‘Blue but still fresh,’ he said.
‘At least it’s dry.’ She opened the car door and put her bag in the passenger seat. Turning round she was surprised to see Callum right behind her. She was about to say something else, when he leaned down and kissed her very gently on her lips.
She felt a tingling sensation at his mouth against hers. After years of disconnect, it reminded her of what else could perhaps follow.
But then he stepped back and smiled briefly at her. ‘Drive safely. And I will be in touch . . .’
‘Will do.’ She gave him a quizzical glance. She wondered if she should take the initiative and kiss him back. But she felt stuck and lost for words. What should she say?Let’s do thisagain sometime.About that date? Do you fancy a coffee soon? Come to mine for dinner?It all sounded so contrite.
Instead she managed to say, ‘Give Daisy my love, tell her I hope she feels much better and I’ll see her soon.’ Then she jumped into the car and started the engine. As she drove away, she glanced in her rearview mirror and could see him watching her. She could still feel the sensation of his mouths on hers, and for a moment she considered going back. Until she realised he had turned and walked back into the cottage.
* * *
For the rest of the day Beth was in a bit of a daze. She spent the afternoon catching up with a bit of work from the comfort of the flat. She spoke briefly to Jim, who insisted that she wasn’t to do anything. However, Beth had always found it really difficult to switch off from work, so she caught up with some emails in her inbox. Fortunately her journey home had been fine — much of the storm damage had been cleared up. There was no need to visit the shops as she had all the supplies she needed. When the rain started to fall again, she was glad she was in her own cosy space.
Feeling a bit lightheaded and not yet herself, she had dozed on the sofa only to be woken in the dark by the sound of the flat buzzer ringing. Her first thought was that it could be Callum. Jumping up, she stumbled over to the door to answer. ‘Hello.’
‘Beth, it’s me,’ said Alessandro.
Her stomach sank.
‘I wanted to check you are okay?’
‘I’m fine thanks.’
‘Can I come up?’
She groaned silently. ‘I’m not feeling great.’
There was a pause. ‘Just for a minute.’
She really wasn’t in the mood to make small talk with Alessandro, but she reminded herself that he was just being friendly, and it was kind of him to check in on her.
‘Okay.’ She pressed the button to let him in the building. Beth opened the flat door a few inches, and moments later he had bounded up the flight of stairs. He was dressed in black, with boots and an overcoat, and an overpowering layer of aftershave. The same one that Tim used to wear. The smell made her recoil.
‘Beth, I have been so worried,’ he said. ‘You haven’t been answering your phone. And then it started going straight to voicemail. I thought something had happened. Can I come in?’ He didn’t wait for an answer and pushed the door open for him to enter.
‘I was sleeping.’ She was still a bit bewildered as she followed him into the sitting room. Then she saw her phone sitting on the coffee table, picked it up and realised the battery was flat. ‘That’s why I wasn’t picking up. It’s out of charge.’ She felt awkward in her joggers and sweatshirt, and wished she hadn’t let him in. A voice in her head reminded her that she hadn’t let him in. He had pushed his way in. His eyes lingered on her as he continued to stand there, a bit too close for comfort.
‘Have you been okay?’ he asked. ‘You said you were staying with a friend?’ He raised an eyebrow.
‘I got stuck with the weather and didn’t feel well so, yes, stayed with my friend.’This is none of your business, she wanted to yell.
‘I could have come to collect you. You just needed to call me,’ he said with a bit of an accusing tone. ‘Can I get you anything? You do look a bit pale.’
She shook her head. ‘No, thank you. I’m fine,’ she snapped, ‘I just need to rest and catch up with sleep.’ Then she felt guilty when she saw the look of hurt in his eyes.
‘But I can make you some tea or bring you some dinner?’
Beth couldn’t at that moment think of anything worse. She just wanted him out of her space. ‘It’s late and I know you mean well,’ she said firmly. ‘But I really am fine. I don’t need anything.’
‘Oh Beth.’ He took a step towards her, with a strange smile on his lips. She took a step back in surprise, and found herself backed into a corner of the sitting room.What the hell was he doing?
Chapter Forty-Six
Beth could have cried with relief when the entrance buzzer suddenly rang again. She pushed past Alessandro and ran into the hallway, snatching up the phone.
‘Hello?’ She tried to remain calm, even though her mind was in turmoil.
