Chapter 11
Eleven
My body hummed, singing the sweet sex song Alfie had taught it the night before. If I kept my eyes shut, I could feel his tongue on my neck, the grip of his hands on my thighs. He’d taken me to erotic heights before but last night had been something else.
Now, I was alone in bed. It wasn’t like Alfie to leave me to wake by myself after an event like last night.
There was no note, no message on my phone.
Something must have happened at work. I’d gotten used to our Sundays being dominated by his work and I started thinking of ways I could pry him away from his desk this afternoon.
I brushed my teeth and hair, studying myself in the mirror the whole time. I expected to look different. I felt different. Something about what we’d done last night had changed me. I felt more certain of us now. Or rather, more certain of him.
I contemplated a shower but decided I wanted Alfie on my body a little longer. I wasn’t ready to wash him away just yet. I even pulled on one of his shirts to wear instead of my own.
My wrists were still red from the rope but they didn’t hurt. I noticed my bare ring finger more and more every day but it bothered me today more than it usually did. After a minute of going back and forth with my conscience, I decided to go with my gut.
I went to Alfie’s office expecting to find him there but it was empty.
I pulled back the painting revealing his safe and typed in the code.
My engagement ring was in a blue, velvet box right where I’d watched Alfie put it months ago, shoulders sagging and heart crushed after I’d told him I wasn’t ready to wear it yet.
The night we’d reunited, he’d said he didn’t want me to wear this particular ring.
He wanted a new one. One that didn’t remind him of the first time he’d proposed to me years ago in the Evergarden.
But I disagreed. This ring was a sign to me that even in his darkest days, he’d still tried to love me as best he could.
He could have bought me the most ostentatious ring he could find, instead, he’d chosen this.
I sat cross-legged on the floor, studying it. It was the most beautiful piece of jewellery I’d ever seen. An elegant diamond in the shape of a bleeding heart.
I’d never worn it before. Not once. But I knew it would fit perfectly and I was right. It slid onto my finger like it belonged there. I stared at it, my heart beating so fast in my chest. I’d expected it to feel heavy but it didn’t. It felt right.
I was startled by the sound of raised voices. This house was so quiet, any kind of noise was a surprise. I crept to the door, eavesdropping on the voice that was unmistakably Alfie’s.
I followed his voice down the hall and found my man talking to a woman so elegant she looked to be carved out of marble.
Her hair was a soft blond pulled into a flawless chignon.
She wore a cream shift dress and wrap, the material so rich it would never dare crease.
Her skin showed faint signs of her age, lines around her eyes, lips thinner than they had been thirty years ago.
She had grey eyes that were identical to my Alfie’s. I knew immediately who this woman was.
She looked me up and down, assessing me the way I had assessed her. From my messy hair to the bruises on my knees from working all week. I fought the urge to tug Alfie’s t-shirt down. At least I’d had the foresight to put underwear on this morning.
“Hello,” I said, breaking the ice, “I’m Lola.
You must be Alfie’s mother? Please, forgive my outfit, I didn’t know you were coming.
” I slipped my hand into Alfie’s and pressed myself to his side.
I could feel the tension emanating from him.
His mouth was tight, his eyes cold. He was in business-Alfie mode. The first Alfie I’d ever met.
“Carolyn Tell,” she answered, speaking as if she was trying to save her face from wrinkles. “Forgive the impromptu visit. I needed to have a conversation with my son. You’ll excuse us.”
I arched an eyebrow at her inviting me to leave, but I said nothing. Instead I looked up at Alfie, silently asking him what he wanted me to do. I knew what I wanted to do, but this was Alfie’s family. It was his call.
“Actually, as I was saying, now isn’t the best time. If you’d like we could have lunch this week to discuss whatever it is that you need to discuss with me.” He didn’t want me to leave and he definitely didn’t want her to stay. I placed my free hand on his arm, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Her sharp gaze landed on my hand and I realised too late what she was staring at. The fucking engagement ring. I’d forgotten to take it off. I dropped my hand to my side but the damage was done.
“Of course, we can have lunch. Tell me, darling, will I hear about your engagement from someone else as well or will you show me the respect of giving me that news yourself?”
Alfie didn’t answer, just glared between us, confused.
“What a lovely ring.” She reached for my hand, pulling me towards her.
I could feel Alfie staring a hole into the side of my head but I didn’t dare look at him.
Of all the days to try on that damned ring, why did I have to choose today?
“My son does have excellent taste. In most things, at any rate.”
Not in me, she was trying to say.
“What a pleasure it’s going to be getting to know you better.
Perhaps you and I could have lunch sometime too, if you can find the rest of your clothes.
” She tinkled a laugh that had no humour in it.
She turned my hand and I knew she’d spotted the red marks on my wrist. A fresh wave of embarrassment washed over me as she smirked and gave Alfie a look.
I waited for him to say anything but he just stood there, frozen.
“Walk me out, will you, darling?” She took his arm, Alfie stiffened but allowed it.
I released him so he could go with her, though I desperately wanted to snatch him back. I stood awkwardly, unsure whether to sit or stand as I waited for Alfie to come back and lay into me for exposing our engagement.
My hands were shaking. I’d just met Carolyn Tell. She’d been everything I thought she would be. She was Alfie before I’d warmed him.
What did she want? She’d seemed surprised by my presence so she obviously hadn’t come here to meet me. Or maybe she just hadn’t expected Alfie and I to be anything more than a rumour.
Alfie returned, a dark look painted on his face.
“Alfie, I’m sorry,” I said immediately. “I’m sorry about the ring. I just wanted to try it on and then I heard voices and I came to see and I forgot I was wearing it and…I’m sorry.”
To my surprise, he pulled me into a hug. I wrapped my arms tight around his neck. I knew how many awful memories seeing his mother must have stirred up for him. We stood that way for a while until he started to relax. He blew out a long puff of air.
“You do pick your moments, Lo.” He pressed his lips to mine, his kiss telling me his anger was already fading. “This isn’t how I wanted to see it on your hand for the first time.”
“I can take it off? We’ll have a do-over.”
“Don’t you dare.” He kissed my hand. “Am I allowed to get my hopes up finally?”
I took a deep breath of my own. It seemed so wrong to take it off now. I nodded my head. It was time. “Yes, you can get your hopes up. Though, I’m not wearing it at work, I’ll lose it in the dirt. I’ll tell Keira and Natalie this week. I don’t know when but I’ll do it.”
A wide smile spread across his face. “If I’d known tying you up would get a yes out of you I would have done it sooner.”
I gave him a playful shove but he was already kissing me again, lifting me up into his arms, one hand slipping under my shirt to cup my bottom. I basked in the moment but we had to come back to reality sometime. We couldn’t ignore his mother’s visit forever.
“So what did she say when you walked her out?” I asked when he finally broke our kiss. “She thinks I’m not good enough for you?”
“Without a doubt, but that’s not what she said. She claimed to be upset that I hadn't introduced you before now.”
“Why? She’s never given a crap about your life before.” He flinched and I immediately felt guilty. “Sorry. That was mean.”
“It’s true. I suppose she’s worried that you’ll steal our fortune away.” His voice was filled with irony. His mother hadn’t cared that her husband and eldest son had spent years abusing Alfie, but potentially losing her wealth was something to get worked up over. It made me sick.
Alfie sighed, seeming annoyed. “My mother wasn’t a can of worms I wanted to open today, not when I won’t be seeing you for another five days.” He shook his head as if he was shaking all thoughts of her away for now. “How are you? Your mouth is still swollen.”
“I’m a little sore but otherwise fine. Do you have to work today or can I have you to myself?” I decided to follow his lead and forget about his mother for now.
“It depends what plans you have for me.”
“I want to watch cartoons and eat ice cream with you.”
Alfie arched his scarred brow at me. “That’s it? Cartoons and ice cream?”
“I remember you being particularly skilled with an ice cream spoon.” I flushed at the memory of him pressing an ice-cream-cold spoon over a certain sensitive part of my anatomy.
“I have some work to do but yes. We can – what did you call it once – Veg?”
I laughed at how awkward the word sounded in his mouth. “Yep, we’ll veg. You go and finish your work while I eat breakfast and then come find me. I’m going to put you to a different kind of work.”
He grinned. “Is that right?”
“Yep. You didn’t think last night was going to be enough to sate me for five whole days without you, did you?”
He answered with another kiss, his mouth hotter this time, tongue roaming over mine and teeth nipping my lower lip. “I’m starting to think I might have bitten off more than I can chew.”
“Too late now.” I waggled my engagement ring at him. “Once it’s on, it’s not coming off.”
“Oh, Lola. It was too late for me long before that ring was on your finger.”
I wanted another kiss but instead he left me breathless and wanting.
A decided tactic I was sure. As I watched my man disappear out of the room, I realised I hadn’t asked him what the original purpose of his mother's visit was. With a shake of my head, I decided I didn’t care.
Whatever it was, I wasn’t going to let her ruin our happiness today, tomorrow or any other day.