It dawned on Grace that she’d been giving him a bird’s eye view of the see-through lace knickers. And she was wearing one of his shirts which barely covered her bum. Men were so basic sometimes. She didn’t want him to think that she was deliberately trying to turn him on, bending over just inches from his face. All that blood rushing around his body wouldn’t do him any good in his state.
‘I haven’t got my stuff yet…’ Her face was already on fire. ‘And these were the only pants on sale at the hotel.’
There was that smile again.
‘I’m not complaining.’
‘Was there an answer on breakfast? Not that I’ve had a chance to look in the kitchen.’
‘I think the bread’s still OK, and the milk might be in date, so toast and butter with a coffee would be lovely, thank you.’
At least there was some colour in his cheeks this morning.
* * *
Three days in, and they were getting into a routine. Will was still weak, and needed plenty of help, but she could already see improvements, which cheered her heart. Angeliki and Nick had ferried Grace’s stuff from her room at the language school, so at least she had sensible clothes and decent underwear. The couple had spent quite a while chatting to her charge, but Grace had had to shoo them out after an hour, as she could see that Will was fading.
He mainly slept in the mornings, and, after the nurse had been, would sit out on his balcony all afternoon and early evening before turning in again. He liked her to sit with him, and they’d talk about everything and nothing, while watching the people on the beach. Will had a set of binoculars, which they’d pass between them.
Grace had finally shown him the video of her DJing debut, and he’d been suitably impressed. Will had confessed to a fondness for country music, so they’d spent several afternoons just playing each other their favourite tracks and comparing notes, between dozing off in the August heat. Grace wasn’t sure she’d ever be a fan of country, but it would be weird if they liked exactly the same things. As a music lover, at least she could appreciate the skill of the musicians. She just tried her hardest not to wince every time she heard the whining notes of a harmonica.
Being together twenty-four hours a day, albeit in separate bedrooms, had shown Grace it was possible to be comfortable with Will while doing nothing, which was one of the hardest things of all for any potential couple. Now that they had seen each other at their best and at their most vulnerable over the past couple of weeks, most boundaries were down, and they were at ease in each other’s company. Their bodies were another matter. The scent of expectation was in the air, but neither of them was willing to tackle the next step, and she had severe doubts that Will was up to doing anything even if he wanted to. The little flatmate bubble they’d created would do for the time being. No point rushing ahead.
Grace had just settled them both in the wicker armchairs with a coffee each when a familiar face loomed in the lens of the binoculars. It was only bloody Celine walking up the path. That was all Will needed. It was allsheneeded. She wouldn’t let the Frenchwoman exhaust him or spoil their peaceful time out. The next thing she heard was the woman calling out Will’s name from the kitchen. Had she never heard of knocking?
‘Will, are you there?’
Grace sighed.
‘Shall I send her away?’
Will shrugged. ‘She’ll only come back again. I know what she’s like. Better just get it over with.’
‘OK, she can have ten minutes and then I’ll be back in.’
Grace was quite enjoying her gatekeeper role. Will gave her a wry smile.
‘Agreed.’
Celine managed to keep the shock off her face when Grace greeted her at the bottom of the stairs. She’d heard about Will– Grace was sure it was all over the island by now– but the woman obviously had no idea who was staying there, looking after him.
‘He’s up on the bedroom balcony. I think you know the way.’
Grace hadn’t meant to emphasise the word bedroom. It was funny what the subconscious could do.
Celine brushed past her without a word.
Just the thought of them in the bedroom together, let alone in the bed, had Grace glancing up at the clock every few seconds. Will wouldn’t be up to much in his state, but she was sure that Celine was the mistress of invention, given half a chance.
When the woman came back down only a satisfying six minutes later, there were tears in her eyes.
This time, she looked Grace full in the face.
‘Look after him, won’t you. He is very special.’
Grace repeated ‘He is very special’ in a French accent to herself after Celine had walked out the door.
It was no good. She couldn’t let this one fester. She had to know what had happened on the night of the party. She couldn’t even think of committing herself to Will if she thought he was still planning to see Celine on the side. She could never be one of several women he had on the go, however good the sex had been. Celine’s disappointed face a moment ago had led her to believe that Will wasn’t going anywhere with the Frenchwoman, but she had to hear it from his own mouth.
