex in the sand dunes. Phil looked to the clouds. “In my dreams. I guess I’ll have to settle for my tuna salad wrap under a grey sky by the village maypole.”
“Maybe one day you can experience it first-hand?”
“Is that an invitation?”
“Of course.”
“In that case, I’ll take you up on it. In the meantime, I’ll let you go. Keep in touch, and take care.”
“You too.”
She was tempted to make some kissy noises but managed to stop herself. She’d never been prone to exaggerated affection. Was it a case of absence makes the heart grow fonder? Usually it allowed her to find someone else because she was lonely or horny, and her heart had nothing to do with it. She needed to get a grip and get back to who she was.
***
The summer floated past, and the end of August finally arrived. Phil got to the office early. She’d heard Kim was back, but they hadn’t spoken yet. She’d wanted to call right away, to rush to see her, but she’d held back. She hadn’t been able to get Kim out of her head, and the few phone calls between them simply hadn’t been enough.
On Saturday morning, dead on the dot of ten, Carole placed the house details in the window. Where was Kim? Had she changed her mind? Still, at least there wasn’t a queue outside. She was about to begin pacing when Kim walked through the door.
Phil’s knees went weak, and her stomach jumped. Sun-kissed and relaxed, Kim was even more beautiful than she remembered. They hugged and kissed on the cheek. “Welcome home. Come on, let’s go into the office. Alan’s waiting with the details.”
Alan sprung up from his chair. “Are you sure this is what you want, Kim?”
“Of course I am. I’ve never been so sure in my life. I stopped and looked at the outside again yesterday, and I’m still in love with it.”
“That’s fine then, just double checking. Philippa, go and put the sold notice in the window, please.”
Phil winked at her and dashed off at high speed. When she got back, they’d moved into Alan’s office upstairs, so she went to join them.
“Take a seat, Kim,” Alan said.
Kim scanned the room. “I’d love to, if I could find one.”
Alan looked embarrassed, so Phil removed a load of files off a couple of chairs and dumped them on the floor. Kim and Phil sat down. They completed all the paperwork and chatted about all the necessary steps. Alan said it could all be settled in a couple of months, once everything was completed.
There was nothing more to do so Phil walked her to the door and closed it behind her. She placed a hand on her shoulder. “Happy?”
“Ecstatic.”
“You look terrific. Are we still on for this evening?”
“Of course. Can we change the plan a little? I thought I’d cook for us instead.”
“God, haven’t you had enough of cooking?”
Kim gave a dismissive wave. “This is different. It’s for pleasure.”
Phil tilted her head. “Ah, that’s nice to hear. Come around anytime. I’ll be in from mid-afternoon onwards.”
Kim waved and left. It wasn’t nearly enough. Though ecstatic about dinner and unable to concentrate because of the anticipation, she wanted more time with her. Now. Fifteen minutes later, Phil shot up from her seat. She’d forgotten to give Kim the keys to look around the house, so she hightailed it up to the Pheasant.
When she got inside, Dave was polishing some pint pots behind the bar, and she couldn’t help but give in to some mischief. Phil perched on a stool and leaned an elbow on the bar. From the corner of her eye she saw Kim and Jan beckon her over. She jangled a bunch of keys in front of Dave’s nose, and he stared at them. “Thought I’d drop my spare set of keys off for Kim.”
His face went whiter than the tea towel he was holding, and the glass dropped from his hand.
“What the hell are you doing, Dave?” Jan shouted.
“It’s…nothing. I just knocked a glass off the bar, that’s all.” He glared at her as he stooped to pick up the glass.
Phil sauntered over to Kim and Jan. She grinned wickedly and winked at Jan.
Jan stood. “I’ll go and get another cup.”
Phil laughed. “You’d better tend to your husband first. I think he’s about to have an apoplectic fit.”
Jan looked puzzled but hurried towards Dave.
Kim crossed her arms. “What have you been up to?”
Phil giggled. “I thought you might like to look around the house on your own.”
She passed the bunch of keys to Kim. “Dave was staring, so I told him I was dropping my house keys off for you. Sorry, I couldn’t resist it.”
Kim laughed. “That’s so cruel…but hilarious.” She reached for the keys and closed her hand around them. “That’s so thoughtful. I meant to ask if I could have another look. I’ll bring them back later.”
Jan put the cup down with a sigh. “Have you been toying with my husband’s depraved mind?”
Phil nodded. “Guilty as charged, ma’am. The keys aren’t to my home.”
“I didn’t think they were, and anyway, it’s none of our business. However, I think I’ll let him stew for a few more hours.”
So he should. She didn’t know Dave, but there was something she didn’t like about him. When he looked at her, he made her squirm. Not only that, but she was certain he didn’t like her either.
Phil finished her coffee, headed back to the office, cleared up, and finished early. When she got home, she was manic. She cleaned the kitchen and hoovered everywhere, concentrating on the bedroom. She’d changed the bed sheets and taken hours choosing the right colours. She was turning into a right halfwit. But she didn’t really care. Girl scouting had taught her to always be prepared.
When Kim arrived in her new car, Phil walked out to greet her. “That’s terrific. I love the running boards and the tinted windows. Good for keeping prying eyes out. I could do with those in my car.”
“Maybe I’ll let you borrow it when you have a secret liaison.”
“Ha ha.” The only person she wanted an illicit affair with was standing next to her. She’d had a few dates over the summer, but they’d left her feeling empty instead of energized, and she’d chosen to throw herself into her work instead of someone’s bed.
Kim followed her to the cottage and was clearly excited about her new car. “It’s got everything. I thought I might need a four-wheeler now that I’ll be living in the sticks again. I remember how bad the roads got when a bit of snow fell. Lucky my dad had a Land Rover.”
“Great. If I can’t get out because of the bad weather, you’ll be able to chauffeur me around.”
“Of course. I’ll have nothing better to do. In the meantime, give me a hand.”
Kim passed her a bag and Phil peeked inside.
“It’s nothing special. It’s a bit of duck, some sauce, and some veg.”
“Is that all? Isn’t there a pudding?” Phil teased.
“Yes, it’s something chocolatey.”
Phil made a sound of appreciation and not only because of the food. “You look terrific.” And sexy. “You have a fantastic suntan.” Was it an all over tan? If they were going to stay in friendship territory, she had to get this desire under control. She ushered Kim in and showed her to the kitchen. “It’s pointless trying to give you instructions on all the appliances, because I’ve only ever used the toaster, the kettle, the coffee machine, and the microwave.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out. Just leave me to it. I’m not much of a conversationalist when I’m cooking, I’m afraid.”
Kim busied herself, and Phil left her to it as requested. She opened her laptop and pretended to do some work. “Do you need any help?”
“No, thanks.”
Occasionally she looked over just to get a glimpse of Kim. She didn’t seem to notice her looking, which was a good thing. She was graceful and thoughtful as she chopped and stirred, and it was pretty in a way Phil had never thought cooking could be. It wasn’t long before she gave up the pretence of working. She wanted Kim’s attention. It was after six, so she closed her laptop. “Fancy some champers?”
Kim stopped what she was doing and stared at her. “Why not? Tell me, do you always drink champagne?”
Phil nodded. “Yes, especially when there’s a celebration.”
“What happens if the sale falls through or something goes wrong?”
Phil was thinking mainly about the celebration of Kim being back in Cauthwell. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”
“In that case, I’ll come and join you. Everything will be ready by seven.”
Phil got the champagne from the fridge along with two glasses. She poured the drink and passed a flute to Kim. “Here’s to your future.” They chinked glasses, and Phil put hers down on the coffee table. She turned to Kim, desperate to voice the questions she needed answers to. “Did you meet anyone in Spain, or is there already someone special in your life? Or have you just spent a lifetime cooking and avoiding relationships?”
“Possibly the latter. No time for men.”
Phil laughed. “What about women?”
Kim blushed. “No women either. I did have a sort of relationship with a man for a few years. I didn’t live with him or anything stupid like that. I hardly saw him, really. He worked odd hours, and I worked even odder ones.”
“And?”
“He turned out to be a control freak. He seemed so cool and laid back. As soon as I dropped my guard, he took advantage. I found out that he’d intercepted one of my business calls and told a client that I couldn’t organise his wedding because I was too busy. Luckily the client checked it out with Rick. I went ape shit.”
“I take it you dumped him.”
Kim chuckled. “I collected my stuff and, on the way out, I punched him in the face.”
Phil laughed. “You didn’t?”
“Why? Don’t I look capable?”
Phil scratched her chin. “I’ll bear that in mind.” Bloody hell, she’d better be careful. Other than the occasional shoe being thrown at her head, no one had actually punched her yet.
Kim excused herself and went to check on the food. Over dinner they chatted about the house and her adventures in Spain. Kim served the chocolate sponge with the gooey centre, and Phil licked her lips. “That was to die for.” She put her spoon down, ran her finger around the brim of the bowl, and licked the chocolate sauce from her fingers. “Orgasmic.” She could get used to this kind of dining. Kim seemed happy with her response, and she blushed in the way Phil found so charming.
When she’d finished, Phil stood up. “I’ll just go and load this lot into the dishwasher and then I’ll make us some coffee.”
“Perfect. Then you can tell me about you. I bet you thought you’d got away with it, huh?”
Phil grimaced. “After the time lapse, I hoped you’d forgotten.”
“I never forget.”
“Just my luck.” Phil took her time in the kitchen, figuring out what she wanted to say and how. Where do you start when someone says, “Tell me about you?” She served the coffee along with a liqueur. “I hope you don’t choke on your Armagnac. Okay. Are we sitting comfortably, children? Once upon a time, on a fine summer’s day, when the sun was beating down, and the birds were singing, and the wind wasn’t blowing––”
Kim feigned a yawn. “C’mon, Phil, cut the crap.”
“Patience. I was setting the mood, because I’m going to jump right in on the action with the bit that gave me my reputation in this beautiful village we live in. We were commissioned to give a valuation on Cauthwell Hall. Alan suggested I do it, so I blame him entirely. As instructed, mid-afternoon I picked up the keys, which were hidden in an urn in the outside loo. There was nobody around, so I did a general recce on the place. It was big and grand, or rather, it had been in its day. There was something weird, though. There was absolutely no character. It felt unloved and uncared for.” She caught Kim’s eye. “A bit like the Brandon place. It was difficult to put a value on it, just off the cuff. In London, it would be outside most people’s budget. I ventured outside. The garden was huge. Again, nothing personal, not even a bench. It was almost as if nobody lived there. I locked the house up, and my instructions were to deliver the keys to Davina Jeffries, wife of Marshall Jeffries, the current owner. I was told she’d be working in the stable all afternoon. Everywhere looked deserted but the stable door was ajar, and I walked in. I shouted but nobody answered. The sun was streaming in, and the stable was hot. It got dar
ker as I got further in. I wasn’t familiar with the surroundings, and I fell over a trough. I remember cursing.” Phil stopped and poured herself another drink.
“Is that it?”
“Of course it isn’t. I’m keeping you in suspense.”
Kim crossed her arms. “Go on, then.”
“I heard laughter from the other side of the barn, and it was a bit lighter over there. I saw someone waving and assumed it was Davina. She was in the tack room standing in front of a large sink full of soapy water.” Phil could remember the moment as vividly as the day it had happened. “She was naked down to her jodhpurs and boots. I have to admit it was an attractive sight.” Phil smirked. “She was slim, fit, and had a beautiful tan. I thought she was about the same age as me, not that it really matters. Her long blond hair fell down her back in a plait, which only added to the sensuality of the whole vision.” Phil took a sip of her drink, wondering how Kim would process this story, but there was no sense in holding back or hiding anything. She wouldn’t want Kim to think she was someone she wasn’t. “She said, ‘Philippa, I presume?’ I nodded but didn’t pay much attention, because I couldn’t look away from her breasts. Eventually, I looked her in the eye and smiled back. By her expression, she must have seen me drooling. She asked if I could give her a hand, and I sure as hell knew where my hands wanted to go. She asked me to wash her back.” Phil blew out air, the memory almost tangible. “How could I refuse? I’m a hot-blooded, gay woman. Surely, I had to assist this damsel in distress? Of course, I obliged. We spent a very pleasant hour or so romping in the hay.” She wasn’t sure if she should be embarrassed or not. She wasn’t talking to Cass, with whom it was easy to relate these kinds of things. But when she looked at Kim, there didn’t appear to be any judgement there.
Kim’s cheeks were pink and her eyes bright. “I hope that’s not it?”
Phil shrugged. “No, that’s just the intro. We discovered we had something in common: sex. Nothing more, but that seemed to be enough. We saw each other as much as we could over the next few months. She’d text me when she was free, and I juggled my work around my sex life. Everything was going extremely well.”
