Page 25 of A Clean Sweep
Tom's version of life events to date was concise, if not entirely comprehensive. He'd talked about his own parents – they lived in the south of France and enjoyed a lively ex-pat way of life, renting out a gîte to supplement their pensions – and his siblings Jake and Rose. He'd never planned on being a travel agent – or exotic destination specialist, as Jonathan preferred to call them – but his history degree hadn't lent itself to many career options. Unless he became a history teacher. The thought of trying to teach the subject to classrooms of spotty teenagers who couldn't give a toss about Tudor times, only what time the pub opened and if their fake IDs would pass muster, filled him with horror. So, he'd stumbled into his current career, his knowledge of Incas, Etruscans and other ancient civilisations coming in handy when trying to map out itineraries for people keen on holidays with a difference.
'Not much else to add, really. It's not my dream job but it pays the bills and – as long as Jaws doesn't go in for the kill – I'll be fine there for a while.'
Kate snorted – ever so elegantly – at the mention of his boss's nickname. 'Is that what you call him? That's hilarious. I called in once before – you weren't there – and hedidremind me of some deadly predator. All teeth and totally self-absorbed. He was actuallyflossingwhile he spoke to me. Eurgh! I'msoglad I came back and met you instead.'
Right. Tom knew his radar wasn't one hundred percent reliable but he was picking up major bleeps on theI'minterested in youwavelength. Kate was now twirling a lock of hair around her finger, one knee coming into close contact with his. He felt the heat, as powerful as the Kalahari Desert, just with no sand but scorching nevertheless.
'Another drink? Coming right up.' Leaving Kate flicking through some travel info he'd downloaded on Hong Kong he headed back to the bar, ordering their drinks as well as a couple of bags of posh crisps. Sun-dried tomato and Dijon mustard flavours. Clasping them between his teeth he hurried back to Kate. She thanked him, her fingers accidentally brushing his as she took the proffered wine glass. Or was it no accident? She was still seated very close to him, her body angled towards him and revealing a touch more cleavage than the average hot-bloodied male could handle. Luckily Tom had discarded his tie and loosened his top button before arriving at the bar, otherwise he felt sure steam would now be emanating from his entire body.
'I'm really tempted by the thought of Hong Kong, Tom,' said Kate. 'Have you ever been yourself?'
'Sadly, no,' replied Tom. 'I did visit Singapore once a few years back en route to Australia but it was only for a couple of days. Which, to be honest, was enough for me. It's pretty small and a bit too regimented for my liking. I think Hong Kong has a lot more to offer, especially if you've got a couple of weeks. Plenty of good day trips, that kind of thing.' Images of himself and Kate sipping ice-cold glasses of rosé as they cruised on a junk filled his head. Closely followed by a distinctly steamier one of them writhing on a petal-strewn four-poster bed. Strewth, he really was in dangerous territory now. And had also turned into an Aussie judging by his uncharacteristicturn of phrase. Focus Tom, he told himself. Whatever happened – and that might be nothing apart from bagging a new client – he needed to keep a cool head and a clean mind.
As Tom's thoughts wandered off to exotic and erotic places, Kate had scoffed all the Dijon crisps and was now licking crumbs from her fingers. Oh, God, she even made crisp-eating seem sexy as hell. She neatly folded up the empty packet and surveyed him thoughtfully.
'Listen, I hope this isn't out of order but it's after eight now and I'm starving! I make a mean spaghetti carbonara and it'd be lovely to cook for you. As a thank-you for going out your way to help me. Then we can finalise my plans. What do you think?'
What did he think? That he'd died and gone to heaven, that's what Tom thought. Where an angel in a figure-hugging dress was about to cook him one of his favourite pasta dishes. No revolting courgetti, just lashings of bacon, cream and parmesan. And who knew what might be for dessert?
It was a ten-minute taxi ride to Kate's place. They'd both driven to Bar Belle but agreed it was wise to leave their cars in the parking lot where they'd be safe until morning. Tom stressed that he would call another taxi for home after dinner. Kate was as inscrutable as the Mona Lisa, simply smiling enigmatically and whipping out her keys.
'It's nothing fancy but it's home. Make yourself comfy and I'll fetch some drinks and start on the food. Beer or wine?'Tom opted for the latter and she reappeared with a chilled bottle of Chablis and two glasses. Duly poured she returned to the kitchen whilst Tom scanned his surroundings. Small but chic, the living space was dominated by a curved screen TV and some impressive-looking speakers. He checked out her book collection. A hotchpotch of chick lit, crime thrillers and the odd weighty tome on such subjects as aromatherapy and homeopathy. He plonked himself down on a shabby but welcomingly squishy sofa and took a gulp of wine. Meanwhile the delicious aroma of sizzling meat permeated the air and his stomach gave a rumble of anticipation.Hearing the sounds of Kate clattering around in the kitchen he whipped out his phone and fired off a quick text to Tabitha.Sofa at Clive's looks likely, beer flowing like lava. Soz xx
Maybe he was being presumptuous and there'd be nothing more on the menu than a nice meal. In which case, he'd head home where Tabitha would probably be snoring gently, and tell her that he'd decided against another night tossing and turning on Clive's hideously lumpy couch.
Kate's flat had no dining area so they ate in the kitchen. It was a perfectly pleasant Ikea number with white glossy cabinets and dark wood round table above which hung a funky seventies-style light. It was on a dimmer and she'd turned it down low, giving the room an intimate feel. The carbonara was delicious and the conversation relaxed and easy. They shared the bottle of wine, Kate getting gigglier as he topped up her glass.
'Ooh, I'm feeling a wee bit tipsy,' she said, lifting her hair from her neck and effortlessly twirling it upwards and securing it with a chopstick she grabbed from a drawer. With tendrils hanging loose on each side she looked even more delectable. Almost Oriental. All she needed was that sexy cheongsam and… Hang on, she was gettingreallyclose now, her face inches from his …
'You've got some sauce on your chin. Here, let me wipe it.' Brandishing her napkin – OK, piece of kitchen roll – she cleaned off the offending blob. Damn, for a minute there he'd thought she was going to … aah,nowshe was. Kissing him, that is. Those full, pouty lips moving in harmony with his, those slender arms snaking their way around his neck. Dreams really do come true. It looked like there'd be no way he was heading home tonight. Except— a dark little voice in his head reminded him that, while Kate was no longer attached, he most certainly was. And had neglected tomention that fact when he'd had the chance earlier. The sole reason for the omission was he'dhopedsomething might happen between them. Revealing he was shacked up with someone would have killed their fledgling romance stone dead. What did he do now? Carry on and confess at some later date? Make some excuse to leave now, dump Tabitha, then rush back as soon as possible to take things to the next level? Nope, that wasn't a very noble thing to do. If – or rather –whenhe broke the news to his girlfriend that he wanted out he owed her more than a garbled explanation and then legged it through the door. Which left him with really only one other option. Bugger.
'Kate? Sorry, can we just pause for a minute?' He regretfully removed his lips and disengaged himself from her embrace. Her face was flushed and her eyes sparkled with desire. Tom suspected it wouldn't take long for the flush to change to red-hot anger and the sparkle to be replaced by revulsion.
'What's the matter, Tom? I thought you wanted this too. I knew there were sparks between us as soon as we met. Is it because you haven't known me long enough? Honestly, I don't normally leap in on the first date but it just feltright.'
It certainly did, Tom thought sadly. And now I'm going to make it the complete opposite. 'Listen, I wasn't completely honest with you early. I'm truly sorry about that. The thing is, I have a girlfriend. We live together. Have done for a while.'
Kate looked shocked but thankfully didn't pick up the remains of the carbonara and dump them on his head. She simply took a small sip of wine and nodded for him to continue.
'It's going to sound like a total cliché but things haven't been great between us recently. We both know it but we've been tiptoeing around it, not talked about it. Stupid, I know,but I guess neither of us was brave enough to put it into words. Anyway, I know I've screwed things up with you now. I just couldn't sleep with you knowing that I lied and equally I need to break up with my girlfriend. It's not fair to drag things out. Especially when I've met someone like you who makes me feel so amazing and alive. I'm so, so sorry.'
Tom got up to leave. Kate got up too, no doubt to shove him out the door and deadbolt it behind him. Instead, she took his hands in hers and kissed him lightly on the lips. OK, that wassonot what he was expecting. A hard slap or a nifty right-hook, perhaps.
'I think you've just been incredibly brave, Tom. Fine, maybe you should have said something before but Idounderstand. We were getting on so well. I probably wouldn't have invited you back here if I'd known but if you're really telling the truth about your relationship being on the rocks …’ Tom nodded furiously like a demented dashboard toy, 'then I believe you. My fiancé was a first-class prick but not all men are like him. My gut feeling tells me you're not. I think you're a kind-hearted, considerate andveryattractive man who I'd like to get to know better.Muchbetter.'
There were days when Tom thought that somebody up there didn't like him. Today wasn't one of them. He felt like he'd just scored the winning goal in the cup final, instead of being booed for missing a penalty. If Jeremy Clarkson himself had appeared in a puff of smoke – or exhaust fumes – and offered him the keys to a new Ferrari he could not have felt more elated.
'I promise you Kate, as soon as I get the chance I'll tell Tabitha – sorry, that's her name – that it's over. Hand on heart. Thank you for believing me. And thank you for a wonderful evening. Could we see each other again soon? Very soon, please?'
Kate crinkled her perfect little nose and gave him a quizzical look.
'Well, I was rather hoping you'd stay. Unless that would cause a problem at home? No? After all, the night's still young and I'm not the slightest bit sleepy. And, as I said, I want to get to know you.Allof you.'
As she went in for another killer kiss, Tom told the annoying little voice in his head to go stuff itself. Tonight was filled with magic and the promise of rafter-raising sex. Tomorrow could bloody well wait.
Chapter 17
'Happy birthday, dear Susan, happy birthday to you!' The whoops and cheers of the book club ladies died down as they awaited her reaction. Which was to promptly burst into tears. Meryl rushed forward and gave her an enormous hug.
