Immediately, his demeanour changed, and he sat upright in bed.
‘Do we?’
‘Yes.’
‘Why do I get the feeling that I’m not going to like this?’
‘I’m sorry, Raff,’ she said.
‘Sorry?’ His voice was subdued. ‘Are you about to tell me that last night – and this morning – were merely a fling as far as you’re concerned?’
‘No. Well … yes. In a way. I hadn’t intended last night to happen, believe me. I’m still not really sure how it did. And if the weather hadn’t been so bad, and a cab had been available, I’m almost certain I’d have simply gone home after dinner.’
‘Almost certain? I’m not entirely sure how it happened either. But, unlike you it seems, I’m delighted it did. Maybe not quite so delighted now. But until a second ago I thought we had something pretty special happening between us. I thoughtwe might have … well, I thought we might start dating or something.’
‘We live miles apart, Raff.’
‘Not that many miles.’
‘You’ve got your hands full with the new rescue centre.’
‘I’d rather have my hands full of you. I can manage both. No. Sorry. Manage is the wrong word, obviously. I’m floundering right now. This has taken me aback. I would like to have both you, and the rescue centre, in my life.’
She shook her head slowly. ‘Surely you can see that’s not possible. You’re forgetting you also have a career.’
‘From which I’ll be retiring in a matter of months. I accept the present situation isn’t ideal, but surely we could work something out?’
‘I … I don’t want to have to “work something out”, Raff. I’ve got more than enough going on in my life at the moment – as have you. Neither of us need yet another complication.’
‘Complication? Is that how you see me? I don’t want to “complicate” your life, Kate. Don’t you think there’s a possibility that we could enhance each other’s lives? Didn’t you enjoy last night? Forget the fact that we had sex, for now. I’m talking about spending the evening together. Personally, I’d love to spend more evenings like that. And some days.’
‘I don’t think I will ever be able to “forget” that we had sex. And yes, of course I enjoyed our evening. A little too much, perhaps. And that’s the point. If we see one another again we’ll probably want to see even more of each other and we both know where that will lead.’
‘To having more sex? Sorry. Not the right time for foolish quips. Look, Kate. I’m not asking you to move in with me or anything. I’m not even asking you to commit to having a relationship with me if you don’t want one. But why can’t we see one another again? We don’t have to fix a date right now.Nothing has to be set in stone. Why can’t we simply be two people who enjoy being together – and be together when we can? Why is that such a problem?’
‘Because things always start off like that and then one of us will end up wanting more. And one of us will get hurt.’
‘If that’s your only concern, then it isn’t a problem. Because it’s pretty clear that I’m the one who wants more, so I’ll be the one getting hurt. And I’m fine with that, if it means I can see you again.’
She met his look and held it. ‘Not necessarily. I … I want to see you again. I do. But … on the other hand. I don’t. Because I have a feeling I could … fall for you … in a big way.’
‘You could? Really? And that’s a problem because…?’
‘Because, as I just said, one of us – or maybe both of us – will end up getting hurt.’
‘Why are you so certain about that? Isn’t there a possibility that we could both feel the same about one another, and date for, oh, I don’t know, days, or weeks, or months, or years, and then move into together, or get married, and live happily ever after?’
‘No. Because that’s the stuff of fairytales. We’ve got complicated lives and complications only lead to friction.’
Really? So … your mum and her fiancé, and your daughter and her fiancé, are doomed to failure?’
‘What! No. You can’t compare Mum and Frank’s relationship, and Beth and Avery’s with … whatever this is here.
‘Can’t I? I think I can, because their lives sound fairly complicated from what you’ve told me, and yet, they seem to be blissfully happy.’
‘That’s because they’ve all found their soulmates. They were meant to be together. Mum’s known Frank for years. Beth’s known Avery for over a year. Well, strictly speaking that’s not entirely true, but … that doesn’t matter. They’re the perfect couple.’
‘And yet at one time or another they were all strangers. They met, and something developed between them. We were strangers. Now we’re not. Why can’t we wait and see what develops between us?’
