Chapter 20
20
It was a beautiful wedding ceremony filled with light and love and laughter. Although Carole knew neither the bride nor groom, she couldn’t help shedding a few tears as they exchanged their vows and began their new adventure as a married couple.
Tom’s eyes looked a little damp too, she noticed, and his expression filled with pride and amusement as Evie twirled around her mother and stepdad as they kissed for the first time as husband and wife.
When Martin scooped Evie up into his arms and planted a big kiss on her cheek and then pulled his new bride into an embrace alongside them both, the sweet scene had everyone in the room raising their phones to snap photos of the moment. Once more, Carole noticed that wistful look she’d caught on Tom’s face earlier in the day.
She squeezed his arm and smiled softly. The look he gave her in return was filled with emotion. Tom had assured her that he felt nothing but happiness for his ex as she married another man, and she didn’t doubt his words. But it stood to reason that he’d feel many different things today, even as he wished Lucy well.
In the whirlwind of the busy wedding schedule, time quickly slipped away. The bride and groom and the rest of the wedding party posed for photographs while the guests mingled and migrated to a function suite further along where drinks were being served. There was chatter and noise, warm welcomes and greetings, introductions and reunions, popping champagne corks, festive wedding music, and every good thing that the perfect wedding ought to have.
Carole relaxed into the fun of the lovely day, feeling infinitely more at ease than she had at her cousin’s wedding when she’d been on red alert the entire time for the awful Steven Weaver. A popular wedding guest, Tom was in high demand as people stopped to chat, and when Evie reappeared once her photography duties were complete, it was Tom she made a beeline for, racing towards him across the function room to much laughter.
Carole snapped shots of the pair of them, smiling and happy together as Evie recounted her role in the wedding. By the time she rushed off to find her grandmother, it was time for everyone to take their seats for the meal.
Hours had flown by in what seemed like only moments.
“Let’s see which table we’re at,” Tom said, scanning the seating chart on display at the front of the room where the meal would be served. Once he’d located their names, he pointed towards a table on the other side of the room.
“Still no sign of Lucy’s work colleague who you’re so keen to avoid today?” Carole asked quietly as they took their seats.
Tom shook his head. “I haven’t seen her. Her name is on the seating chart, but we’ve all been here for ages now and I’ve yet to cross paths with her.”
“Maybe she couldn’t make it.”
Tom looked cheered by this idea. “Maybe.”
It was while the first course was being served that Tom uncovered the mystery of why he’d yet to encounter Claire, the woman he was so determined to avoid. Tom and Carole were seated beside another of Lucy’s work colleagues, who happened to mention that Claire had been unable to come to the wedding because her sister had gone into labour that morning, two weeks early, and she was now at the hospital along with the rest of their family.
The baby had been born quickly, arriving safe and sound at just after two o’clock that afternoon. It stood to reason that the woman would want to spend such a wonderful time with her sister and family, rather than dash off to attend a wedding.
Carole couldn’t miss the relief on Tom’s face at the news that Claire wouldn’t be at the wedding after all.
“It turns out I dragged you here unnecessarily,” he joked as they finished their first courses.
“I’m glad I’m here and I’m having a great time.”
“Me too. I loved seeing Lucy and Martin get married and I know they’re perfect for each other and they’ll have a wonderful life. But I think I would’ve found today just a little difficult if I didn’t have someone by my side.” He paused and gave her a shy look. “If I didn’t have you by my side.”
Tom smiled and Carole felt a whoosh of pleasure ripple through her body. She reached out and squeezed his arm.
“I said I’d make a good wingman, didn’t I?”
He laughed and nodded. “You did. And I’m grateful.”
Tom lifted his hand to hers, which still rested on his arm, and gave her a soft squeeze in return, holding her gaze. Carole wondered what exactly they were doing here.
Was this just the easy gratitude of a friend? Or did she see something more in his expression as his gaze held hers?
The moment was broken as bustling waiters arrived to clear away the empty plates and deliver the next course. Wine glasses were refilled, conversation continued around the table, more delicious food was enjoyed and commended by all.
And then it was time for dessert and coffee, and then the wedding speeches, and soon the room was swiftly transformed for the evening party. Carole could scarcely believe how quickly the time had passed. Between the beautiful and relaxed wedding day and Tom’s easy company, it was one of the loveliest day’s Carole had spent in a long time.
Everyone gathered to cheer and applaud as the bride and groom took to the floor for their first dance together. Evie beamed as she, too, was treated to a dance with her stepdad, and once that song was over, she grabbed Tom and danced with him, too. Carole snapped endless shots of the pair, knowing Tom would treasure them.
And then it was Carole’s turn to dance with Tom.
She savoured every minute spent in his arms. As the evening wore on and the twinkle lights lit up the room, she decided she could’ve happily danced every single dance with the man until the night was over. The soft romance of the occasion, the perfect slow songs played by the DJ, and the warm sensation of Tom’s hands resting on her hips had her sighing in pleasure more times than she could count.
Before she knew it, the last song was played, and the bride and groom were bidding farewell to their guests. There were hugs and goodbyes all round as Tom kissed Lucy on the cheek and shook Martin’s hand and squeezed Evie in his arms and told her he’d see her soon.
Outside in the cool summer twilight, Tom checked his phone and told Carole the taxi he’d ordered was on its way.
“That was one of the best wedding days I’ve ever been to,” Carole told him. “Lucy and Martin must be thrilled it all went so well.”
“They looked happy with everything. They did a great job.”
“Evie seemed to have a brilliant time.”
Tom laughed. “She got to play princess all day. She had the time of her life.”
“I hope you enjoyed yourself, too, Tom.”
“I did, thanks to you.”
He smiled and held her gaze the way he’d done earlier. Was he sending some sort of message, or was that just wishful thinking on her part?
The heat in his eyes was unmistakable. Unless that was just the wine talking.
The taxi arrived just then, and they climbed into the back seat. The brightly lit hotel vanished into the distance as the driver sped off and they joined the dark country road that led back to Hamblehurst.
After all the talk and chatter and noise of the wedding day, the quiet rumble of the car engine as they travelled the empty road was soothing.
Unlike the brush of Tom’s hand against hers on the back seat of the taxi, which seared her skin and made Carole want to lean closer against him, to risk his hand settling on hers, his leg pressing against her, his eyes holding hers as the dark night sped past the car windows.
And that was definitely just the wine talking, she warned herself.
She would’ve believed it too if it wasn’t for the way Tom was looking at her, his eyes dark as his gaze dropped to her mouth and lingered there. Every cell in her body urged her to tip her head up and let her lips meet his and damn the consequences.
The moment was shattered by a loud bang followed by a yelp from the driver as the taxi suddenly veered across the road.
“What’s happened?” Carole gasped. “Did we hit something?”
“It was a pothole, a bad one, too,” the driver replied as he brought the vehicle to a stop at the side of the road. “These back roads are riddled with them, and with no streetlights, I didn’t see it there on the road until it was too late to swerve.”
The driver climbed out of the car and walked to the back of the vehicle. Tom opened the rear door and got out. Carole followed him.
The driver gestured to the damaged tyre. “That damned pothole was so deep, the tyre’s blown out. Sorry, folks.”
“These things happen,” Tom said. “Do you have a spare? I’ll help you put it on.”
The driver shook his head. “I’ve got a spare, but I can’t let you help me, much though I appreciate the offer. The insurance wouldn’t cover it if anything happened while you were lending a hand.”
Tom opened his mouth to reply, clearly determined to help, but the taxi driver raised his palms. “I’m serious. I can’t let you help. And I’m sorry I have to ask you both to wait outside the vehicle while I jack it up and switch the tyres.”
“Of course we’ll wait outside. But if you need a hand, you’ll tell me?”
The taxi driver just waved them off. “You two wait over there on the grass verge and I’ll be as quick as I can. Obviously, there’ll be no fare charged for your journey, because of this inconvenience.”
“Take your time, mate.”
Carole followed Tom towards the grassy verge while the driver got to work on the tyre change. There was a dip in the land further along from where the taxi had come to a stop, where the verge widened towards a low stone wall that separated the open fields from the road. They made their way towards it, where the widened verge kept them back from the dark road and they could lean against the stone wall while they waited for the driver to complete his work.
“Sorry about this,” Tom said.
“It’s hardly your fault. Just bad luck.”
“Are you cold? I can give you my suit jacket.”
“No, I’m fine.”
The summer night was warm, and Carole was still flushed from the fun of the evening. As she stood beside Tom and leaned back against the stone wall, his body so close to hers, the last thing she felt was cold.
Out here on this quiet country road, there were no streetlamps and although the taxi’s headlights continued to glow further back along the road, the darkness of the summer night fell around them like a gentle cloak. The night was clear and a billion stars spun across the sky. The spectacle of the heavens above was awe-inspiring.
“It’s a beautiful night,” Carole said, her head tilting back farther and farther as she took in the stars and galaxies that twinkled overhead. “We would’ve missed this if the tyre hadn’t blown.”
“You’re right. This is really something.”
They stood side-by-side for a long moment, gazing at the miracle of the night sky. An owl hooted somewhere in the trees that lined the other side of the road, and the sound of a fox barking echoed in the distance.
The brilliant star-filled sky, the sweet night air, and the wild sounds around them worked together to cast a spell. Carole dropped her gaze from the starry universe and found Tom’s eyes on her.
There was no mistaking now the look in his eyes.
And Carole knew there would be no mistaking the look in her own eyes, either.
A long beat passed between them, and Carole’s skin tingled with anticipation. She slid her hand into Tom’s and pulled him closer, her heart racing and her breath shallow.
When he lowered his head and his mouth found hers, it felt like every star in the night sky exploded in a spectacular supernova.
It was a kiss for the ages, and one that Carole felt in every cell in her body.
She didn’t know how long the kiss lasted. It might have been seconds or hours. But a sudden wave of clarity swept through her as if she was watching herself from above, watching herself pressing against Tom’s body as he kissed her and she kissed him…
… and with that clarity came horrified understanding.
Carole drew back, gasping for air and for her senses. “I’m sorry, Tom! I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
Tom blinked, dazed. “Uh, sorry, I didn’t mean to, er…”
“It’s my fault,” she interrupted. “I got carried away. The wedding, the wine, the starlight, the two of us stuck here in the dark on the side of the road. We… we’re neighbours , Tom. We can’t mess around like this.”
The dazed look cleared from his expression and he shifted away from her, slowly nodding as he ran a hand across his chin. “Of course we shouldn’t. You’re right. We’re neighbours. Next-door neighbours. Kissing one another just complicates things, right?”
“Right.”
Tom didn’t look convinced, but Carole knew she was right to nip this in the bud. They’d let themselves get caught up in a passionate moment, and who could blame them, given the circumstances?
But Carole wasn’t prepared to let her mindless crush on this man spoil the new life she was trying to live.
Kissing Tom was fun—more than fun. It was… absolutely amazing.
But she was only a few weeks out of a long-term relationship, and Tom’s emotions were probably all over the place thanks to the fact that he’d just watched is ex-girlfriend marry another man.
The two of them hooking up had rebound fling written all over it.
And rebound flings always ended.
Which would leave her living next-door to a man with whom she’d had a stupidly ill-advised affair thanks to a heat-of-the-moment mistake.
A heat-of-the-moment mistake she could avoid by not kissing him any more than she already had.
They stood beneath the starlight, watching one another warily, awkwardly. Carole tried of think of something to say, but her mind was blank.
Blank thanks to her stupid mistake and her cringing embarrassment and her aching regret.
Movement further down the road caught her eye and she saw the taxi driver waving to catch their attention.
“The tyre’s changed and I’m ready to go,” he called out.
Tom raised a hand in acknowledgement. “That was quick work,” he said to Carole.
“Thank goodness we won’t be stuck out here any longer than we already have been.”
She regretted the words instantly. Tom frowned, a hurt expression crossing his face briefly, but he covered it with a nod towards the waiting taxi.
“Let’s go home,” he said.
Carole climbed back into the taxi, feeling miserable and annoyed with herself, and wondering how the wonderful day they’d just spent could have ended so horribly.
And wondering, too, how on earth she’d ever forget about the most spectacular kiss she’d ever had in her entire life.