Short and Sweet Part 15

When their lips met, it was even better than she'd expected, far better than that other kiss when they first met.

The kiss deepened and his hand came up to cradle the back of her head. When he moved his lips away, she heard herself murmur a protest, then realized what she was doing and moved quickly back. She took a long, slow breath and told her heart to slow down. It didn't.

He was also taking a deep breath and staring at her as if he'd never seen her before.

This had to stop.

Part Three.

Hal's mother's voice broke the spell and Bianca jerked away from him, suddenly remembering that she and her handsome neighbour were at his family's New Year's Eve party, pretending to be in love.

*Hardly the place for that sort of thing, Hal,' Mrs Crawford said disapprovingly. *There are children around, you know.'

*Sorry. It a um, kind of took us by surprise.'

She gave them a fond, understanding smile and gestured to the young woman beside her. *I wanted to introduce my friend's daughter. She's a librarian. Rosemary, this is my son, Hal. He wasn't here when you arrived. And this,' her glance was speculative but not unfriendly, *is Bianca. I thought you young people might enjoy a chat, Hal. Rosemary must be fed up of us older ones and our talk of grandchildren.' She turned and walked away.

Rosemary grinned at them both impartially. *Nice to meet you, Hal, Bianca. And I'm really sorry we interrupted you. Actually, you don't need to worry about keeping me entertained. I know what matchmaking relatives are like. I met a rather dishy guy last week and I've arranged to meet him later.' She wandered off, smiling.

Hal's flush was fading. *I don't usually kiss women in front of my family.' He looked across the room, saw his mother still watching them and turned red again.

Bianca followed his glance and linked her arm in his. *Don't worry. I know just what it's like. And actually, your mother is very like mine, so you'll probably face the same sort of thing tomorrow. Come and dance with me.'

*You are .a.a.' he hesitated, then finished, *the best of good friends.'

But she wondered if he'd been going to say something else.

It wasn't till midnight that Bianca realized she'd had more drinks than she'd intended. She wasn't drunk, but she was a bit unsteady. That was why she was holding Hal so tightly.

As the old year ended, everyone counted down from ten to zero, then cheered the new year in, Hal pulled her close again, moved until they were standing behind a potted palm and kissed her till her toes curled.

He was definitely the best kisser she'd ever met. The best everything. Why couldn't she have met someone like him the first time round? Before she'd been spoiled for marriage.

When he said they'd better leave, she was feeling so happy she insisted on dancing down the front path. In the car, she sang *Auld Lang Syne' to him and he harmonized in a rich baritone. Then she lay back and let the lights whirl past .a.a.

She woke up in her own bed the next morning, with her clothes still on but her shoes placed neatly on the floor next to her. When she raised her head too sharply she groaned and stood up slowly and carefully.

In the living room she squeaked in shock and Hal jerked upright on the sofa, where he'd been asleep.

*What are you doing here?' she gasped.

*I was worried about you. You were a um, a bit tight last night. I didn't want you leaving any windows open, letting anyone in.'

She went over to the sofa and gave in to the temptation to ruffle his wild curls still more. *You're a wonderful friend, Hal Crawford. Let me show my grat.i.tude by cooking you breakfast.'

*I'll just nip home and shower first, if you don't mind.' He glanced at the clock. *And it's brunch, really.'

She gasped and looked at her watch. *Oh, no! We're supposed to be at my mother's in an hour.'

*Oh, h.e.l.l! I'd forgotten that.'

She wasn't going to let him off the hook. She needed him beside her if she was to face her family. *Go and change. I'll do the same, then I'll make some toast. And Hal a' he halted by the door a *I'll drive this time, so you can have a drink or two.' She grimaced. *I don't usually drink so much and I've got a bit of a headache. Don't forget your bathers. My parents have a big swimming pool.'

While he was away the phone rang. She picked it up without thinking.

*Bianca-'

She slammed it down. How had Roger got hold of her phone number? Heart pounding, she went round to check all the doors and windows before diving into the shower.

When footsteps crossed the back patio, she glanced out, relieved to see Hal, skin flushed from his shower, curls still damp. Her heart did a little skip. He really was a beautiful man.

*It's just chemistry,' she said aloud. That was it. Chemistry. Could happen to anyone. They were both young and fancy free, after all, so why not make the most of it? She rushed to open the back door.

*Wow, you look stunning.' He stared at her as if he'd never seen her before.

*Um a so do you.'

*I'm a having trouble feeling platonic about you.'

*I'm having the same trouble.' She could feel herself swaying towards him, see his arms reaching out for her.

The phone rang. That jerked her out of the weakness. She turned round and slowly approached it, making no attempt to pick it up.

Her husband's voice came over the answerphone. *Bianca, please get back to me. It's important.' He reeled off a phone number.

She shuddered and moved closer to Hal. *It's my ex. That's the second time he's rung this morning.'

He put an arm round her. *Well, you don't have to call back, do you? And you can change your phone number tomorrow.'

*I know. But I have to admit it does make me feel shaky to hear from Roger. I can't think how he got my address and phone number.'

Hal guided her into the kitchen. *Toast,' he demanded. *I'm very hungry.' His eyes said he was hungry for other things than food.

Toast was safer. She stared at him for a moment, then pulled herself together. *Toast it is. With honey.'

He rolled his eyes in mock ecstasy. *I loooove,' he lingered on the word with a wicked grin on his face, *honey.'

She rushed to put the bread in the toaster and clattered around the kitchen, offering him a piece of fruit till it was ready. It was safer to keep away from close contact.

She would never have believed that eating could be such a sensual experience, but as they ate the hot toast, which she'd slathered with honey, sticky streams of it trickled down their fingers.

He licked his fingertips slowly and carefully, clearly enjoying every drop, and she watched him, entranced. He looked up, caught her eyes on him. *Shades of Tom Jones, isn't it?'

*Do you like that old film, too?'

*Love it.'

He took another bite then ran his tongue over his lips in an exaggerated gesture.

She picked up her toast and bit into it with a snap.

He put his remaining piece of toast into his mouth very slowly.

She couldn't keep it up any longer and giggled.

They both burst out laughing.

*I don't know how the actors kept their faces straight,' she said. *I didn't realize eating toast could be so much fun.'

*You're always fun.' He began to fiddle with the handle of his coffee mug. *Look, I think we're going to have to rethink our relations.h.i.+p. Would you . . . mind?'

She couldn't lie to him, not with those clear blue eyes fixed on her. *No. As long as we take it slowly. I don't believe in falling into bed with anyone.'

*Neither do I. It'll be your call on how fast we go,' he a.s.sured her.

That thought was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. She stood up and became very brisk, getting them both out of the house in five minutes flat on the pretext that they were already late.

He did as she asked, but his eyes lingered on her more than once, and his hand lingered on her shoulder for a moment as they walked towards her car.

There were vehicles parked all round her mother's house. Bianca stopped and drew a deep breath, then looked at him and asked in a voice which came out rather husky, *Ready for the fray?'

*I'm completely at your service.'

She led the way in and Hal followed, clutching a bottle of grappa for her father and a bunch of orchids for her mother. It was nice that he had the same feelings about not going to a new house empty-handed the first time. It was nice that they agreed about so many things.

And it might be nice to get to know him better. But she was not diving head first into any relations.h.i.+p again. Definitely not.

On the other hand, she was only thirty-one and she wasn't made of stone.

Her mother came forward with raised eyebrows, made a fuss about the beauty of the orchids and did not for one second stop studying Hal. *So. How long have you known my daughter?'

He raised one eyebrow at Bianca. *How long is it, darling? To me it seems for ever.'

*Mama, you can stop grilling him right now!' she exclaimed.

Her mother made a puffing noise, waving her fingers in a gesture of dismissal. *He calls you "darling", so I got a right to ask, hey?'

*We've known each other a while, but we're taking things easy,' he informed her, putting his arm round Bianca. *It's understandable that she'll not rush into another marriage, don't you think?'

Bianca's mother nodded. *You're much nicer than him. Better looking, too.'

Hal blushed.

Face also red, Bianca tugged him away, muttering, *You don't have to play up to my matchmaking mama quite so much.'

With the bottle of grappa still clutched in his hand, Hal followed her round the edge of the garage to the back patio where dancers of all ages were gyrating more or less in time to the music under the shade of the big awning. He put down the bottle and held out his arms.

She walked into them without hesitation. Their steps matched perfectly, their bodies fitted neatly together.

When the music stopped, it took Bianca a minute or two to catch her breath again. *You're quite some dancer,' she muttered.

*You're quite some everything.'

Someone cleared their throat behind them and she turned to see her father. *Papa!'

He enveloped her in his usual bear hug, then waited to be introduced to Hal, who was retrieving the bottle. Papa accepted the grappa with a murmur of thanks, scrutinizing her young man carefully but not embarra.s.sing her as her mother had.

*Your cousins are in the pool.'

She felt reluctant to take her clothes off, or let her female cousins see how handsome Hal looked in his swim shorts. *Maybe later.'

*Come and get a drink, then.'

The day pa.s.sed smoothly. After a while she forgot about her mother and allowed herself to enjoy Hal's company.

They left early.

When they arrived at the gate to their development, a figure stepped out of the shadows and knocked on her car window.

*Oh, no! It's Roger.'

*I've had enough of this.' Hal swung out of the car. *Look, you-'

Another figure stepped forward to join them, a woman. *He's not trying to hurt her; he's trying to apologize.'

Bianca got out of the car and moved close to Hal. Her ex was clutching the woman's hand but looking at her pleadingly.

*Kylie's right. I am trying to apologize, but I seem to be making a mess of it. I've been having counselling. I think a no a I'm sure I'm cured. But it won't feel right till you forgive me. Bianca, I'm so sorry I hurt you.'

She felt tears of relief rise in her eyes. *I'm so glad you did something about it at last.'

*It was the only way Kylie would have me. And I am sorry. Truly sorry.'

*Good.' She felt a load slip from her shoulders.

*Be happy.' He stepped back and got into his car.

*Well, who'd have believed it?' she said. *It'll be great not to be looking over my shoulder all the time.'

*I'd not have let him hurt you,' Hal said quietly.

He said goodbye to her at the door. His kiss left her tingling right down to her toes. They looked at one another and he muttered, *We're taking it slowly, right?'

She nodded, not trusting her voice. But he looked disappointed.

She woke that night worrying about herself and Hal. Things were going too smoothly a and far too quickly. Was she going to allow that to happen?

The decision was taken out of her hands. The following day she came home to find a note in her letter box.