Infinite Love (39 page)

‘You could say that, though I’d partial to a good head of hair too. What can I do for you, Dr. Jackson?’

‘So I checked my schedule, are you free for coffee tomorrow?’

‘I might be,’ I answered. Wow, he was keen. ‘What time?’

‘I could meet you at nine-thirty, if that’s not too early.’

‘Nine-thirty it is. See you tomorrow, McSteamy.’

‘You haven’t seen my body yet, Mia,’ he replied in a sexy tone.
Yet?!
I thought.

‘O, trust me, I saw it a lot as a teenager and you’ve filled out since then.’

‘That’s the last time I eat carrot cake then,’ he joked.

‘Goodbye, Tyler.’

‘Bye Mia, see you tomorrow.’

‘Tomorrow.’ I hung up and smiled. If nothing else a bit of harmless flirting would do me good and take my mind off whatever Gabe was doing with …
the bitch.
Several hours later, and loaded up with yet more shopping bags, full of stuff that I really didn’t need, I headed to the salon Mandy worked at. She screamed as she saw me and came hurrying over.

‘O.M.G, what are you doing here?’ she asked as she gave me a big hug.

‘Home for a few weeks. Wondered if you were free for lunch.’

‘Damn it, I’ve just had it. Why didn’t you ring me?’

‘Sorry, my mind’s elsewhere.’

‘Are you free tonight? We could go out.’

‘How about tomorrow night? I promised Mum and Gerry I’d cook for them. I only got home late last night.’

‘Works for me, eight in the usual place?’

‘Great. What about Leo? I’m kind of flying solo this visit.’

‘He can stay at home,’ she snorted. ‘I don’t want him cramping our style.’

‘Mandy …’ I hesitated, wondering if I was making the right decision and then decided to throw caution to the wind. ‘Would you have time to cut my hair?’

‘I don’t, I have someone due in any minute, but Gina has, she’s the “senior” stylist,’ she advised with a roll of her eyes.

‘Is she good?’

‘Yeah,’ she sighed. ‘
Really
good. I hate her. What are you thinking of doing?’

‘Something different,’ I smiled.

‘Mia!’ shrieked Mum as she walked into the kitchen, where I was preparing a pork, apple and cider casserole in the slow cooker. ‘Your hair! What have you done?’

‘I wanted a change. Don’t you like it?’

‘Sweetheart, there’s change and there’s change. You’ve had about nine inches off.’

‘Twelve,’ I shrugged. ‘It’s kind of liberating. What about the colour, do you like it?’ I’d had all my long hair cut off, styled into a tapered bob that just skimmed my shoulders at the front and bared the back of my neck. Then I’d had a glossy chocolate brown base, with fine streaks of red and purple, giving it a real rich Autumnal glossy feel.

‘It really suits you, but it’s such a shock. Is this some sort of rebellion?’

‘No,’ I frowned. ‘I just haven’t been able to cut my hair in nearly three years Mum, Gabe loved it long, so I had it long. Now we’re  … separated, I fancied a change.’

‘You’re not separated, you’re still married.’

‘We no longer live together or talk, and he was out drinking Mum, in Westhampton, when I thought he was in New York trying to make a decision about our relationship. He’s made it clear that we’re separated.’

‘I can’t believe that he’d just walk away. He
adores
you.’

‘Well, he did walk away and obviously doesn’t adore me anymore. I’m sick of crap happening to me Mum, and I’m sick of feeling sorry for myself. I feel like a damn victim all the time and I’m done with feeling like that. I’m never going get over him, but I need to try and move on with my life. He’s made his choice and much as I hate it, I have to respect that he doesn’t want me anymore. I’ll start looking for a house. I can cash in my investments and if that’s not enough, on my salary I can get a mortgage.’

‘Mia, you’re moving too fast. Slow down, it’s only been two weeks.’

‘Two weeks where he didn’t even pick up the phone until last night, Mum. He never even let me know that he was back in the country, let alone … don’t
even
start me,’ I growled as I thought of Chelsea. ‘Can we change the topic, please? I’m getting angry,’ I asked, as I viciously diced the apple to throw in the pot.

‘Ok,’ she sighed. ‘Well, what else did you do today?’

‘Shopping, haircut, the usual.’

‘Not having a cosy date with Tyler Jackson then?’ She raised her eyebrows as I looked up at her with my mouth ajar.

‘See, this is why I left Toddlesworth,’ I exclaimed as I pointed my paring knife at her. ‘This town is too damn small. Nothing’s secret. How the hell did you know that?’

‘Trish Jensen was grabbing a coffee and saw you both. She texted me immediately asking what was going on.’

‘That nosy old cow.’

‘Mia!’

‘Well she is,’ I protested. ‘I literally bumped into him and got carrot cake all over his shirt, so he asked me to join him for coffee, that was all. There was no date and definitely no “cosying.”’

‘So you’re not seeing him again?’

‘
Mum
,’ I objected.

‘That’s a yes.’

‘I’m having coffee with an old friend, I don’t see the harm.’

‘The old friend you had a crush on for years, cried over when you saw him with other women and whose name you scribbled with hearts all around it on your notebooks.’

‘I was young and impressionable and he was super cute.’

‘He’s super cute now.’

‘He
is
,’ I giggled, then gasped as I caught the smug look on her face. ‘You just tricked me into admitting that I still find him attractive. You’re an …
evil
mother.’

‘Just be careful, Mia. You’ve had a couple of really stressful years, I’m not sure that you’re thinking clearly.’

‘Actually, this is the clearest I’ve thought in months, Mum. Other than the club I have no responsibilities, no pressures, and no worrying about other people’s feelings or trying to get pregnant.’

‘No husband either.’

‘Well, that wasn’t my choice,’ I replied.

I’d been at Mum’s for two weeks. Four whole weeks now without Gabe. I’d read countless books, been in every shop and had purchased a ridiculous amount of new shoes and handbags, along with another suitcase to take them all home in. I’d had nights out with Jess, Mandy and Lizzie, gone running every day and had either spent time with Tyler, or spoken on the phone with him, daily. I don’t know what it was about his company, I just felt relaxed around him. He put me at ease, made me laugh and everything in my bleak world suddenly seemed a bit brighter. I even looked forward to our meetings or chats, which varied daily, dependant on his shifts. I’d opened up to him in a way I didn’t think I could with anyone other than Gabe or Lexi. I’d come clean about the state of my marriage, the failed IVF attempts and the loss of my pregnancy, my condition and the abduction. He’d told me all about his training, his work and his relationships. He’d been engaged and living with someone, but she couldn’t handle the hours he did at work and had left him four months ago.

He was like me, he said he really wasn’t ready for another relationship, but was missing some opposite sex company. So, as today was Friday, end of the week and he had a few days off, we’d agreed to go out for dinner tonight, as friends. He was taking me to the nicest restaurant we had in Toddlesworth, a gastro pub kind of place, so I’d made an effort and put on a pair of black cigarette trousers, black ankle strap heels and a white crochet off the shoulder loose fit top. I twisted my head in the mirror, still getting used to my new hair style. It really did feel liberating, like I was drawing a line in the sand and starting again.

Lexi had been in regular contact, saying that she’d ignored a load of calls from Gabe and had received one lengthy text message. Apparently he’d texted her to say that he’d been trying to get hold of me for two weeks and was really worried that he couldn’t and that he urgently needed to speak to me. He’d told her that he was sorry that he was stuck in New York, but he would be back Friday afternoon, this afternoon in fact, and wanted to see me. He asked her to tell me to please contact him urgently. She’d replied to tell him to “Fuck off and crawl back into whatever hole he’d dragged himself out off” and to lose both of our numbers. I was furious with him. He’d obviously changed his mind about us and thought he could just pick up where we left off and I’d have no idea about his fling with …
her.
Well, he had another think coming. I heard Mum call me from downstairs.

‘Coming,’ I yelled and grabbed my bag. I made my way down to find Tyler standing in the hall waiting for me. He was in some black jeans and a white granddad shirt, that hugged his toned body really nicely. I was pretty sure that he could give Gabe a run for his money naked. ‘We’re matching,’ I smiled.

‘We are,’ he laughed. ‘You look lovely.’

‘Thanks, you too. See you later, Mum,’ I pecked her on the cheek.

‘Don’t be home too late,’ she warned. ‘You know how I worry. If you’re going to be late, call me please.’

‘Mum,’ I protested and flicked my head at Tyler. I felt like a fourteen year old.

‘I promise not to bring her home too late, Mrs. Page, I understand why you’d worry after everything that she’s been through.’

I pulled my tongue out at her and he led me to his car and opened the door. I lowered myself in and bit my lip as he walked around to his side. I know we’d agreed friends, but even Milo and I had never gone out for a meal together, on our own, this felt kind of like a date, even though I knew it wasn’t.

‘Nice car,’ I smiled. ‘Porsche?’

‘Yes,’ he grinned. ‘I have to have some perks to offset my shitty working hours.’

‘I bet it helps you pull all the pretty nurses too.’

‘I do alright without the car, thanks very much. My arse looks seriously cute in scrubs.’

‘I don’t doubt it,’ I laughed.

We had a fun evening, with some lovely food, I had a few glasses of wine while he talked me through his list of “disastrous” relationships. I was simply stunned that someone as good looking, charming and attentive as Tyler, found it hard to keep a girlfriend. Women should be fighting over him, and I told him so on the way home.

‘I’m not as perfect as you seem to think, Mia. I work really long hours and can be irritable from lack of sleep, which doesn’t help my sex drive when I get in from a long shift either.’

‘Well, I get moody on no sleep too, that’s hardly a reason for breaking up with someone.’

‘Well try telling that to my ex’s,’ he smiled as he pulled up outside my front door.

‘Point them out and I’ll do just that,’ I grinned. ‘I had a really lovely time, thank you.’

‘I did too,’ he smiled. ‘Are you really going home on Sunday?’

‘I ought to,’ I nodded. ‘I can’t hide out here forever, and I really miss work.’

‘Do you have plans tomorrow?’

‘Other than an early morning run, no,’ I replied.

‘The weather looks good and there’s a food fayre on in the park. How do you fancy spending the day there? We can take a picnic hamper, browse the stalls for some food that takes our fancy and have a few drinks.’

‘Sounds great,’ I smiled. I hitched my breath when he leaned over and palmed my cheek as he kissed the side of my face, so very close to the edge of my mouth. Tingles radiated throughout my body instantly and I closed my eyes and swallowed a sigh.

‘I’m going to miss you, Mia,’ he advised as he pulled his head back to look at me, still touching my face.

‘I’ll miss you too, I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you,’ I said sincerely as I felt myself blush.

‘I’d better let you get in, I don’t want your Mum on my arse.’

‘You certainly don’t,’ I laughed.

‘Meet you at eleven tomorrow at the main entrance?’

‘Ok,’ I nodded and shivered as he ran his thumb over my cheekbone. He seemed about to say something, then frowned and removed his hand, sat back in his seat and gave me a quick smile.

‘Nice car,’ he nodded with a flick of his head out over his bonnet. I turned to look and frowned. I didn’t know Gerry was getting a new car. Plus his BMW was still in the drive. ‘Audi R8 Spyder, that’s worth a few quid.’

‘Accounting obviously pays better than I thought,’ I nodded. ‘See you tomorrow, thanks again for a lovely night.’

‘You’re welcome, see you tomorrow.’ He gave me a dazzling smile as I shut the door and watched as he roared out of the drive and off up the lane. The lights in the lounge were on, I had a feeling Mum was waiting up for me to grill me, or lecture me. I let myself in and opened the lounge door.

‘Ok, so who won the lottery with the new car?’ I laughed and suddenly went silent. Sitting on one of the sofas was Gabe. He quickly stood up. Our eyes met and I felt my chest hurt. I thought I’d memorised everything about him, but even after only four weeks apart the edges of his face in my mind had started blurring. I’d also forgotten how much he could take my breath away. I saw him frown as he checked out my hair and then my slimmer body, and noticed his fists were tightly clenched at his sides.

‘Well, I think it’s time for us to turn in,’ announced Gerry as he stood up.

‘Yes,’ agreed Mum, as she did the same. Both of them kissed me and Gerry lingered and looked back over at Gabe.

‘Remember, if I hear any shouting I’ll come down and make you leave. You’re damn lucky I agreed to let you come in at all. If you need him gone Princess, you call me, ok?’

‘Thanks, Dad,’ I smiled. He squeezed my shoulder and pulled the door behind him, leaving us alone. I bit my lip as we just stared at each other. He looked tired, he had rough stubble and I could tell he’d lost weight too. The tension in the room was obvious, a combination of frustration, awkwardness and …
lust
. My body seemed to automatically recognise his and had already prepared itself for pairing. I noticed that his was the same, an erection visible in his jeans. I quickly walked to take a seat as far away from him as possible and lowered myself into it. He stayed standing for a while, just looking at me, then ran his hands through his hair and dropped back down onto the sofa. ‘Why are you here? How did you even know I was here?’ I asked.