feet, unsteady on her ridiculously high heels and the dress that was split to the thigh fell open. She was completely overdressed and she suddenly wanted to sprint upstairs and change back into her favourite jeans again. She quickly pulled the dress straight, cursing that she hadn’t gone for the trouser suit instead; the last thing she wanted was for people to be staring at her legs all night. But when she looked up at Henry, her fussing hands stilled. There was a complete and utter hunger in his eyes. Chris had never looked at her like that – at best he’d looked at her with a fondness, someone he quite liked spending time with. She’d had never been looked at as if she was about to be eaten. Her confidence soared, her doubts lay forgotten.
Henry moved towards her and grabbed her coat off the back of the chair, wrapping it round her shoulders and helping her to put it on.
He moved round the front and sweetly did the buttons up for her.
‘I am quite capable of putting my own coat on,’ she laughed.
‘In all honesty, I had to cover you up or I really don’t think we’d be leaving the house this evening.’
She smiled and leaned up to kiss him, pulling on the lapels of his jacket. His arms wrapped round her in the biggest of hugs so she was so close to him there was no gap at all. God, she wanted more than this kiss, she wanted everything, to feel his skin next to hers, to taste every inch of his flesh. She had never had desires like this before, never wanted anyone with such a primal need before.
He pulled back. ‘That’s not helping us leave either. Come on, we can continue this when we get back. Maybe we skip the starters and the dessert, grab a quick McDonald’s and come straight back here.’
‘That sounds good.’
He escorted her out, opening his car door for her like the perfect gentleman.
‘I need to ask a favour actually,’ Penny said.
‘Of course, anything.’
‘Well, it’s your fault so you can’t really say no. I had a phone call from Josh earlier, it seems he broke his wrist when you threw him to the floor.’
Henry paled. ‘Oh god, no. Now I feel awful. I need to go over and apologise properly.’
‘Well, you shouldn’t feel too bad, you did do it with the best intentions, but going over there is not a good move. His mum is the most terrifying woman I have ever met. Josh told her he slipped on some ice and I really think she doesn’t need to know the truth. She’s a lawyer and I wouldn’t be surprised if she managed to slap some criminal charges or lawsuit on you for abusing her son. If you feel really guilty buy him a new computer game for his Xbox and I’m sure he will love you forever. But he will be out of action for several weeks and that provides me with a bit of a problem. I pay him to come and help me lift and move the ice blocks and carvings and I can’t do that alone. Looks like you might have a new job for the next few weeks.’
‘You want to use me for my body?’
‘Something like that.’
‘And pay me for it? I feel so dirty and cheap.’
‘You won’t be paid for it, I’m still paying Josh whilst he’s off sick and I’m not paying you too. You can do it out of guilt or the goodness of your heart, but I will cook you and Daisy dinner occasionally so be grateful for that.’
‘I don’t mind helping you, but I do feel really bad about Josh.’
‘He’s fine. His mum is spoiling him rotten and he’s enjoying the attention. He’ll be completely fine in a few weeks.’
Henry drove down the bumpy drive but, instead of turning left to go towards the town, he turned right to take them away from White Cliff Bay. He caught her questioning gaze.
‘I thought our first date should be just the two of us, not half of White Cliff Bay watching us like animals in the zoo.’
‘Oh thank god, it would have been unbearable if we had gone into town but, you know, everyone will be very disappointed that we are a no-show.’
‘They’ll probably just think that we’re decided to stay in and have hot, passionate sex instead.’
Penny laughed. ‘What are we going to do if Daisy hears all these rumours?’
‘I don’t know, laugh