‘What about if I gave you half my scone?’
Jenna smiled. ‘Deal.’
Not that she really wanted Kendra’s scone. She wasn’t sure she’d manage her own. But she did feel that she wanted to talk – to tell Kendra everything. Because if a vicar’s wife and, er, debt counsellor couldn’t understand her, who could?
‘There was this man. At work…’
By the time she’d finished telling Kendra about yet another humiliating chapter in her life, she realised Kendra had eaten her entire scone as well as draining the pot of tea. So much for her bribe then.
‘You poor thing,’ Kendra said at last. She wiped her buttery fingers on her napkin then said slowly, ‘If you don’t mind me asking, where did you get the basque?’
‘Kendra!’
‘Sorry!’ Kendra held up her hands. ‘I know I’m supposed to be offering advice and guidance, but I mean, a basque! Get you! I’ve never had the nerve, but I do think it might make a nice birthday present for Niall in October.’
Jenna laughed. ‘I really don’t think it would suit him. Actually, mine’s at home buried at the bottom of my sock drawer. Only wore it once. You can have it if you like.’
Kendra gave her a doubtful look. ‘It’s not going to fit me if it fits you, is it? You’re tiny. Niall would probably die of shock if I came to bed in one of those, anyway. Although he does like me to wear stockings,’ she mused.
‘Oh, Kendra, please!’ Jenna covered her ears. ‘He’s my mum’s cousin! I’ve seen him in his cassock and surplice! I can’t think about that.’
Kendra giggled. ‘Sorry. Where were we? Oh yes, Sam.’
‘Weweren’ttalking about Sam,’ Jenna pointed out, all too aware of Kendra’s tricks. ‘We were talking about my almost indiscretion, remember?’
‘Hmm. And did thisalmost indiscretionmake you have butterflies and feel all safe and contented while at the same time thrilled and madly horny?’
‘Kendra!’
‘Well,’ Kendra said with a helpless shrug, ‘I don’t know how else to describe it. That’s how I feel when I see Niall. Especially when he’s standing in the pulpit, being all vicarish and sexy.’
‘I give up,’ Jenna said.
‘I’m sorry, I really am. But seriously, is that how this bloke at work made you feel? Or did you feel more stomach churning and pulse racing and nervous, like you do with Joel?’
Jenna sighed. ‘Neither,’ she admitted. ‘I didn’t really feel anything except desperate.’
‘Oh, lovely. Well, good job you didn’t go through with it then. I shouldn’t imagine revenge sex is any fun at all – especially when it’s over.’
‘It wasn’t just about revenge,’ Jenna said. ‘It was about feeling wanted for a change.’
‘Do you thinkSamwants you?’
Jenna realised she was blushing and held her hands to her cheeks to try to cool them down. ‘How should I know?’
‘Have you even kissed him?’
Jenna had to admit she hadn’t. ‘I might be imagining the whole thing,’ she said gloomily. ‘And that’s probably for the best. I have enough going on right now, don’t I?’
‘I think,’ Kendra said, ‘that you should find out. Test the waters.’
‘How?’
‘Kiss him, of course!’ Kendra laughed. ‘Don’t look so horrified! And when you’ve kissed him, you’ll know if you feel all happy and horny, like I do with Niall, or anxious and a bit sick, like you do with Joel, or just meh, like you did with basque-and-suspenders guy.’
‘Don’t call him that!’ Jenna said, appalled. ‘I don’t want that image stuck in my mind. I’d rather forget it ever happened.’
‘But seriously,’ Kendra said, ‘you should kiss him, Jenna. Sam, I mean. If you think he wants you to, that is, because we’re all about consent, aren’t we? Just see how you feel then, because your body won’t lie, you know. Your body always knows the truth about these things instantly, and reacts accordingly, even if your stubborn mind lingers behind, playing hopscotch and thinking of a million other things it would rather do than accept the facts.’
