‘Not at all,’ replied Annabel, although if truth be known she didn’t know what to think. Things had been decidedly uncomfortable come the end of his last visit. ‘But … ‘ She fell silent, not sure how tocontinue.
‘Look,’ said Dan. ‘If you’re worried about the other night, then don’t be. We both have a lot going on and these thingshappen.’
Annabel shifted from one foot to the other. ‘Not to me they don’t,’shesaid.
He smiled. ‘Annabel, we didn’t do anything.Remember?’
She looked into his eyes, his sincerity making herblush.
‘And our arrangement?’ she tentativelyasked.
He seemed to find her question unnecessary. ‘Well I’m still game ifyouare?’
Annabel felt torn. Dan might be correct in his assertion that nothing had actually taken place between them, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t wanted it to—awantthat continued to scare the hell out of her. On the other hand, she desperately wanted a child too and there was no way she could face having to go out and find anotherdonor.
She told herself that she was being ridiculous, that surely she could pretend nothing had happened if hecould.
‘As long as you’re sure,’ she replied. ‘Because… ‘
‘I’m sure,’ said Dan, before she could finish. He held out his gift. ‘Call it a peaceoffering.’
Finally, Annabel allowed herself to relax. ‘Thank you,’shesaid.
In spite of its wrapping, there was no disguising what the gift was. Annabel ripped open the paper, she couldn’t help but laugh. ‘And what am I supposed to do with this?’ she asked. It had to be the scruffiest skateboard she’deverseen.
‘Sorry about the state of it,’ said Dan. ‘It’s been in the shed foryears.’
‘You mean it’syours?’
‘It certainly is. I got it when I was about eight. A birthday presentfromMum.’
Annabel remembered what had been said during their Bucket List conversation and she felt touched that he’drememberedtoo.
‘It’s about time it came out of retirement,’ said Dan. ‘So … ‘ He took a step back. ‘When you’reready.’
‘What? You want me to get onitnow?’
Annabel stood there aghast. It was all very nice of him to think of her like this, but he couldn’t really expect her to jump on it straight away, could he? Not only was she a complete novice, she wasn’t prepared. She needed time to psychherselfup.
‘Unless you’ve got better things to do,’saidDan.
Annabel thought about the alternative, the choice between crap TV or an early night. If it was anybody else, she knew it would be a no brainer. Looking from the tatty, old skateboard to him and back again, she had to admit she felt tempted as she tried to remember the last time she’d done something so spur of themoment.
A little voice told her she was on dangerous ground, but looking him in the eye again, there seemed to be something about this man. He certainly had the ability to bring out the worst in her. Or could that be the best? Annabel wasn’t sureanymore.
Bugger it,she thought.Whynot?
Annabel kicked off her slippers and swapped them with a pair of trainers, she smiled. ‘So where to?’ she asked. After stepping outside, she shut the doorbehindher.
‘We don’t have to go anywhere,’ said Dan. ‘We have the perfect practiceroadhere.’
Much to Annabel’s horror, he indicated to her front street. ‘You’ve got to bekiddingme?’
‘No, of course not. I mean look at it. It’s sloping without being too severe, just right for someone who’s never had the pleasurebefore.’
Annabel looked around at the surrounding houses,pleasurenot being quite the word she’d have chosen. ‘In front of the neighbours, you mean?’ Knowing them, she’d have been surprised if the curtains weren’t twitchingalready.
Dan ignored her concerns and just laughed. ‘Do you want me to show you how it’s done? Or would you prefer to divestraightin?’
