A Curvy Christmas (3 page)

“Carl. I thought he was your friend.”

Carl shrugged, “Doesn’t mean I want to be that guy.”

“He’s a good man.”

Carl snorted, and several people, including Greg turned to look at them. “That is a subtle way of agreeing with me that he is boring. And if not, then I suggest you allow me to reintroduce you to the dark side.”

The dark side. Robin had visited there enough already in her life. Carl was such a bad influence, she didn’t want to be that person again. It wasn’t who she was, and the more she looked at Greg, the more she realised that she was like him, they had both changed. Their pasts were behind them. She wanted to concentrate on her future.

But did their futures entwine, or were they destined to be mere acquaintances? One thing she did know, her future definitely didn’t include Carl and his supposed freedom.

***

“You seemed to be getting on well with Carl. Reliving old times?” Greg asked.

“Don’t Greg. It’s beneath you,” Robin said bluntly.

“I’m sorry. I guess sometimes I envy the easy way he has with people.”

“That is beneath you too.” Robin sipped her cocktail, the alcohol having a numbing effect, which was exactly what she needed to chase her memories away. As the evening wore on she had been reminded more and more of her past.

“He always had it so easy, charming smile, quick witted banter.” Greg was watching Carl weave his way across the restaurant, already more than a little drunk, and they hadn’t had dessert yet.

“Do you really want to be like him?” Robin asked, studying the man in front of her. It was still hard to place him, he had changed so much, while Carl hadn’t at all, well not behaviour wise anyway.

“I wish I could be more free spirited, like you. Cocktails with your dinner.”

Robin raised her glass to him. “Well I for one am very glad you grew up. Here’s to us both finding ourselves.”

“To finding ourselves,” he said, their glasses touching, and then their eyes met. He cleared his throat. “So what about you? I thought you had found yourself.”

“I thought I had too, but that was when I was with Max. Now all that’s changing, whether I like it or not.” Carl had reached the table and sat down, Robin tilted her glass to drink her colourful cocktail, and said, “Which way to go, is the question.”

“Which way to go indeed, Robin. I still vote for you taking me back to your place so we can relive old times.” His hand slipped onto her thigh, and she carelessly flipped it off. “I could show you how much I’ve learned since then.”

“I could show you how much I’ve learned too.” The implied danger not lost on Carl.

Carl laughed good-naturedly. “You certainly have changed, and in all the right ways, if you don’t mind me saying.” His eyes undressing her.

“So what have you done with yourself since we last saw each other, Carl?” she asked, trying to get the conversation out of the gutter.

“I have travelled extensively, India, Thailand, lots of exotic places. But I’ve just returned from Russia, it’s too cold for me there at this time of year, so I came back home.”

“You must have seen some amazing things.”

“Truly. Sunsets that made me feel like I’d died and woke up in the heavens themselves. The festival of lights for Diwali, and monsoons...” His face took on a faraway look, his voice quiet as he remembered. “We complain about the rain here, but when that starts it’s tremendous.”

“Which were your favourite people?” Robin asked, immersing her imagination in his words, leaning forward to hear him speak.

“I don't know. They are all so unique. But you don’t experience it properly as a tourist, it’s only when you live amongst the people that you experience their lives first hand.” His voice silky smooth, drawing her in.

“And that’s what you do? Live with them.”

“Dessert,” Greg said, as the waitress arrived, breaking up the conversation.

Robin had to admit Greg didn’t look too impressed at the way the conversation was going. As she slowly savoured each spoonful of her thick gooey chocolate dessert, she compared the two men before her. So completely different, one care free, no thought for tomorrow as long as he had a roof over his head, and a woman in his bed. The other unreadable.

Greg turned and looked at her, his expression hiding his feelings. Did she want to risk her emotions on a man who kept everything so closely guarded? For all she knew he might have no intention of taking their friendship any further. Carl on the other hand would be an amusing distraction.

“I don't think I’ve eaten a meal like that for months. The food in Russia has a lot to be desired. I must say,” Carl said, leaning back in his chair, “That I am glad I followed my heart and returned here. Fate, has certainly stepped in. Don’t you think, Robin?”

“Most definitely,” Robin replied, and then caught Greg’s eye, for the first time a hint of his true feelings fleeting across his face as he took a sip from his wine. He was jealous.

That should have made Robin happy. Instead it simply left her confused. Which man should she choose? Or should she go home alone?

“No. I insist on paying the bill.”

“I’ll pay half,” Robin said, searching her purse for money.

No. It’s my Christmas treat.”

“Greg, I wouldn’t have agreed to come if I knew you were going to pay for it.”

“Why?” He couldn’t understand her, he never had been able to. That was the problem, she was an enigma to him. How can a man, able to read currency markets so accurately, not be able to interpret the woman he wanted to share his life with?

“I ... just wouldn’t have. It doesn’t seem right.” She shifted uncomfortably.

“I’ve enjoyed myself, good company and good food,” he said, trying to put her at her ease.

“It doesn’t show.”

A direct blow to his ego. Although he knew he had been reserved, fading against the blinding blaze that was Carl. “I’m sorry. I guess I feel exactly the same as I did seven years ago when you fell into Carl’s arms for the first time.”

“I never knew it bothered you,” she said, looking genuinely surprised. He really had done a brilliant job of appearing unaffected by her.

“You’ll be surprised what bothers me.” For once trying to let her see a glimpse of his true feelings.

“I would love to find out.” Robins smiled at him, trying to get him to open up while the alcohol from her cocktail gave her the courage. “You keep yourself so tightly bound.”

“Again, I wish I could be like Carl, but we all know I never will be.” He pulled out his wallet and counted out the notes.

“Here, at least let me pay for my meal.”

“Damn it, Robin, put your money away and let me pay,” His tone came out a lot harsher than he thought. “I’m sorry.”

“What’s wrong, Greg being tight fisted as usual? Come on Greg, you’re loaded, you can’t expect Robin to pay for the meal.” Carl had returned.

Greg sighed, exasperated. “I am going home, what are you doing Carl?” He paid the bill, leaving a generous tip, always aware of how much it meant, especially this time of year.

“That would depend on the gorgeous Robin,” Carl said, cocking his head and giving her a cheeky smile.

“Oh, I’m going home too. It’s been a long day.”

“I could always accompany you.”

“Thanks for the offer, but you belong firmly in my past, Carl.”

“C'est la vie,” Carl said, giving her a peck on the cheek. “In that case Greg, I am going to look for some action elsewhere. I will get a cab home.”

“Sure,” Greg answered, glad to have some time to collect his thoughts about Robin without Carl around. “I don’t have a spare key, you’ll have to get buzzed in and then I’ll answer the door. Please don’t be too late.”

“I have every intention of finding a nice warm bed to share with a pretty lady, it’s been a long time since I’ve had an English rose under me.”

Robin stifled a snigger. “You have not changed a bit. Goodbye, Carl.”

“Goodbye, Robin.” He kissed her hand dramatically, and before he left said to Greg, “You couldn’t lend us the cab fare could you?”

Greg produced another note, handed it to Carl, and then they both stood and watched him disappear out of the door into the city to look for mischief.

“He is quite a man,” Robin said, gathering up her coat and purse.

“Yes, he is. I love him like a brother, but he worries me. I can just imagine him living his life free and easy until he’s too old, and then expecting to come and live with me so I can look after him in his old age.”

“I can’t believe you’ve kept in touch.”

“Why not?”

“Well ... you’re such .... opposites.”

“Opposites. That would be one way to put it. But I think what you really mean is he’s carefree and I’m an old fuddy duddy at twenty-eight.”

“I didn’t mean that at all. Fuddy duddy,” she teased. “So does that mean you’re going home to sit by the fire with your pipe and slippers?”

“Tempting idea. Let’s get you home first.”

“I can get myself home.”

“At this time of night I have to insist. We’ll share a cab,” he said, placing his hand on the small of her back. He wanted to slide it lower, to feel the swell of her round bottom under his hand, but he wasn’t that forward. Again he wished he was more like Carl, he could have smooth talked her right into his bed.

But he’d blown his chances with her. He’d been a fool, upset that she didn’t remember him from their first meeting, and he had been too proud to tell her. Instead hinting at things she obviously didn’t recall. Today had proved it hadn’t been anything personal, after all she had forgotten Carl, and she’d slept with him.

“OK. I won’t argue. If you’re not in any rush, you could always come in for coffee.” She saw his face change, but not in the same way Carl’s would have. She tried to put him at his ease. "Just coffee."

"It's late." Nervous excitement coursed through him, his imagination conjuring up how things might go with her if she wanted more than ‘just coffee’.

"Please, Greg. I'd like us to be friends."

He was tempted, but would it be fair when he yearned to be more than friends. He had ever since he had first met her, but he wasn't her type, they both knew it. Then she smiled, and those dimples in her cheeks made his heart flutter, and he was very conscious of the way his pants must be bulging in response to her body. He heard himself say, "Sure, Robin. Coffee sounds perfect."

"Great. Let's go. I can't wait to get these shoes off."

He couldn't wait to get all of her clothes off, but it wasn't happening and he'd have to try to conceal his erection from her in the cab, and hope by the time they reached her apartment he would be under control. The last thing he needed was her flat mate, Max, seeing him like this.

They went out of the restaurant, the sharp, cold north wind hit them, threatening snow. It had been so long since England had witnessed a proper white Christmas. But the excitement of that very prospect filled the air, infectious as people rushed around them to Christmas parties, and late night shopping.

With so much hustle and bustle they had to wait for a taxi, and he found Robin leaning into him, her teeth chattering against the cold.

"Here," he said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and allowing her to bury her face against his chest. He should really have taken his coat off, but then the excuse to hold her close would be gone. Resting his chin on top of her head he closed his eyes briefly, and wished Christmas Wishes did come true, because if they did he would hold her like this every night for the rest of their lives.

Feeling unusually nervous, she welcomed his arms around her. Despite her coat she was freezing, but the touch of him made her tremble even more. This was what she wanted, but he seemed content to leave their relationship in it's purely platonic state. As she rested her head on his chest, she wished the strong heart beat she could hear would beat faster for her. That his arms around her were there because of love, not because he as a gentleman.

"Here," Greg said, pulling away from her and opening the door of the cab which had pulled up in front of them. But she didn't feel grateful, it's arrival meant he would distance himself from her again.

"Thanks," she said, sliding inside, trying to find that self confident tone she used to portray herself to the world. However, when he slid in next to her, and his thigh pressed against hers, everything fell apart. She wanted to grab him and kiss him until he gave in to her. Why couldn’t he see her in a different way?

Oh yeah, because he had known her when she was young and naïve. At a time when she had made stupid decisions. It would be impossible to change his mind about her. Now she knew why he had pushed her away, she realised there was never going to be anything between them.

An awkward silence rested over them as the cab took them to her apartment. She already wished she hadn’t invited him for coffee. It would be so much easier if he simply went away, stayed in the cab and kept going. Right out of her life.

“Here we are,” she said, trying to keep the nerves out of her voice. Greg got out, and turned to offer her his hand. She accepted it, once again feeling a thrill of excitement coursing through her body at his touch. “Thank you.”

Finding her knees a little weak, she tried to stand upright next to him. He held her elbow to steady her, but his touch made her feel worse. A deep seated longing spread from the place where his fingers gripped her flesh, emanating out through every nerve and fibre of her body. She glanced up at him, and theirs eyes met, and in his she read the same confusion.

He didn’t know what she wanted. She was as unreadable to him, as he was to her. What a pair of idiots.

He dragged his gaze away, his hand going to his pocket to retrieve his wallet. Taking a couple of notes he paid the cab driver. “Keep the change,” he said.

“And Merry Christmas to you both,” the cab driver shouted through the window.

“Big tip?” Robin asked, breaking the barrier between them.

He grinned. “It’s Christmas. And don't look at me like that, I wasn’t trying to impress. I enjoy making people happy, that's all.”