The Glass Knot-mmf (11 page)

“How
could he be in love after just one night? He hardly knows you.” Nick shook his
head and furrowed his brow, as if pondering a conundrum. “But he was so pleased
when you said you’d come and stay, like, really excited. I can’t understand it.
I can’t understand it at all.”

“Maybe
he just wants a female friend,” I said, clutching at straws. “He works with
guys. If his family is not particularly understanding of you two being married,
then maybe he is just lacking some girl friends in his life. Nothing more than
that, plus he…” I hesitated and looked down at the floor.

“What?”

“Plus,
I’m also here on a professional basis.” I had to tell Nick. A birthday surprise
was not worth his anguish. “Josh wants me to take some photographs, for you, as
part of your birthday present next week.”

Nick
nodded slowly and relaxed his shoulders a fraction. “Well, that’s something, I
suppose.”

A
large ginger striped cat, pale and with a toffee-colored tail, appeared on the
patio. It pushed its cheek against Nick’s leg and coiled its body around his
shin.

Nick
reached down and fussed its head.

Suddenly
I realized how wrong it was for me to be here. I didn’t belong. I was intruding
on a happy family unit that had no place for me.

“I
should go,” I said, dragging in a deep breath and bracing myself for the words
I had to say. “I have no wish to come between you two.” I tilted my chin
stoically. “Please make up whatever excuse you want to Josh, whatever will make
it easier for him. I’ll go and get my case.”

Nick
straightened. He stared at me again, his glinting eyes heavy with relief and
also gratitude.

“Laura,
Laura, you’re here.”

We
both turned to the orchard. Through the shadowy, winding path, Josh’s tall frame
appeared. He had a broad smile on his face.

My
heart flipped at the sight of him, but I immediately berated myself. I was
causing a major problem by being at Barn View, so I definitely shouldn’t be
admiring the man at the center of the issue.

I
can’t help it.

Josh
looked like every erotic fantasy I’d ever had all wrapped up in one damn sexy
fireman. Despite the warm evening he wore clumpy black boots, thick, slightly
loose navy blue trousers with silver reflector bands around the lower half, and
a matching shirt with the sleeves rolled up; there was an embroidered emblem on
his shirt, over his chest, a gold shield with GFS at the center.

I
couldn’t help but return his smile, it was infectious. So much for sneaking off
and leaving Nick to make my excuses. It was too late now. I didn’t dare glance
at Nick. I was sure if looks could kill, I would be getting a lethal one.

“The
traffic can be hell on a Friday, I’m glad you made it okay,” Josh said, moving
up close and going to kiss my cheek. “I got here as quickly as I could, didn’t
even bother changing.”

I
tipped my head but misjudged which side he was going for. I hesitated, so did
he, then we both jerked and his lips skimmed mine.

“Oh,
sorry,” I said, giving a nervous giggle and pressing my fingers to my mouth.
“Hi.”

I
gazed up at the face that had been haunting my dreams. He had a light sooty
dusting on one cheek and his hair was flat, probably pressed down by a helmet.
He smelled of ash and smoke.
He appeared
slightly taken aback by our accidental kiss, but only for a brief second, then
his smile returned.

 He
stepped up close to Nick, pressed a palm to his cheek. “How are you?”

Nick
gave a small nod before their lips met in a soft, lingering connection.

Once
again, seeing them kiss did funny things to my insides. My stomach fluttered,
and I was aware of a tensing between my legs. They were just so damn sexy
together.

Josh’s
shoulders relaxed, as if, at the end of a long, hard day, being with Nick,
kissing Nick, made it all worth it.

Nick
curled his hand over Josh’s biceps and stared at me, even as they kissed. His
eyes communicating that what he had with Josh was so much more than what I had.

I
glanced away. I didn’t need to be told that. It was clear they were strong. I’d
been a blip, that was all. And the sooner I left them to their happy ever after
the better.

Josh
finally broke the kiss. “How did the Redmond survey go?”

“Great.”
Nick touched a lock of Josh’s hair, pushed it back from his eyes and then
rubbed the sooty mark on his cheek with the pad of his thumb. “No issues at
all.”

Josh
smiled. “That’s good news.”

“Yes,
it is.”

Nick
sighed and I was relieved to see some of the strain on his face lift. Josh was
as good for him as he was for Josh.

“So,”
Josh said, turning to me and rubbing his hands together. “I’m sure everyone is
starving, and I apologize for keeping you waiting for dinner. Just let me wash
up and I’ll be straight down.”

He
took several big strides and disappeared into the cottage.

I
looked at Nick.

He
looked at me.

“I’m
sorry,” I said quietly.

Nick’s
lips tightened.

“I
was just about to go, but he—”

“I
know.”

“I
would have—”

He
held up his hands. “I know, okay, but it’s too late now, he’s seen you. You’re
here, officially.”

I
swallowed tightly. “As soon as I’ve done the portrait, first thing in the
morning, I’ll go.”

“Thank
you.”

I
nodded and fiddled with the strap on my camera.

“Laura,
I—”

“I
get it,” I said. “You love Josh with all your heart and you don’t want to share
his affections. I don’t blame you and you’re married, you have a right to be
possessive. Me being here, in your home was never part of the deal, was it?”

He
shook his head. “No, it wasn’t.”

“So
I’ll go, and I promise you’ll never have to worry about sharing Josh with me
again, because I’ll be just a memory. A box that’s been ticked.”

The
cat darted across the lawn. The blackbird shrieked and flew from the shrubs to
my right.

Nick
appeared not to notice the drama. Instead, he stepped close to me, real close,
and I was aware of his spicy aftershave, black pepper and bergamot, a hint of
soap.

“He
was right,” he said, as his eyes searched mine. A neat line deepened between
his brows.

“What
do you mean?”

“You
are
incredibly understanding.”

I
was taken aback by what seemed to be a compliment. “I just see things as they
are.” I gestured to my camera. “I guess that’s why I made it my profession.”

He
gave a small twitch of his lips, not a smile, but not a grimace either. “Come
on, let’s go and eat.”

After
nipping to my room, brushing my hair and, adding a quick squirt of Summer of
Heaven, I walked into the kitchen. Josh was pouring wine and Nick scooping
ladles of a creamy sauce over chicken and new potatoes.

“Laura,
I did you white wine, is that okay?” Josh said. “To go with the chicken.”

“Lovely.”
I tried not to stare at the way his pale blue t-shirt hugged his chest,
outlining every sumptuous muscle and giving a tantalizing hint of his small
nipples poking against the material.

I
sat at the island and sipped the wine he set before me. Tried to rid the memory
of putting my hands on his pecs as I rode on top of him—now was not the
time for that image in my head.

“Mmm,
you smell great,” he said. “That’s the same perfume you had on in Spain, isn’t
it?”

I
nodded.

“Smell
her,” Josh said to Nick.

Nick
looked up from the casserole pot. “I can.”

“Well,
what do you think?” Josh said, sitting next to me, his thigh brushing mine as
he leaned in close. He took a big, dramatic sniff of my neck.

His
nearness made my flesh tingle. I tried to steady my heart rate. It was clear
Josh had no idea of the effect he was having on me, and I couldn’t let him, or
heaven forbid, Nick, guess that lust raged through me.

“It’s
nice,” Nick said, pushing plates of steaming food toward us.

“It’s
gorgeous,” Josh said.

“Thanks,”
I said, glancing between the two men.

Josh’s
attention turned to his meal. “This looks fabulous.” He picked up his knife and
fork. “Nick is such a wonderful cook and he always makes even complicated
recipes look effortless.”

“Having
such a nice kitchen to cook in must be inspiring too,” I said, pleased to have
something neutral to talk about.

Nick
sat on the other side of me, at the corner of the island, and began to eat his
dinner. “Yeah, it’s nice in here, but having someone to cook for is what really
inspires me.” He gave Josh a meaningful look.

Josh
caught his eye. “And I appreciate your efforts, especially when I’m really
hungry, like now.” He speared a chunk of chicken and popped it into his mouth.
“Mmm, delicious.”

I
tore my eyes from his sensuous lips and started on my dinner. Set about enjoying
the fragrant creaminess of the sauce and the moist chicken breast, rather than
remembering Josh’s talented mouth on my flesh.

The
potatoes had been tossed in butter and sprinkled with chives, and after the
long drive I really was ravenous now. But it was hard to concentrate solely on
eating as Josh’s body heat was radiating toward me and his thigh was still
lightly touching mine.

“So,
plans for tomorrow,” Josh said. “Laura and I have something we must do in the
morning.” He gave me a wink. “And then in the afternoon I thought we could all head
to the farmers market in Lemmington. We could stock up on those olives you like,
Nick, and get some more chutney. Laura, you’ll love the chocolate cakes there,
they’re amazing.”

I
glanced at Nick. “Er, I’m afraid I have to leave earlier than planned. At
lunchtime.”

“Tomorrow?”
Josh asked in a disbelieving voice.

I
nodded.

He
rested down his knife and fork. “But I thought we agreed you would stay for the
whole weekend. I switched my shifts around so we could all go out tomorrow and
then have a roast at our local pub on Sunday.”

I
shook my head. “I’m sorry, I have work to do.”

He
sighed and rubbed his temple. Shut his eyes and took a deep breath.

I
hated seeing frown lines etch across his forehead. But what I hated more was
that I was making up lies to go back to my miserable little flat, alone, when I
would have loved to spend the weekend at Barn View with Josh.

“Can’t
work be put off until Monday?” he asked, opening his eyes.

“No,
not really.”

“How
about staying just until Sunday morning then, that way we could still visit the
farmers market and then go to The Red Lion tomorrow evening instead.”

My
appetite had suddenly gone, and I aligned my knife and fork. Reached for a sip
of wine.

Josh
did the same.

I
glanced at Nick. The lovely meal he’d made was hardly touched.

Nick
eyed our plates, sighed, then looked at me. “I think it would mean a lot to
Josh if you could stay a little longer, Laura,” he said. “Surely there’s
nothing so urgent that it can’t wait one day?”

“Well—”
My head spun. Was Nick asking me to stay now? Or was this part of the façade of
getting me to leave?

“Come
with us to the farmer’s market,” Nick went on, “then we could have an early
dinner and you could drive back afterward. That way you’ll be ready to work on
Sunday.”

“No,
leave early on Sunday morning then you’ll relax Saturday evening. It’s nice at
The Red Lion, great food, good atmosphere,” Josh said.

I
glanced between the two men. Josh’s blue eyes were hopeful, Nick’s resigned.

“Well,
I suppose I could make a phone call.”

Josh’s
face lit up and he smiled broadly. “Great, that’s sorted then.” He picked up
his cutlery and resumed eating. “We’ll just have to fit it all into one day.”

Nick
gave me a sort of smile, like the one he’d given me in the garden. It was then
I realized that he would do anything for Josh. Even ask me to stay when he
wanted me gone the way a dog wanted rid of fleas. Even though he didn’t want to
share Josh, he also couldn’t bear to see hurt or disappointment on his face. It
was the kind of love I could only hope to find. It was the kind of love many
people
never
found.

I
resumed eating and the rest of the meal was taken up by a light conversation
about the cottage’s history. Nick thankfully appeared to relax. He told me
about the conversion of the two barns. One was used as a garage now, and the
other loaned to a local farmer to store his hay in. I had a sudden idea that it
might be a nice place to do Josh’s portrait. I hadn’t used a barn as a studio
before and the idea of the different lighting and atmosphere appealed.