Twenty
It had been a pleasant afternoon, and Rachel enjoyed Luke’s company. She was feeling more relaxed with him now, and the visit to the brewery had been enlightening and fun. It wasn’t somewhere she’d ever thought of visiting, but she’d enjoyed it more than she’d expected. Even the beer had tasted good.
When she sensed the car slow down as they approached Bob’s house, Rachel felt her stomach lurch, and when Luke suggested dinner, her first impulse was to refuse. But he was right. It was getting late. The trip to the brewery along with the tour and the tastings had taken longer than she anticipated, and her stomach was telling her it had been a long time since lunch. With the option of returning to an empty house where Molly was still a shadow of her former self and the prospect of leftovers for dinner, or a barbecued steak with salad in Luke’s company, she knew she couldn’t refuse. ‘Thanks, it’s kind of you to offer,’ she said, to see his mouth turn up in a smile which sent a shiver down her spine.
Rachel had never been inside Bob’s house so, when she followed Luke in to be greeted enthusiastically by Nelson, she gazed around. The house had the same aspect as hers did, but there the similarity ended. Whereas Rachel’s home resembled a cosy farmhouse, this one obviously belonged to a single man with its dark furnishings, tiled floor and leather sofa and armchairs. One wall held a large television screen, and the others were filled with bookcases. In one corner was a bar which, at first glance, held about every type of spirit and liqueur Rachel could name, plus a few she wasn’t familiar with. A large sound system took pride of place beside the television.
‘A bit different from your place,’ Luke said, pulling on his beard. ‘I take it Bob never married?’
‘I think there’s a story there,’ she said with a smile, ‘but no one seems to know the details. He’s been on his own as long as I can remember.’
‘It’s comfortable enough. Suits Nelson and me. And there’s lots of room for when Josh and Abby come to visit.’ He slid open the French windows and stepped out onto a flagged courtyard in the centre of which was a fire pit. Around the pit were several seats fashioned from logs. ‘Seems Bob’s a bit of a woodworker,’ Luke said.
Rachel looked more closely at the seats, noticing they were hand carved, as was a large table sitting closer to the house. It featured a set of regular canvas chairs which looked the worse for wear. On a wall at right angles to the house stood a top-of-the-range barbecue.
‘This won’t take long,’ Luke said, turning on the gas and lighting it.
‘Can I help?’ Rachel wasn’t used to being waited on.
‘You’ll find the salad makings in the fridge, and if you could bring out the steaks…’
‘Sure.’ Rachel headed inside, followed by Nelson who, like Molly, knew when food was on offer. She easily found the steaks and salad fixings. The steaks were already marinating, making her wonder if Luke had planned this. But he would have had to eat anyway… though two steaks? She carried them to where Luke still stood at the barbecue, then went back inside. This time, Nelson didn’t follow her, the scent of the meat proving more attractive than either her company or the salad.
By the time the steaks were done, it was almost dark, and Luke turned on a wall light attached to the house which provided just enough illumination to eat by and an ambiance not unlike the one at her home the previous evening.
‘This is lovely,’ Rachel said, accepting a second glass of the red wine which Luke had thoughtfully provided for her, preferring to drink beer himself. The steak was cooked to perfection and Nelson, having gulped down a small piece of steak, seemed satisfied to lie at their feet. She could hear the roar of the ocean in the distance and, looking up, could see the stars twinkling in the sky.
‘I agree. Good food, good drink and good company, what more could I ask for?’ Luke said.
‘Mmm.’ Rachel agreed. She wasn’t convinced he was being honest about the company but a tiny voice in her head told her not to belittle herself.
Before coming outside, Luke had turned on the sound system to play a medley of tunes from the eighties through an outside speaker. When the music finally died away, he rose to go inside, obviously to change it.
‘I should go now,’ Rachel said, rising too. ‘Thanks for today, Luke. It’s been lovely. I’ve really enjoyed it. But I need to get back. Molly will be wondering where I am. I need to let her out, give her something to eat and check her water. No,’ she said, seeing him take his car keys from his pocket, ‘I can walk back over the bluff. It’s not far.’
‘I don’t like to think of you walking back alone in the dark. I’ll come with you. Nelson needs a walk, and I need to stretch my legs too.’
Rachel didn’t refuse, the prospect of spending more time with Luke too good to miss.
It was pleasant walking together in the dark, their way only lit by the light of the moon and the stars. When Rachel stumbled on a clump of grass, Luke steadied her and didn’t remove the hand he’d placed on her arm once they moved on. A wave of warmth flooded her. Rachel felt as if she was in a dream.
They stopped when they reached Rachel’s gate. The house was in darkness apart from the Christmas tree lights which she’d left on. It made the place look cheerful. ‘Thanks again,’ she said, turning towards him.
‘Thank you , Rachel,’ he said, his voice suddenly hoarse. Then his lips met hers in the gentlest of kisses.
Rachel felt herself sink into him, returning the kiss which was the last thing she’d expected. Their lips parted then met again, brushing together as gently as before.
‘I’ll be busy this week, but I’ll be in touch,’ he said, as Nelson started to whine, tired of standing still.
Rachel put a finger to the lips he’d kissed, her heart racing as she watched him walk away.