turning out to be a computer geek like me. I don’t go out much, never date. And the only person I’ve lately wanted to do that with is you. I met this woman at New Year that I can’t stop thinking about and yet ironically who right now can’t stand the sight of me. That enough of a refresher course in Nick Palmer’s life for you? I assure you, there are no other skeletons in my very boring but occupied cupboard.”
Four minutes of silence and filter coffee machine dripping followed.
Then he picked up the mug of coffee she’d poured, added milk and directed her to the sitting room. “Can we go sit and talk now? Like civilised adults.”
In seconds he took her hand in his, flicked his finger over her skin in a way that did weird electrostatic things and gave her a conciliatory smile that could have gone down a bomb with ACAS.
Ailsa watched him with a grim face but without verbal objection. “Your son sounds fun,” was all she said. “He probably misses you as much as you miss him.”
His little speech caused a lump to wedge itself in her throat.
He wasn’t such a bad guy after all and he did great movie-style speeches.
She’d almost forgotten that the ‘Meggie’ teeth were still present even though she’d changed into jeans and sweatshirt. Come to think of it, now it would just look like bad dental work. Nick shook his head, brown hair flopping, his male scent tantalising her nostrils as he moved. She gulped, summoned resistance.
“Tell me how you feel about us?” he urged.
“Last night I was mad and let down and I panicked. Okay, I now know that Jake’s mum isn’t your wife which makes things slightly better. But the way I see it, I’m not cut out for high-speed affairs. I should never have kicked this off. I don’t want to start anything afresh. And now we both need to see this as a reprieve.”
“I see,” said Nick and narrowed his eyes. “That’s pretty final. Nice of you to consider talking to me about that.” He looked positively hurt.
“You’re busy. You have a high-maintenance life, Nick. You’re only here temporarily. And anyway, I’m not looking for a relationship. To be honest I’m not even sure what I am looking for myself.”
“I know what I want - a life with some fun and affection would be appreciated,” he added. “Sally’s my sister. My unhappy and dumped by husband sister. I’m here to pick up the pieces, which gives me an obligation. Jake’s my son but I’m single and very much free to enjoy life as I want to. I’d like us to have another try at resurrecting our attraction; I’d like that more than anything. But it feels like I’ve lost the right to ask it. Right, that’s all I wanted to say. I’m not going to labour the point. You’ve clearly made your mind up.”
Nick stood up then took a sip of his half drunk coffee and placed it on the table before buttoning up his coat.
“I hear you loud and clear. I blew my chance.”
In seconds Nick left the room and headed for the door.
***
“Stay Nick, I’m sorry,” Ailsa slid beside him as he reached her front door. Something inside Nick sprang with elation that she’d stopped him before he left. Perhaps she really wanted to iron out their problems?
She’d reached out to pull him back. “Please stay. I’m sorry things have gone so crazy between us.” He could smell her honeyed hair and it did something to unlock the chemicals that turned him on.
“You sure? I don’t want to keep on banging my head against a brick wall.”
She held out her hands and tugged him back to the sitting room. “Let’s talk. You have a knack for making me rise to the bait.”
“Okay,” he let her lead him back.
“I want you to sit down and tell me your take on 'Dine With The Past'. Bring me fully up to speed?” she asked him.
She motioned him into the sitting room and onto the sofa again, only this time they were way closer, the great divide crossed. It was half an hour to midnight. So he began and before he
Four minutes of silence and filter coffee machine dripping followed.
Then he picked up the mug of coffee she’d poured, added milk and directed her to the sitting room. “Can we go sit and talk now? Like civilised adults.”
In seconds he took her hand in his, flicked his finger over her skin in a way that did weird electrostatic things and gave her a conciliatory smile that could have gone down a bomb with ACAS.
Ailsa watched him with a grim face but without verbal objection. “Your son sounds fun,” was all she said. “He probably misses you as much as you miss him.”
His little speech caused a lump to wedge itself in her throat.
He wasn’t such a bad guy after all and he did great movie-style speeches.
She’d almost forgotten that the ‘Meggie’ teeth were still present even though she’d changed into jeans and sweatshirt. Come to think of it, now it would just look like bad dental work. Nick shook his head, brown hair flopping, his male scent tantalising her nostrils as he moved. She gulped, summoned resistance.
“Tell me how you feel about us?” he urged.
“Last night I was mad and let down and I panicked. Okay, I now know that Jake’s mum isn’t your wife which makes things slightly better. But the way I see it, I’m not cut out for high-speed affairs. I should never have kicked this off. I don’t want to start anything afresh. And now we both need to see this as a reprieve.”
“I see,” said Nick and narrowed his eyes. “That’s pretty final. Nice of you to consider talking to me about that.” He looked positively hurt.
“You’re busy. You have a high-maintenance life, Nick. You’re only here temporarily. And anyway, I’m not looking for a relationship. To be honest I’m not even sure what I am looking for myself.”
“I know what I want - a life with some fun and affection would be appreciated,” he added. “Sally’s my sister. My unhappy and dumped by husband sister. I’m here to pick up the pieces, which gives me an obligation. Jake’s my son but I’m single and very much free to enjoy life as I want to. I’d like us to have another try at resurrecting our attraction; I’d like that more than anything. But it feels like I’ve lost the right to ask it. Right, that’s all I wanted to say. I’m not going to labour the point. You’ve clearly made your mind up.”
Nick stood up then took a sip of his half drunk coffee and placed it on the table before buttoning up his coat.
“I hear you loud and clear. I blew my chance.”
In seconds Nick left the room and headed for the door.
***
“Stay Nick, I’m sorry,” Ailsa slid beside him as he reached her front door. Something inside Nick sprang with elation that she’d stopped him before he left. Perhaps she really wanted to iron out their problems?
She’d reached out to pull him back. “Please stay. I’m sorry things have gone so crazy between us.” He could smell her honeyed hair and it did something to unlock the chemicals that turned him on.
“You sure? I don’t want to keep on banging my head against a brick wall.”
She held out her hands and tugged him back to the sitting room. “Let’s talk. You have a knack for making me rise to the bait.”
“Okay,” he let her lead him back.
“I want you to sit down and tell me your take on 'Dine With The Past'. Bring me fully up to speed?” she asked him.
She motioned him into the sitting room and onto the sofa again, only this time they were way closer, the great divide crossed. It was half an hour to midnight. So he began and before he
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