Highland Fling (14 page)

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I know exactly what guys are like. You’re right, this is wrong. I’ll leave.’

She wriggled to the edge of the bed but Jack grabbed her arm and gently pulled her back towards him.

‘Don’t go.’

And there was something in his tone that made her stay.

‘I’m sorry Lizzie. My problem is I think too much.’

‘Your problem is you talk too much.’

His eyes shot to her face. ‘I really do want you Lizzie.’ His voice crackled with emotion as he slid his arm around her waist and lifted her to him as if she were a feather.

She could see from his eyes that he did. ‘Just shut up and kiss me.’

He bent his head towards her and this time, he didn’t pull away.

When Jack’s lips met hers Lizzie’s senses reeled making her cling to him so tightly he could hardly move. She felt like a starving woman, being given food for the first time in days. The more he gave, the more she wanted. When he slid his tongue into her mouth her heart seemed to be pounding in her ears.

The deeper he kissed her the more she clung to him. Her entire body tingled as if a thousand tiny needles were embedded in her skin, sending little waves of electricity through all the meridian lines from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes.

‘Jack,’ she moaned as his mouth moved to her neck. ‘I want you so much it actually hurts.’

His mouth came back to hers and his kiss was possessive, all encompassing, demanding. Lizzie couldn’t stop now even if she wanted to; but she didn’t want to. She felt him harden against her as his hand found her breast and caressed it.

He slid her dress down a few inches revealing her black lace strapless bra; his mouth leaving hers and his lips kissing their way down towards her breast. His fingers found the front fastening and he popped open the hooks. He lifted his head and gazed at her for a few seconds. Agonising seconds, whilst every fibre of her being seemed to be vying for his attention.

‘You are so beautiful,’ he said.

‘So are you,’ she moaned. ‘Kiss me ple ....... ase!’

His breath came in gasps. ‘God Lizzie.’ His mouth came down on hers possessively, passionately and with such longing that he lost all sense of reason.

Lizzie tugged at his shirt, her fingers fumbling with the buttons then pushing it off his shoulders as he moved one arm at a time to rid himself of it. Then her hands moved down to the kilt. She brushed her hand over him and he groaned before his lips crushed hers and his hand slid up her thigh and between her legs.

Lizzie had never wanted anything so much in her life and she tore at the buckle of his kilt as if her life depended on removing it. It fell away from him and she tossed it to the floor.

Lizzie wrapped her arms around him pulling him close and as he kissed her, his tongue probing, hers encircling his, shivers ran through her and she responded to him, leaving him in no doubt of what she wanted.

Jack slid his finger inside her and her nails dug into his back. Her head fell on to the pillow and she arched her back to move closer to him.

‘I want you so badly Lizzie.’

His lips covered hers whilst his fingers sent a whole new rush of emotions surging through her. ‘Jack,’ she gasped, between kisses, ‘please!’

He slid inside her and she wrapped her legs around him pulling him deeper into her as they moved together in a frenzied rhythm until Jack lunged forward and gasped her name.

Lizzie heard it first; a faint buzzing sound. It stopped, then it began again. She blinked several times and tried to see the clock, suddenly realising she wasn’t in her bed and her eyes shot to Jack’s sleeping body.

Faint specks of daylight crept in above the curtain rail and she knew it was morning. She curled into Jack sighing heavily. They’d made love four more times last night and each time had been better than before. Each time giving and taking just a little bit more. For the first time in over seven years, she had made love with someone other than Max and it was a feeling of freedom and jubilation.

She heard the buzzing again and this time, she lifted her head from the pillow to look on the bedside cabinet. It was a mobile phone, and it sent a flashing beam towards the ceiling like a tiny searchlight. It was looking for Jack.

‘Jack,’ she said, shaking him awake, ‘I think that’s your phone.’

Jack turned to her and smiled. ‘Morning gorgeous,’ he said sleepily then lifted his head off the pillow. ‘Shit! Sorry.’

He lent across her and she shifted beneath him so that they could change places. He grabbed the phone without looking to see who was calling and bent his head and gave Lizzie a quick kiss on her lips before answering it. The smile on his face quickly faded and he sat bolt upright.

‘Shit! ... You’re kidding? ... No! ... No! ... Of course ... .Is she okay?’ his eyes met Lizzie’s and held them. ‘I’ll get the first train back – or plane – if that’s faster. Um. I’ll let you know ... Where is she? ... Right ... Okay ... What?’ He looked away from Lizzie. ‘Yes ... yes I’m still here ... Fuck!  I mean ... Are they sure? ... Okay ... Yeah ... I ... I understand ... Okay ... I’ll be there as soon as I can.’

Lizzie felt queasy. She scanned his profile. He didn’t look at her.

‘What is it?’ she asked, not wanting to hear the answer.

‘It’s Kim,’ he said, an odd inflection in his tone, ‘my fiancée. She’s been in an accident and is in hospital. I ... I have to go back!’ His eyes flicked to hers briefly before he turned away. They were full of sorrow and his face wore an expression of guilt.

Lizzie gulped. She thought she’d throw up if she opened her mouth, so she didn’t. She just nodded.

‘Lizzie I ...’ he tossed his legs out of the bed and sat on the edge, his back to her.

A dreadful feeling ran through her and her mind raced. It was as if he had turned his back on her emotionally as well as physically and it suddenly hit her that she had indeed been a one night stand. Even if Jack had meant what he said yesterday, which she very much doubted, that phone call had clearly made him realise his mistake. She had never seen anyone look so distraught.

She pulled back the covers and slid out of bed, grabbing her dress from the floor and hastily pulling it over her head.

Jack didn’t move. He sat with his head in his hands.

Lizzie started towards the door, too upset to speak.

Jack’s head shot up. ‘Lizzie wait!’

Lizzie shook her head and held up her hand but she kept her back to him.

‘Please Lizzie. You must understand. Last night was –’

‘I know what last night was,’ she snapped, grabbing the door handle and yanking it open. ‘It was a final fling. You’re engaged. I knew that.’

‘No I ...’

Jack’s voice trailed off, confirming her fears.

‘That’s okay,’ she said struggling to keep her emotions in check. ‘It was great fun but it’s over. I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t know what the time is but there’s a train around eleven, depending on the condition of the tracks I guess or you can get a plane from Inverness. I’ll go and get changed.’

Lizzie dashed from the room. She’d thought last night was special; that it had really meant something; but clearly she’d been wrong. Jack had been about to tell her that it had just been a fling and although she realised that, and could just about say it, she couldn’t bear to hear it from him.

As she reached her room, part of her hoped he would come after her, tell her she was wrong. Tell her last night really had been special and that they’d have a future together.

She sneered at her own stupidity. This was real life – and things like that didn’t happen in real life. She couldn’t blame Jack though, not really, even if he had lied. She’d known what she was getting herself into and she had jumped at it. She’d had several chances to back out, to walk away, but she hadn’t. It was her fault as much as his, maybe more, she’d asked him to kiss her after all, she’d asked him to make love to her, and now she must suffer the consequences.

Jack let Lizzie go without saying another word. He was in shock, both from the call and from what Lizzie had said. Was that all it had been to her? A fling? He didn’t know why he was so hurt. That’s what he’d been telling himself for most of the last two days  but last night in her arms, making love with her. It had been so much more to him. So much so, that it could have changed his life, until that call.

Jack collapsed on the bed and stared at his phone. He had to go back of course. Especially after what Kim’s mum had just told him.  Kim was very lucky, the doctors had said. It was a miracle.

Shit what was he going to do now? Did he still want to call off the wedding? No, of course not. He couldn’t. He did love Kim and even if last night he’d seriously thought there might be a future for Lizzie and him, he realised now there wouldn’t be.

He didn’t know how but somehow he’d got to get back to Kim and put the last two days very firmly behind him. Whatever he thought he felt for Lizzie was over and whatever happened now, his future was definitely with Kim. So why did he feel as if his heart had just been ripped out?

Jack showered and dressed then threw his things in his bag and took one final look around the room. He’d felt more at home in this place over the last two days than he’d felt anywhere for a very long time. Leaving here would not be easy and he’d never forget Laurellei Farm – or Lizzie.

He swallowed the lump in his throat. Should he tell her how he felt? Tell her about Kim. Tell her last night had meant something to him. What was the point? She’d made it clear last night meant nothing to her. It was just sex. But the things she’d said, the things they’d shared. He’d never had sex like that. So all consuming, so intense, the need for one another so all encompassing. Surely she couldn’t fake that, could she?

God, how had his life got so complicated in such a short space of time? Lizzie was right about one thing, as much as it hurt him to think it, last night was all they had, all they’d ever have and the thought depressed him more than anything had ever done before.

But his future was with Kim. He knew that now. Her mum’s call had shocked him to his very core; knocked him for six and he still couldn’t quite get his head together. This would take some getting used to but get used to it he would. Kim needed him – and he had to be with her.

He glanced at the window; the doodled heart with Lizzie’s initial in it had almost completely disappeared. Perhaps that was some sort of sign. He shook his head, crossed the room to the door and closed it behind him as he left.

Downstairs, Lizzie was in the dining room talking to Pete and Phil but they all stopped talking and looked up as Jack walked in. She’d made toast and coffee and there was orange juice on the table.

‘Shit mate,’ Pete said. ‘I’m so sorry. She’s okay though?’

Jack was trying to catch Lizzie’s eye but she was avoiding him.

‘Yeah. Um ... some broken bones but she’ll live. Look, I’ve got to go back obviously, but you can all stay on and –’

‘Don’t be mad mate. We’ll all come back with you,’ Phil said. ‘Ross is calling the airport and station now to find the quickest way home and we’ve got an eight-seat cab on standby to take us to the station or drive to Inverness.’

Jack nodded. ‘Okay. Thanks. Um, Lizzie. Lizzie!’

Lizzie left the room without looking back and Jack dropped his bag and followed her into the kitchen.

‘I need to tell you something. I need to explain.’ What was he doing? This was madness but he couldn’t stop himself. ‘Please Lizzie. I don’t want to leave things like this. There’s something you don’t know ... we ... we need to discuss this –’

‘No! We most definitely do not.’

‘Yes we do!’ I ... I’

‘Jack. Please. You’ve got your life and I’ve got mine. You’re engaged and I’m married –’

‘I know but ...’

Lizzie sucked in her breath. ‘There’s no need to feel guilty about last night and don’t worry I won’t tell K ... your fiancée. Although I’m sorely tempted.’

Jack looked stunned.

‘Do you know who I am Jack? Is that why you slept with me?’

Jack’s brow creased. ‘What ... what do you mean?’

‘I’m Max’s wife.’

Jack looked confused. ‘Yeah I know. Lizzie listen –’

‘No! You listen. Marshall is my maiden name. I used it when I started the business here. My husband is Max Bedford. Phil’s colleague and, more importantly, the man your fiancée Kim Mentor had an affair with for several months just over two years ago. She’s the reason Max and I are separated!’ She almost spat out Kim’s name, this was the first time she’d used it in two years.

Jack felt for the second time this morning he’d been hit by a truck. Slowly it dawned on him. No wonder Lizzie could dismiss last night so easily. It really hadn’t meant anything to her, well nothing more than getting her own back in some small way on her husband and Kim.

She was a bloody good actress. She’d actually made him believe she felt something for him. What a mug he was. She’d played him like a violin, then cut his heart strings and tossed him aside. She’d obviously planned the whole thing; probably before he even stepped off the train. Kim had slept with Lizzie’s husband – although this was the first he had heard of it – so Lizzie had slept with him. All’s fair in love and war.

‘Humph! Well, I’m glad we’ve got that cleared up. Happy to have been of service to you. And there’s no need to tell her. I’d planned to tell her myself anyway.’

Lizzie was confused. What did he mean? “Happy to have been of service to you.” She’d only just found out who his fiancée was from talking to Phil and she’d been as shocked as Jack had seemed just now.

‘You’ve got a bloody nerve! You’re the one who lied to get me into bed.’

Jack looked enraged. ‘I lied! Shit! You missed your calling. You should have been on the stage. I’ve never seen such good acting. You really sucked me in with all that “I’m so confused Jack. I want you Jack” I actually believed you cared!’

‘I do ... did! It was you who pretended you were going to break off your engagement. You’re not are you?’

Jack opened his mouth then closed it.

Lizzie turned away to try to hide the tears pricking at her eyes. She only just heard him when he answered.