Page 29 of A Scottish Christmas Hideaway
Reuben looked bashful. ‘It’s not that big a deal. It’s kept me busy, you know. It’s been good to have a project to lose myself in.’
Jessica looked at him quizzically for a moment, clasping her hands firmly together to stop herself from reaching out to touch his face. She knew she was being weird, but she couldn’t stop herself from imagining what it would be like to kiss him. She should really get out of here sooner rather than later, before she did something she regretted.
‘I’ll show you the final room. It’s not quite finished yet but I’m almost there,’ he said, opening the door of the final upstairs room. The walls were a soft green and there was a purple sofa bed in the room and not much else. ‘I’ve got someone coming to put a seat in there,’ he said, pointing at the space underneath the window. ‘Just need to get some blinds up and a wee rug and that will do for now.’
‘It’s a really lovely space and very tranquil. I’m impressed,’ said Jessica.
‘Have you got time for a cup of tea?’ he said, nodding downstairs. ‘I know I could do with one.’
Jessica knew the right thing to do would be to go straight home and have a cold shower. Being in the same vicinity as Reuben was making her feel light-headed. ‘Sure,’ she said, trying her best to sound relaxed.
‘I’ll put the kettle on.’
She followed him into the kitchen and sat at the kitchen table as he busied himself filling the kettle and sorting out mugs. ‘How was your dad when you saw him?’
He looked over at her. ‘Actually, he was really good. A lot better than he has been in ages. I couldn’t believe the change in him.’
‘That’s good news,’ she said, feeling a surge of compassion for him. She had no idea what it must feel like to be responsiblefor your remaining parent who was now unable to look after himself and cognitively impaired. She was reminded again how lucky she was that her parents had, touch wood, been very healthy. Aside from her dad’s knee replacement surgery a few years back, that had been their only hospital stay. She couldn’t imagine what it must be like to see your dad failing, both physically and mentally. ‘And what had changed? Did something happen to make him seem better?’ She knew her words were clumsy but she thought it better to be curious and ask rather than say nothing else at all.
‘Music,’ said Reuben, placing a mug in front of Jessica. ‘Sorry, do you take milk or sugar?’
‘Just a splash of milk,’ she said as he passed her the bottle, his hand brushing against hers. ‘Music?’ she said, trying her best to focus on what they were talking about.
‘Yes.’ A faint smile played on his lips. ‘There’s been singing with the residents at the home and he seemed to really enjoy it.’ He moved and sat next to her and took a sip of tea. ‘I didn’t realise until today how much I’ve been worrying about him.’
‘It sounds like you’ve been dealing with a lot.’
‘What else can I do other than try and do the best for him?’
There was something about his expression that made him look vulnerable and Jessica again desperately wanted to reach out and touch him. She quickly tucked her hands beneath her thighs. But as he looked at her, in that moment, something passed between them and the only sound in the room was their breathing.Jessica, said the sensible voice inside her head,this is dangerous. ‘Um, so is your wife due back from Dubai soon?’ She said quickly.
Reuben shook his head, not moving his eyes from hers. ‘No. She lives there permanently now. We’ve actually been separated for some time.’
The tension was palpable and Jessica found herself lost for words, as she pulled her hands free from beneath her legs.
Reuben moved towards her and, cupping her face in his hands, he gently brushed his lips against hers.Wow.Her legs quivered at the jolt of electricity she felt between them. He looked at her with a heat in his eyes she hadn’t seen before as he moved to kiss her again. Suddenly there was a loud knocking on the front door.
He pulled back and frowned. ‘Who’s that? Unless it’s your folks. I did say to them to pop down and have a look. They wanted to wait until it was all done.’ There was another impatient bang at the door, and with a lingering look at Jessica, he stood up and went to investigate.
Jessica stared out the window into the dark garden beyond. She felt completely dazed by that kiss. It was better than anything she could ever have imagined. All she could think about was kissing him again and again. Her cheeks flamed as she thought about what else she would like to do to him. She hoped he would quickly get rid of whoever was at the door.
The swell of admiration she had for Reuben grew as she glanced around the kitchen again. He really had worked his magic on this cottage and transformed it, at the same time as worrying about his dad. Just then she saw Reuben’s reflection in the window as he walked back into the kitchen followed by someone unfamiliar. It was a woman. Jessica turned round to see Reuben looking grim-faced. ‘Hello,’ said Jessica politely, and then her jaw nearly hit the ground as she realised who this groomed and immaculate woman was.
‘I’m Belinda,’ she said to Jessica, reaching out her manicured hand.
Mortified, Jessica shook the woman’s hand. Apart from the fact she still hadn’t had a chance to attend to her unpainted and chewed nails, which Belinda looked at in disdain, this wasReuben’s wife. And just moments ago, she had kissed him. Or had he kissed her? It didn’t matter, they had kissed. She stood up, clumsily knocking her mug over. The only saving grace was that it was empty. It was time for her to make a swift exit. The woman, in her stiletto boots, towered over her. She wore black leather trousers and her black fluffy jacket looked as though several ostriches had been sacrificed to make it. Her hair was expertly blow-dried — of course it was — and she had a mahogany tan. But it was her large cartoonish eyelashes that fascinated Jessica most. They made her look like some kind of bug-eyed creature. Surely, they had to be false. She looked over at Reuben, who now looked distinctly uncomfortable. So he should too, thought Jessica. Belinda was here, which meant one thing — he wasn’t as single as he’d made her believe. And she felt ashamed for allowing herself to get caught up in his kiss. She needed to remember what he was like. Once a ladies’ man,alwaysa ladies’ man. ‘Nice to meet you again, Belinda,’ she eventually managed to say.
‘Have we met before? I don’t remember,’ said the other woman dismissively.
Jessica clenched her jaw but managed to smile sweetly at her. ‘At Glasgow Airport. But it was a while ago. Anyway, I’d better get home. I just live up the road. I’ll leave you guys to it.’
‘Yes. Thanks, if you don’t mind,’ said Belinda. ‘I’m sure you probably have somewhere to be.’
Sadly not, Jessica thought, her heart now sinking as the heat and longing she felt when Reuben had kissed her drained away.
‘You don’t have to rush off,’ Reuben finally said.
Belinda folded her arms and gave Jessica a look.
