CORAL (A Romance Trilogy, Book 1) (43 page)

“I think he’s in love with you.”
Tristan pipes up.

“Don’t be daft.” I choke,
laughing nervously.

“I’m dead serious,” he argues. My
face falls, all humour instantly dissipating within me.

“Are you kidding me?” I squeak,
suddenly wondering if I’ve actually been leading a lonely old man on. I run my
hands through my hair. “Do you think I need to have a talk with him?” I ask.

“I’d leave it as it is,” Tristan
answers. “Maybe having the fantasy of you is what’s keeping him going.” I frown
at that one, pick up my wine glass and finish it off.

“More?” I ask Tristan.

“I’ll get it, how about some popcorn?
We still have time for the movie?” He smiles but it’s a little off. So he wants
to watch the movie with popcorn? Boy I’m going to feel bloated tomorrow,
nothing but salad.

“You ok?” I ask as I put the bag
in the microwave.

“You really meant it didn’t you,
about not liking yourself.” Tristan is frowning deeply as he fills up our
glasses. I feel myself close up, shut down - withdraw. I shrug my shoulders at
him. “You should see yourself more clearly,” he adds.

I glance across at him then find
my big bowl out the cupboard for the popcorn. As we both sit down on the sofa,
I feel myself tense up and I don’t know why.

“Coral, relax, you want to talk
about what went on earlier?” I nod feeling glad I have someone to talk it out
with.

“Debs is leaving, her house is up
for sale and she didn’t tell me, and she knew about Malcolm ages ago. I asked
Gladys why she didn’t tell me but she avoided the subject. I asked them both if
there’s something more going on, they didn’t deny or confirm it. I know they
are both hiding something, I just don’t know what. And with everything else
going on, Joyce leaving, my job, Rob not talking to me, the last thing I need
is to find out my own family are...” I shake my head in wonder.

“I’m so glad you’re here Tristan,
and I’m not just saying that because I feel lonely,” I exhale heavily. “Weird
really, it’s like all this crap happened just as you turned up...Shit, that
sounds bad, I mean’ – I shake my head – ‘I don’t know what the fuck I mean.” I
blurt running my hands through my hair in frustration.

“Hey,” Tristan rubs my back. “I’m
glad I’m here too,” he tells me softly.

I turn and look into his deep
soulful eyes. “Sorry, what I meant was it’s like you turned up at the right
time, to be here for me while all this is going on. Does that make any sense?”

“Yes it does,” he chuckles then
leans closer and wraps his arm around my shoulder.

“I’d be freaking out if you
weren’t here, I know I would.” I mumble.

“I don’t think you would be,”
Tristan argues.

“Oh I would, you might not see it
on the outside but’- I tap my head - ‘on the inside I’d be cracking up.”

Tristan sighs heavily. “Who do
you go to when you’re upset or worried about something?”

“It used to be Gladys then I met
Rob,” I answer immediately.

“So if he was around to talk to,
you would be ok about everything else?”

“Maybe, Rob helps me. He says I
take life too seriously. He helps me look at life from a different perspective
and helps calm my wayward thoughts.” Tristan smiles so deeply his dimples are
on full wattage, he cocks his head to the side as though he’s worked something
out.

“What?” I mumble.

“That night in Iguana’s, you were
with Rob?”

“Yeah?” I frown wondering where
he’s going with this.

“And you told me you don’t
normally go out drinking on a weeknight?”

“Yeah?”

“Oh to be a fly on the wall and
hear what
that
conversation was about, but I have a pretty good idea,”
he says smugly.

“Well a fly in a restaurant is
not a good idea.” I answer dryly hoping he doesn’t ask me.

Tristan chuckles hard. “You did
not know where to put yourself when I turned up.”

I sigh, caught out! “No, I
didn’t,” I answer taking a gulp of wine. Tristan stops laughing and moves so
close to me, I can feel his breathe on my cheek.

“You were discussing me?” he
whispers in my ear. My heart starts manically beating. “I knew you felt it too,
that moment when we met in reception,” he adds.

I slowly turn and meet his heated
gaze, it’s deep and so soulful. His eyes have dilated, his cheeks are flushed,
his breathing heavy, and he’s radiating sexiness.

“Yes,” I whisper my breathing
just as hard. Tristan leans forward I think he’s going to kiss me, my mouth
instantly goes dry, he’s so close –“What happened to you Coral?” I frown back
at him. “In the car you told me you find men creepy. I can understand you being
the way you are because of your parents and their complete lack of care for you.
But something else happened, what is it?” I clam up inside. “Coral!” He
admonishes.

I slowly turn away from him
trying to keep as calm as possible. “I c-can’t...” I look back at him. “Tristan
I...it’s really not something I want to...” I sigh heavily. “I’m not even sure
if I will ever tell you, I just don’t know.” I add.

“I wish you would, was it your
Dad? Did he beat you’ – “Stop!” I place my finger over his lips. “I don’t want
retribution, it happened and there’s nothing I can do about it except live my
life to the fullest, the best way I can.” Tristan glares back at me. “I mean it
Tristan. This may sound strange to you but...” I take a deep breath, I’m not
even sure if I want to tell him. Whenever I think of what happened to me, I
think Karma, what goes around comes around. I’m pretty sure those people that
did those things to me will get their comeuppance, someday.

“Tell me Coral, what are you
thinking?” He asks running his fingers through my hair.

“Karma.” I whisper, staring
straight ahead.

“Karma?”

“Uh-huh.” Tristan pulls on my
chin so I have to turn and look at him.

“Karma, you believe in it?” I nod
silently. Tristan stares blankly ahead. “What goes around comes around,” he mumbles
to himself, then turns his penetrating gaze on me. “What else do you believe
in?” His face is unreadable so I decide to go on.

“Spirit, the universe, that we
are all connected.” I whisper feeling silly for sharing my beliefs with him -
I’ve never shared them with anyone.

“I like that.” He says brushing
his thumb across my bottom lip. “Can you teach me?” he asks.

“Um...well, I can give you books
to read. I think you have to come to your own conclusion about what it all
means to you.” I answer feeling as though I’m blushing.

Tristan smiles his deep dimpled
smile. “I’d like that.” He takes my hand in his and kisses it. And I don’t know
why, but I feel as though I want a really long hug.

“Will you do something for me?” I
whisper.

“Anything,” he answers in his
husky voice. I put down my wine and stand up giving him my hand as I do,
Tristan takes hold of it. I pull him to his feet, then fling my arms around him
and squeeze him tight. My head resting against his beating heart.

“Is this what you want?” He asks sounding
a little confused.

“Yes.” I whisper.

Tristan’s arms envelope me, and I
sink into the peacefulness of the feeling. I feel safe, secure and so content.
I wish I could stay like this forever, it feels so wonderful. I notice the
music is still playing in the background and that it has flipped onto the next
album. Dionne Warwick’s This Girl’s In Love With You is playing, it’s one of my
old mixed tapes that I transferred to my player. It’s been years since I’ve
listened to it.

“This is a favourite track of
mine,” Tristan softly says. I look up at him. “Well the Herb Albert one, you
know the guy in love...” He smiles.

I nod knowing the song. “Let me
guess, your Grandpa?”

“Yep, big fan.”

“Yeah, Gladys likes Dionne, kind
of gets you into it doesn’t it.”

“It does indeed.” Tristan pulls
away from me and I am momentarily gutted, until he holds out his hands to me. “Dance
with me?” He asks.

“Here?” I question, blinking up
at him.

“Yes.” He has his hands held out
waiting for me.

“What old style?” I squeak.

“Yes.” His face is dead serious.

“I-I…don’t know how to do that.”
I whisper.

“I’ll show you.” He says. Tristan
takes my left hand and places it on his right shoulder, wrapping his right arm
around my waist he pulls me in so that our bodies are touching.

He clutches my right hand with
his and places them against his chest. Then he gazes down at me, and starts to
slowly move us around my tiny studio. Tristan moves with grace and such fluid
movements, that it’s evident he’s done this before, and does it very, very well.

“You’ve done this before.” I say
dreamily.

“Yes,” he croaks huskily. “My
Grandparents went to a dancing club every Wednesday and Saturday evening, I
went along with them.”

“Oh that explains it,” I answer
as Tristan twirls us around some more. “Why do you think people stopped dancing
like this? It’s really nice.”

“I don’t know. Maybe the music
changed, so it changed people styles.”

“I like the old way, men taking
women out dancing, I bet it used to be really fun.”

“It was also a great way for men
to check out the women they were dancing with,” Tristan adds.

“How?” I question.

“Well....you know,” Tristan
smiles shyly. “My Gramps told me it was a way of checking out a woman’s
figure,” he grins cheekily.

“Ah,” the penny drops. “I suppose
it was. And if I were in a dress like back then, what would you be surmising
right now?” I tease flirtatiously.

“I’d be thinking I was the
luckiest man on the planet, and I’d be thinking of all different ways to
impress you, so you would say yes to another date.” His dimples go to full
wattage as we grin widely at one another.

“Good answer.” I say.

“It was, wasn’t it,” he says, his
cheeky grin appearing.

I shake my head at that one. The
next song comes on, Ray Charles - You don’t know me. It’s one of my all time
favourites. Tristan stops moving and stares down at me, his expression intense.

“How is it that all the songs I
like, you have?” He asks moving us around again.

“You know this one?” I ask
incredulously.

“Ray Charles is one of my
favourite singers,” he tells me.

“And this song?”

“It’s what I heard playing in my
head when you came walking into reception, then all through the meeting, and
when I drove back to the hotel.” I gasp in awe.

“You did?” Tristan nods solemnly
at me.

“Tristan,” I whisper placing my
head under his chin. “Don’t ever leave me,” I whisper so quietly I’m not even
sure he heard me. I close my eyes to my own words, feeling the power of them
and the enormous effect Tristan has over me.

“Not a chance in hell,” he
whispers back.
So he heard me!

I open my eyes again and stare up
at this amazing man that has entered my life like a whirlwind. A powerful
profound urge to kiss him overtakes me again. I lean up onto my tip-toes,
entwine my fingers through his hair and lean into him. Tristan leans forward
and his lips finally reach mine. He’s being so gentle with me, kissing me so
softly. His lips are just as soft as I imagined they would be – But I want
more. Desire explodes inside me, desire for this amazing man.

Tristan has ignited a flame that
is now burning so intensely, that I don’t think about my actions, all rational
thoughts have disappeared. I jump up and wrap my legs around him, forcing his
lips apart so I can taste his tongue, kissing him with all the passion and fire
that’s been burning up inside of me. Our lips mesh together in perfect
symmetry, as our tongues lash against one another in heated passion.

I hear Tristan moan a deep sound
of longing, which makes me whimper out loud, I want him so badly, but I know I
need to be careful, I don’t want him to think the obvious is going to happen. As
we continue to kiss with heated passion, our tongues lashing and probing
against one another, my nose suddenly starts throbbing angrily at me. I think I
must have bumped it as I got lost in the moment.

“Ow! ow...ow!!” I moan and gently
slide down his body, his hands gently gripping me, keeping me balanced. I reach
my hand up to my nose to try and protect it, but I can't see as my eyes have
filled with watery tears –
God damn it!

“Oh baby.” Tristan wipes the
tears away that are rolling down my cheeks.

“Sorry.” I whisper keeping my
eyes closed so I can try and concentrate on pushing away the pain.

“Don’t be, come, sit down Coral.”
He gently ushers me to the sofa, I sit. Then I hear Tristan walk away. I hear
the tap running, within a moment he is back.