The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (107 page)

***

‘Here you go.’ Livvy handed Danny
a beer and sat down beside him, clutching a glass of white wine. It was her
second night home and they were enjoying the cooler air of the late evening on
the back porch. They’d eaten supper together as a family and now Courtney had
gone off to bed, happy to have both parents under the same roof for a while.

  
‘Are you absolutely sure this guy is your father?’ Danny asked.
 

  
‘Yes. Sheena spoke to his daughter at great length. All the details are
correct.’

  
‘So
,
you’re definitely
taking a trip
to Glasgow?’

  
Livvy looked at him and then across to the Santa
Ana foothills. The setting sun was colour washing
everything in a soft red glow. It looked beautiful, so peaceful. On the surface
she had everything she’d ever craved - a good and loving man, a pretty and
healthy daughter, a successful career and more money than they knew what to do
with. But she needed to find her roots.

  
‘I have to, Danny. I hope you understand why.’

  
‘Think I do.’ He was quiet for a long moment. ‘What about
him,
Harley’s father?’
   

  
She shrugged. ‘What about him? That part of my life’s over.’
 

  
‘You loved him once. I know you still have feelings for him. I see it in
your face whenever this time of year comes around.
What’s there to stop you contacting him? Go home if you must and sort yourself
out. If you can’t come back and tell me that you love me - and mean it - then
there’s little point in this marriage continuing.’ He stood up and went inside,
shoulders hunched.

  
Livvy finished her drink then followed him indoors to the bedroom,
willing herself to show a little of the tenderness she knew he deserved.

***

‘More juice, Courtney?’ Livvy
smiled at her daughter.
 

  
‘Please, Mom. So - tell me again, how many cousins do I have?’
  

  
‘Four!’ Livvy answered for the umpteenth time. ‘Three girls and a
boy.’
  

  
‘
And
I’ve got a grandpa,’
Courtney said softly.

  
‘And
I’ve
got a dad!’ Livvy
said, grinning. ‘This newfound family will bump up your status at school.’
    

  
‘Well I hope they don’t reject you both,’ Daniel said, emerging from
behind his newspaper. ‘Because
I
won’t be there to mop up your tears and pick up the pieces.’
 

  
‘There won’t be any tears,’ Livvy said. ‘Why do you always have to be so
negative? You were the same when I joined
Juice,
telling me it would be too much for me
.
I’m quite capable
of running my life, you know. I managed fine before I married you.’

  
Daniel stood up sharply. His chair screeched on the tiles. ‘Did you? If
I remember rightly you were suffering from rejection then. Who picked up
those
pieces and dried
those
tears? It certainly wasn’t
him.
’

  
‘Do you have to bring him into every conversation? Courtney, go to your
room please. I need to speak privately to your father.’

  
Courtney’s lips trembled as she looked at her warring parents. ‘Can’t I
stay here, please?’

  
‘No, sweetie. Go and choose your clothes for Scotland.
It’s going to be very cold. You’ll need sweaters, scarves and gloves. Go on,
quickly. I’ll be up soon to help you.’ Livvy pushed her gently towards the door
and turned back to Daniel. ‘Why did you mention him in front of Courtney? Can’t
you just leave it?’

  
He grabbed her arms above the elbow and stared into her eyes. ‘When I
made love to you last night you wished I were he, didn’t you?’ He shook her
gently. ‘You’re
always
wishing that.’

  
‘That’s not true.’ She wriggled out of his grasp. ‘You know why I can’t
relax. I don’t want to get pregnant again.’
  

  
‘In that case I’ll have a vasectomy.’
   

 
 
‘There’s no need.’ Livvy was
touched, but knew she couldn’t allow it. It was time they faced up to their
floundering marriage. If they divorced he might want to start another family. A
vasectomy would put paid to any dreams of him having a longed-for son. Anyway,
it wouldn’t make any difference; she would still struggle with her
feelings.
  

  
Daniel was tall, blonde, blue-eyed and handsome, but she just didn’t
fancy him physically, no matter how hard she tried.
 
She knew it wasn’t fair and a lesser man would
have played around before now.
   

  
‘Another coffee?’ he asked, an air of defeat settling around his
shoulders.
 

  
‘No thanks, Dan. I’ll supervise Courtney’s packing then we’ll exercise
the horses before it gets too hot.’

  
‘Okay. I thought the three of us could take the yacht out later. We’ve
only a few more days and then you’ll be gone.’

  
‘It’s only for a couple of months. I’m coming back, you know.’

  
He shrugged. ‘Maybe you will - maybe you won’t!’

***

CHAPTER TWO

ASHLEA,
CHESHIRE
- MARCH 2001

Harley opened her eyes and
stretched her arms cat-like above her head. Today was Saturday, no school until
Monday, and in one week’s time she would be sixteen. Grown up at last, she
couldn’t wait.

  
She smiled, recalling last night’s conversation with her dad when she’d
announced she was getting her belly button pierced for her birthday.

  
‘Not a chance!’ He’d coughed and spluttered on his single malt.
 

  
‘Well, I’ll have my nose done instead.’

  
‘School will never allow it,’ he’d said, looking smug.

  
‘I’ll wait until I’ve left school then. Only four more months and I can
do as I please.’

  
‘And that’s what
you
think, is
it?’ he’d said - then, ‘Get your ears done instead.’

  
‘Dad - hello!’ God, he was naïve at times. She shook her head at him,
revealing neat black opals, set in gold drops that swung from her lobes. ‘Are
you going senile, or what? Remember, you had these made for me in Oz.’ She’d
spoken slowly, as though to a child. She’d no intention of having anymore piercing
at the moment, but she loved winding him up. He fell for it every time.

  
She climbed out of bed, pulled on her dressing gown and went downstairs
to the kitchen, where her parents were eating breakfast in front of the patio
doors.
 

  
‘Morning.’ She slid into a vacant chair next to her dad, helped herself
to a glass of orange juice and a slice of toast.

  
‘Morning, darling,’ her mum said. ‘Do you fancy shopping with me later?
I’m meeting Jane and Jess for lunch in Westlow.’

  
‘No thanks, Mum. I’m going into town with Jack to buy a couple of CD’s.
Can someone give me a lift to his house when I’m dressed?’

  
‘I’ll take you,’ her dad offered. ‘I’m seeing Ed. I’ll spend the
afternoon with him at Hanover’s
Lodge and bring you home with me later.’

 
 
Harley’s heart sank. ‘Okay.’ Damn
it! That would screw up her and Jack’s plans for a romantic afternoon. Jack’s
house was in the same grounds as Uncle Ed’s place. Maybe they could sneak back
into Jack’s when no one was looking.
  

  
Her mum looked across and frowned. ‘Are you okay, love? You’re looking
pale this morning. And is that blood on your dressing gown sleeve?’

  
‘Yeah. Had a bit of a nose bleed last night. I’m just tired. I watched a
scary film then I couldn’t get to sleep for ages. I’m okay though.’ Harley
finished her breakfast and pushed her chair back. ‘Right, I’ll take a shower.
Are you ready to go out, Dad?’

  
‘Not in my boxer shorts and T-shirt,’ he replied. ‘I’ll get ready in a
bit.’
  

***

Roy
finished his coffee and lit a cigarette. He stood up and held out his arms as
Harley sauntered back into the kitchen. ‘Come and give me a hug, Princess.’

  
‘Put your ciggie down then. I wish you’d pack in smoking, Dad. I hate
the smell.’
 

  
He stubbed it out in the ashtray and she went to him. He kissed the top
of her head and she did a twirl. ‘Do I look okay?’
 

  
‘Well you would if you went and put a proper skirt on.’ Harley’s slender
legs were topped with a black leather skirt, shorter than the mini’s his wife
Sammy had worn in the sixties and that was saying something.

  
‘Dad, chill for God’s sake!’ Harley shrugged and flicked her long hair
over her shoulders.

  
‘Don’t you think it’s a bit too cold for that outfit, Harley?’ Her mum
was more diplomatic. ‘Jeans and a sweatshirt will be warmer.’

  
‘But we’re going into town, Mum. Everyone dresses up on Saturday to go
into town.’ Harley turned to face Sammy as Roy
exploded behind her.

  
‘Harley, what the bloody hell is that on your arse?’

  
‘What?’

  
‘That, that thing on your arse,’ he pointed, his face going purple.
‘That tattoo!’

  
‘It’s a Japanese J - for Jack and it’s not on my arse, Dad.’

  
‘Bloody looks like it to me.’

  
‘It’s on the top of my leg for Christ’s sake. You’re getting to be such
an old fogey. And I’m not changing my skirt for you or anyone else.’
   

  
‘Well you’re not leaving the house dressed like that. I hope you haven’t
shown Jack that tattoo either!’
 

  
Harley stomped out of the kitchen and up the stairs in her clumpy boots.
Roy scratched his head and looked
bemusedly at Sammy who smiled, both eyebrows raised in amusement.
  

  
‘Did you know she’d got that tattoo?’
   

  
Sammy nodded. ‘It’s only henna. It’ll fade in time.’

  
‘Oh, right. Well, she can’t go out dressed like that she’ll catch her
bloody death.’
  

  
‘You sound like my mother,’ Sammy teased. ‘I caught many a cold for you
in the sixties.’ She put her arms around him and gave him a reassuring kiss.

  
‘Well it was different then,’ he said tetchily.

  
‘Why,
what
was so different?’
 

  
‘You were my girlfriend.
She’s
my daughter!’

  
‘And I was Molly’s daughter back then,’ she reminded.

  
‘I know. I just worry about her. She’s growing up too quick. I promised
Livvy I’d always take good care of her, but she runs rings around me now.’

  
‘You
do
take good care
of
her Roy. But you have to
let her grow up. Jack Mellor’s a good lad. I don’t think they’re getting up to
anything. But if they are, well - she knows what’s what.’ She lowered her
voice. ‘And talking of Livvy…’

  
‘Don’t even go there, Sam!’

  
‘But you promised you’d do it six years ago.’
 

  
‘I can’t do it. Drop the subject.’
 

  
‘Suit yourself.’ Sammy shrugged. ‘But the longer you leave it…,’ she
tailed off as he stormed out of the kitchen and slammed the door.

***

Jack and Harley turned right at
the bottom of the lane instead of left towards the bus stop.
    

  
‘We’ll go into the woods for ten minutes, then sneak round the back and
into our house,’ Jack said. ‘Your dad and my Pops won’t see us that way and we
should be okay for a couple of hours. Then we can go out the back later and
round again and walk up the lane like we’ve been into town.’
 

  
‘What about the stuff we’re supposed to be buying?’ Harley said.
‘They’ll wonder why we’ve come back empty handed.’

  
‘It’s sorted. I’ve done a deal with Nathan. He’s getting the
Greenday
CD for you and
Eminen’s
for me. He promised to be back
at the house before we leave. I’ve given him the money and enough for a
Macdonald’s for the favour.’
 

  
‘You’re not so dumb, Jack Mellor.’

  
‘I’m not.’ He smiled and slipped his arm around her shoulders as they
made their way into the woods. In a small clearing he took off his Parka jacket
and spread it over the remains of a large tree trunk. ‘Don’t want you getting
splinters in the tattoo.’

  
‘Should have heard Dad on his high horse when he saw it,’ Harley
laughed. ‘Gave him the shock of his life.’
  

  
Jack grinned. ‘Bet it did.’ He drew her close. ‘I love snogging you,
Harley.’ He placed a kiss on her lips. She kissed him back and he sighed with
pleasure. ‘Can’t wait for later. Hope I don’t mess
things up.’

  
‘We’ll be fine, Jack. If Nathan and Faye can do it, so can we.’

  
Jack smiled, glad of her reassurance and kissed her again.

  
Harley moved out of his arms and glanced at her watch. ‘If we walk back
slowly to your place, we’ll have been more than ten minutes.’ She pulled him to
his feet and he picked up his jacket. ‘It’s freezing out here,’ she said,
shivering.

  
‘I’ll soon warm you up,’ Jack said. He slung his jacket around her
shoulders and took her hand.

***

‘Do you want Coke or juice?’ Jack
asked as they stood in the kitchen of his bungalow home. He suddenly felt
awkward and sensed it in Harley, too. They’d been planning this since
Christmas, but something always got in the way. Nowhere to be private, being
the main problem. It was a stroke of luck that his mum was out with Harley’s
mum today.

  
‘Nothing, thanks, Jack.’ She slipped off his jacket and her own and hung
them over the back of a chair. ‘I’ll just nip to the loo.’
 

  
Jack hurried into the bedroom he shared with his twin brother Nathan. He
tutted and kicked Nathan’s discarded clothes and sports gear over to his side
of the room. Mum was always saying the large room should be divided into two
bedrooms and today Jack wished it was. His side was tidy with his books and
CD’s filed neatly on the shelves. He tweaked the Manchester United duvet cover
straight and shook the pillows. What a pity he had to bring Harley in here. It
wasn’t very romantic and it smelt of Nathan’s socks. He supposed he could
borrow one of Mum’s scented candles. Then a thought struck him. Dare he…?

  
He hurried back into the hall as Harley came out of the bathroom. He
grabbed her hand and smiled.

  
‘What are you doing?’ she asked as he opened the door to his parents’
bedroom and pulled her inside.

  
‘My room’s a tip, thanks to Nathan. Mum and Dad won’t know we’ve been in
here if we tidy up later.’

  
Harley’s eyes opened wide as she took in the spacious room with its huge
four-poster. ‘Nice bed.’

  
Jack drew the curtains and switched on a bedside lamp that cast a soft,
seductive light on the cream satin bedspread. He was thankful the room was at
the back of the house and not visible from his grandparents’ home. Last thing
they needed was Pops and Harley’s dad coming to see what was going on in a
supposedly empty house. He sat on the bed and pulled Harley down beside him.

  
He held her tight and kissed her. He could feel his heart hammering and
she was shaking in his arms. He stroked her hair from her face. ‘You nervous?’

  
‘A bit,’ she nodded and looked into his eyes. ‘Have you got the…?

  
‘Yeah.’ He patted his pocket. ‘Slide over and lie down.’ He put the
condom packet on the bedside table.

  
She kicked off her boots and lay beside him. He slid his hand under her
top and she moaned softly as he caressed her breasts. She ran her hands through
his thick, dark curls and reached to pull his T-shirt off. They rolled
together, kissing, caressing and slowly undressing each other.

  
Jack leant up on one elbow and looked into her trusting, brown eyes. He
traced round her nipples with his tongue and she shivered. She smelt fresh and
clean, of talcum powder and her favourite Issy Miyake perfume. Her dark glossy
hair fanned the pillows. She was lovely in clothes, naked, here beside him, she
was beautiful, as he knew she would be. Her skin felt soft and smooth to his
touch. He was the luckiest boy in the world to have her. Everyone at school
fancied her and he knew Nathan would give his right arm to be in his place
now.
 

  
He felt breathless and nervous and terrified all at once. What if he
made a fool of himself and couldn’t do it? He’d never live it down. He willed
himself to relax, because it had to be perfect. Harley deserved only the best.
Her face, gazing up at him, told him that she was scared, too. They’d petted
many times, mainly in the woods, but she’d
always stopped him going too far.
 

  
Jack rained kisses on her face and over her body. He ran his hand over
her stomach and down between her legs. She gasped as his fingers slipped inside
and she reached to caress his erection that twitched impatiently against her
thigh. He reached for the condom and Harley helped him roll it on while he held
his breath.
    

  
‘You’re still sure?’ he whispered.

  
‘Yes,’ she whispered back as he lay on top and fumbled to get inside
her. He felt all fingers and thumbs, but she helped guide him in. He took a
deep breath and moved slowly and then faster as his confidence grew and he
realised he wasn’t going to come right away.

  
Harley moved in rhythm and ran her hands up and down his spine. Jack
knew he was going to explode soon and when he couldn’t fight the feeling any
longer he cried out and told her that he loved her. She nibbled his ears and
told him over and over that she loved him too. He rolled off and lay flat on
his back, staring at the ceiling while his heart stopped hammering and his
breathing became normal.
  

  
‘Jack, are you okay?’ Harley was prodding his shoulder. ‘You were in a
trance,’ she said as he turned and flung his arms around her.