Chapter 29 I’m glad I chose my red bikini
I'm glad I chose my red bikini
Morgan
Sunbeams dance upon my face.
A lightness blooms within this place.
Laughter bubbles, sweet and free.
Joyful, simple me.
I’ve been willing every day to be over since Paddy told me he was taking me away. And now it’s here. Friday. And my tummy is housing so many butterflies, I’m pretty sure if I open my mouth, they’ll flutter out.
Why am I this nervous?
Chucking my bag into the boot of his car, I say goodbye to Mum and Dad who are nervously twittering together. “I’ll be fine,” I tell them, trying to put their minds at ease.
They may have apologised for being so overprotective, but this is new to them. Letting me go away.
Their lingering eyes stay on my every movement.
My first weekend away from them in over three years was bound to be a mountain out of a molehill situation.
“I’m twenty-one, remember. Big girl now.”
My dad flicks his gaze to Paddy. “You’ll look after her.” The stern edge to his voice tells me he isn’t asking.
Paddy gives him a solemn nod but doesn’t say anything. I watch as he stares hard at my dad, the pair of them exchanging silent, unspoken words.
“Great. Now that we know my boyfriend isn’t going to murder me in my sleep while I’m away, can I go?”
Mum hurries over, pulling me into a hug. “Be careful.” She emphasises the last word.
“Mum?”
She cringes, eyes crinkling, caught between awkwardness and downright uncomfortableness. “S-E-X,” she spells out, making sure my father doesn’t hear her.
My already crowded stomach bottoms out. “Jesus, Mum. I’m not sixteen. I’m not going to have sex and get pregnant.”
“No, love. I know. But I also know it’s likely you’ll be having sex soon.”
My eyes widen in horror.
“I’m your mother. I know these things,” she says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “And I know how you look at him and how he looks at you.”
I glance at Paddy, a steadying wave of surety making me relax.
When I look back at my mum, she gives me a reassuring smile.
“I just want you to be careful, so I’d feel better if you take these.
” Handing me a packet of condoms, I swear I’ve never felt so uncomfortable in all my life.
We have never had these talks because I simply haven’t ever been interested in anything remotely related to sex or boys since my run-in with Rory.
The only man I would ever and have ever considered going all the way with is the one now opening his car door.
Okay, so maybe I should take them.
“Fine,” I concede, earning me a smile. It’s not a smile that shows she’s happy her daughter might have sex later, it’s one that shows she’s trying to be understanding. “Shall I call when we get there?”
My mum’s eyes begin to water. “Only if you have time. You go and enjoy yourself.”
Considering she’s just handed me a packet of condoms; I find the moment too funny to pass. Letting out a chuckle, I slip the box into my coat pocket. “Okay.”
“Oh, one more hug.”
I eye roll her but relent. This is a huge moment for them both, and I would be an awful daughter if I didn’t give them this time to say goodbye. You know, until I see them again tomorrow.
“Okay, I really have to go now.”
Mum drops her arms, and I smile at her lovingly before I turn and head towards Paddy.
Getting into the car, he has Shania Twain playing. “I think you have a secret thing for Shania.”
“It’s not a secret. I love a woman in boots.” He shrugs.
Shaking my head, I put on my seatbelt and wave at Mum and Dad who are both on the doorstep as we drive away.
“They good?”
“Yeah.” Pulling out the box from my pocket, I hold it up between us. “Mum wants me to be safe.”
His chest rises with his gasp and a burst of nervous laughter rushes out of Paddy. “Fuck. Did she really hand you a pack of condoms for a night away?”
“She did.” I lean back in my chair, one hand clapped over my chest. “That must have been hard for her.”
Paddy scratches the back of his head. “I bet your old man doesn’t know she did that.”
“No,” I exclaim, twiddling the box round in circles in my fingers. “I wouldn’t have got out of the house if he knew.”
Letting his laughter simmer, Paddy looks at me before looking back at the road. “Not that they have anything to worry about.”
My smile quickly evaporates. “Right.” I backtrack my emotions quickly.
“Curly fries. I said we weren’t rushing this. Me taking you away isn’t some sexcapade. It’s a chance for you to escape Stoney Grange without your parents. It’s a chance for us both to relax.”
I hum in agreement, but not necessarily about the sex part.
No, I did not assume that I would be having sex this weekend. But neither did I assume that one day I would be holding a packet of condoms in Paddy O’Keefe’s car. So it could happen.
“No, of course. You’re right.”
Paddy grins taking the condoms and throwing them on the back passenger seat. “Ready for our road trip?”
I turn to face him, fixing my smile back in place. “Will you be singing the whole way?”
He turns up the music. “Only if you will.”
“Prosecco?” Paddy holds out a glass for me.
“Thanks.” I take a small sip before placing it on the table between us. The bubbles fizz on my tongue like popping candy before I swallow.
Paddy sits on the adjacent reclined chair. “That’s good.” He tips his head back, downing most of his glass.
My eyes widen.
“What?”
I sit back in my chair. “Nothing.”
We’re both dressed in white robes, wearing swimwear and slippers.
Before leaving, I was given a brief list of what I’d need. Swimwear, not necessarily a bikini, nightwear, clean clothes and my pen and paper.
I knew Paddy had booked a spa somewhere off grid and in the countryside, but the late eighteenth-century manor house is more beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen.
Sitting in a quiet room with thick curtains and low-lit lighting, the mood is relaxing and calm.
“Mr and Mrs O’Keefe.”
Paddy and I exchange a look. “Oh my God.” I slap a hand to my mouth, doubling over. I snort like I always do, which only makes Paddy’s face crumble with laughter.
“Did I get that wrong?” the kind member of staff asks.
The ambience of the spa waiting room is completely ruined by us.
Tearing her gaze off Paddy, the lady looks at me. “I do apologise.”
Holding up my hand, I control my laughing. “We’re not married.”
Giving me a nod, she lowers her gaze to the piece of paper in her hand. “I have Morgan and Paddy both down for a back massage.”
“That’s right,” Paddy answers brightly.
“Excellent. Have you both filled out the health questionnaire?”
Paddy hands her our two pieces of paper.
“Great. If you’d both like to follow me. Mr O’Keefe, you’ll be with our therapist, Lucy. And?” She waits for me to answer.
“Miss Brooks,” I fill in for her.
She smiles quickly. “Miss Brooks, you’ll be with Lily.”
We rise and follow the lady through the hotel corridor and into the spa. Arriving at the treatment area, she guides us into a private room with two beds, side by side.
“Miss Brooks, if you take this bed, and Mr O’Keefe, this one is for you.” She points to each one in turn.
“We’re in the same room?” I ask, feeling a flurry of nerves skate over my skin.
“Yes. Lucy and Lily will be through in a moment. If you could both remove your robes and place them on the back of the door, remove your top halves and lie face down on the beds with the blankets over you.”
Paddy’s eyes land on me, burning my skin, but I daren’t look at him. It never registered to me that I would be so exposed.
Hearing footsteps outside of the room, the lady takes her leave.
“You alright?” Paddy asks, slipping his robe off his shoulders. We changed in separate changing rooms so I didn’t see what he had on underneath.
Which is basically nothing.
Except a fitting pair of black swim shorts which sit just below a V in his hips.
Help me.
My skin prickles. My nipples harden. “Yeah.” I breathe in quietly, going against the tidal wave of heat suddenly coursing through me.
Why in God’s name did I not think about what a spa weekend would entail before now?
“You sure?” Paddy checks.
I blink and swallow, looking away from the black trail of hair I can see above the lining of his shorts. It’s like a beacon, flashing at me to follow the path.
No.
Stop.
Nodding, I turn and remove my robe, listening as Paddy hangs his on the back of the closed door.
“Let me take that,” he offers, and I turn around slowly.
“Wow,” he remarks, scrubbing a hand down his face. “You look… you look incredible.”
Glancing down at my frame, I’m glad I chose my red bikini. “Thanks.” My cheeks heat, probably matching the colour of my swimwear.
“I think red’s my new favourite colour.”
More heat, and a swell of pleasure warms between my thighs as Paddy hangs my robe with his. “What was it before?”
The corner of his mouth twitches when he comes back to me. “What colour would you say your eyes are?”
They narrow on him as I shrug. “Somewhere between the sea and the sky I guess.”
“Then I guess it was somewhere between the sea and the sky.”
Shaking my head at him, I look down at the bed I’m supposed to get on. “How come we’re in the same room?”
Paddy’s eyes run up and down the length of my body.
I quirk a brow, but that doesn’t stop him from doing it again. “Because I figured for your first time at a place like this, it would be nice to have someone with you.”
He isn’t wrong.
“But I can ask for a different room if you’d prefer?”
“No.” I pull back the huge towel on the bed. “Don’t do that. Can you just look away while I take off my top?”
With a small chuckle, Paddy clears his throat. “Sure.” He steps closer, and the tips of his fingers brush against my spine. “But it’s nothing I haven’t seen before, curly fries.” He slowly pulls the string, loosening the material protecting my modesty.