C
HAPTER
F
OURTEEN
‘Bloody black tie! I hate wearing monkey suits!’ Niall Hammond gave a hurricane-force sigh that blew tendrils of Hilary’s hair across her nose.
‘Stop giving out and just go to Black Tie and get fitted and book it today. This day next week we’ll be going to the wedding,’ she said drowsily, nestled in against him on an unseasonably wet Saturday morning.
‘The time is flying by – the girls will be on their school holidays before we know it. Do you think we could risk a quickie? I heard them going down to watch TV.’ He slid his leg over hers and she felt him harden against her.
‘You opportunist, you,’ she grinned, turning round to face him. ‘We did it last night.’
‘I’m a healthy young man with healthy young man urges,’ he grinned back, cupping one of her breasts and lightly stroking her nipple with his thumb until she gave a smothered groan and felt a lusty surge of desire. She loved morning sex when she was relaxed and rested and horny.
‘Mammmm!’ Sophie thundered up the stairs, followed by her sister.
‘Contra and Ception,’ Niall said drolly, drawing away as their daughters tumbled into the bedroom after a peremptory knock on the door.
‘Mam, she said the F word and then—’
‘Liar, liar pants on fire, you said the F word first!’ Millie was outraged.
‘Stop it this minute! Dad and I were trying to have a lie-in because we work so hard during the week and you two selfish girls have spoiled it. I don’t want to hear another word. Stop telling tales.’
‘But—’
‘Out! Out! Out! And close the door behind you and feed the cat while you’re at it,’ Hilary said crossly.
‘I suppose you’re going to do sex!’ Millie accused, thoroughly disgruntled.
‘What?’ Hilary couldn’t believe her ears.
‘Kelly Maguire said parents do sex on Saturday morning. Eewwww!’
‘Kelly Maguire has too much to say for herself. We were trying to have a snooze – impossible in this house,’ Hilary snapped. ‘Now go away.’ She pulled the duvet over her head and tried not to laugh.
‘At least I wasn’t inside you.’ Niall threw his eyes up to heaven when the door closed behind their squabbling offspring.
‘Well what’s stopping you now? After all it is Saturday morning and according to Kelly Maguire sex is what we are supposed to be doing!’
‘I’ve lost my nerve,’ her husband laughed, tracing his hand down over her hip and drawing her to him.
‘Doesn’t feel like it to me,’ murmured Hilary as he entered her, remembering how they would spend Saturday mornings in bed riding each other ragged before they’d had children.
The doorbell rang and Niall cursed as Hilary tensed. ‘Hurry,’ she urged, wrapping her legs around him, knowing it would only be moments before they would be interrupted again.
‘I can’t!’ he groaned.
Hilary pushed him away, wriggled out from under him and got out of bed. ‘Who is it?’ she asked, opening the bedroom door when she heard Millie race up the stairs.
‘A boy is looking for money for a line cos he’s doing a five-mile walk for charity.’
‘There’s change on my locker,’ Niall said grumpily.
‘Here, give him this,’ Hilary sighed, handing her daughter some coins. ‘And if any more boys come tell them we’ve sponsored already.’
‘OK, Mam. Can I have a banana? I’m hungry.’
‘Yeah! I’ll come down and sort breakfast in a little while. Now don’t keep that boy waiting at the door.’
‘I’d better get up,’ Hilary sighed as guilt set in.
‘Ah hop in for another five minutes, I’ve hardly seen you this week, you can have my banana if you want,’ Niall urged, throwing back the duvet.
‘Niall! Five minutes, but let’s forget the conjugals, my nerves wouldn’t stand it,’ she agreed, snuggling in to him. ‘This day next week we’ll be up early dolling ourselves up to have a whole day to ourselves.’
‘Aawww, did you have to remind me of it again? Couldn’t you bring your new gay friend – they love weddings and dressing up,’ he suggested with an air of studied casualness.
‘Niall! Don’t describe Jonathan like that. It’s so disrespectful. I mean would you say “bring your heterosexual friend” if I was bringing Colette or someone? And don’t come if you don’t want to,’ she added huffily, trying to shuffle off his arm that was tight around her.
‘Don’t get in a snit,’ he appeased. ‘I just thought he might like to go, seeing as he’s into fashion and the like. That’s a lovely dress he found for you.’
‘Yes it is,’ Hilary agreed, mollified. She had mentioned to Jonathan in one of their tri-weekly phone calls that she had to go shopping for a dress for an upcoming wedding and she was dreading it.
‘Where are you going to go for it?’ he asked.
‘Oh I don’t know,’ she sighed. ‘I suppose I should go to Brown Thomas or Switzers. It’s a posh do. I’d far prefer to go to Arnotts or M&S. But Colette will be wearing some designer outfit. I suppose they’ll all be wearing designer gear. It’s that sort of a wedding.’
‘Well we can’t have you looking like a Mary Hick in front of Little Miss Mufft,’ he joked.
‘Stop it,’ she giggled. ‘Colette’s not that bad and she is my oldest friend!’
‘If you say so I’ll take your word for it. She didn’t like me at all. She’s one of those friends who likes to have your whole and undivided attention and I’d be far too exuberant and irreverent in company for her. I’d want as
