CORAL (A Romance Trilogy, Book 1) (16 page)

I decide to get angry for a
second or two, just until the fear washes over me. I clench my fists and
imagine I’m sparring with Will, punching the bag as hard as I can; pouring all
the rage and anger out of me.

“Coral?” I hear Tristan approach
and open my eyes.

He reaches his hand up to touch
my face. I take a cautious step back.

“Please...don’t touch me,” I beg.
He immediately drops his hand, and frowns down at me with a confused, shocked
look. “Just... give me a minute,” I whisper.

Tristan stares at me for the
longest time; then he finally nods once. “Shall I wait for you upstairs?” he
softly asks, yet he looks torn like he doesn’t want to leave me. I nod my head
in approval. “Alright...” His lips set into a hard line and I watch him walk
away from me. It takes me a good five minutes for me to compose myself.

Feeling ready, I dash up the
stairs two at a time, and find Tristan waiting for me by the front door. He
doesn’t offer his hand to me, which I’m thankful for, and by the time we reach
the cool comfort of the car, I’m feeling more relaxed, and back in control...

THE MOMENT WE ARE BACK IN THE CAR
, Tristan gently takes my hand in his, and stares down at our
fingers, deep in thought.

“Are you alright?” He asks.

I nod in reply.

“Why didn’t you shake his hand?”
He asks me.

“Sorry?” I ask meeting his dreamy
eyes.

“The estate agent, you refused
his hand when we met him then you shook it as we left.”

“No I didn’t,” I argue. “
He
grabbed hold of my hand before I could pull it away.” I correct him.

“So, if he hadn’t taken your hand
you wouldn’t have shaken it?” He deciphers.

“No.” I sigh and look away from
him. I feel like I already know what he’s going to ask.

“Why?” I knew it. I sigh heavily
and close my eyes.
Do I really want him to know?

“Some men are creepier than
others.” I whisper.
Shut up Coral!

“Am I creepy to you?” He asks.

My eyes dart open in
astonishment. “No!” I gasp in shock. “Tristan, are you mad?” I swallow hard,
still feeling amazed he asked me that. “Tristan you are the complete opposite
of creepy. You’re kind, and sweet, and genuine and I...quite honestly, I’m
finding it all rather odd how comfortable I am feeling in your presence. It’s
quite unexpected...” I finally take a breath and exhale.

He continues to gaze at me as
though he’s assessing that what I have said is true, that I’m not hiding
anything. His lips twitch up momentarily and he nods once squeezing my hand.

“Satisfied?” I ask feeling
frustrated that we are having this conversation. I’m going to have to be more
careful around him; he seems to be extremely perceptive.

“I want to ask why?” He softly
says, his thumb circling my hand.

“Why what?” I whisper.

“Why you’re the way you are?” I
stare back at him in wide-eyed frozen silence, radiating stress. My shoulders
start to work their way up to my ears, just as a cold sweat breaks out, I can
feel the trembling start from deep within me, and my heart is thumping wildly
echoing my anxiety. After what feels like eternity, I slowly shake my head at
him, warning him not to go any further.

“Let’s eat,” he says taking note
and changing the subject.

I feel my shoulders slump back
down, my heart slowing back down to its regular beat. I lean back into the seat
and try to relax.

“Where can we go that’s quiet and
has good food?” Tristan asks in a monotone voice.

I know a few places, but they’re all
on the Marina and I don’t want to take him there. Then it hits me, Gladys took
me there for my 30th – It should be quiet this time of day.

“There’s the Smugglers Rest in
Peacehaven,” I reluctantly suggest. “It shouldn’t be too overcrowded at this
time on a Tuesday, the food’s great, it’s a nice place.”

“How long to get there?” he asks.

“Twenty minutes.” I state.

“Smugglers Rest it is then.” He
says.

“Peacehaven?” Stuart asks.

Tristan nods silently then seems
to convert back to his previous, silent brooding. I want to shout at him to
stop being like this, he’s making me feel uncomfortable. But then I think if I
was about to spend nearly two million pounds on a house I would be thinking
very seriously about it too.

As the car pulls away I’m
instantly drawn to the song that’s playing. I love music I have such a huge
collection. “Stuart, can you turn it up please?” I ask sweetly hoping he’ll do
so. Stuart looks to Tristan, who silently nods.

The car is suddenly filled with
Labrinths Beneath your Beautiful. I feel Tristan gazing at me as I softly sing
along, I should feel self-conscious about singing in front of him, but I think
it’s beautiful and poignant, so I don’t let him stop me. When the song ends,
Stuart turns the radio back down. I can still feel Tristan gazing at me, the
silence seems to stretch between us, so I decide to ignore it and stare out of
the window. We turn right onto Roedean Road and descend back down towards the
Marina, bypassing it completely, we head east onto the A259 towards Peacehaven.

The silence continues...

***

“Coral,
wake up darling.” I groan and push the hand away that’s trying to gently wake
me. “We’re here,” a husky voice chuckles.

“Leave me alone Carlos.” I
scrunch up my eyes and attempt to turn over in bed, only to jerk awake. There
is no bed, and Tristan is hovering over me, grinning widely –
Shit I fell
asleep!

“Oh God, I’m so sorry!” I gasp.
How
embarrassing!
“It was the car, the journey, so smooth and I just’ – Tristan
holds up his hand, I stop talking. “No harm, no foul,” he smirks.

I quickly pull myself up from my
slumped position and smile hesitantly at him. Then I watch him open the door,
jump out effortlessly and make his way around the car. I look up at Stuart and
bite my lip to hide my embarrassment. Then I wonder – If Stuart is driving us
round all day, what’s he supposed to have for lunch? Tristan opens my door and
as I’m unbuckling my seatbelt, I decide I’ll ask him anyway.

“Stuart did you want me to bring
you something to eat?” He turns in his seat and I see his face for the first
time, he’s got a captain America jaw-line, a crocked nose that looks like it’s
been broken a few times, hazel eyes and short spiky blonde hair. He’s actually
quite intimidating now I can see him properly. I certainly wouldn’t want to get
on the wrong side of him, he beams widely at me.

“That’s sweet Coral, but I’m fine
thank you,” he says chuckling softly, then turns back in his seat. I shrug
wondering what’s supposed to be so funny and accept Tristan’s hand helping me
out of the car, when I look up at him I see he’s chuckling too.

“He’s right,” he says pulling me
closer to him, taking my breath away because I think he’s about to kiss me; and
the scariest part about it is that I think I want him to. “You are so very
sweet,” he moves so quickly that I don’t see it coming and kisses the tip of my
nose. Then, pulling away from me as quickly as he moved in, he takes hold of my
hand. I walk with him into the Restaurant in a complete daze, my nose still
tingling from his kiss.

As we walk up to the bar
Tristan’s face lights up.

“What?” I chuckle squeezing his
hand slightly.

“They have Timothy Taylor.” He
beams.

“Who?” I ask none the wiser.

“It’s a beer,” he chuckles
slightly. “My favourite,” he adds.
Well what d’ya know, I definitely took
him for a wine swisher.

“You drink beer?” I choke. “I
definitely took you for a wino,” I blurt without thinking about it –
Oops!

“A what?” he chuckles. I look
away and bite my lip feeling embarrassed that I said that out loud. Tristan
puts his forefinger under my chin and raises it so I have to make eye contact
with him. “Don’t hang your head feeling guilty for being you Coral, I thought
that was funny.” He lets go of my chin and I make myself blink so I stop
staring at him. “Although I have no idea what it means, but I can pretty much
guess,” he adds.

I smile weakly at him.

“What would you like to drink
Coral?”
Such a gentleman!

I shake my head feeling unsure. “Give
me a minute,” I answer, wondering whether I should have coffee to wake me up,
or water to rehydrate me.

“I like this place,” he says
looking around him. It’s all cream walls, with wooden chairs and tables covered
in white linen cloths and has an up-market feel about it. And the place is
spotlessly clean, which is always impressive when you’re about to eat
somewhere.

“Gladys bought me here for my
30th” I explain.

“Yeah...did you have a good
time?” he asks sweetly.

“Yes, it was great and the food
was really’ - Tristan suddenly moves closer to me, instantly silencing me and
kisses me so softly on the cheek that I feel as though I’m about to pass out.
All the bones in my body feel like they have liquefied. I have stopped
breathing and my heart has stopped beating.

“What was that for?” I ask
breathlessly, trying to tear my gaze away from him.

“Does there need to be a reason?”
he replies.

I look away from him, it’s no
good I’m going to have to give him the low-down, tell him I’m not good for
him...tell him to find someone else.

Tristan orders his pint of beer.
The barman pours it and hands it to him. “Here try this.” He holds his pint up
in front me. I shake my head, it smells funny. “Have you ever tried it?” he
questions.

“No.” I grumble crossing my arms
defiantly. Knowing full well I don’t touch alcohol the day after a heavy night.

“Well how can you say you don’t
like something, if you’ve never tried it?” he admonishes.

I sigh heavily. I’m too hung-over
for the argument. I take the pint off him and tentatively take a sip –
Uh-oh!

“That’s tasty.” I exclaim,
handing it back to him and wondering if hair of the dog will actually make me
feel a little better.

“Would you like one?” he asks
amusingly. I can’t. I have George tonight, I’ll need a clear head – hopefully
I’ll have one by then.

“I can't.” I tell him quietly.

“Why?” He looks confused.

“Because I have...” I stop,
wondering to myself if I should tell him, then I change my mind.

“What is it Coral?” He’s intense
again.

“I have an appointment tonight.”
I remind him.

“So you can't drink?” He
clarifies.

“No.” I whisper.

“No alcohol?” I shake my head.
“What would you like?”

“A large glass of water with lots
of lemon please.” I reply.

“Still?” he questions.

“Yes please.” I smile
tentatively.

Tristan places my order and hands
my glass to me, we are asked if we are eating and when we say we are, we are
told to help ourselves to whatever table we want. Tristan leads us to a table
by a large window overlooking a beautiful garden.

“This ok?” he asks. I nod in
agreement. As I side step to my seat, Tristan is instantly there pulling it out
for me.
Why does this suddenly feel like a date?
I sit down, then I
watch him walk around the table, remove his jacket and sling it over the back
of his chair, then he sits down.

I
place my bag on the floor and pick up a menu, my stomach rumbling at me. Tristan
takes a couple of long gulps of his beer and picks up his menu. I decide it’s
probably best to get it out of the way now, what I want to say to him, before I
eat. Taking three long gulps of water, I mentally prepare myself.

“Tristan, I have something I need
to say to you.”

“And I to you,” he adds, this
stuns me into silence. “But by all means continue,” he smiles coyly. “Ladies
before gentleman,” he adds.

He looks down at his menu again.
But I think he can tell I’m staring at him, waiting for him to look at me, when
he does, he instantly places his menu down and leans back in his chair, giving
me his full attention.
Shit, now I don’t know what to say!

“You really like me don’t you?” I
ask mournfully.

“I think that’s a given.” Tristan
snorts.

“You really shouldn’t.” I say
staring at the ice swirling in my glass.

“Why?” His voice is croaky again;
I think I detect a hint of pain.

“Because I don’t do this
Tristan,” I say waving my hand in the air.

“Well good, neither do I.” I look
up and narrow my eyes at him.
How the hell is this guy single?

“Are you seeing anyone?” I
question.

“You’ve already asked me this.
No, I’m not seeing anyone.” His answer is immediate, his look screams honesty
but I just don’t get it. So I decide to test him.

“I don’t believe you,” I choke.
“You’re smart, rich, unbelievably handsome, a real catch. And you’re telling me
you’re single?”

“Why is that so hard to believe?”
He asks.

“B-because you...well, you just
seem so…so lovely and normal. Somebody must have caught your eye? You must have
liked someone, surely?” I blurt in disbelief.

“I’ve had relationships in the
past, they didn’t work out,” he says artlessly, but I detect something in his
voice.

“Why didn’t they?” Tristan pulls
his gaze away from me and seems to withdraw into himself and I know I’ve hit a
nerve. But before I can say anything he answers me.

“I…I had a very different
upbringing Coral, I don't think or act like my generation should. I...” he
stops and shakes his head.

“You seem perfectly normal to
me.” I offer.

“There’s that word again,” he
groans.
What? Oh! It dawns on me.