‘Well isn’t it? St Aidan is heaving, the singles club is out there running wild.’ Her face twists into a grin. ‘It would be a shame to waste the opportunity.’
As I let out a breath, I’m sorry to flatten the mood. ‘The last thing I want is another boyfriend.’
She laughs. ‘Who said anything about committing? It just feels like it’s time for you to stop being sad and get back to having a good time.’
I blow. ‘We both know Ben is a tosser and I’m better off without him. But am I ready to hit the world and party?’ I really don’t think so.
Her eyebrows edge upwards. ‘How about your challenge for this evening is to collect five kisses?’
I can’t believe how impossible that sounds. ‘When I was twenty-one and first went to Bristol I’d have done it in five seconds. Now I feel I’d struggle if I had five years.’
Poppy’s eyes are wide. ‘This is so much worse than I thought. Let’s set a more achievable target – how about one kiss, and all evening to claim it?’ She sends me a wink. ‘It’s dark, you’ll never see them again. And it’s a watershed – once you’ve crossed the making-out bridge you’ll be able to get on with the rest of your life.’
‘I—I—I …’ It’s all sounding very ‘old-style hen party’. Someone should tell her, hens have moved on, these days they don’t get smashed, they do self-care. If she’d suggested kick-starting my new life with a massage therapy afternoon at The Harbourside Hotel, I’d be so much more up for it.
She’s wiggling her eyebrows, which is never a good sign. ‘Hunk coming our way now, he looks like he’ll do nicely. Get your window down and shout him over.’ She’s sitting up straighter. ‘In fact, no need, he’s coming straight for us!’
As he saunters our way, what I’m getting is dark hair blowing in the gale. Shadowy cheekbones. A chunky sweater inside an open windcheater jacket.
I’m muttering. ‘Considering the weather, it seems like someone’s completely missed the point of wind wear.’
Poppy’s hissing back. ‘You can’t write him off because he hasn’t done up his coat, I need a better excuse than that.’
I reach for the window winder. Being vintage, they’re the keep-fit, do-it-yourself version. By the time the glass slides down far enough for me to speak, I’m breathless from the exertion. ‘Anything we can do to help you?’ However much he’s making a beeline towards us, I’m confident there won’t be.
Poppy lets out a low laugh behind me. ‘You’ll have to be more direct than that to score.’
He clears his throat. ‘Sorry, I couldn’t help noticing your van when you parked it earlier.’
I’m used to comments, we get them all the time. ‘The pink was deliberate. Hopefully it sidesteps dirty white and dated cream but still shoutsbridereally tastefully.’
He’s blinking at me. ‘Sorry, I’m not talking about the colour. You’ve parked in the boat owners’ area – if you don’t display a permit the wardens will ticket you.’
Poppy gives a low laugh. ‘Bribing traffic wardens by snogging their faces off? It might sound desperate, but I wouldn’t disallow it.’
I shut out Poppy and concentrate on the guy. I was up at six this morning, taking the last of my stuff out of the flat and putting it into storage. It’s been a hell of a day. All topped off with Phoebe stealing my effing baby name. I’m just not ready for another argument. ‘Well, if you’d like to step a yard to your right, I’ll get the hell out of your precious owners’ area and find somewhere else to park.’ I haven’t got the first idea where, it’s a surprise it’s this crowded.
He’s shaking his head. ‘You don’t have to move. I’ve brought you a visitor parking pass. So long as you bring it back toSnow Goosebefore you leave town, you’re welcome to use it.’
‘You’re offering to lend me a permit?’ I’m picking my jaw up off the car mats.
He gives a small cough. ‘It’s us against the wardens down here, I’m happy to help out.’ The permit’s already so far through the window that all I can do is grasp it and drop it on the dash.
‘Thanks a lot. I’ll be sure to return it.’ My voice jolts as Poppy jabs me in the side.
She’s hissing in my ear. ‘Go on, ask him – if you don’t, I will …’
‘Great, well, thanks again.Snow Goose, got it, I’ll drop it back.’ This is me dismissing him and it’s worked because he’s waving and backing away.
But Poppy’s like lightning. She’s already out, across the cobbles, and murmuring in his ear. Talk about sitting targets – as he turns around to the open window there’s literally nowhere for me to go.
This time he’s laughing. ‘Someone in need of a Valentine’s kiss? I’m sure I can help out with that too.’
It’s one of those instant decisions. I could make a dash for the crowd, but if I escape this time, I’ll only get ambushed later. At least here there’s only Poppy to see it. So long as she takes the permit back for me, I’ll never have to set eyes on him again. So I make my spine rigid, screw my eyes closed. Pinch my lips together for the quickest of pecks.
But somehow his hand is behind my head, and as he comes in sideways through the open window his delicious scent is a split second ahead of him. And when his lips hit mine they’re not hard and cold, they’re soft and persuasive, like warm chocolate. As I give in and go with him, it’s like there’s a super-heated tornado rushing through my body. It can’t be more than thirty seconds – thirty seconds of what? Pure, undiluted, liquid pleasure. With an overtone of lust that leaves me clutching the steering wheel to steady myself. Enough to say, when he pulls away he leaves me breathless and open-mouthed.
‘Wow!’ That’s every last molecule of Poppy’s lippy demolished. And for anyone wanting marks out of ten – I’d have to go with a straight fifteen.
