He cocked his head to one side, peering closely at me.
‘What?’ I said. What had he seen now? It seemed I was always under his scrutiny.
‘You’ve got the cutest little beauty mark on the bridge of your nose. How have I never seen that before?’
I felt myself go hot. ‘It’s hidden by the glasses.’
He got up and nuzzled my neck. ‘Hmm, you smell amazing…’
‘It’s the fried onions,’ I answered and he chuckled.
‘No, I don’t think so.’
He pulled me into his arms and I looked up at him through my glasses that were slowly fogging up as the temperature rose. ‘Take these damn things off,’ he said, gently reaching for them.
‘But I can’t see without them, Luke…’
‘That’s good…’
‘What do you mean?’
He chuckled and leaned in, his breath on the side of my face. ‘Because you might not want to see what I’m going to do to you…’
26
No Sex Please, We’re British
Was two months too early to sleep with a bloke without betraying my self-image of responsible, single mother of two?
Let me rephrase that. Luke and I were attracted to each other; we were both single and both consenting adults, although I was a bunch of nerves. I hadn’t been with anyone since Phil, nor had I ever felt the desire to. I had guessed I was just, well, dead, down there. But now, after all the good things that had happened to me, wasn’t it time to start looking at life differently? Didn’t I deserve to return among the living?
If it went well and our relationship developed, great. And if it didn’t, we’d always have the movie deal. It was a win-win situation, although you might think that is a bit cynical of me. Perhaps it is. I have always put my family’s wellbeing first, and of course I’d risk my own happiness for my children. What woman wouldn’t?
So – we had the motive for the sex, and we had the suspects. All we needed now was the time and place. So I decided to go for it. Tonight. I would farm the kids off to Alice who was in Cornwall for her two days a month, and consequences be damned.
‘Alice? I need a favour.’
‘Anything, doll.’
‘Can you come over and stay with the kids tonight? Luke and I are going out.’
‘Oh, you naughty girl! Good for you!’
I blushed despite myself. Did that make me sordid, or calculating? Weren’t these things supposed to happen naturally, without planning?
‘Have you prepped?’ she asked.
‘Of course, there’s loads of home-made stuff in the freezer. All you have to do is nuke it.’
She laughed. ‘I didn’t mean food, Nina.’
‘What do you mean, then?’
‘Oh God, what would you do without me? Are you prepped as in waxed, and all?’
Oh? Oh!
‘I didn’t think so,’ she said, chuckling. ‘Have you got a racy little number to wear in bed?’
I thought about my lime green fleece pyjamas. ‘Uhm, no.’
‘Jesus, Nina. Give me an hour to get everything we need and we’ll sort you out.’
‘Uhm…’
‘Be there soon,’ she said and rang off. Sort me out? I had a feeling it was going to be a very long afternoon.
*
‘Yeowwh…’ I hissed under my breath so the kids wouldn’t hear us as Alice yanked off the wax strips. ‘What are you trying to do, skin me?’
She laughed. ‘I’ll give you a lotion to lessen the redness and swelling. You should be okay by tonight. Oh, Nina, I’m so happy for you!’
I blushed. ‘Maybe we’re making such a big deal out of nothing. Maybe I should wait.’
‘Are you nuts, Nina?’ she barked. ‘This is a one-time opportunity, and you mustn’t let him escape!’
‘Do you think he might want to?’ I hadn’t thought of that. And if I couldn’t keep my own husband, what right did I have to try to hang on to someone I’d only just met?
‘Of course, Nina. He’s absolutely smitten with you. Who wouldn’t be? You are gorgeous. A little rough around the edges, granted, but lovely all the same.’
‘Gosh, don’t smother me in kindness,’ I play-scoffed.
‘Come here, let me tweeze those eyebrows now.’
‘I’d rather not,’ I said. ‘I’ve never tweezed before…’
‘Relax, just a few stray hairs. You don’t want him noticing them when he looks deep into your eyes, do you?’
‘Ouch!’ I yelped as she plucked away. ‘No, but I don’t want him noticing I’m missing a piece of my eye, either.’
‘Silly, we’re done. And now, for the pièce de résistance,’ she said, whipping out an array of barely there baby doll nighties. ‘Feast your eyes on the lingerie!’
‘Where is it? All I see is two tiny pieces of confetti and a postage stamp connected with strings.’
She giggled. ‘You cheeky cow. But I can guarantee it has worked wonders.’
‘On who, The Invisible Woman?’
‘Just try it on, already.’
‘Uh, I don’t really think I’d feel comfortable in that, Alice. But thanks anyway.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘You’re not supposed to feel comfortable, Nina. You’re supposed to give him a coronary, or so to speak.’
‘I don’t know, Alice. I’m not actually sure that in this case less is more.’
She studied me. ‘You know what,’ she said, throwing them onto the bed. ‘Maybe you’re right. It isn’t you. You don’t need ornaments to dazzle men.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Please, I never dazzle men.’ Maybe, when I was younger, but now?
‘Of course you do.’
‘Alice, I know you love me, but that’s just not true. I haven’t had a man look at me in years. Maybe every now and then on the high street, but that’s just the traffic controllers to make sure I don’t double park.’
‘Listen to yourself. You’re oblivious. Fine, have it your way. But I will tell you this. Luke is a keeper.’
‘We’ll see,’ I said. I really hoped so, but I wasn’t about to just assume anything anymore.
*
When Luke and I left Alice to babysit that evening, I closed the door behind me and realised I was shaking like
