Brushing his fingers along the curve of her jaw, he tilted her chin up and kissed her. He might’ve kept kissing her, oblivious to the rest of the world, if it hadn’t been for the sound of voices and footsteps on the other side of the front door. Releasing her, Peter stepped away just as the door opened, revealing Gaby’s Aunt Jill and a small group of other women.
“Oh, hello you two,” Jill said, balancing on her crutches as she smiled in surprise at them both. “I didn’t hear you out here.”
“We just got back,” Gaby said. “How was your card night?”
“Oh, it was fun,” Jill said. “My ladies are just leaving.”
“Hang on, I think I’ve left my phone in your living room, Jill,” said one of the women standing at the door. She turned andscurried off as the other women pulled on coats and scarves and chattered amongst themselves as they prepared to leave.
“I better not keep my taxi waiting,” Peter said and turned back to Gaby. “See you soon?”
“Yes, see you soon,” she replied and moved closer again to brush a soft kiss across his cheek.
Peter floated all the way back to the taxi. He waved as the driver pulled away from the kerb, and Gaby waved back before stepping into the house to clear the way for her aunt’s friends who were now filing out through the door.
Just before she vanished from view, Peter caught the warm hugs she embraced with the older women and the fond look on Gaby’s aunt’s face as she welcomed her niece inside.
Gaby was well-liked and much loved, a natural people person brimming with charm and grace, the sort of woman anyone would want to be around. Peter knew she’d come to Hamblehurst to be helpful to her aunt, but as the taxi sped through the dark residential streets towards his flat, he hoped Jill wouldn’t need her too much tomorrow and that she’d be free to spend as much of the day with him as possible.
Because he already couldn’t wait to see her again.
18
“I thinkit’s safe to assume you and Peter enjoyed a wonderful night together,” Jill said to Gaby after she’d waved her friends off.
Gaby hung up her coat on the hallway rack and turned to see the delighted smile on her aunt’s face. “It was a fun night.”
“I fear I might have interrupted the pair of you when I flung open the door.”
“Of course you didn’t.”
Jill arched an eyebrow, making Gaby laugh.
“We’d already said goodnight.”
“And if that blush on your cheeks is anything to go by, it was quite a farewell.”
Gaby laughed again. “You’re just teasing me to amuse yourself.”
“On the contrary. I’m not teasing you at all. I’m thrilled that you and Peter are enjoying each other’s company. And if that involves some shared romantic moments on my doorstep at the end of the evening, then that makes me happier still.”
Gaby peeled off the murderous boots she’d worn and moaned in relief. “My poor feet. I might never walk again. I don’t knowwhat I was thinking wearing these new boots when I knew there’d be dancing at the pub.”
“Ah, that’s right, I forgot about the dancing you mentioned. Was it fun?”
“So much fun.” She couldn’t help blushing again at the memory of being in Peter’s arms. When she saw her aunt’s delighted smile, she only rolled her eyes. “I haven’t enjoyed dancing like that for a while. Peter knows how to move around the dance floor.”
“Yes, I can quite imagine he does. Shall we put the kettle on or have a nightcap instead?”
“If you’re up for a nightcap, then so am I.”
“Good. Those ladies of mine thoroughly thrashed me at cards tonight. There were no special considerations afforded for a poor, recuperating invalid and they gleefully reminded me that I was the one who’d insisted that’s how it should be. I think I deserve a splash of whisky to recover from the humiliation.”
In the kitchen, Jill supervised Gaby as she poured their drinks, a single malt for Jill and a Bailey’s for Gaby. Once they were settled in the living room, Gaby rubbed at her aching feet and sipped her drink.
“I haven’t had one of these in years,” Gaby said, savouring the creamy taste. “You know, the first time ever tried Bailey’s was during that summer I lived here with you, Aunt Jill. I think we’d gone out together to the cinema one evening and you poured us both a nightcap when we got back. I felt very grown up.”
“Yes, I think I remember that.” She nodded to Gaby’s glass and smiled. “Another walk down memory lane for you.”
