This is a complete disaster waiting to happen, he thought.
The only thing that might save him was the fact that dinner at his parents’ house wasn’t exactly a romantic proposition. The chaos and noise of competing conversations and excited kids would keep his stupid emotions and desires in check.
He clung to that life raft all the way home like the drowning man he was.
14
Gaby closedthe front door behind her and let out a slow breath. There had been a moment as she was saying goodbye to Peter outside on the pavement when their eyes had met, the world had seemed to vanish and she thought he was about to kiss her.
Or was that just the wine talking?
It would’ve been nice to kiss him.
She shut down the crazy thought as she slipped out of her coat. She’d simply let the wine and the moonlight get to her.
Peter hadn’t been about to kiss her. Not without warning, not without being sure it was what she wanted too.
Her mind time-travelled back to the summer they’d spent together, back to the moment of their first kiss.
A warm, balmy night filled with starlight, the two of them wandering the riverside path hand-in-hand, talking and laughing and sharing secrets, and Peter stopping suddenly, his eyes filled with desire as he pulled her closer and pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that blew her world apart.
The thrilling surprise of it, the sweet joy of wrapping her arms around him, every second exquisite and perfect.
Gaby could still feel that kiss deep down inside her soul.
And because of that, a new question raced through her mind.
If they’d kissed tonight, would it have blown her world apart just like that first kiss had done all those years ago?
“Madness,” Gaby muttered to herself. “Complete madness.”
In the living room, she found her Aunt Jill cosy in her armchair and reading a book while music played in the background. Her aunt gave her a puzzled look.
“Were you talking to someone just then?” she asked.
Only to myself and only because I’ve lost my mind,Gaby thought.
“No,” she said instead and smiled as she sank into the sofa. “Just chuntering to myself about how nice it is to get out of the cold.”
“How was your evening with Peter?” Jill asked. “And what about your talk at the school? Did it all go well?”
“The talk went okay and I think the kids enjoyed it. The other speakers were brilliant and the kids were switched on and had loads of great questions. I’m glad it’s over with, though. I was nervous about it all.”
“And dinner was nice?”
“It was wonderful. Everything was delicious and I’m stuffed full. Peter knows the restaurant owner and he took good care of us. He even gave us complimentary petit four with our coffee, which was the last thing I needed as I’d inhaled the tiramisu I ordered for dessert.”
“I’m glad you had a good meal. And you enjoyed your time with Peter?”
“Of course. It’s been nice catching up with him.” Gaby fussed with a sofa cushion before speaking again. “We ran into Peter’s parents on our way home from the restaurant. They invited me to family dinner at their house on Thursday. Peter’s mother wouldn’t take no for an answer. I said yes but, well, now that I think about it, maybe I should cancel and say I can’t make it. I did come here to spend time with you, after all.”
“Don’t cancel. In fact, the timing is perfect. While you were out this evening, I chatted on the phone with one of my friends from my walking club and she’s arranged a nice dinner on Thursday evening to get me out of the house. I’m starting to go a little stir crazy cooped up here at home and my friend realised that. She’ll come and pick me up and bring me home again and she’s invited a few other walking club members along too. I’d hoped you wouldn’t mind spending the evening by yourself, but if you now have a dinner invitation of your own then I don’t have to worry about abandoning you.”
Gaby smiled. “I’m glad you’ve got so many lovely friends rallying around you. And it stands to reason you’ll be fed up stuck in the house by now. It’s a great idea to get out for a few hours and have a change of scenery, especially somewhere you’ll feel secure and won’t have to worry about anyone bumping your knee while it’s still healing.”
“My thoughts exactly. And it also means you can keep your dinner invitation with Peter’s parents. I’m sure they’ll love spending some time with you.”
“Hmm.”
