Page 22 of Mistletoe Kisses at Cwtch Cove

‘I’d have driven. Too cold out there for me.’

‘I don’t mind the walk. All exercise is beneficial, right, plus I get to enjoy a glass or two of wine if I don’t have the car.’

‘There is that.’ Ellen looked down at her belly. ‘Although I have to wait a while before I can drink wine. Come on through, Lucy’s in the kitchen.’

He followed Ellen through the hallway and into the kitchen-diner. Aromas of garlic and tomatoes greeted him and some of the tension that had been in his shoulders all day loosened. Good food and good company were exactly what he needed right now. He could have spent the evening alone at home, but this would be better. The alternative was going to his parents’ house but they’d both see through him in a second and want to know what had happened. He wasn’t up to sharing it with them; it was too much.

‘Hi Jack.’ Lucy turned from the cooker and smiled.

‘Hey.’ He held up the bags he’d brought. ‘I’ve got wine, elderflower lemonade and chocolates.’

‘Ooh! Thank you.’ She said as he placed the bags on the table. He handed her two bottles of red wine and gave the elderflower lemonade and chocolates to Ellen.

‘Truffles. Yum!’ Ellen licked her lips. ‘And thanks for the lemonade.’

‘You’re welcome. Is the wine OK?’ he asked Lucy.

‘Wonderful. I love Shiraz.’

Ellen got two wine glasses out of a cupboard and handed them to Jack. ‘I’ve just got to pop upstairs for a moment so you two enjoy your wine.’

‘Thanks.’ Jack poured wine into the glasses. ‘Dinner smells amazing.’

‘Nothing like a hearty lasagne and garlic bread.’ She accepted a glass of wine. ‘It’s all under control if you fancy sitting in the lounge for a bit.’

‘Great.’

They sat on opposite end of one of the sofas and he sipped his wine then placed it on the coffee table. ‘Thanks for inviting me.’

‘You’re very welcome. How are you feeling now?’

He looked at her and then at the hearth where a fire glowed comfortingly. ‘I’m OK.’

‘Are you?’ She placed her wine next to his and shuffled closer to him. ‘You can talk about your day if you need to. I don’t want to put pressure on you but when I saw you earlier, you looked so… devastated.’

He sighed and rubbed his hands over his eyes then placed them flat on his knees. Took a few slow breaths. ‘My job is wonderful, but it can be hard. Some days are tough.’ His voice wavered and he coughed to clear his throat. The last thing he wanted to do was break down in front of Lucy. Whatever would she think of him? But then he didn’t buy into all that macho man crap. The things he’d encountered over the years and that his colleagues had dealt with, meant that he’d seen grown men and women break down and sob. He’d witnessed how the job could lift them high but also grind them down, how it could make them tremble and how it could make them laugh. It was the best job in the world but also, as far as he was concerned, it could be one of the toughest.

But he was here for dinner and not to pour his heart out to Lucy. If he knew her better, then maybe… and yet… He looked up at her. Admired her pretty face, her bright green eyes, the way that even though she’d pinned her black hair up, some of it curled around her ears as if it couldn’t be controlled by clips. A few tendrils rested against her neck and he had an urge to wind his fingers though them, to feel if they were as silky as they looked.

Jack missed human contact.

Not the type he could have with his parents or friends.

Those hugs were great, but he missed holding a woman in his arms, showering her with kisses and attention, feeling curves fitting against him. He missed the comfort that came from losing himself in pleasuring another human being and in being pleasured. Sleeping next to someone he cared about, someone he loved, was one of the best things about being in a relationship and he missed that too. He’d tried to date since Kelly but none of the women were right and he hadn’t pursued them after one or two dates. They hadn’t pursued him either so he suspected that they’d sensed his reluctance to get involved again. He hadn’t been ready then, but time had passed and now… he’d met Lucy and she was different. It wasn’t simply her looks, though she was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. There was something more to her that he couldn’t quite pinpoint, something that he saw in her eyes, the tilt of her head, the way she carried herself. When they’d touched, there had been a spark, an electric connection and he’d felt his hesitation to be near a woman dissolve.

His mum had told him that he had to let go of the past to move forwards and when he was around Lucy, Jack knew that was exactly what he wanted to do.

Lucy’s eyes roamed his face and she frowned then reached out and placed a hand over one of his. ‘I’m here if you do need someone to talk to. We don’t know each other well but it’s strange… I feel like I’ve known you for years.’ She gave an embarrassed smile then peered at him from under her long, dark lashes. ‘I admire all NHS staff. What you do every day for people is incredible. And you know… being brave isn’t about not showing that you’re scared or sad, it’s about feeling those things and doing your job anyway. I don’t know how you do what you do and I’m in awe, so… there’s no judgment here if you’re sad or upset or anything else. If you did speak to me about it, I’d feel privileged.’

Jack looked at her hand where it rested on his and his throat tightened. Unable to reply, he turned his hand over so they were touching palm to palm, and he nodded slowly.

‘That’s better!’ Ellen padded into the lounge. ‘Blinking pregnancy wind. Oh!’

Jack and Lucy snatched their hands back and Ellen pressed her lips together, her eyes wide. ‘Sorry! Was I interrupting something?’

Lucy looked back at Jack and started to laugh, and he joined in.

‘Not at all, farty pants,’ Lucy said, standing up. ‘I was just comforting Jack because he was traumatised by the sound of your wind. We thought there was a thunderstorm happening overhead.’

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