The music, which despite my best efforts had slipped into middle-class thirty-something dinner party mode – who else could have rocketed Ed Sheeran to number one? – suddenly changed. Someone had put on some Bruno Mars and people had got up to dance, blocking my view of Simon.
‘So, will you be shagging Doctor Jones tonight?’
I turned round to Georgia. ‘Keep your voice down. He might hear!’
‘Believe me, he’s thinking exactly the same thing. He hasn’t taken his eyes off you since you got here.’
‘He doesn’t know anyone else, so of course he’d stay close to me,’ I said, trying not to jump the gun as quickly as Georgia had. But she was right, I’d noticed too.
Georgia’s words had lit a spark I’d been trying to keep matches away from all night. His Indiana Jones outfit was proving lethal – I’d never fancied anyone so much in my whole life. I’d been trying not to drink a lot because that only fuelled my libido, but Dean had been far too attentive as host and whenever my glass was less than full, he’d topped it up. Technically, I hadn’t got to the bottom of my first glass yet.
Simon came over and dropped onto the floor next to me.
‘Is it me or did it suddenly get hot in here?’ said Georgia, theatrically. ‘I’d better go and check on the heating.’ She left, but not without first giving me a cheeky wink that I’m sure Simon saw.
‘She’s right, it is kinda hot in here,’ he said.
‘Must be all that whip action,’ I replied.
‘Do you want to get some air?’
‘Sure.’
A couple of smokers were hanging around the patio, but Simon led me towards the back of the garden to a bench by a magnolia tree. It was pitch black and silent apart from the distant roar of the North Circular.
We sat facing the house, my leg pressed against the length of his. I shivered and Simon wrapped his arm around my shoulders, which only made me want to shiver more.
‘It’s peaceful out here,’ he said.
‘Yes, it is,’ I agreed, completely ignoring my racing pulse.
He took my hand in his. God, I hoped my raised heartbeat wasn’t obvious.
‘You look beautiful tonight, Frixie.’
I didn’t know what to say. The little voice that had always warned me not to read too much into his words was uncharacteristically silent.
‘Yeah, I tend to look good in the dark.’ And there it was. Still scared to accept a compliment from him.
‘I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately.’
My eyes were adjusting to the dark now, and I could see his expression. Surely there was no way to mistake it? It’s the way I used to look at him; the way I’d longed for him to look at me. My heart knocked against my ribs.
He twisted round to face me. ‘You make me want to do something bad.’
I swallowed. ‘How bad?’
He leant in close. ‘Pretty bad,’ he whispered.
‘Maybe you should just do it.’
He kissed me softly on the lips and pulled back.
‘That’s not so bad,’ I said, my breath raspy.
He leant forward and kissed me again. This time his lips lingered longer.
‘Is that bad enough?’ His voice was low.
