Hard to Love Page 12

  He sat back.

  ‘Mabel are you sensitive about things?’

  ‘About my bloody sleep, yes,’ she mumbled.

  ‘You seem to take my droplets of wisdom on the chin.’

  ‘Is there any other way to take them?’ Mabel turned and looked up at him, seeing he was topless. ‘To be honest, I’m not listening. I think you’re probably a bigger fuck-up than me. Mine only started after the split. Yours has been with you for a lifetime.’

  ‘Touché.’

  ‘At least you admit it.’ She sat up in the bed and took the glass of brandy out of his hand, glancing over. ‘You better have underwear on. I don’t want a fright, not at my age.’

  ‘I’m sure it will be a fright; sleeping in bed with you.’

  Mabel let out a loud laugh and noticed he started to giggle.

  ‘You can’t even have a hard on with me in the bed?’ she smiled and sipped the drink. ‘Thank you for making me feel safe.’

  ‘Unless you want me to slip it in?’

  ‘No, thanks.’

  ‘I don’t mind.’

  ‘Well, I do.’

  ‘Obviously for money.’

  ‘What?’ Mabel choked on her drink, before gulping hard. ‘You would only sleep with me for money?’

  ‘I’m sleeping with you now but if you want to have sex, that’ll be extra.’ Alex moved closer. ‘I’m reasonable.’

  ‘I’m sure you are.’ Letting out a large sigh, she ran her fingers through her hair. ‘Why did I agree to stop seeing Bob again?’

  ‘Because I blackmailed you. Have sex with me.’ Then he gave her one of his sexy smiles. ‘I’ll eventually get over the horror of it.’

  ‘How much?’

  ‘Are you considering it?’

  ‘No, just curious.’ Mabel grinned.

  ‘It won’t only be for money, you have to agree to the following. Eat oranges as they are good for you and stop moaning about my productions costs, but you can stitch up anyone else who is cheating the company.’

  ‘Except you.’

  ‘I’m not a thief,’ he said, the mood changing. ‘I don’t believe in shitting on your own doorstep.’

  ‘Thank you for your kind offer,’ she replied, knocking back her drink then sinking back into the bed. ‘But I’ll refrain from all three.’

  ‘I am very good in bed.’

  ‘If you go to sleep right now, you’ll be perfect.’

  ‘I’m on my way.’

  She was in the bathroom the following morning, talk to Lottie. ‘I’ll see you around lunchtime.’

  ‘Why are you whispering?’ her child asked from the other end of the phone. ‘Are the walls thin?’

  ‘Sort of. How’s your dad?’

  ‘I don’t think he’s well,’ she said sadly. Mabel knew Lottie would pick up on it. ‘And Granny Baba has been in a funny mood.’

  ‘That’s her all over. What about Jess?’

  ‘She’s oblivious to everything,’ came her sister’s surly reply. ‘Other than her phone.’

  ‘But you’re okay, aren’t you?’

  ‘It’s so much better here than at his other home,’ Lottie said, sounding happier.

  ‘I’ll take us out to lunch when I get back. Love you and give a big kiss to Jess.’

  ‘Love you too and I’m not doing that!’

  Mabel had been startled awake when finding Alex holding her very close. When she opened her eyes, it was only then she realised the full beauty of him and found herself staring. She slept peacefully, even though it was with Alex.

  It had been such a long time since she spent the night with a man who held her in his arms.

  The last person was Wes.

  But as she looked at Alex, it hit hard her loneliness and the need for someone in her life. On that note, she quietly got up and left him sleeping.

  He would scream out in fright if he woke up to see her.

  This way she could leave him to rest as the day before would have taken its toll.

  Making sure she removed all her things and checking around, she walked out of the bathroom.

  ‘There you are!’ he said, jumping out, making her fall back in surprise.

  Alex looked too alert in his underpants.

  He also looked sexy, which she didn’t reckon on.

  ‘You nearly gave me a heart attack!’ she said, standing up straight and walking to her case. ‘I thought you were sleeping.’

  ‘I was, then I woke up and you weren’t here. Plus, you don’t understand the concept of whispering.’ He stretched out in front of her and grinned. ‘I’m going to take a shower then we’ll have breakfast.’

  ‘I have to catch a train at nine thirty.’

  ‘Oh.’ Alex looked stumped. ‘We’re driving back and it’s only eight.’

  ‘We?’

  ‘Surely you didn’t think I’d let you come all the way here without giving you a lift home.’ He seemed perplexed. ‘We can have breakfast first. You’ll be in time to take the girls for lunch.’

  Then she realised he had been eavesdropping.

  ‘Don’t you want to say goodbye to your mum?’

  ‘I did that last night and said I had to get you back. Anyway, I parked my car here yesterday.’

  She realised he had planned this.

  ‘And your clothes?’ Mabel asked seeing him grin.

  ‘They’re here.’ He walked towards the wardrobe and opened the door. Inside was a bag. ‘I also dropped them off too.’

  ‘Get showered and changed. I’ll see you downstairs.’

  ‘Wait for me.’

  He then bolted into the bathroom with his bag, once again locking the door, before she heard the shower.

  Within five minutes, he was ready, wearing a white shirt and faded jeans.

  Alex seemed to look good in most things; she was starting to discover.

  ‘Let’s go,’ he said, checking the room then picking up her bag. ‘You need to check out.’

  They walked out and headed towards the reception.

  Mabel went to the desk and paid the bill.

  ‘That’s the amount Ms Day,’ the woman said.

  ‘Ms Day?’ he asked, shaking his head. ‘Her name is-.’

  ‘I’m Ms Day,’ Mabel replied, watching his confused expression, then handed her credit card over. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘Ms Day?’ Alex said once more. ‘You’re not called Drake?’

  ‘Nope.’ Then she saw him break out into a smile. It was obvious what was going to come next. ‘Mabel Day. May Day.’

  ‘Yes, May Day so I use Drake instead.’

  ‘On that note, I’ll take you out to a slap-up breakfast,’ he laughed.

  Mabel knew it was going to be a very long journey home.

  ‘McDonalds?’

  They were queuing, and she realised that Alex had been staring at her continuously, before breaking out into secret little smiles. ‘I’ve not been in one of these for years.’

  ‘May Day.’

  ‘Shut up!’ she hissed and turned to the server. ‘Sausage and egg McMuffin and a tea.’

  ‘A bacon one for me and milk.’

  Not wanting to stand with him, she walked away and waited for the food so they could head off to the car. He walked towards her with a large paper bag, and she followed him out, towards the hotel car park and then into his car.

  Sitting in the passenger seat, she watched him hand over the food and put out a holder for her drink.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said, unwrapping the food before biting into it. On the first taste, she knew some calories were being consumed and laughed. ‘This is what I craved for when I was hung over in the old days.’

  ‘I still do now.’

  ‘Are you hung over?’

  ‘No, just tired because you were trying to squeeze the dear life out of me.’ She immediately stopped eating and looked at him. ‘You were touchy-feely.’

  ‘Sorry.’ Mabel knew she was going red, thinking he was the one that hugged her. ‘I didn’t reali
se.’

  ‘That’s okay. I won’t tell anyone.’

  Suddenly she felt bad about even touching Alex.

  Her appetite had gone completely.

  ‘Aren’t you going to eat that?’ he asked, looking at her quizzically.

  ‘You have it. I don’t want to spoil my lunch.’ Then she braced herself. ‘You know what? Maybe you should drop me off at the station, and I’ll get the train. I need to pick up some bits and pieces in town before I head back home. There might be traffic and-.’

  ‘You’re overly sensitive.’ Alex turned and took the food out of her hand. ‘I didn’t say I didn’t like it. I enjoyed holding you if I’m honest.’

  ‘Alex, just drop me off. I don’t think I can face being in a small confined space with you for nearly two hours.’

  ‘But bed’s the exception?’ he sighed.

  Then she heard the doors of the car lock and turned to look at him, as he smiled while eating her breakfast.

  ‘Are you going to shout ‘May Day’ if you’re stuck?’ Alex then laughed. ‘I can see why you call yourself Drake.’

  Then he took the bag, shoved the wrappers in and flung it on the back seat.

  ‘Company car?’ she asked, looking around to see what her profits were being spent on. ‘Looks expensive.’

  ‘It’s nice,’ he said, wiping his mouth before pulling out and heading for the road. ‘There are good perks to the company. They seem very caring and generous to their employees.’

  ‘I don’t get any perks,’ she honestly replied.

  ‘You get to leave early.’

  ‘I don’t get paid for the hours I don’t work, you know.’

  ‘Flexible working is a positive thing.’

  ‘It’s a legal request,’ she replied before sitting back in her seat. ‘They make me work my hours.’

  ‘Don’t you like Calum or Joanna?’

  ‘They have their moments,’ she honestly replied and checked her phone. ‘Their focus is to make the place really successful.’

  ‘And what’s your focus?’

  ‘To make sure my kids are happy and want for nothing.’

  Just then she glanced at Alex, who seemed unhappy by the comment.

  This was when Mabel thought it was time for silence.

  He was probably still upset about the day before and needed some peace and quiet to contemplate.

  ‘Can’t you sing any louder?’

  She asked sarcastically, covering her ears as Alex broke out into song.

  Mabel was trying to think, and he was constantly singing.

  He didn’t have a bad voice, but she wanted silence.

  Wes was having an operation, and she was worried about the girls finding out. She knew there was more to it, and he wasn’t letting on.

  ‘May Day, what’s up?’ he asked, humming. ‘You’ve been frowning for the last half hour.’

  ‘Got things on my mind.’ She glanced at a service station. ‘Can we stop off? I need to go for a pee.’

  ‘In fifteen minutes,’ he said, before moving lane.

  ‘You like to drive fast.’

  ‘I’m a very good driver as well as other things.’ He flicked her a sideways glance. ‘You know what I said last night.’

  ‘About what?’

  ‘Payment for sex. I meant it.’

  ‘Are you a hooker?’ she said, turning to look at him. ‘That’s not exactly the right image Wyatt Haynes wants to give.

  ‘I don’t usually sell my body for money, but I’m willing to make an exception. Based on your recent expression, you look frustrated. I take it that’s sexual.’

  Mabel slowly shook her head from side to side. His topic of conversation only further confirmed her opinion of creatives.

  Sex on the brain and very little brain in the head.

  ‘You think my frown, as you call it, is my desperate sex face?’ She let out a long groan. ‘Let’s not talk.’

  ‘You think I’m irritating?’

  ‘I think your dad’s funeral was yesterday and your head is a little mushed up.’

  ‘It’s not. I’m fine.’

  ‘Grief is a complicated thing.’

  ‘It was painless and I’m coming to terms with it. I’m more worried about my mum.’ Alex’s voice changed. ‘I’d hate to lose her. It’s not about the genetic connection, just the love.’

  And then, he redeemed himself in her eyes.

  ‘My mum’s not genetically connected to me, but I don’t know what I’d do if I lost her or my brother. And I don’t even want to contemplate my kids. That would break my heart.’ Then she pondered. ‘With my ex-mother in law, I could cope.’

  He started to laugh and turned the music down.

  ‘I like your company,’ he eventually said. ‘There’s something calming but annoying at the same time.’

  ‘Thank you. I think I know what you mean. I feel the same way about you,’ she honestly replied.

  ‘Plus, I’m good looking, so that’s a bonus.’

  ‘So bloody vain. A bit like my ex.’

  ‘He’s hot.’

  ‘Take him. Wes is single now so I’m sure he won’t mind.’ Then she frowned, thinking about his operation in over three weeks. ‘He’ll need some time to recover from the break.’

  ‘You’ve been thinking about Wes,’ he whispered as she turned to look at him. ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘Nothing. Let’s change the subject.’

  This time Alex seemed concerned before reaching into his glove compartment purposely knocking her breast and smiling.

  ‘Peel this.’

  Alex held out an orange.

  ‘I can’t peel oranges,’ she said honestly. ‘I make a mess.’

  ‘How did your kids get given fruit when they were little?’

  ‘Wes dealt with it.’

  ‘Give it a try.’ He handed her a tissue as he put the orange on her lap. ‘It’s easy.’

  ‘Are they easy peelers?’

  ‘That’s satsumas and tangerines.’

  ‘Fine.’

  Mabel held the orange and dug her thumb nail in, pulling the peel off. It wasn’t coming away easily, so she had to take several small pieces and gradually worked around the orange. Then she set about removing the pith, the thing she mostly disliked about the fruit, so there were no sinewy bits.

  Once all accomplished and feeling pleased with herself, Mabel held it up.

  ‘That took you nearly fifteen minutes,’ Alex mumbled, looking unimpressed. ‘Your kids must be deficient in vitamin C.’

  She dropped it onto his lap and found some wet wipes in the compartment, taking one out and wiping her hands.

  ‘How do you suppose I’m going to eat it?’ he asked.

  ‘With your mouth?’

  ‘Can’t you at least break it up into segments?’

  Taking a deep breath, she reached out between his legs and grabbed the orange, watching him smirk. Then she pulled the segments apart and looked at him.

  ‘Where do you want me to put these?’ she asked.

  ‘In my mouth.’

  ‘Your mouth?’ Mabel shook her head. ‘You want me to feed you?’

  ‘That’s very kind of you to offer. Yes, thanks.’

  ‘I wasn’t-.’

  There was no point even rising to it.

  She held a segment to his lips as he took it out of her fingers, chewing slowly.

  Mabel watched this man look like he was in heaven as he tasted the fruit.

  It was surprising to see he genuinely had a love of oranges.

  Again, she fed him, all in silence, watching him keep his eyes on the road and eat his orange before it was all gone. Then she sat back, wiped her hands and looked out onto the road.

  ‘And when you sleep,’ he suddenly said. ‘It’s quite funny. You kick off the duvet cover because you’re too hot. Then you pull it back on. And trying to get some covers off you were a hassle. You held on for dear life.’ He laughed. ‘And then when I touched you, you slapped me away. Th
en when I touched you again, you snuggled up to me. You’re quite confused.’

  ‘Anything else?’ she asked, not wanting to look at him.

  ‘Your nightdress rode above your waist.’

  That’s when she froze and turned sharply to look at him.

  ‘What did you see?’ she gulped, feeling the hot pain of humiliation.

  ‘I tried not to look down as you weren’t wearing knickers,’ he said, starting to blush. ‘I thought it was a little odd if I knew what was down there.’

  ‘Thank goodness!’ Mabel let out a loud sigh. ‘I wouldn’t want to leave you mentally scarred for life.’

  ‘That’s what I was afraid of.’

  There was nothing she could say to him.

  It was hard to figure out of he was being honest, funny or just bloody rude.

  ‘Thanks for the lift.’

  Mabel got out of the car as he sat smiling.

  ‘Thanks for letting me stay the night, flashing your bits at me, as well as peeling an orange.’ Alex then let out a sigh, leaning back into his seat. ‘But most of all, thank you for coming with me yesterday. I needed something to distract me, and that’s what you usually do.’

  ‘Okay, are you being mean or nice?’

  ‘Neither.’

  ‘Do you speak to other people the way you speak to me?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Nothing,’ she shrugged not wanting to get involved in a further conversation. ‘Enjoy the rest of your weekend.’

  Closing the car door, she turned and walked to her front door then realised Alex was standing behind her. She slowly turned to look at his quizzical expression.

  ‘You don’t think I’m particularly nice to you, is that what you’re saying?’ he asked, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets. ‘The thing is, I’m not sure how to act. Sometimes you seem quite angry and the next happy. It’s a weird mix. Even the way you peeled my orange told me so much about you.’

  ‘How?’ Mabel semi shouted and laughed at the same time. ‘You can’t judge people on how they deal with fruit.’ Then she thought. ‘Other than a banana.’

  ‘Ah, the banana thing. Do I need to check your fruit bowl?’

  ‘You don’t need to check my fruit bowl and please don’t give me your analysis. Right now, I have other things on my mind.’ Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, putting her hands on his shoulders. ‘I’m sad for your loss.’