33. Helen
HELEN
Helen held up the swimsuit against her body.
Its plunge neckline and the cut of the fabric across her stomach were very flattering.
But while the deep red worked when she had a hint of a tan, it didn’t do anything for her pasty white January skin.
She went back to the drawer and pulled out her black one.
Oh god, the elastic was starting to go on that.
Probably just as well. It looked like something her grandmother would have worn.
Intensely practical. Nigel would have no difficulty keeping his hands off her if she wore that. It would have to be the red one.
Why did you agree to try out the health club, Helen?
Because it sounded fun when Nigel had suggested it as an alternative to tennis for what had become their regular Friday morning trip out.
But she hadn’t factored in that she’d be semi-naked and showing off all the bumps and wrinkles that she’d acquired since he’d last seen her in a cossie.
Helen heard a car horn outside. Nigel was early.
She stuffed the swimsuit into her holdall and ran down the stairs.
Harry looked up from his breakfast. ‘Tom Cruise is outside.’
‘Ha bloody ha! You know it’s Nigel.’
‘He doesn’t look like a Nigel to me.’
Helen searched for her trainers. They should be on the shoe rack, but there was no sign of them. They could be anywhere. She opened the front door and stuck her head out to warn Nigel that she was still getting ready.
A highly polished, bright red, two-seater sports car with the roof down was parked on the drive, and a smiling Nigel was sitting in the driver’s seat, wearing aviator sunglasses.
‘What is that?’ she asked.
‘My new wheels.’
‘Yours?’
‘Yeah, all mine. The dealer delivered her yesterday afternoon.’
So that’s why he’d been reluctant to meet up for lunch.
‘Is there space in there for my sports bag?’
‘Unless you’re bringing a full-size suitcase, it will fit in the boot. It’s deceptively big.’
She wasn’t convinced, but she’d soon find out. ‘I’ll be out in two minutes.’
She rushed back into the kitchen. ‘Harry! Have you seen my trainers?’
‘They’re in here by the back door.’
Of course. She’d used them to go outside with Rocky earlier. She would’ve remembered that if she hadn’t been so distracted by what to wear.
She quickly put them on and grabbed her bag. ‘I may be out a while,’ she said to Harry before heading outside.
Nigel was leaning against his new car, his arms folded, like a retired Formula One driver posing for a magazine cover. It looked like he’d invested in a new fitted winter jacket too. Very flattering. ‘What do you think?’ he asked.
That you’re looking far too hot for me to behave myself with you. ‘Since when have you preferred driving a sports car?’
‘Our jaunt in Mum’s Triumph reminded me how fun it could be, so I did my research, found this beauty at the dealer in Exeter, gave her a spin, and now she’s all mine. I sense you disapprove?’
He sounded slightly disappointed.
‘No, not at all. It - sorry, she - is beautiful.’ Helen stroked her fingers across the paintwork on the bonnet, enjoying the warm feel of the metal. ‘You’ve just surprised me, that’s all. After that practical old Volvo you used to drive around in, it’s not what I was expecting.’
‘I’m done with being practical. I’ve earned some fun.’
Was that a meaningful look he was giving her? You need to find a way to get him to realise you’re even more fun than a sports car.
He took her bag and stowed it in the boot. It fitted perfectly.
She walked round to the passenger door.
‘Let me do that.’ Nigel grabbed the handle and opened the door wide.
‘I could get used to this level of attention,’ she said as she settled down on the soft leather seat.
He looked like he was about to say something but changed his mind.
‘Let’s go,’ he said as he headed back to the driver’s side.
‘And this is our state of the art gym,’ said Tasha, who was showing them around the facilities. It was full of people of all shapes, ages and sizes. What they had in common was that they were concentrating hard on their various exercises.
‘Excuse me for a second.’ Tasha headed over to one of the trainers.
‘This is all looking rather too much like hard work to me,’ Helen whispered when she was out of earshot.
Nigel glanced at her. ‘You don’t need to spend hours in here. You’re fit already.’
She felt her cheeks redden. Nigel looked away.
‘How does it compare to the gym in the middle of Dashford?’ she asked.
‘Much bigger, more equipment.’ He nodded at the long wall of windows that looked over the golf course and the rolling hills beyond. ‘And that view’s more inspiring than the bins behind the church.’
‘You might join then?’
‘We’ll see.’
Tasha returned. ‘Sorry, I needed to sort something out. Have you got any questions?’
‘No, it all seems fine so far,’ Nigel said.
‘Let’s go downstairs to the pool.’
A minute later she was handing them shoe covers. ‘You go through the men’s changing room,’ she said to Nigel. ‘Your partner and I will cut through the women’s and meet you by the steam room.’
Partner?
Nigel smiled. ‘See you on the other side, darling.’
Pity he didn’t mean it. Tasha led her through the changing room, pointing out the electronic lockers. Everything looked new and very minimalist, until they walked through the door into the pool area.
Helen gasped.
‘Is everything ok?’
‘I just wasn’t expecting a Greek temple.
’ If she’d been the interior designer on this project, there would be no fake Ionic columns and certainly not a detailed mural of the Greek countryside from several hundred years BCE, judging by the dress of the woman standing on the hillside. It was all quite bizarre.
But she’d forgive the fussy design because the pool was fantastic. And it had a narrow channel allowing you to swim into the outdoor pool. She could get used to being here.
Nigel was already standing by the side of the steam room. He smiled across at her. ‘I’m looking forward to trying this out.’
‘Me too.’