CORAL - Fallen (A Romance Trilogy, Book 2) (52 page)

Then out of the corner of my eye, I think I
see something glint in the water. I may like the sea, but it doesn’
t mean I like being in it.
I start
frantically searching around me looking for any signs.

“
What are you
looking for?
”
He laughs keeping
a firm hold of me.

“
S-s-sharks
,”
I whisper fearfully, my teeth clashing
together.

“
Sharks
?”
he laughs.
I nod
my head. I’
ve never looked at the sea the same since I
watched Jaws.
“
Ah baby, I won't
let a shark get you
,”
he
titters.

“
Very funny
,”
I scold
. “
But if a shark comes and bites you on the ass, then takes me with
him
, you won't have much choice,”
I bl
urt.

Tristan really starts laughing hard at me,
and starts wading out of the water. I keep my legs firmly wrapped around his
waist, my arms almost choking him.

“
It
’
s ok
,”
he teases as we finally reach the shore.
I
grip him even tighter. “
Hey
,”
he says calmingly
. “
We
’
re
back to dry land baby, relax,”
he soothes.

I take a deep breath through my chattering
teeth. “
Let
’
s get you warmed up
,”
he says.

I nod vigorously in agreement –
I'm
friggin freezing!

THE FOLLOWING DAY
as
Stuart drives us into work, I can't help thinking how magical the weekend has
been – well apart from Friday – but either way, Tristan has been wonderful,
sweet, thoughtful, fun. He was amazing at the barbecue; everybody loved him,
and his proposal that followed…
his sweet, sweet proposal
…

Then I think about Saturday night, our
romantic meal, his gallant way of protecting me when I stormed off, our sexy
hot make-up sex, and then our amazing fun day out yesterday.

My mind drifts back to having so much fun
and relaxation on the beach, we both look better for it, healthier, happier and
more relaxed.

I'm surprised I don't have Mondays morning blues, but I
think that’s because Tristan and I seem to have come so far in such a short
space of time, and this time he’s not leaving, he’s here all week, well, he’s
actually here now for good, apart from the odd meeting he needs to go to.

I can't wait to see him tonight. I could definitely get used
to this, seeing my sexy man every night after work, and to top it all off, Rob
is back today; my best friend, my awesome best friend.

Oh I have missed him so...
I can't
wait to see him, I have so much to tell him. I push the sinking feeling away
that something bad has happened, and try to think positively.
Everything’
s going to be fine
, I tell myself.

Everything feels like it’s finally
falling into place – well except for one thing…

“
Ready for another
working week?
”
Tristan asks
pulling me from my musing.

“
Yes,
”
I whisper and as we are strapped in with
our seat belts, and I can't easily kiss him, I reach out and take his hand in
mi
ne.

“
Happy?
”
he questions, reflecting my goofy grin.

“
Yes, future
husband, I couldn
’
t be happier,
”
I say and
blow him
a kiss.

Tristan smiles like a fool in love, but I
can't help wondering what his reactions going to be when Joyce speaks to him
about Susannah, and worse, what he will be like when I tell him what I know,
and if he’
ll listen objectively, I will tell him what
Karen told me about Blondie.

I really want to tell him about all the
other things she
’
s been up to,
I feel slightly nervous about doing
that, then I
remember that my package should be arriving this morning. I'm not sure how I
feel about that either.

“
I don't think it
’
s a good idea we arrive together
,”
I s
ay looking
down at my left hand. It already feels strange not wearing my engagement ring.
Tristan has stowed it away in his safe at home until we break the news.

“
I agree. Stuart
can drop you off first, I have a couple of things I need to do anyway
.” He says.

I frown back at him, wondering what it is.
“
Oh, ok
,”
I say feeling a little forlorn
.

“
Hey.
”
Tristan cu
ps my
chin. “
Thank you baby, for the best weekend ever,
”
He says in his sexy, husky voice.

I smile back at him. “
Best ever?
”
I tease
as Stuart pulls up in the underground car park.

Tristan takes his seatbelt off, unclips
mine and pulls me into his lap, making me giggle.

“
Best ever, let
’
s do it again this we
ekend,”
he says, leaning in to kiss me
softly.

“
Definitely
,”
I murmur against his lips.
“
I better go,
”
I whisper, not wanting to leave him at all.
Tristan eyes peruse the car park stealthily. “
I
’
ll be fine
,”
I tell him leaning in to kiss him once m
ore. I pull the door handle and hop out of the car, but as I bend down
to say one last goodbye, I wince in pain – Damn I can't walk properly again,
poor muscles.
Tristan and his sexing!

“
Sore?
”
Tristan teases.

I purse my lips and frown at him. Then I
come up with a plan. “
Aren
’
t you?
”
I gripe.

“
Nope.
”
He replies, smiling sexily at me.

“
Who
’
ve
you been
practising on?”
I
say my voice
low as I frown down at him, but I’
m
secretly teasing him. His mouth falls open as he sees my serious
expression
. Ha!

Just as he goes to answer me, I smile
widely, bob my tongue out at him and quickly slam the door, chuckling heartily
to myself as I do.

Feeling triumphant, I almost skip my way
into work. Pushing through the double doors, I see Joe stuffing her face as
usual.

“
Morning Joe!
”
I
laugh. She
mumbles something at me, but I can't make out what it is.

Then I think I’
d
better warn her that Tristan is in today. Walking
back over
to her desk, I lean forward to her and immediately spy
two
blueberry
muffins!

“
He
’
s coming in today
,”
I whisp
er raising my eyebrows as I do.

Joe frowns at me as though I’
ve gone mad, then I see the penny drop. She gulps hard, goes bright
pink and silently nods
, swallowing again she whispers, “
Thanks Coral
.”

“
No worri
es,”
I tell her
. “
Joyce in yet?
”
I
ask.

“
No. You look nice
,”
she says
. “
You
’
ve really caught
the sun, look how dark you
’
ve gone!
You
’
re
so
lucky, I just go pink then burn,”
she grumbles.

“
Yeah
? Well, I don't like it, Gladys calls it dirty brown, I’
d much r
ather go bronze,”
I say.

“
Who
’
s Gladys?
”
she asks.

“
My adoptive Mother
,”
I tell her –
I
thought she knew.

“
Really, you were adopted?
”
she says a little surprised and eager to
know more.
Uh-oh!

“
Well I
’
d better get to it
,”
I say. I'm about to walk off when
she
screeches at me.

“
Coral!
”
S
crambling under
her desk, she hands me an A4 DHL delivery package. “
I
thought it might be important, so I signed for it, he said you wouldn
’
t get it till tomorrow if I didn
’
t
.”

I smile as she hands me the package. “
Joe, I co
uld give you a big kiss for doing
that!”
I say, she suddenly frowns and
starts fidgeting uncomfortably.

“
I..
.I’
m not into girls
,”
she tells me awkwardly.

I burst out laughing at her. “
Me
neither!”

Joe starts laughing too. “
S-sorry Coral
”
she
giggles, blushing
again.

I shake my head at her as the laughter
still ripples through me. Then the phone goes, she runs round the desk to answer
it. I whisper ‘
thanks again
’
as I hold the packa
ge up so she knows what
I mean, she gives me the thumbs up.

This has to be my package from the P.I
company. Eager to see what they’
ve come up with, I run
up the stairs, and b
ypassing my desk completely, I go
straight into Joyce’
s office and lock the door behind
me.
I look up at the clock – 8.20am – I have time.

Putting down my handbag and sinking onto
the leather sofa, I rip open the package, feeling very nervous about what I
might find.

When I requested as much information as
possible about Susannah, I also asked if I could have the details of Tristan’
s ex, I gave them the dates they were together so the information
was easier
to find. I know I shouldn’
t have, but there
’
s
something I want to ask her,
yet another suspicion
rattling around in my head.

With shaking hands, I pull out the
paperwork, and lay it on my lap. I close my eyes and take a deep calming breath
–
Ok Coral you wanted to know!

Feeling guilty for doing this behind
Tristan’
s back, I start scanning the first page. Tristan’s
ex’s name is
Olivia Logan, was Peters, but she’
s now married with a couple of k
ids. I'm
surprised to see that from the time they started dating, it was only a couple
of months later that she moved in with Tristan, then she moved out of his
registered address when he ended it.

My hearts sinks. I didn’
t think they would have moved in to
gether so
quickly, just like us, does that mean there’
s no
distinction between us?
Enough Coral get on with it!

I scan further down the page and I'm
shocked when I see her Driving Licence picture. Olivia is
stunning. I mean really stunning, she reminds me of P
enelope Cruz. Her dark hair is shoulder length and beautifully
styled, her facial features are perfectly symmetrical, and her wide eyes are
green and sparkling. I can really see why Tristan fell for her, and she for
him.

My self-esteem goes down a few notches, not
only is she beautiful – and no doubt normal – but they moved in together so
quickly, just like Tristan and I. They must have really fell in love with one
another!

Feeling guilty for doing this, I take a
moment wondering if I should continue –
You have to Coral, she knows
something!