Chapter 44
Finally, after even more cupcakes, it was time for Lauren to leave. While Joel helped the boys to put the game away, Marc and Lauren headed back to the kitchen to pack away Lauren’s aprons and baking equipment. It had been such a lovely afternoon that Marc didn’t want it to end.
There was something he had been meaning to ask Lauren all afternoon, but what with Joel’s sudden arrival, he hadn’t had a chance to. Now might be his last opportunity in person. He cleared his throat nervously.
‘So,’ he began, ‘Noah, Bella and Joel are taking the twins up to London the day after tomorrow, just for one night. It was a surprise Christmas gift, and all a bit last-minute, so I’ll completely understand if you’re busy, but if you’ve not got any plans for that evening, would you like to come back round for dinner? Just you and me.’
Lauren’s packing of the box she’d brought with her paused, and as she looked up at him, Marc saw a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.
‘It’s all right,’ he said gently. ‘I have zero expectations, other than the two of us having a nice evening, uninterrupted by the boys or my brother.’ He moved around to where she was standing by the kitchen island.
‘I need this to go slowly, Lauren. And, I think, if you’re being honest, you do, too.
’ He gently tucked a strand of her brown hair back behind her ear.
‘You and I… we’re on the same page, I promise. ’
‘It’s a lovely invitation,’ Lauren said, a careful tone in her voice. She stretched upwards, and his senses reeled as she kissed him, very gently.
‘But?’ Marc said softly.
Lauren looked surprised. ‘But… nothing. I wasn’t going to turn you down! I’d love to come over for dinner.’
Marc’s face grew hot. ‘Sorry,’ he muttered. ‘It was just that the way you spoke suggested you were going to let me down gently.’
‘Oh, God,’ Lauren groaned. ‘I’m sorry. I’m a bit rubbish at picking the right tone. I actually did just mean it was a lovely invitation.’ It was her turn to look embarrassed, before, obviously trying to style it out, she laughed. ‘It’s something you’ll have to get used to with me.’
Marc hugged her in relief. ‘I’d like to get used to it,’ he murmured into her hair.
‘I’d like that, too.’
They cuddled, and Marc breathed in the scent of Lauren’s shampoo, and something that was exclusively Lauren.
His senses reeled again. It had been so long since he’d been close to someone in this way.
It was simultaneously exciting and terrifying.
His body responded strongly, and he had to take several deep breaths to stop that response from becoming obvious.
Trying to flood his brain with images of elderly politicians naked, and tricky spellings, worked a little, but he could already feel his pent-up desire.
He silently reminded himself about what he’d said to Lauren.
Slow but steady was the resolution. He wished he could tell his groin that.
‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ Lauren said as they broke apart again. ‘Is there anything you want me to bring?’
‘Only yourself.’ Marc ran a nervous hand through his hair. ‘Let me take care of the rest. You’ve done enough today.’
As they walked back out of the kitchen, Lauren poked her head around the living room door again.
‘Bye, boys. See you soon.’
Smiling, both boys said goodbye. Marc was relieved that they seemed to get on well with Lauren. If this developed the way he wanted it to, they were going to be seeing a lot more of each other.
Marc walked her out to her car.
‘See you about seven tomorrow?’
Lauren nodded. ‘I’m looking forward to it.
’ She glanced back towards the house, checking to make sure the boys couldn’t see them, and then placed another kiss on his mouth.
It was all he could do to stop himself from taking her in his arms there and then.
One thing was for sure: no-one had had this effect on his libido since Tessa.
He figured that was a good sign. He waited until her car’s taillights had disappeared down the lane and then headed back into the house.
‘You two seem to be getting on well,’ Joel said without preamble as Marc went back into the living room. ‘What’s the story? Making progress?’
‘No story,’ Marc shot back firmly, signalling towards the twins with his eyes.
Joel got the message and didn’t press further, but Marc had the feeling he was going to be in for the Spanish Inquisition when the boys were in bed.
Sure enough, once the boys were tucked up, shattered from the day, Joel returned to the subject.
‘Now, correct me if I’m wrong, big brother, but you haven’t had a proper relationship since Tessa passed. And now, just after moving into a picturesque English country village, you’re getting cosy with the owner of the local café? If that’s not a recipe for a rom-com, then I don’t know what is!’
‘Sod off,’ Marc replied, but without rancour. It was easier, in the long run, to humour Joel, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to give too much away just yet. ‘Lauren came over to bake some cakes with the kids.’
‘And I caught you glancing at her, er, muffins, once or twice while she was here!’
‘It’s not like that.’ Although, hugging Lauren in the kitchen had felt a lot like that.
‘It’s all right to admit it, you know.’ Joel settled back on the sofa, a glass of red wine in his hand. ‘No-one expects you to live like a monk forever. Tessa died two years ago. I think you’ve spent enough time honouring her memory.’
That was the thing about Joel, Marc thought in vague irritation – he might be annoying, tactless and full of Blarney, but he didn’t beat around the bush.
Noah was diplomatic to his core, Marc a little too diffident for his own good.
Joel had inherited the forthright genes, probably from their mother, who never spared anyone’s feelings.
‘Well, I’m glad I’ve got your permission,’ Marc said wryly. He poured himself a glass from the bottle that Joel had brought in. ‘I mean, I feel I can proceed with a clear conscience now.’
‘Ha-ha.’ Joel took another swig. ‘No, seriously, mate, I’m happy for you.’
‘Give it a rest.’
Joel leaned forward and put his wine glass down on the table that sat between the two sofas.
‘Look,’ he said softly, ‘I know I’ve been a shit brother.
I wasn’t there for you when you needed me after Tessa died.
I was too caught up in career crap and wanting to get as far away from family stuff as I could.
’ His eyes shone in the low light from the lamps in the corner of the room.
‘I should have visited you more, checked in more. There’s no excuse for that. ’
‘We survived,’ Marc said flatly. ‘We had to.’
‘I know.’ Joel stood up and looked out of the picture window.
The moon was rising over the lake. The mist had cleared about an hour ago, leaving a cool, silvery glow in the sky.
He gave a low, slightly scratchy chuckle.
‘Maybe it’s this place… maybe it’s seeing how much the boys have grown since I last saw you all.
Maybe it’s just that I’m getting old, but I want you to know…
I’m sorry. I should have been there for you. ’
If Marc hadn’t been sitting down, he was sure he would have fallen over in surprise.
Joel’s rule had always been never explain, never apologise.
He’d learned that from their mother, too, Marc thought bitterly.
She’d run a mile, and further, as soon as Joel had turned eighteen, and never looked back from her house in Spain.
They’d all survived, but the scars were there.
‘You’re here now,’ Marc said, slightly roughly. ‘That’s all that matters.’ He stood up to look at the moonlit view across the lake.
‘I can see why you love it here.’ Joel turned away from the window, and to Marc’s surprise, his eyes were glistening. He watched as Joel rubbed impatiently at them. ‘Sorry. I don’t know what it is, but I’m feeling a bit out of it tonight.’
‘Must be all the booze,’ Marc quipped.
‘Maybe.’ Joel looked at him again. ‘Thank you. I know I kind of sprung this extended visit on you, but… I needed to see you. To be here. To remember that I do have a family.’
‘Bloody hell, Joel, what’s brought all this on?’ Marc sensed there was more to this than met the eye. Perhaps now wasn’t the time to get to the bottom of it, but he vowed he would before Joel left again.
‘Oh, nothing.’ Joel gave him an unconvincing smile. ‘Christmas makes me sentimental. But let’s not talk about that. Let’s talk about you and Lauren. What’s your next move, buddy? Wine? Dancing? Dinner?’
And just like that, Joel the extrovert was back in the room. Marc sighed. ‘I like her, and she likes me. She’s coming for dinner tomorrow. We’re taking it slowly.’
‘Really? When you’ll have an empty house for the whole night?’ Joel raised a suggestive eyebrow. ‘Let me know if you need a few seduction tips. I mean, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? I bet you can hardly remember how you pulled Tessa, it was so long ago!’
Marc didn’t grace that with a response. The last thing he needed was sex tips from his younger brother. Besides, nothing like that was going to happen. Slowly was the name of the game, and he was happy with that. Honestly.