Page 71 of The Runaway Wives

‘I think you’ve made the right decision. Come to The Pirate’s Head and let’s celebrate,’ he told her.

She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was just gone nine o’clock. Why not?

Her friends were all waiting when she arrived, a bottle of fizz in the middle of the table. ‘We’re celebrating you and Glenn both having new homes,’ Andi told her.

Glenn actually smiled at her. ‘Sammi and I are temporarily moving into the mobile home on the development tomorrow. Sammi’s over the moon. Gordon has showed us the flat he’ll be renting to us, it’s brilliant and the garden is a decent size, and walking distance to the village and school. It will be ready in a few weeks. And I’ll be getting a full time wage. I can’t thank you and Kenny enough.’

Kenny and Dee exchanged a smile. ‘It was Dee’s idea, she was the one who talked Gordon around,’ Kenny said.

They all raised their glasses, now containing champagne. ‘To Dee.’

Dee felt her face flush. It was so good to feel accepted.

The talk then turned to the Artists’ Studios, which would be opening soon. There was going to be a grand opening ceremony and a local celebrity was coming to cut the ribbon.

Everything was working out perfectly.

‘Fancy a walk along the beach?’ Kenny asked as they left. ‘I think Toffee’s too restless to go to bed yet.’ He’d brought his beloved dog out with him.

Dee nodded. She didn’t feel like going home just yet, she didn’t want the evening to end. She felt so happy.

‘Maybe I’ll actually get myself a dog once the cottage is officially mine,’ she said. She really enjoyed walking Betsy. ‘I’m sure Snowy would soon get used to it, she’s very laid-back when people bring dogs into the café.’

‘They’re good company too,’ Kenny agreed. ‘I wouldn’t be without Toffee.’

They walked along the beach in the moonlight, then somehow Kenny’s hand found hers and she left it there, enjoying the feeling of her hand being held. Something she hadn’t experienced for a long time. Nigel had been demonstrative in the early years, but that had faded over time and it had been some years since they’d been intimate, never mind holding hands.

The crescent moon was shining over the glistening sea, its reflection floating in the still waters. ‘How beautiful it all looks,’ Dee murmured.

‘Like you, with the moonlight shining on your face,’ Kenny said softly. ‘I’m so glad we reconnected again, Dee, and that you’re going to stay down here.’

It was too dark to see his eyes, but she knew that they were looking into hers and her heart did a flutter. She didn’t, couldn’t possibly, have feelings for Kenny… Could she? Then his fingers were caressing her cheek, and his head was lowering towards hers, and before she knew it, they were kissing under the moonlight and Kenny had his arms wrapped around her and she didn’t want him to let her go.

‘I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time, but I was scared of getting too close to you in case you went back to Nigel or moved away again. It’s taken me a long time to fall for someone else.’ He paused, placed his finger under her chin and titled it upwards so he could look into her eyes. ‘This is where you let me down gently if you don’t feel the same way and I promise you there will be no hard feelings or awkwardness. We will carry on being friends and never mention it again, if that’s what you want.’

But it wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted him to kiss her, caress her. She longed to feel loved, desired again but her mouth wouldn’t say the words. She simply stood there, looking at him, trying to say what she felt with her eyes.

‘Do you want to come back to mine for a nightcap?’ His voice was thick, soft.

She wanted to, but should she? What if she went back with him and ended up in bed with him, then they both woke up in the morning and decided it was a mistake? Or one of them did.

Just do it, she told herself, seize life with both hands.

She stepped up on her tiptoes and kissed him. ‘I’d love to,’ she said when they both finally broke the kiss.

47

Dee yawned, stretched, then slowly opened her eyes. She felt achy but alive. Who knew that making love could be so… wonderful? She thought back to Andi’s comments that ‘men all basically did sex the same’. How wrong she was!

Kenny stirred beside her. She leant over and kissed him on the forehead and he snaked an arm around her neck without opening his eyes, gently pulling her towards him, and kissing her soundly. ‘Fancy a replay?’ he murmured.

Just then Toffee started barking downstairs.

‘I think Toffee might have something to say about that,’ Dee replied. ‘He sounds like he wants to go out.’ She glanced at the clock. ‘Goodness it’s gone ten!’

Kenny opened his eyes then and a slow smile formed on his lips. ‘I’ll let Toffee out and make us a cuppa, then…?’

His eyes asked the question and she smiled slowly back. ‘That sounds like a plan, but right now I need the bathroom.’

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