Page 35 of Coming Home to Roseford Villas
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‘So, what do you want to do?’ Leo asked as they broke apart from their kiss. ‘The night is young, and so are we. Sort of!’ He paused. ‘Sorry, that was really cheesy, wasn’t it?’
Rory smiled. ‘I’ve heard worse. Mostly from you, in fact.’ She remembered the ways he’d tried to impress her in the old days, when he sent her song lyrics and sonnets, and tried to learn snatches of poetry to quote during their soppier moments.
Leo tried to look offended, but was clearly so relieved that Rory had accepted his explanations about Corinne that he didn’t quite manage it. ‘Well, I was thinking, if you didn’t have any other plans, we could get out of Roseford for a bit, go and do something different.’
‘Such as?’ Rory hadn’t really looked into what else there was to do in this part of the West Country, she’d been so caught up with her writing, but she did feel like exploring a bit.
Leo paused. ‘Well, there’s a ten-pin bowling alley just outside Taunton, or we could see a film if you wanted?’
Rory couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her. ‘That wasnotwhat I thought you were going to say.’ She held up a hand as he started to backtrack. ‘But actually, I’ve been sitting at my deskfor so long, bowling might be just the ticket. I don’t think I’ve done it since I went on a school trip with a bunch of Year Nine students a few years ago.’
‘Well, I haven’t done it since I was in school back in Aus,’ Leo replied, ‘so you’ve had a bit more recent practice than me, anyway.’
‘Do we need to book a lane or anything?’ Rory asked. She reached for her laptop. ‘I’ll take a look, shall I?’
As Rory found the place, an All Star Bowling franchise about twenty minutes away, she noticed, with a grin, that there was a burger joint on the premises, too. It might not quite be the ‘grown-up’ date that she and Leo should be going on, but it would be fun to pretend to be teenagers again for the night. The grown-up stuff could wait…
Lane booked for an hour’s time, they were soon pulling up to an out-of-town retail and leisure park on the outskirts of Taunton. It couldn’t have been more of a contrast to the quaint historical buildings of Roseford, but Rory felt a childlike sense of excitement to be doing something a bit silly, and being on a ‘proper’ date with Leo again.
‘All set?’ she asked as they found their lane.
‘Hit me with your best shot, Rory Dean!’ Leo replied.
The bowling alley was noisy, neon and full of families and teenagers making the most of a night out during the summer holidays. As Rory typed in their names to the computer, she couldn’t resist a daft selfie to go alongside her score on the screen, and, after a little persuasion, Leo did the same. Rory realised that getting away from Roseford Villas was exactly what they’d both needed, especially after the weight of their discussions about Corinne, and she found herself getting really into the game, even though her enthusiasm definitely overwhelmed her expertise, as ball after ball rolled into the gutter without hitting any pins.
Some time later, having both collapsed in helpless laughter over the crapness of their scores compared to those of the group of teenagers in the lane next to them, they conceded that they were both a little out of practice. As the pins stubbornly stayed put for Leo’s last ball, Rory drew a deep breath, took her ball off the loader and prepared to make her last shot her best one. The bowling gods were obviously smiling as the ball made firm contact and took all of the pins out.
‘Result!’ she crowed, waggling a finger at Leo. ‘It’s all coming back to me now.’
Leo, not to be outdone, picked Rory up and gave her a squeeze. ‘Pride comes before a fall, Aurora.’
‘Is that so?’ As she was locked in his arms, her stomach gave an almighty rumble. ‘But I think it’s about time for dinner, don’t you? I’d rather eat a burger than my words.’
‘Fair enough.’ Leo let her go. ‘And I never could resist a really greasy burger.’
‘Sounds perfect,’ Rory replied. ‘Shall we get a table?’
In a short time, they were ensconced in a booth in the corner of the restaurant, tucking in with great gusto to the ‘Everything But The Kitchen Sink’ burger with a generous side order of fries each.
‘This has been fun,’ Rory said, between bites. ‘I didn’t realise how chained to my desk I’d been lately. Thank you for suggesting it.’
Leo sat back in his seat. ‘It has been fun,’ he agreed. ‘I didn’t think my back would be up to it, but so far so good.’
‘You don’t feel too bad, then?’ Rory asked. It was all very well acting like a teenager for the evening, she thought, but she couldn’t quite get away from the fact that they were still adults, after all.
‘Nope.’ Leo gave her a seductive smile. ‘And if you’re not too blown out from your fast food, I’d love to show you how absolutely fine I am…’
Finishing their food quickly, they headed back out to the car. Rory had driven, and as the car covered the short journey back to Roseford, she felt a tingle of anticipation. She hoped, as they drew up in the driveway of Roseford Villas once again, that this might be the night that Leo wanted to take things to the next level.
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A sweaty, sensual night commenced, and Rory found herself, once again, hoping that Leo would feel confident enough to take that final physical step. She’d been worried about the sturdiness of the double bed in the chalet, but as they slipped off their clothes and sank down onto it, they found that it was more than adequate.
This time, maybe because of the discussions they’d had, or perhaps because Rory was feeling much more at ease about what this relationship was, both relaxed into the rhythm, and when it came to the moment of decision, Leo looked up into Rory’s face with a confidence and a certainty that she couldn’t help falling for.
‘Are you sure?’ she asked softly, shifting position so that she was sitting back on her knees, astride his thighs.
