‘No, it’s just my toe that’s throbbing, but I’m not sure this is necessary.’
He helped her up and she could feel the heat of his hands against her skin and through the back of her dress. She had tried to forget how she felt when he touched her, but now it all came flooding back.
‘It’ll make me happier to see you home,’ he said, as she settled in the passenger seat and he wound all the windowsdown. ‘Air con’s on the blink and I can’t afford to get it fixed at the moment.’
‘I like the fresh air coming in,’ she said. ‘Air con makes my nose run.’
‘Me too,’ he said, a sudden smile lighting up his face.
That was good, she thought, seeing him smile. It made her feel safe and warm before a wave of guilt washed over her. She watched as he covered the basket of figs with a net.
‘You can have some if you like,’ she said when he got into the car. ‘There are loads more on the tree. I’m sure Rita wouldn’t mind.’
She put her head back and closed her eyes, feeling the air rushing over her face, lifting her hair and cooling her temples. It felt good to be sitting beside him even though the drive barely took two minutes. If only she’d met him at a different time in her life…
‘Here we are,’ he said, stopping the car at the front of the cottage. ‘Home!’
And for some unaccountable reason she burst into tears.
And he was twisting in his seat and holding her, not too tightly, not too gently, but in a way which was just right. He stroked her hair, leant his head against hers.
‘Shh!’ he murmured. ‘It’s all right.’
Over and over again he said those words, like a lullaby, a balm which seeped into her pores and travelled through her body.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she said at last, pulling away. ‘I don’t know what came over me.’
He looked at her for a moment.
‘Come on, let’s get you inside.’
In an instant he was opening the door for her, offering her his arm, releasing the latch on the gate and taking the key fromher hand to unlock the front door. He led her into the hall and stooped to carefully remove her sandals.
‘Best thing to do is to put this in some cold water to reduce the swelling and then apply some vinegar followed by the antihistamine cream.’
‘You sound like an expert on wasp stings.’
‘Anyone who has a café on site has to be an expert on wasp stings. They’re a nightmare at this time of year and sometimes they just take against you for no reason.’
‘Iwasholding a basket of figs, which I suppose is like heaven on earth to a wasp.’
‘But you weren’t holding it with your toe.’
‘No.’ She half laughed. ‘That would be a feat! It was weird the way it dived like that, almost as if it had been blown in that direction.’
Jules sat on a chair in the kitchen while he filled a washing up bowl full of cold water.
‘Soak for five minutes,’ he said, lifting her ankle and gently lowering her foot into the water. He remained crouched in front of her, swirling the water around. ‘Maybe I’ll get some ice. That always helps.’
She reached out and touched the top of his head. He looked up, startled.
‘Thank you,’ she whispered. ‘Apart from Carrie I can’t remember the last time someone took care of me like this.’
And she leaned forward, cupping his chin with her hand, before kissing him lightly on the lips. She felt a sweet thrill ripple through her, not the fireworks she’d felt with Gavin, but something better than that, deeper, potentially more long lasting, something to build on gradually, respectfully, tenderly. But maybe she had blown it the other day. Maybe he didn’t feel the same anymore. He may have been looking at her, but he wasn’t giving anything away. Without speaking he reached for atowel and dried her foot, then applied some vinegar to a tissue and applied it to the end of her toe.
‘Can you stand?’ he asked at last.
She nodded but a flood of disappointment made all her limbs feel weak. He was obviously ready to leave.
