Page 81 of The Twelve Dates of Christmas
Richard grinned.
“Was it tender and romantic?” he asked.
“No,” said Kate. “It was cramped and uncomfortable. He had a Ford Fiesta.”
Richard nodded sagely as if he had had plenty of cramped sexual encounters in Ford Fiestas.
“Were you together long?” he asked.
“Six months,” said Kate. “He joined the army. Got posted to Cyprus; I knew it wouldn’t last.”
“How pragmatic of you,” said Richard.
His voice had become lower somehow, deeper, more intense. All this talk about sex was making the fluttering in her stomach travel south.
“What about you?” Kate asked.
“I was fourteen...”
“Fourteen!” Kate exclaimed.
“I was mature for my age,” said Richard. “Cindy Jones. She went to an all-girls school. Her parents ran a B&B; they paid her to be the chambermaid.”
“Let me guess,” said Kate. “You had sex in a guest’s bedroom.”
Richard grinned and his eyes twinkled.
“I hope you changed the sheets after,” said Kate.
“And that,” said Richard. “Is such awomanthing to say; not, was it a good experience, just did we change the bed linen!”
Kate laughed.
“All right then,” she said. “Was it good?”
“Very,” Richard grinned. “Didn’t last long, though...”
Kate spluttered.
“Imean,” Richard continued. “Therelationshipdidn’t last long! Obviously,Ican go for hours!”
“I’ll bet you can,” said Kate. It was her turn to switch on the sexy gaze. He picked it up instantly and something devilish flashed across his eyes.
“Therelationshipdidn’t last long because it turned out she had a penchant for relieving willing lads of their virginity; she’d had most of my gym class.”
“Oh dear,” said Kate. “Were you upset?”
“Nah,” said Richard. “She was a nice girl. Showed me the ropes, as it were. I bumped into her years later in a bar in Westminster; she’s a solicitor.” He took a sip of his drink. “Did you ever see Rory again?”
“Oh God no!” said Kate.
“Were you never tempted to look him up on Facebook or Instagram?”
“Never,” said Kate. “I don’t like all that.” She waved her arm in the air to encompassall that. “People confuse nostalgia with love and end up getting divorces or having affairs and all sorts. No, I think if you haven’t kept in touch for twenty years there’s probably a good reason.”
“I met my ex-wife on Facebook,” said Richard. “We went to school together but lost touch after. She found me, actually.”
“Oh shit!” said Kate. “I’m so sorry. Trust me to put my big fat foot in my mouth.”
