A Taste of Love (8 page)

‘Me?
There’s nothing happened,’ he feigned, unable to look her in the eye.

She
nodded slowly, and still smiling narrowed her eyes. ‘All right. If that’s the way we’re going to play it, I can wait. But you do know I’ll get it out of you before you go…’

He
threw back his head and laughed. ‘OK, what can I do for you?’ he asked playfully.

She
smoothed down the pleats in her skirt and picked up an envelope from the table next to her Schreiber armchair. ‘I’ve decided to have a chair lift put in and wondered if you would read through the details and check that I’m not throwing my money away to a disreputable company.’

He
leaned across to her and tenderly stroked her arm. ‘Ah, Mum. Are you struggling? Is the hip really painful?’ he asked.

She’d
had polio as a child and had always walked with a very slight limp. But there was arthritis in the joint now and the surgeon who had operated once told them this was the best it would ever be.

‘The
stairs are the main problem. It pulls a little when I’m going up and down,’ she said. ‘But don’t start off again about moving, because I’m not. Your father left us plenty of money and I’m going to use it…’

Reading
between the lines, he knew that if she was admitting to being in a little pain she must be in agony, because she never complained but had always suffered in silence. ‘OK. I can do that,’ he said, smiling reassuringly. ‘I’ll check the company out tonight.’

He settled back into the luxurious, high-backed settee while she limped off to the kitchen to make coffee. While he waited he looked around the room at the gold drapes covering the three long windows where light flooded through. The high ceilings, compared to their low beamed cottage ceilings, made the room feel light and airy, and the intricate coving and huge traditional fireplace gave the room an air of grandeur. As he waited for her usual call to carry the coffee tray through he stopped to pick up a photograph of him and Angela on their wedding day. It seemed like a lifetime ago and he remembered how happy he’d been, even though Patricia had tried the week before to talk him out of marrying Angela. He’d always been very close to his mum and it was the first time that he’d disregarded her advice, listening instead to his father who encouraged the match because Angela was from a good family.

She
settled back into her chair, sipped her coffee and stared at him. ‘You do look different today,’ she said. ‘It’s almost as if there’s a light of happiness shining out of you.’

He
knew from past experiences that it was pointless to keep it from her so he told her about his week from Monday morning until he’d left on Friday evening. ‘She’s just a very special woman, Mum. And from the minute I leave her I start looking forward to the next time I’ll see her again – which is crazy because I’ve only known her for five days…’

Patricia
grinned and clapped her hands in delight. ‘You’ve fallen in love!’

‘Oh,
Mum. I don’t know about that,’ he tutted at her fanciful notion. ‘I’m a married man with two grown up children and a mortgage that is nearly choking me and I’m floundering because this has never happened to me before and I don’t know what to do about it. I know the right thing to do would be to never see her again.’

‘Would
it? From what you’ve told me about her it seems as though she is in the same position,’ she said. ‘She’s just come out of a broken marriage but has the sense to look on it as a fresh start in her middle age and is showing this by changing her image and lifestyle.’

He
shook his head in bewilderment. ‘Yes, she has, and looks fabulous.’ He felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment. Surely it was wrong to have a conversation like this with your aged mother, he thought, but he ploughed on. ‘But what on earth does she see in me?’

‘Oh,
I know what she sees in you. It’s what I see every time I look at you,’ she said smiling with her head on one side. ‘Maybe if nothing else, Richard, it’s time you took a long hard look at your own life and marriage.’

He
nodded sadly. ‘Spookily enough it’s what I’ve been doing since I got home last night, and to be honest I don’t like what I see. I didn’t realise how bad things were between me and Angela.’ He avoided her eyes and stared at the fireplace.

At
the mention of Angela his mum’s face clouded over and she clicked her tongue in annoyance. ‘Don’t start me off about that uppity, social climber! She’s never cared a hoot for you – all she’s ever concerned about is your bank balance!!’

Patricia
had never made a secret of the fact that she’d hated Angela since the day they first met and he sighed heavily knowing the feeling was mutual. If he told his mum that last year Angela had even asked how much they would be left in his mum’s will Patricia would have a dicky-fit.

He
gulped a large swig of his coffee. ‘I know. But there are the kids to think about,’ he said morosely. ‘And, whatever you think, they love her and she is still their mother…’

‘Ha!’
she exclaimed. ‘And you are sure about that? I know I probably shouldn’t tell you this but when Christopher had to choose between Cambridge and Durham University the reason he chose Durham was to get away from Angela. He told me so himself.’

Richard’s
heart sank and he bowed his head in shame. How had he grown so far apart from his son that his own mother was closer to him? He should have known about this, he thought, feeling a wave of pity for Christopher wash over him. He’d failed his son by letting Angela’s bullying tactics affect them all, he thought guiltily, and he began to pace around the room.

Patricia
continued, ‘Look, its high time you took a leaf out of Helen’s book and started to live your life the way you want to. You’re far too kind and generous for your own good sometimes – think of yourself for a change. The kids are young adults now. Let Angela see to herself in the rambling old cottage.’

He
stopped still in front of her. ‘You’re telling me to keep seeing Helen?’

‘All
I know, darling, is that opportunities like this don’t come along very often and you’d be a fool to miss the chance of finding happiness with a woman who really wants you,’ she soothed. ‘I know, and have known since the day you married Angela, that she doesn’t love you. To use one of your son’s sayings, just go for it…’

Chapter Nine

Over the weekend, in between visiting Karen and daydreaming about Richard, Helen had talked to Rob on the telephone. She’d been a little shaken at first when he’d told her that he’d consulted a solicitor about a divorce and wanted to put the house up for sale as soon as possible. It all seemed so quick and final, she thought, looking around the large lounge, but there again, what was the point of living in a big house like this on her own. She hoped that Rachel wouldn’t feel as though their home was being whisked away from under her. But when Rachel returned from having her first visit and lunch with Rob she seemed more at ease with the situation.

‘I’ve
agreed an understanding to keep in touch with Dad but I’ve flatly refused to meet Stephanie,’ she stated haughtily.

*

On Monday morning Helen decided it was time to tell Annette and Tom about the break-up of her marriage. After commiserations and reassurances that she and Rachel were coping well with the situation Helen began to look on the Internet at properties for sale in Acton. Rob had mentioned a figure of £600,000 that he’d hope to get for their four-bedroomed house and she searched for houses to see what was available. Most of the small semi-detached houses that were for sale looked boring, staid and ordinary – surely this wasn’t what her new lifestyle was about, she thought, gazing absentmindedly at the screen. But then an idea floated into her mind. Who was to say that she had to live in a traditional property? She was free to live where and in what she chose, she thought excitedly. Quickly, she altered the search to modern properties and looked longingly at trendy new apartment living on Uxbridge Road. She read the details about a two-bedroomed flat which described the stylish and luxurious development, comprising a very large reception room with ample dining space and Juliet balcony, a stunning fitted kitchen fully equipped with modern appliances, a spacious stylish bathroom and two good size double bedrooms with built-in wardrobes. She loved the clean lines and shiny wood floors, and began to dream about the modern furniture she could buy.

At
Friday’s meeting they’d all discussed the Sushi lines they wanted to develop and Helen had organised herself a plan of action for the week. She hoped to have most products ready in theory, if not made into samples, before the weekend. She’d only seen Richard in passing from office to office and in meetings, and by Thursday she was beginning to think that last week had all been a dream. Or maybe, she thought, he’d had second thoughts after spending the weekend with his family and was purposely ignoring her, wanting their relationship back on a professional basis.

*

At two o’clock Helen was in the kitchen preparing samples when Sally, who worked in the finance department, appeared at the doorway. ‘Hiya, how’s it going?’

Helen
smiled. ‘Fine, thanks. I haven’t seen you for a while.’

Sally
grinned. ‘We’ve had a big upset this week with the accounts and prices and sales not tallying up,’ she said. ‘We’ve been working flat out to get it sorted and Richard has been a great help. He’s been with us nearly all week and I have to say he’s a lovely guy.’

‘Yep,
he is a nice guy,’ Helen agreed and was surprised at the feelings of jealousy that raged through her.

Sally
giggled. ‘If it wasn’t for my John at home then I’d definitely make a play for him,’ she said as she sauntered off.

What
was all that about, she worried, and wondered if Richard was encouraging Sally and leading her on. Maybe he was a secret flirt, like Rob, she thought, and after years of suspicion in her marriage her stomach lurched.

She
shaved very fine strip lengths from whole cucumbers and set them aside. The inner strips were pale green in colour and the edges of the shavings a darker green from the skin. Retrieving the rice Nigiri shapes from the fridge she laid them sideways and carefully wrapped a short strip of cucumber around each of them. She stood them upright, which made them look like the shape of a boat, then packed diced smoked salmon into a few and the rest she packed with a finely chopped mix of prawn cocktail.

‘They
look fantastic!’ Richard enthused as he came up behind her. She’d been so engrossed in the samples that she hadn’t heard his soft footsteps as he came into the kitchen.

She
smiled her thanks at the compliment but was determined to keep her distance. ‘They’re supposed to be a variation on the Gunkan but instead of Maki seaweed I’ve used cucumber shavings. The word Gunkan, in Japanese, means battleship,’ she said.

He
nodded. ‘Oh, right. Christ, what a bloody week we’ve had. I’ve been trying to get down to see you but it’s been hellish and I’ve finished late every night…’

‘Yes,
I heard that from Sally,’ she said curtly.

What
was wrong, he wondered, looking at her defensive position with her arms folded across her apron. Her face was flushed, and she seemed agitated. ‘Is there a problem?’

She
turned back to the Island and began placing three of the cucumber Gunkans into small black trays. ‘Not as such,’ she said. ‘But if you’re playing around and flirting with Sally then let’s just say I’m not interested…’

He
couldn’t believe it – she was jealous. Suddenly he racked his brains trying to remember if he’d paid Sally any more attention than the other women in finance. But he knew he hadn’t. ‘I don’t know what she’s told you, but believe me, there’s no truth in any of it. I’ve been on my very best behaviour,’ he said grinning and trying to catch her eye. He could see her lips twitch in amusement and prayed she would believe him.

She
turned to him. ‘Honestly?’ she asked in earnest.

He
put his hands on her arms and gave her a gentle shake. ‘I’m not interested in any other woman but you. And if you don’t agree to have dinner with me tonight I’ll run amok with all your samples.’

They
looked at each other and burst into laughter. ‘But not Sushi,’ he said. ‘I fancy a really good steak.’

*

Richard stood under the shower in the small bathroom in the flat. Excitement bubbled through him at a rate of knots churning his stomach to such a state that he wasn’t sure if he even felt hungry any more. What he was hungry for was to be with Helen. On Sunday night he’d packed a selection of his good clothes and as he dried himself he stood in front of the small wardrobe deciding what to wear. Last week when they’d gone to Sushi Samba she’d bowled him over in her cocktail dress and he’d felt shabby in his old work suit. But not tonight, he thought. He intended to match her and revel in the fact that he was out for dinner with a beautiful woman.

He
chose his navy Hugo Boss slim-fit suit and a pale blue Jaeger stripe on twill shirt with a matching blue and pink striped tie. He fastened silver square cuff links, which had been a Christmas gift from Patricia, and remembering his mum’s words he confidently pulled his shoulders back. She was right; if a woman like Helen was interested in him he was going to give it his best shot – it was high time he had someone in his life to make him smile again.

*

Helen and Richard sat opposite each other in the Italian restaurant, in subdued lighting from a candle glowing in the middle of the table. The plates had been cleared away. They’d both refused dessert but sipped the remains of a bottle of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. Conversation had flowed easily between them up until now, but Helen could practically see the blatant, hungry desire to be with each other as if it was an invisible force sitting in the centre of the table. Every touch of his hand on her skin, every long lingering look into her eyes, made her want to squirm on the seat with longing. She’d never felt like this before – not even in the early days with Rob. It felt as if the whole of her insides were aching with lust and craving to have him touch her.

‘I-I’m
trying to think of a way to suggest, well, I think you know by now how I feel about you, Helen,’ he said. ‘But I’m a bit out of practice…’

Helen
could see he was struggling and for once in her life she didn’t want to be the one left sitting around waiting for a man to make the moves and be in charge of the situation. She was fed up of being the quiet, retiring person in a relationship and had spent eighteen years waiting patiently to feel like the chosen one.

Not
any more, she thought, and took a deep breath. ‘Me too, but I’m going to plough straight in and ask if you’d take me back to your flat so we can make love to each other. It’s all I’ve wanted to do since we kissed last week and I don’t think I can wait any longer!’

He
could hardly believe what she’d just said and immediately was full of admiration for her courage to speak the words. He grinned at her and matched the look of lust that shone from her eyes. ‘Lead the way, madam,’ he gibed

*

As Richard turned the key in the door to the rented ground floor flat Helen stood behind him, her heart racing. This was all new territory for her and although there was a smidgen of doubt in her mind because he was married, the feelings raging through her body totally overrode this. He led her through into the sparse, unlived-in lounge and took off his jacket while she slipped her coat off and threw it recklessly over the back of an armchair.

They
stood facing each other, their eyes locked. Within seconds he was kissing her, devouring her lips till she felt lightheaded and abandoned herself to the moment. She pulled his tie off and started to tear at the buttons on his shirt while he ran his hands up and under her black silk blouse. He groaned and panted as she managed to get his shirt open and pulled it from his broad shoulders. He stood in front of her bare chested and she daringly pulled her blouse over her head.

‘Christ,
Helen, you’re fabulous,’ he whispered, staring at her breasts in the black plunge bra. He undid the fastening and cupped them both into his hands while she threw her head back and moaned in ecstasy. They staggered towards the long settee and she fell backwards while he pulled his trousers and boxer shorts off and she pulled her skirt down to her ankles to reveal a black lace thong. Greedily he sucked her nipples till she cried out in exquisite pleasure, ‘Oh, God,’ she panted. ‘Don’t stop…’

She
pulled him down towards her, dragging her lips up his neck while clinging onto his shoulders.

‘Now,
Richard. Please…’ she begged.

Moving
the thong aside with his fingers he pushed deep into her and she gasped and groaned as they rocked and ground against each other – it was quick and intense until they both reached an explosion of shattering climax and he collapsed spent on top of her.

Hesitantly,
she opened her eyes and tenderly ran her hands into the back of his thick hair while feeling her heart rate slow down. Oh, my God, she thought, what had just happened to her? It had been unbelievable, and something that she couldn’t have imagined even in her wildest dreams.

Sliding
his body and moving into a more comfortable position next to her his mind raced and tumbled with mixed thoughts and emotions. So that was how it was supposed to be, he thought, unable to help thinking of the tame, pathetic sex he’d had with Angela all his life. Thank God he’d taken this chance, because he knew without a doubt that he’d never ever forget this night. Totally overwhelmed, he felt a choke of emotion gather in the back of his throat and he squeezed his eyes tight shut willing himself not to break down.

Eventually,
he lifted his head from her damp chest, grinned at her and then whistled through his teeth. ‘Bloody hell!’

‘And
the rest,’ she muttered. ‘I didn’t know it could be like that.’

He
smoothed her tousled hair from her forehead. ‘Same here, Helen. Now I know what I’ve been missing all my life.’

Rolling
over the top of her he stood up from the settee then put both his arms underneath her, picked her up and carried her like a small child into the bedroom. He placed her gently on the quilt, lay down next to her and began to caress her body. He wanted to know and love every inch of her and starting with her face he kissed and stroked her neck, shoulders, breasts, belly, and continued inch by inch down to her long legs.

She
began by giggling when his lips first kissed her eyes. But when his lips carried on further down her body she began to moan, then groan, and then cry out his name, and when she stopped thinking altogether and floated in a fog of sheer pleasure, she could hear her own voice shrieking in ecstasy. They made slow and languorous love to each other this time and she delighted in giving him just as much pleasure – she soon found out what sucking with her big full lips could do to his body and revelled in the satisfaction it gave her.

Finally,
as she snuggled into his body and felt her eyes droop with tiredness, she knew she’d found the confidence in herself as a woman, and had put the derogatory years of marriage well and truly behind her.