Why had Marcus called my plumber and told him to come here today? And how did Marcus know which plumber I’d called? I’m sure I hadn’t told him.
I wished I’d taken Marcus’ number as I had done Adele’s, then I could have called and asked him.
I dashed into the shower and had the fastest wash in history, spending time on my face to remove the black streaks. I wasn’t sure what they were as I hadn’t put mascara on today.
Then I remembered I’d been painting the snowmen’s top hats with black paint. I must’ve got some on my face and when that tap soaked me, the paint had run down my cheeks. Luckily it washed off.
At least I could now make myself more presentable and I stepped out of the shower smiling at the thought of Alec saying, ‘you look lovely,’ or something similar when he saw my transformation from drowned rat to reasonably pretty woman.
Well a girl could dream, couldn’t she?
What I had definitely not expected was for Alec to see me naked.
I’m not sure who screamed the loudest.
‘Shit! I’m so sorry,’ he yelled, taking more than a moment or two before he looked away and turned around.
‘Fuc–’ Thankfully, I didn’t finish that profanity. Saying F… me, might have made him think I was giving him an invitation, not that I was so startled at finding him in my bedroom that I had used a phrase I’d only used once before in my life.
‘What the hell are you doing in my bedroom?’ I questioned his back after I’d grabbed the towel I’d foolishly left on my bed.
‘I was coming to turn off the rads. I had no idea you were taking a shower. I did call out as I came up the stairs and I thought you heard me because I’d said, ‘Shout now if you’re not decent.’ And I couldn’t hear any water running, so how was I to know you’d be naked? I suggested you wash your face, not your whole body. But I will say you have a really good body. Your blind date guy is in for a treat.’
‘What! How dare you. Firstly, you should’ve waited for my reply. Secondly, you should’ve looked away the moment you saw I was naked. Thirdly, I don’t sleep with men on first dates. And I said I wasn’t going on a date with you … him … anyway.’
My voice had grown louder and more shrieky with each sentence and I was glad his back was turned and he couldn’t see my face.
‘Okay, okay. I’m sorry. And you’re right. I should’ve looked away immediately. I don’t know why I didn’t because despite what you might think I am a gentleman. Usually. But … I think I was as surprised as you were, and then … I think I was just mesmerised or something. As I said, you have a really good body. Areally goodbody.’
‘Thank you!’ I hissed. But inside I was thrilled. This gorgeous man thought I had a really good body.
His phone rang and he answered it immediately.
And broke my heart and shattered my dreams with just two words.
‘Hi sweetheart,’ he said.
So Alec obviously had a girlfriend. Or a fiancée. Or a wife.
Okay, he hadn’t actually broken my heart or shattered any dreams. I’d only met the guy a few minutes ago. But I had thought Paul set my heart and body on fire. This man had set myheart and my body and my soul ablaze the second I opened my front door.
‘I can’t talk right now,’ he continued, his voice soft and loving. ‘I’m in the middle of something. But I’ll see you very soon and yes, we can snuggle up on the sofa and watch your favourite movie tonight. Love you, sweetheart. Bye for now.’
I wondered what she looked like naked. Did he tell her she had a really good body too?
He coughed. ‘Are you decent? Can I turn around?’
‘I suppose so.’
I had the towel wrapped around me, but when he turned to face me, I may as well have been naked once again because his eyes slowly grazed my skin and it was as if he was caressing me with his bare hands. Tingles and quivers of delight raced up and down my arms and legs and everywhere in between.
His voice sounded as though it was dragged over coals. ‘Can I turn off the radiator, please?’
Mine was almost breathless. ‘Yes.’
I managed to pull myself together and I sounded more serious and detached when I added, ‘And then, in case you think of coming back to do something else, I’m giving you notice now that I’ll be getting dressed.’
‘Do something …? Oh right. No. Just need to turn off the rads for now. In every room.’
