One morning she went in there with a purpose. It wasn’t to see what he was up to. Even so, he showed her around, talking her through some of the pieces he was working on. When their hands touched, it was the catalyst they needed.
It was the first time they had made love. It had been dangerous and exciting as they might be caught out at any moment, but it was heavenly in many ways too. Making love with the scent of her and Richardintermingled with the smell of the chippings. The soft, gentle breeze of summer coming through the open door. The blue sky in the distance, not a cloud in sight. Sweat glistening from their bodies as they moved together in urgency. Fast, furious, intentional.
The second time had been much slower. There had been hardly any work done that day.
Oh, how things had changed since then. Now she wasn’t allowed in the studio unless she was bringing him a drink or something to eat that he’d requested to be ready at a certain time. He cited he didn’t want to be interrupted when he was in the flow, but she knew it was much more than that.
‘Why were you with her?’ Richard asked.
‘She was in the village and shouted me over.’
‘Did you walk back with her?’
‘Yes.’
‘What did you talk about?’
Sarah turned to him. ‘She wanted to know what went on in the village. Clubs to join, socialise – that kind of thing.’
‘And what did you say?’ He leaned across her, picked an apple up from the bowl and bit into it ferociously.
The intention of his actions didn’t go unnoticed with her. A bite of the forbidden fruit. He was such a hypocrite.
‘I told her what there was to do, the pub quiz, the book club, volunteering at the community centre.’
‘Doesn’t she work?’
‘Yes, from home.’
Richard gave out a loud dramatic sigh. ‘So she’s going to be here during the week and then both of them at the weekends?’
‘She said she might go to London occasionally but mostly, yes.’
‘It’s going to make things really hard for us.’
‘We’ll cope. We have done so far.’
‘Easier to do when the property was empty.’
‘We’ll manage.’
Sarah continued to put the shopping away until Richard got the message.
‘I’ll be in the studio. Lunch at twelve thirty sharp.’
She nodded. ‘I’ll bring you a coffee first.’
‘That would be lovely. I’d like it in half an hour. Don’t make it too strong this time.’
With him out of the room, Sarah put away the rest of the shopping and went upstairs. It was such a lovely day it would be a shame to waste it. Maybe she would sit out in the garden today or go for a walk in the woods. Much better than being cooped up indoors all the time.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Friday had come round rather quickly considering Juliette had spent the week on her own. She took the afternoon off from work and treated herself to a lounge in the bath before heading to pick Danny up.
She was so eager to see him that she’d arrived thirty minutes before the train was due in. So as soon as she spotted him coming out of the station, she waved and ran to him. She had missed everything about him, in particular his familiarity. He’d removed his tie, his collar open, short sleeves revealing tanned arms that she couldn’t wait to feel around her again. His hair had been cut and he looked worn out but happy with it.
He dropped his overnight case and took her in his arms, kissing her with a passion she was sure would embarrass onlookers. But she didn’t care.
