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‘Youlook lovely,’ he whispered. ‘Youalways do.’Anawkward expression swept over his face and he backed off too.Hecleared his throat.Makinga deal of pouring more tea, adding milk and stirring it vigorously, he added, ‘Iwondered if you’d like to come up toTheOldSchoolKitchenwith me?NowI’vegot the keys,Imean.Wecould have a look around.Seethe worst.SeewhatI’vethrown my money at.Imean,Iunderstand if you’re too busy or not feeling up to it…’Thesentence trailed off.
‘Yes,I’dlove to.It’son my way home anyway.’
‘Ohyes, of course.Aslong as you’re not too busy,’ he repeated.
Daisywas too busy.Shehad a shedload of paperwork to wade through.Halfan hour wouldn’t hurt though.Shewinced.Unlikeher shoulders. ‘Aslong as you don’t mind a detour via the chemist.Ineed to buy some aftersun.’
Rickimmediately brightened. ‘Noproblem.Thatwould be great.’
Hewas back to normal.Themoment of vividly intense intimacy had fled.
‘Moretea first?’
Teawas a safe topic. ‘Moretea first,’ she agreed.
Daisystood behindRickas he turned the key in the enormous lock and eased open the door to what would becomeTheOldSchoolKitchen.Tryingnot to stare, she noticed how his dark wavy hair came to a point just above the collar of his shirt.Shewas desperate to run her fingers through it, imagining how thick and soft it would feel.Shocked, she felt her hand rise of its own volition and quickly tucked it back into a pocket.Sheneeded to do the same with her feelings for the man.Theywere getting out of control.
Heled her along a short corridor into the main hall.Ashe’d mentioned previously, it was double height and impressive. ‘Well, what do you think?’
Someof the plaster was peeling, the leaded windows were grubby and seagull-stained and the parquet floor was inches thick in dust, revealing where an old carpet had been half ripped up.Motesswam in the soft late-afternoon sunshine.
‘It’sperfect.Orit will be.’Shetwisted around. ‘Onceyou get the fireplace uncovered and the floor polished up it’s going to be really impressive.’
Hegrinned boyishly. ‘Followme, let me show you the kitchens.’
Theywent further along the main corridor towards the back of the building and into a vast commercial kitchen.
‘Itall needs scrubbing up and checking over, butIdon’t thinkIneed to do anything more in here.Oneof the beauties of the place.Anew, up-to-catering-standard kitchen would cost a fortune.’
Daisylooked around.Thesteel work surfaces and huge industrial ovens looked alien to her but then she’d never worked in a commercial kitchen.Sheimagined, once cleaned up, it would be a good space. ‘Wonderif this was the site of the old kitchen when it was a school?’Shewrinkled her nose. ‘Ordid they even have kitchens back then?’Shelaughed, nervous about being so close to him. ‘Youcan tellI’ma scientist and not a historian.’
Rickshrugged. ‘Yourguess is as good as mine.Maybethey did towards the end of the century?IfIever get the time, it might be fun to investigate the history of the place.’
‘Oohyes.Youcould put old photos up on the wall, that would look great, especially if you dig out any ones of ex-pupils, you know, those class pictures.’
Rickshook his head at her, admiringly. ‘Fantasticidea.’Hebit his lip, on the verge of saying something then briskly said, ‘Iwon’t show you the toilets, they’re far too depressing.Let’sgo back into the main hall.’Hefollowed her back along the corridor. ‘Hangon,Daisy.’Sheturned in query. ‘You’vegot cobwebs in your hair.’Reachingup he picked them off. ‘There, that’s better.’Hegazed at her, entranced. ‘Youdidn’t flinch.Don’tyou mind spiders?’
Lookingup at him in the half-light she replied, ‘No, never been bothered.Besides, the potential of this place is too exciting to get all het up about a few arachnids.’
Hegave her a strange half-smile. ‘Right.You’requite a girl, you know.’
Hewas very close.Shecould see stubble on his jaw and the dark hair beginning at the open neck of his shirt.Hewas gorgeous.Herbreathing became very shallow. ‘Ithas been said,’ she answered lightly and turned away, not able to take the intimacy in the enforced close quarters.Onceback in the main room she focused on the practical. ‘CreamIthink for the walls.Awarm yellowy cream, likeDevon’sbest clotted variety.Tonedown the orange stain on the floor to a cooler hue, black-and-white photographs on the walls, lots of broad-leaved plants, white napkins – real linen.’Sheclapped her hands. ‘Oh,Rick, it’ll be gorgeous.’Sheflinched. ‘Ouch.’
‘What’swrong?’
‘Mysunburn.It’sreally kicking in.I’dbetter go.Graba shower and slather on the aftersun.’
‘Comehere,’ he said in an odd voice.Withgentle hands, heturned her round so that her back faced him. ‘You’renot going to reach most of where it’s reddest.Passthe tube.’
Daisy’sheart tumbled.Shereached into her beach bag and brought out the lotion she’d bought on the way.Handingit to him she was mortified to find her hand was shaking. ‘Youdon’t have to do this,’ she stammered.
‘Nonsense.Ifyou don’t get enough on, you’ll peel.Can’tbe too careful.I’vehad enough experience with my sisters to know whatI’mdoing.’
‘Okay.’Thatwas all right, wasn’t it?Hewas treating her as a sister.Therewas a comical-sounding squirt as he squeezed some out.Shegiggled nervously.
‘Braceyourself, it might feel cold.’Hedabbed a little in between her shoulder blades.
Hewas right, she wouldn’t have reached there. ‘Ooh.’Shesquealed as cold lotion hit overheated and tender skin.
