Doing the Right Thing Read online

  “When did you last go to the seaside?” Addie asked.

  “A year ago.”

  “Whereabouts?”

  “Antigua.” With Vee. There had been a lot of sun bathing, drinking and sex.

  “These rocky outcrops might look unappetizing, but there’s something special to see here. Watch your step.”

  She was more sure-footed and also wearing suitable shoes. Addie was already crouched down looking at something by the time Will picked his way to her side.

  “An ammonite,” he said in surprise.

  Addie looked up and beamed. “These scars are one hundred and seventy million years old, limestone and blue shale pressed under the sea. The place is teeming with fossils.”

  They spent so long bent over, a little boy came up behind them with a fishing net.

  “Have you found a crab?”

  “No, a fossil. It’s called an ammonite,” Addie said. “Can you see any more?”

  The boy touched the mark with his fingers. “I’d rather catch crabs.” Will and Addie shared a smile.

  “Mum,” the boy yelled. “Come and look. They’ve found a satellite.”

  As Will stepped over the next lot of rocks, he slipped, and without thinking, Addie reached out and grabbed his hand.

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He didn’t let her go. Addie raised her eyes to his face and he tightened his grip. She curled her fingers around his and had to fight hard not to burst into tears of joy.

  “Let’s walk down to the sea,” Will suggested.

  Let’s throw ourselves into a snake pit. No problem, Addie thought. Just keep hold of my hand.

  They picked their way around the seaweed-fringed rock pools, the clouds casting such dark shadows, the water around them looked bottomless.

  “What are you thinking?” Will asked.

  That she’d never had her hand held like this.

  “You’re going to wreck your shoes and get your feet wet.” Addie was so pathetic she wanted to kick herself in the head.

  As soon as they reached the sand, he let her go. “Race you,” he said and started to run.

  “Look out for quicksand,” Addie shouted and Will slammed to a halt. She shot past.

  “Wow, this is quick sand,” she yelled.

  She heard him laughing as he came after her. Will reached the water before her, but Addie didn’t mind. Years of her brothers beating her meant she never expected to win anything.

  The sun came out and Will whirled around on the sand with his arms outstretched. “This is great.”

  The wind was whipping the surface of the sea into foam. The wind direction and strength were just right. Too tempting for Addie. She took off her backpack, unzipped it and pulled out a red packet. She knew she was about to show off, but couldn’t help it. Will came to her side. “What’s that?”

  “Power kite.”

  Addie shook the material and twisted out the lines. The wind caught the kite and she dug her heels in the sand as the red and blue fabric shot straight up.

  “Shit,” Will yelled as she let it pull her into the air.

  Addie laughed with delight. She had to be careful doing jumps. She didn’t want to end up in the water and she still ached from yesterday. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Will desperate to have a go. He stood there looking like a model out of a glossy magazine, with the sea and the light behind him, the wind whipping the yellow jacket. She wished he was hers.

  Addie performed a few more manoeuvres and then called him over. “You know you’re going to ruin your shoes.”

  Will smiled. “Do you think I care?”

  And your trousers and my jacket, Addie thought as Will crashed onto the sand, but after a few mishaps he got the hang of it and Addie smiled as he whooped and yelled. She slipped her camera out of her bag and took a few shots while he wasn’t looking.

  They took it in turns to fly, but the wind was strong and it didn’t take long before Addie’s arms ached.

  “I’m hungry now,” Will said, helping Addie wind in the lines.

  “If you’re a good boy you can have an ice cream.”

  Will grinned. “Last one back buys the chips and no more jokes about quicksand.” He paused. “Unless there really is quicksand. In which case, please tell me. I still have nightmares about that scene in Lawrence of Arabia.”

  “And The Neverending Story?”

  “I wasn’t going to admit to watching that.”

  Clutching open trays of fish and chips, they made their way to the harbour wall and sat with their feet dangling over the edge.

  “Delicious,” Addie mumbled, stuffing a huge chip between her lips.

  Will watched Addie devouring the greasy food and thought again about Vee, who would have starved to death rather than put a single chip in her mouth. Vee was so determined to keep her fabulous figure, that eating wasn’t fun, it was a trial. She repeatedly told him he was the reason she went to such extremes. All the dieting, exercise, skin treatments, hair, nails, everything, it was for him, because she loved him and wanted to make him happy by looking beautiful for him. Will had wanted her to be happy, to do things for herself, not for him, but he couldn’t make her see that.

  He didn’t want to think about Vee. He smiled at Addie.

  “I need a drink,” he said as she put the last chip in her mouth. “Coffee or beer. You choose.”

  Addie led him to the pub.

  “What would you like?” Will asked.

  “Anything but gin and tonic.”

  He grinned. “I did wonder. Go and find us a quiet corner.”

  Will came back with a beer for himself and white wine for Addie. He sat next to her on the bench seat.

  “You know, when I saw you on Monday morning I thought I was hallucinating,” he said.

  “At least you didn’t hide in a cupboard.”

  “Only because I didn’t know where they were. I thought you said you were a teacher?”

  “And sales and admin. Three days at Magelan’s, two days teaching.”

  “You didn’t fancy doing something with Japanese or working in Japan?”

  “I didn’t much like Japan,” Addie said.

  “Why not?”

  “Mainly because I got stared at all the time, and since I always seemed to be lost and wandering in the wrong area, people stared at me even more.”

  He used his thumb to trace a circle on the back of her hand, and Addie’s knees shot up, rocking the table. They both grabbed their drinks.

  “Stop teasing me,” she pleaded.

  Will squeezed Addie’s leg. “I can’t help teasing you. It’s like being with a nervous teenager. How come you can flirt with Gordon, yet with me you act like a mistreated Lurcher?”

  “I—I—” Addie stuttered.

  “Let’s forget I’m your boss and that we’re at work. Pretend we’re on our own. You know something is happening here, Addie. My heart’s galloping. I suspect yours is too. But if you really want me to stop, I will.”

  She shook her head. Will smiled. He wasn’t sure that he could stop anyway.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Where are we going?” Addie asked as Will set off up the hill.

  “Back to the bus.”

  “Why?”

  “Wait and see.”

  It was a steep climb. Addie had to stop and take a breather part way, but Will kept going, bounding ahead like a frisky mountain goat. When he realized she wasn’t with him, he came back and grabbed her hand. Addie’s heart skipped merrily even though her legs couldn’t. His hand felt warm and soft, and Addie thought about his fingers touching her breast, tweaking her nipple, slipping into the wet folds between her— Her toe caught a crack and she tripped. Only Will’s firm grasp stopped her falling headlong.

  “Okay?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “What were you thinking?”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’ve realized you’re only clumsy when you’
re nervous. What were you thinking?”

  “What I was going to cook for my tea.”

  “Lying to your boss?”

  “Thought you weren’t my boss.”

  “Lying to the man who wants to press his naked body against your naked body?”

  Addie clamped her mouth shut.

  “You want to know what else I’m thinking?” Will asked.

  She wasn’t sure that she did. She could already feel the muscles clamping deep in her core.

  When they got within sight of the vehicle, Will slowed and released her hand.

  “Shit,” he muttered and Addie thought she’d never been so happy and so annoyed to see anyone in her life.

  Sitting on a wooden bench in front of the coach, like Cerberus before its kennel, was Doreen Wilberforce.

  “You should leave the bus open,” she said. “I’ve nearly frozen to death waiting here.”

  Addie released a shaky sigh. No, it was better that she’d been saved from what she knew would be humiliating.

  “I’m so sorry. You poor thing.” Addie fought back the temptation to hug Doreen, who regarded her with complete astonishment.

  Will stared at his watch. “It’s only ten to three. You’re not due back yet.”

  “Well, now you’re here, I’d like to get on,” Doreen said.

  “Of course you would. I’m so sorry you’ve been kept waiting,” Addie said.

  Both Will and Doreen turned to look at her. Addie was a little disconcerted neither of them appeared convinced of her sincerity. Will unlocked the driver’s door and then pressed the release on the passenger door. Addie followed Doreen on board.

  “Apart from being cold, did you have a nice day?” Addie asked as Doreen slumped on a seat near the front. “Robin Hood’s Bay is lovely, isn’t it? Did you go to the museum? Find any nice shops? Buy anything nice?” Addie could feel Will trying to edge her on.

  “I was overcharged for my tomatoes.”

  Addie started to commiserate, but Will shoved her forward.

  “Miss Winter and I are just going to discuss her position in the company,” Will told Doreen as they passed. “We’ll try not to disturb you.”

  At the back of the coach, Will gestured for Addie to sit next to the window, out of sight behind the on-board toilet. He peeled off his jacket and sat next to her. As he reached for her shaking hand, Addie jumped up. “I’ll see if Mrs Wilberforce is all right.” Will yanked her down.

  “She might…” Addie stood up again.

  “Might what?” Will asked.

  Addie hovered.

  “Sit down,” he said. “Mrs Wilberforce is fine. She’s not big enough for you to hide behind.”

  Addie’s knees bent and she dropped in the seat next to him. She couldn’t look at him.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked. “What’s making you so nervous?”

  “I was wondering what I could do if the handbrake failed on the coach and—”

  He put his finger on her lips. “Shut up.”

  Addie swallowed hard.

  “I want to kiss you,” he whispered.

  All her internal organs braced themselves.

  “Promise you won’t run away this time. I’ve never had that effect on anyone before, well apart from when I was seven and tried to kiss Lisa Prescott. She ran too, straight to the headmistress. I had to apologize in front of the whole school and consequently didn’t get to take the class hamster home for the holiday. I never got over it.”

  Addie knew he was nervous too. He used his thumb to stroke her wrist, drawing little circles with the edge of his nail. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the sight of his hand holding hers.

  “Why did you run away on Sunday morning? Why wouldn’t you speak to me?”

  Addie closed her eyes.

  “Look at me, Addie.”

  Her eyes snapped open. His eyes were as dark as ever, but now they were full of something else. He wanted her. She could see it in his face. No one had ever looked at her like that before. She felt a surge of heat between her legs and her heart began to jump like a kid on a trampoline.

  “You can’t believe how hurt I was,” Will said. “I always thought I was good at kissing, but it seems you were so horrified you couldn’t wait to get away from me.”

  How red was her face? “You know that’s not why I ran.”

  “I only know what damage has been done to me,” Will whispered, edging a little closer.

  Addie wondered if she had an organ that wasn’t trembling in excitement. “You don’t look damaged. You look perfect.”

  “Mr Perfect.”

  Addie’s shoulders sank. “Oh God, I did say that aloud.”

  He dropped his hand to her knee and ran his thumb up her jeans to the top of her leg. When he slid his fingers under her fleece, she jerked as hard as if she’d touched an electric fence.

  “Steady,” he said in a whisper. “Let’s take this off. That moose is watching and it’s making me nervous.”

  Addie let him pull the fleece over her head. Will tossed it onto the next seat. He moved his fingers back onto her skin, ran his thumb along her waist at the top of her jeans and then stopped in the centre of her stomach. Addie knew why.

  “You don’t look the type,” he said.

  “I’m not.”

  Will lifted her t-shirt. When he slid his fingers over her navel and touched the little silver screw that pierced it, her skin fluttered. To Addie’s intense delight, his fingers trembled.

  “So if you’re not the type, why did you have it done?”

  “To piss off my mother.”

  Will laughed. He put his mouth next to her ear. “Sit on my lap.”

  Addie was horrified. “I can’t. I’ll crush you.”

  Will’s eyes opened wide. “Why on earth would you think that?”

  “I’m…I’m big.”

  “You’re tall, you’re not big. I’m six four. You’re what…five ten?”

  She nodded. Near enough. When had she ever been smaller than someone thought?

  “Six inches’ difference. Nicole Kidman is taller than you.”

  “I bet she wouldn’t sit on your lap either.”

  Will smiled. “She might. I’ve never had the chance to ask. So what’s wrong with being tall?”

  “I’m very sensitive about my height,” Addie mumbled.

  “I like tall girls.”

  “You’re just saying that so I’ll do what you want.”

  “And is it working?”

  “No.”

  “Tell me what’s wrong with being tall?” Will repeated.

  Be careful, Addie told herself. He doesn’t need to hear the whole sad story. Offer a teaspoonful not the whole reservoir.

  “Tell me,” he urged as his fingers twisted the screw in her navel and unlocked the key to her heart.

  A small crack appeared in the dam wall.

  “I’ve been teased about my height for as long as I can remember—people asking what the weather was like up there, calling me lanky, scraggy, beanpole and worse.”

  “What sort of worse?”

  Addie hesitated. “Being called ‘sir’.”

  “What?”

  “People think I look like a man,” she whispered as more water trickled from the widening crack. She wished she hadn’t said that, wanted the words back.

  “They must be blind.”

  Addie knew she should shut up, but in an attempt to make him forget the last comment, her tongue launched into hyper-drive.

  “My mother forced me to have ballroom dancing lessons to make me more graceful, but I had to be the guy. I stuck it for four weeks before I started going to the cinema instead. She didn’t find out for seven months. Then she made me learn the violin.”

  “Can you play the violin?”

  “Not after I sat on it.”

  Will laughed.

  “I don’t like standing out. It makes me feel uncomfortable and that makes me clumsy. I’m not small and cuddly. I’m not swe
et. I’m never going to be a kitten in a man’s arms, just a sack of concrete.” The water poured out now from a massive gash.

  Addie was incapable of halting the flood and frightened of what she might say next.

  But it was Will who shut her up, putting his thumb against her lips. “Let’s risk it. Sit on my lap. I want to give you a cuddle. I need warming up.”

  She allowed him to draw her onto his lap and move his face close to hers. Addie could feel his eyelashes brushing her cheek and she shook in his arms. Oh God, what if he feels that damp patch between my legs?

  Will was angry Addie had been teased like that. She was so blatantly female with that cute face and her beautiful long legs. Will liked long legs, particularly when they were wrapped around his waist or over his shoulders. He swallowed hard. He wanted to kiss her, but he was scared of freaking her out. The tip of her tongue flicked out to wet her lips and the last vestige of his control disintegrated.

  He wrapped his arms around her, bent his head and kissed her. She gave a little gasp and Will took advantage of that to press his tongue forward in a tentative exploration. She melted. The tension rushed out of her body as she changed from angular bones to soft, gentle curves. Her hands threaded into his hair, she moved against him and Will slid his tongue deeper into her mouth, revelling in her sweetness. Addie sucked gently and heat flooded his body. Will groaned deep in his chest.

  He moved one hand around her back to bring her closer and slid the other down over the seam between her legs. Damp? Addie gasped into his mouth and lurched against him as she panted.

  “Addie,” he groaned. “God, you go off like a rocket.” She tried to get off his lap, but he wouldn’t let her.

  “Stop it. No running away. I want to know, is it just me that can make you come so fast or does this happen all the time?” He breathed into her ear. “I hope it’s just me.”

  She touched his cheek with her fingers and Will caught his breath.

  “Shit,” he hissed, pushing her back on the seat. He stood up, and grabbed Addie’s jacket to hide the bulge in his trousers.

  Doreen Wilberforce stood glaring at him. “I’ve left my umbrella on the bench. I need to get off the coach.”

  Will cast an apologetic glance at Addie. As he reached the driver’s seat he saw a couple of passengers walking across the car park followed by Fred. Will swore under his breath and waited to hand over the keys. Addie came up behind him, back on duty.