8. Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Sheila
“ M orning,” Josh’s raspy voice greets me as I open my eyes.
“Morning,” I rub my nose, like I always do when I wake up, and slide deeper into the duvet curling up against his side.
“How about some breakfast?” He places soft kisses along my naked shoulders.
“What are you offering?” I grin.
“Poached eggs on toast?” he offers.
“You can poach eggs?”
“One day I’ll make you my Beef Wellington and you won’t question my culinary skills anymore.” He looks rather pleased with himself.
“I don’t eat mushrooms, Chef.”
“Just for you I’ll make it without,” he places a soft kiss on my lips.
“Wellington would turn in his grave. But poached eggs sound great.” My fingers slide through his hair. I can’t remember the last time I felt so content and relaxed.
“Poached eggs coming up. I’ve put a hair dryer and stuff in the bathroom for you.” Josh gives me one last kiss before crawling out from under the duvet. His arse looks delicious in those black boxer briefs and I give him a little whistle, which makes him chuckle.
“I might jump in the shower, if that’s okay?” I ask.
“Feel free: shower, bath, take your time. I’ll get everything ready and poach the eggs when you’re down,” he says before leaving me alone in the bedroom. I curl up again under the duvet and close my eyes for a few seconds. I can smell his scent all around me. I can still feel every touch and kiss from last night on my skin. That was sex like I’ve never had before. Mind-blowing. I’m sure we can make this work. Friends with benefits. Perfect. Suddenly the idea from last night doesn’t sound quite so crazy anymore.
“I don’t know, something’s different with you. You have been so darn cheerful for the last two weeks. Have you won the lottery?” Marisa watches me with curiosity as I enter guest details into a reservation. Two of our receptionists have called in sick and so I’m helping out for a couple of hours until the afternoon shift comes in.
“There’s nothing different with me. Did Chef drop off the menus for the book publishing conference in four weeks? Tommy’s in the office this afternoon and I want to discuss them with him.” I try to divert before greeting Ms Hallett, a travel blogger currently staying with us .
“Yes, I’ve emailed them to you. Hey, Ella, doesn’t she look different?” I look up and see Ella and baby Nicky walking through the lobby.
“Sorry I’m walking through, but I forgot my keys to the ground floor entrance,” she mumbles sheepishly.
“Oh, please, don’t apologise. We all love to see the little princess and you, of course. How’s she doing?”
“She slept through for the first time last night,” Ella grins. “Tommy is taking full credit for it of course.”
“The baby whisperer,” Marisa and I say in unison, causing us all to break out in giggles. Tommy has proudly told everyone how he has the magic touch to get his daughter to sleep. He doesn’t mention that it’s usually against his chest and whenever he puts her down she starts to cry again.
“But coming back to Sheila, she won’t tell me what, but something got her into a super chipper mood the last two weeks.”
“Did you get laid,” Ella jokes. She worked with us when she was Tommy’s assistant before the two of them fell in love, so she and I know each other quite well.
“No,” I reply but I emphasise the “o” for way too long and focus way too hard on the computer monitor in front of me.
“Oh my god, you did!” Marisa whisper-shouts as a group of old ladies walk past the front desk.
“Who is it?” Ella leans over the reception with interest. Even Nicky seems to scrutinise me with her big baby eyes.
“Nobody.” I try again.
“Josh!” Marisa shouts suddenly, causing Nicky to startle.
“Who is Josh?” Ella asks animated .
“The hot firefighter who she has been arguing—aka flirting—with every time we have another alarm.”
“Oh my god, a firefighter! That’s hot.” Ella fans herself.
“You should see him, he’s uber hot. Like fire-fighter-wet-dream hot!” Marisa replies.
“Can you two stop this? What will the guests think? As you are not busy, Marisa, I’ll leave you to it and go back to my office,” I challenge her.
“No guests around. Just tell us... are you dating him now?”
“No!” I exclaim before adding slightly less hysterically, “No, we agreed, no dating. I don’t have time for that. We are benefit friends.”
“Friends with benefits?” Marisa has to hold back a laugh.
“That. Nothing more.”
“That’s poppycock. You are not a friends-with-benefits person and given that he has been lusting after you for months, I doubt he is either.”
“Well, that’s what we’re doing, so ha to you.”
“You can tell yourself that but mark my words: no way will you be able to fight your feelings.” Marisa gives me another smirk.
“There are no feelings and I’m going now.” I ignore their protests and walk out from behind the reception desk. The butterflies in my tummy, however, tell me that they might not be wrong.
My freshly dried hair feels soft when I slide my fingers through it to untangle the last of my locks. The woman looking back from the mirror looks different than she did a few weeks ago. She looks happier and more relaxed.
There weren’t many opportunities for Josh and I to hook up after our first night together. With his shifts and my sons on summer holidays, it took MI5 level sneaking around to get some “us” time in, but we managed, and each time has been better than the last. Josh is a gifted orgasm provider, but he is also much more. I love hooking up with him, but lying in his arms, chatting about everything and nothing, I think I love that even more. We have a lot in common and I have to remind myself constantly that this is just fun and nothing more.
The doorbell pulls me from my thoughts. I can’t help but grin like a child at Christmas when I make my way downstairs to let Josh in.
Kieran and Gregory are back at school, I’m off today as I have to work on Saturday, and Josh is just coming off a nightshift. Which means we have seven uninterrupted hours ahead of us before the boys get back.
“Hey you,” I great him with a big smile. Tired eyes look back at me. “Are you okay?” I ask, concerned. Josh doesn’t answer but just pulls me in his arms and kisses me passionately.
“I am now, angel,” he mumbles as he nuzzles against my neck. Cupping his face with both of my hands I make him look at me.
“Seriously, Josh. You look ... shattered.”
“We had four alarms last night. I think I only slept for thirty minutes. But that doesn’t matter now, I can sleep later when you kick me out.” He tries to pull me back into his embrace.
“Or, we can take a power nap now and then make the most of it once you’re reenergised,” I suggest.
“I don’t want to waste precious time sleeping,” he pushes back.
“What if I nap with you? I had to work late yesterday and then get the kids off to school early this morning, so I could do with a nap as well.”
“A naked nap?” Josh grins.
“Semi-naked. Let’s keep some clothes on because otherwise you can’t keep your hands to yourself and you need some sleep, baby.”
“Fine,” he grumbles before lifting me into his arms and carrying me towards my bedroom.
“You do know I can walk,” I laugh.
“Just showing you that I’m full of energy,” he replies, failing to hold back a yawn.
Surprisingly he doesn’t fight any further once we get to the bedroom. As soon as he sees the bed he strips off to his boxers and slides under the duvet. I get changed into my pjs in the bathroom and when I come back he holds out his arms for me and I happily curl up in them. He pulls me against his chest and I immediately feel relaxed and content.
His lips find mine and I can’t hold back a moan. He is probably the best kisser I have ever known.
“Are you sure we can’t have a little fun first,” he mumbles but even the tone of his voice tells me that he needs some sleep.
“No, nap first, fun later,” I order. Josh sighs and pulls me closer before settling his head onto the pillow .
The warmth coming from him engulfs me and my eyes are drifting closed just as I remember that I should probably set an alarm. But the thought disappears the second it hits me and I just sink into the comfort of the moment.
A loud bang echoes through the house and pulls me from my sleep.
“Mum,” Gregory’s voice travels up from the ground floor. Oh shit!
“Josh!” I gently try to shake him awake. He stirs and a smile appears on his lips.
“Is it time for some fun now?” he chuckles when he opens his eyes fully and pulls me back into his arms turning us so he lands on top of me.
“No,” I hiss, “the boys are back!”
“Oh shit,” he breathes out.
Why did I not set the sodding alarm clock??
“Mum?” Gregory’s voice is right outside the bedroom door.
“I’ll be down in a minute, honey,” I call out and, in my panic, throw the duvet over Josh. Muffled laughter tells me that he finds it highly amusing and I smack him through the duvet.
“Stop it,” I hiss again.
“Kieran’s hungry and I’m heading out again,” Gregory shouts through the door.
“No, wait!” I exclaim and race to the bedroom door. I peer through a gap out into the corridor. Gregory is leaning against the opposite wall, his arms crossed in front of his chest, and studies me.
“Were you sleeping?”
“Yes, it was a late night yesterday,” I stutter.
“Alone?” He looks pissed off.
“What?” I squeak, my voice an octave higher than usual.
“Well, there are men’s boots downstairs and a man’s trousers on the chair.” He points behind me. I made sure that the bed is out of view but missed the chair and clothes.
“I’m not going to discuss this here in the corridor. Go downstairs, give Kieran some fruit and I’ll be down in a minute and we can have a chat,” I suggest.
“I’m going out. Don’t have time for a family meeting,” he replies stubbornly.
“It’s a school night and how about asking for permission first? Where are you going?”
“Out.”
“You’ve said this much. Can I have more details please?”
“Just meeting some mates from school,” he shrugs like it’s not a big deal but avoids my gaze all the same.
“Not today—”
“But mu—”
“No, Gregory, not today. Let’s have a family dinner.”
He wants to say so much more to me but instead he just pushes off the wall angrily and heads for the stairs without another word.
I sigh and return to the bedroom.
“So, I guess we’re finally making it official?” Josh is sitting on the bed with a big grin on his face.
“Not sure I share your enthusiasm. Tell me what I should say to them. ‘Hey, boys, meet mummy’s shag buddy’?” I drop onto the mattress next to him. Josh slides his arm around my waist and pulls me closer.
“How about, ‘boys, this is my boyfriend’?” He kisses my neck. Not fair, he knows that is my kryptonite.
“Josh, we talked about this—”
“I know but Sheila, admit it, what we have had over the last few weeks is much more than just friends with benefits. We talk and text almost every day and whenever we hook up it’s not just a shag and job done. I’ve learned so much about you in the last few weeks, and all I know is that I want more. I want as much time with you as I can get and I want to be part of your life, and that includes meeting the boys.” His cheeky, boyish grin has disappeared and he is dead serious. I should be pushing back but, somehow, his words make me feel all gooey and I don’t want to fight it any longer.
Surely, the boys will understand. They’re not little children anymore and they have no problem with Nicholas having a significant other.
I lean against Josh’s chest.
“I’m scared,” I whisper.
“Scared of what?”
“Of upsetting the boys. Of getting it wrong. Of allowing you in and losing you when you see what chaos my life is.”
Josh cups my chin and makes me look at him.
“It’ll be new for them, given that you’ve lived the life of a nun,” he chuckles. “We have to allow some time for it to settle down. Let’s give them, and us, a chance. I’ll promise you I’ll back off if me being around still causes issues in a few weeks.”
“I’m so nervous,” I sigh and clamber from the bed. We get dressed in silence before heading downstairs.
The voice of the football commentator from the TV is the only noise in the house. When Josh and I step into the living room, Kieran gives me a big grin. Gregory, on the other hand, barely looks up from his mobile where he is furiously typing. Josh places his hand gently on my back to tell me that he is with me.
“Kieran, Gre… Gee, you have both met Josh before. Josh and I have been spending some time together and are… kind of, well, we are dating.”
Gregory’s eyes narrow as he studies first me and then homes in on Josh. I glance at Josh and he is steadfast in his eye contact with Gee.
“We have been seeing each other for a while, but we feel it is time that Josh spends some time with the whole family.”
“That’s cool. Maybe he can make us that cake he baked for the Scouts. I barely got any,” Kieran grins.
“See, someone who values my cooking,” Josh chuckles. My eyes are still focused on Gregory. Something is brewing inside of him.
“Now we’ve met him—not that we haven’t before—can I go?” he challenges me.
“I said you’re staying at home today.”
“Why?” he pushes back.
“Because you have school tomorrow and you’ve already been out twice this week, and I would like us to have dinner together,” I argue back.
“Wait, just because you’ve shagged a guy, we now have to play happy family? I have a girlfriend too, you know,” he shouts. I’m speechless for a minute because he’s never spoken to me like this before .
“Josh, maybe you should leave,” I turn and see his face fall.
“But—”
“Please. I don’t need this now as well. Let me deal with my boys, I’ll call you.” I step away from his embrace and towards the door. From the corner of my eye I notice Gregory getting up from his chair.
“You, stay!” I point at him before following Josh to the door.
“Let me be here for you,” he pleads and there is pain and fear on his face.
“This is why I didn’t think it was a good idea.”
“Give him time,” he replies stubbornly.
“Josh—”
He presses a kiss on my lips and doesn’t let me finish the sentence.
“No, Sheila. Don’t say anything now that will hurt us both. I’ll go and let you deal with your sons and then we’ll talk.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
“You’re an amazing mother, never doubt yourself. I’d rather not think of the pain I put my parents through when I was fifteen. Give it time,” he begs.
“Okay, I’ll speak to you later.” I give him one last peck on the cheek before closing the door. Time to face the music.