wall.’
She didn’t respond, only taking another sip of gin, but then their eyes met and she smiled. ‘Blimey, this has come as a bit of a shock.’
‘Leave it out, Polly. You must have twigged that I fancy you.’
‘No, not really. I know we’ve had a chat now and then, but I thought with you losing your wife less than a year ago…well—’
Tom broke in, ‘I’m just asking you out for a drink, that’s all. There’d be no strings attached, and as for Myra, I know she wouldn’t want me to sit at home moping.’
‘No, of course she wouldn’t. Your wife was a lovely woman. It’s awful that she died so young.’ Polly paused for a moment, then said, ‘All right, Tom, you’re on.’
‘Smashing. How about tonight? We could walkover to Chelsea and have a drink in a pub by the river.’
Polly shook her head. ‘If it’s all the same to you, Tom, I’d rather stick to our local. Some pubs still frown on women and I’d feel a bit uncomfortable. The landlord in the King’s Arms doesn’t turn a hair as long as I use the saloon bar.’
‘Leave it out, love. Times are changing. Still, if you’d feel more comfortable in our local, it suits me. How about I pick you up at eight?’
‘Yes, that’s fine. Now would you like another drink?’
‘Yeah, why not? I’ve nothing to rush home for.’
‘Oh, well, how about staying for a bite to eat then?’
‘I’d like that,’ Tom said, relaxed now and leaning back in his chair.
He watched as she began to bustle around, a small smile on his face. Polly was a bit of all right, no oil painting, but a man could drown in those tits. Christ, he needed a woman and he wondered how long it would be before he could get her into bed…
Polly too was thinking hard as she prepared a cold meal. Christ, fancy Tom Chambers asking her out! They had both grown up in this area, and she’d seen him turn from a gawky schoolboy into a smashing-looking bloke. He’d had his pick of the girls, and it had been no surprise when he hadchosen Myra. She had been a beauty, tall and leggy with natural blonde hair, but Polly had to admit that she’d gone down over the years. Mind you, with having that brood of kids it wasn’t surprising.
She glanced surreptitiously at Tom, still unable to believe that he was sitting at her table. She had always fancied him, but he’d hardly looked her way until now. Polly sighed heavily. She craved men’s arms around her, liking a bit of slap and tickle, but lately was growing fearful of her reputation. Gossip was spreading, keeping her indoors more than usual, and if anyone else had asked her out at the moment, she’d have said no.
As Polly turned to carry the plates to the table, their eyes met and Tom winked, his smile warm. Her hands shook. God, he was gorgeous.
‘It’s only a bit of Spam, tomatoes, bread and pickle.’
‘That’ll do me, love.’
They sat facing each other. With her throat constricted with nerves, Polly was hardly able to swallow her food, but what did it matter? It wasn’t food she wanted, it was Tom Chambers. She wanted to drown in his arms, to feel his lips on hers, and then the thought of what might follow had her fidgeting with desire in her chair. Christ, she didn’t want to ruin her chances, didn’t want Tom to think her brazen. She would have to go carefully.
‘You’re only picking at your food, Polly. Are you feeling all right?’
‘Yes, I’m fine. I’m not very hungry, that’s all.’
As their eyes locked it was as if some sort of unspoken signal passed between them.
Tom stood up, holding out his hand. He said, ‘Shall we go upstairs?’
Despite her desires, Polly hesitated. As much as she wanted Tom, if she slept with him now he’d think her a tart and that was the last thing she wanted. There were those around here who already thought it was true, and if gossip reached his ears he’d believe it.
‘Tom, we can’t.’
‘Of course we can. I can see by the look in your eyes that your need is
She didn’t respond, only taking another sip of gin, but then their eyes met and she smiled. ‘Blimey, this has come as a bit of a shock.’
‘Leave it out, Polly. You must have twigged that I fancy you.’
‘No, not really. I know we’ve had a chat now and then, but I thought with you losing your wife less than a year ago…well—’
Tom broke in, ‘I’m just asking you out for a drink, that’s all. There’d be no strings attached, and as for Myra, I know she wouldn’t want me to sit at home moping.’
‘No, of course she wouldn’t. Your wife was a lovely woman. It’s awful that she died so young.’ Polly paused for a moment, then said, ‘All right, Tom, you’re on.’
‘Smashing. How about tonight? We could walkover to Chelsea and have a drink in a pub by the river.’
Polly shook her head. ‘If it’s all the same to you, Tom, I’d rather stick to our local. Some pubs still frown on women and I’d feel a bit uncomfortable. The landlord in the King’s Arms doesn’t turn a hair as long as I use the saloon bar.’
‘Leave it out, love. Times are changing. Still, if you’d feel more comfortable in our local, it suits me. How about I pick you up at eight?’
‘Yes, that’s fine. Now would you like another drink?’
‘Yeah, why not? I’ve nothing to rush home for.’
‘Oh, well, how about staying for a bite to eat then?’
‘I’d like that,’ Tom said, relaxed now and leaning back in his chair.
He watched as she began to bustle around, a small smile on his face. Polly was a bit of all right, no oil painting, but a man could drown in those tits. Christ, he needed a woman and he wondered how long it would be before he could get her into bed…
Polly too was thinking hard as she prepared a cold meal. Christ, fancy Tom Chambers asking her out! They had both grown up in this area, and she’d seen him turn from a gawky schoolboy into a smashing-looking bloke. He’d had his pick of the girls, and it had been no surprise when he hadchosen Myra. She had been a beauty, tall and leggy with natural blonde hair, but Polly had to admit that she’d gone down over the years. Mind you, with having that brood of kids it wasn’t surprising.
She glanced surreptitiously at Tom, still unable to believe that he was sitting at her table. She had always fancied him, but he’d hardly looked her way until now. Polly sighed heavily. She craved men’s arms around her, liking a bit of slap and tickle, but lately was growing fearful of her reputation. Gossip was spreading, keeping her indoors more than usual, and if anyone else had asked her out at the moment, she’d have said no.
As Polly turned to carry the plates to the table, their eyes met and Tom winked, his smile warm. Her hands shook. God, he was gorgeous.
‘It’s only a bit of Spam, tomatoes, bread and pickle.’
‘That’ll do me, love.’
They sat facing each other. With her throat constricted with nerves, Polly was hardly able to swallow her food, but what did it matter? It wasn’t food she wanted, it was Tom Chambers. She wanted to drown in his arms, to feel his lips on hers, and then the thought of what might follow had her fidgeting with desire in her chair. Christ, she didn’t want to ruin her chances, didn’t want Tom to think her brazen. She would have to go carefully.
‘You’re only picking at your food, Polly. Are you feeling all right?’
‘Yes, I’m fine. I’m not very hungry, that’s all.’
As their eyes locked it was as if some sort of unspoken signal passed between them.
Tom stood up, holding out his hand. He said, ‘Shall we go upstairs?’
Despite her desires, Polly hesitated. As much as she wanted Tom, if she slept with him now he’d think her a tart and that was the last thing she wanted. There were those around here who already thought it was true, and if gossip reached his ears he’d believe it.
‘Tom, we can’t.’
‘Of course we can. I can see by the look in your eyes that your need is