Chapter Eight
Eight
Kate assumed the text that arrived on her phone while she and Granny Viv were in the mini cab on their way back to the village for lunch at The White Lion pub, was from either Beth or Rose. When she saw it was from Raff, she nearly shrieked with delight.
Granny Viv gave her a curious look, probably wondering why Kate was trying to hide the screen from her view.
‘Is that a text from Beth or Rose?’ Granny Viv asked.
‘No. It’s from … someone I know. It’s not important. It can wait.’
Yeah right. It could wait until they arrived at the pub and then Kate would dash to the loo and read it right away.
‘If you don’t want me to see it, just say so and I’ll look the other way.’
‘Okay. I don’t want you to see it because it might contain something private.’
‘Ooh! Like what?’ Instead of turning away, Granny Viv shifted closer.
Kate should’ve known that wouldn’t work. She couldn’t move away because Rufus was seating on her other side. She shoved her phone back into her handbag and wrapped her arms around the bag.
‘Spoil sport,’ said Granny Viv.
‘Nosy parker,’ Kate replied.
Rufus yawned and rested his head on Kate’s shoulder. He was sooo sweet. Would her rescue dog be like him?
Granny Viv had an account with Bluewater Cars, the cab firm, so they got out as soon as the driver pulled up right outside the pub door. Kate held out her arm and Granny Viv linked her arm through Kate’s, while in her other hand she held her walking stick. Rufus trotted beside them.
They slowly made their way to the dining area in the pub and sat at Granny Viv’s favourite table by the window, where Rufus could tuck himself under the table and keep out of the way of people’s feet.
The pub was Olde Worlde both inside and out but the dining area had modern, high back, padded chairs and the modern wooden tables were covered with white linen tablecloths.
Today, being Valentine’s Day, the area was filled with heart shaped balloons, and strings of heart shaped lights, and each table had a vase containing a single red rose, albeit made of plastic. Well, it is the thought that counts.
Once Granny Viv and Rufus were settled, and they had ordered a bottle of wine – the reason they had come by cab and Kate hadn’t driven, Kate had said she needed the loo.
‘You mean you’re going to read that text,’ said Granny Viv.
‘Yes,’ said Kate. ‘I’ll have my usual if they come to take our orders before I get back.’
The pub’s menu wasn’t extensive and the favourite meal of several of the regulars, was a pie and a pint, but as neither Kate nor Granny Viv drank beer … or ate many pies, their usual meal when they came here was Fish and Chips with mushy peas, and Sticky Toffee Pudding and custard for dessert.
Kate dashed to the loo and opened the text.
‘I had fun today,’ it read. ‘If this is too soon, please say so, but I’d like to have coffee with you again. Or lunch. Or dinner. We can chat more about your rescue dog. The welcome sign at the entrance to the village made me laugh when I first saw it, but now I think it might be true. Raff.’
He hadn’t typed the wording of the welcome sign but Kate knew it by heart.
It said: ‘Please drive carefully. You are about to enter Bluewater Bay, where strangers become friends and friends feel like family. We hope you enjoy your stay.’
Was he saying that they were strangers who were now friends? Or was he suggesting that they might also be friends who feel like family? Meaning, something much closer than friends.
Kate quivered as delightful sensations ran up and down her body.
What was happening to her?
These tingles in parts of her body that hadn’t tingled for such a long time, and the butterflies flapping about in her tummy, weren’t about a rescue dog.
They were about a man. A man she had met on Valentine’s Day, just a few short hours before.
How could this be possible?
She didn’t want a man in her life. She wanted a dog.
A dog to chat to. A dog to go on walks with. A dog to cuddle up with. A dog to sleep in her bedroom but definitely not in, or on, her bed.
Oh, who was she kidding? A dog would be lovely, that was true. But a man … a man like Raff. Well, that was an entirely different kettle of fish.
Which threw up a whole new problem for her to worry about.
The last time she had kissed a man – a proper kiss, a passionate kiss, was more than ten years ago. That was also how long it had been since she had had sex.
Oh God! The thought of being naked with a man, especially Raff, was terrifying after all this time.
Was Raff thinking about any of this? Or was she counting her chickens before they hatched?
She was so anxious about it all that she completely forgot to respond to Raff’s text.
She returned to the dining area and took a large gulp of the white wine that was waiting for her in the glass on the table.
‘Is everything all right, darling?’ Granny Viv asked. ‘You look like a beetroot. I’ve never seen you so flushed.’
Kate’s hands instinctively shot to her cheeks as she sat down. Her flesh was hot to the touch. Perhaps she was sickening for something and that was why she was having all these strange feelings and sensations. Perhaps it wasn’t about Raff at all.
Oh for goodness’ sake. Why couldn’t she just stop thinking about the man?
This was what happened. Men always messed things up.
Even if they did nothing at all apart from send someone a text. Buy them a coffee. Retrieve a dog’s ball from the sea. Or simply smile in a particularly attractive way.
‘Kate? Are you listening?’ Granny Viv’s voice was rising. ‘Are you unwell?’
‘No. Sorry. I’m fine. I’ve just got a lot on my mind right now, that’s all.’ She emptied her wine glass in two long gulps and refilled it. ‘I’m starving. Have we ordered?’
‘Yes. Five minutes ago, so it won’t be too long to wait. Although the place is getting very busy now. Are you sure you’re okay?’
‘Absolutely. Don’t worry about me.’