The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (43 page)

  
She stroked blusher on
her cheeks, slicked her lips with soft pink gloss, and mascara-ed her long fair
lashes. Her hair had dried in Shirley Temple ringlets and she ran her fingers
through to separate the curls. She checked the varnish wasn’t chipped on her
finger and toe nails, a quick spray of L’air Du Temps, and she was ready.

  
Taking a deep steadying
breath, she grabbed her new denim jacket from the wardrobe and slipped her feet
into a pair of dainty black sandals. Her mouth felt dry and her palms sticky by
the time the intercom buzzed.

  
Roy
announced his arrival and Livvy
released the door catch. She opened her flat door and as he strolled into the
hall, looking so handsome, her stomach fluttered and her breath caught in her
throat. In spite of a sprinkle of silver in his hair, with his dark good looks,
tight denims and black T-shirt, he looked no more than thirty and could easily
pass for Nick and Jason’s older brother.

  
‘Hi.’ His smile was sexy,
eyes sultry and as he kissed her chastely on the cheek she felt she might
faint. ‘You look lovely.’
   

  
‘Thanks,
Roy
,’ she said. ‘It’s nice to see you
again.’

  
‘And you. Let’s go.’
 

***

Roy
glanced down at Livvy as they
strolled across the car park. She was five-foot-nothing to his six-foot-two and
looked as fragile as a china doll. Compared to Sammy, who at five-foot-seven
was slender, but all legs and robust, Livvy looked as though a puff of wind
would blow her away.
Roy
sensed she was feeling nervous and felt protective towards her.

  
He helped her into the
car and fastened the seatbelt. ‘You really
do
look beautiful,’ he said
and sank into the driver’s seat.
   

  
He drove out to the Peak
District and turned off towards Castleton, regaling her with stories about life
on the road with
The Raiders
. She
listened, enthralled with his tales, laughing at some of the antics they’d got
up to. She visibly relaxed and
Roy
could see she felt at ease with
him. He was driving his red Lamborghini today and she told him she felt like a
film star, sitting beside him.

  
As they entered
Castleton, he drove down the main street and swung onto the car park of the
Cheshire Cheese pub. He stopped the engine, leapt out to open her door and
helped her out. ‘Shall we have a stroll around the village first and check out
a few shops.’
   

  
She nodded. ‘Slow down,
Roy
,’ she puffed, trying to keep up
with his long strides.

  
‘Sorry, Liv.’ He stopped
and put his arm around her shoulders. Her closeness made his heart beat faster
and when a flush crept over her neck and face as she gazed at him he took her
hand, lacing his fingers through hers.

  
‘
Roy
, we really shouldn’t be doing
this.’
     

  
He nodded. ‘You’re right,
we shouldn’t. But I want to, very much.’

  
‘So do I.’

  
‘Well then, let’s do it.
We’re not hurting anyone.’ He pulled her further along the main street where
they stopped to admire a window display in a craft and gift shop. Livvy’s eyes
lit up as she pointed to a large teddy bear on a display stand at the back of
the window. The golden haired bear sported a blue and white spotted bow tie and
appeared to be smiling at them.

  
‘Isn’t he gorgeous,’ she
said.
   

  
‘You like bears?’
Roy
said, grinning at her delight.

  
‘I love them. I’ve a few
wee ones sitting on my bed at home, but none quite as handsome as he.’
     

  
Roy
ruffled her curls with his free
hand. She was a delightful breath of fresh air and was doing things to him that
only Sammy had done before. His stomach was flip-flopping like a
sixteen-year-old; heart was racing, not to mention the familiar twitching.
Down, boy, he thought as he pulled her close. ‘Come on, let’s get some lunch. I
could murder a pint.’

  
They strolled back
towards the pub, Livvy giving the bear one last lingering glance. The Cheshire
Cheese was cheerful and cosy with its densely beamed ceilings. In spite of the
day being bright and sunny, a log fire crackled and spat in the open grate.

  
‘A real fire! Can we sit
by it?’ she asked. ‘We always had a real fire at home when I was a wee girl.’

  
‘Bless, you. Of course we
can.’
Roy
smiled as her face lit up. She was
still a wee girl. ‘What would you like to drink?’

  
‘White wine and soda
please,’ she called, making her way to a table near the fireplace.

  
Roy
ordered the drinks and while the
barmaid busied herself he turned to look at Livvy who was draping her jacket
over a chair. She pushed her hair back from her face and caught his eye. She
smiled and his heart skipped a beat while his stomach tightened. Shit! He
recognised that feeling. Was he falling in love?
  

  
He carried the drinks
over, handed Livvy hers and sat down beside her. She took a sip then lifted her
glass to his.
 

  
‘Cheers,
Roy
and thanks for bringing me out.’

  
‘My pleasure, honey.’ He
touched her glass with his pint pot and downed his lager almost in one go. He
wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘What would you like to eat? There’s
a specials board on the wall, or you can choose from the menu if you like.’

  
She studied the specials
board, frowning as she tried to make up her mind. ‘What are
you
having?’

  
‘Steak, I reckon. Sirloin
if they do it. Would
you
like a steak?’

  
‘Please. I
never
buy steak. I can’t afford it.’

  
‘Well you shall have it
today, my treat. Chips or salad?’

  
‘Salad please. And I’d
like the steak well done.’

  
Roy
strolled back from the bar after
ordering the food and patted his jeans pocket.

  
‘Damn it! I’ve left my
fags and lighter in the car. Won’t be a minute, sweetheart.’ He dashed out of
the door.

***

Livvy sipped her drink and studied her surroundings. The pub was
decorated in a traditional style with horse brasses on dirty-yellow walls, a
shade that was an attribute to nicotine rather than Dulux, she thought. It was
fairly quiet with a few middle-aged couples dining. There was no evidence of a
juke box, just an old fashioned fruit machine and a cigarette dispenser. An
elderly man, standing by the bar, touched his cap and nodded at her. Livvy
nodded back. The barmaid walked over and smiled in a friendly manner.

  
‘’Scuse me for being
nosy, love, but that man you’re with, did he used to be Roy Cantello?’

  
Livvy felt her cheeks
heating. ‘Err yes, actually, he still is!’

  
‘Thought so.’ She folded
her arms with an air of satisfaction. ‘I’d know that sexy smile and those
sultry eyes anywhere. I was a fan of
The
Raiders
in the sixties, you see. I’ll have to ask him to autograph a beer
mat when he co
mes
back.’
 

  
‘He’s just popped out to
the car for his cigarettes, he shouldn’t be long.’ Livvy looked at the door.
Where on earth was he? The car park was opposite the pub and should only have
taken a minute or two. The barmaid picked up the empty glasses and went back to
the bar.
   

  
‘
Roy
, where on earth have you been?’
Livvy asked as he reappeared, gasping. ‘Why are you so out of breath?’

  
‘The ciggy packet was
empty. I ran to the newsagent’s down the road for more.’

  
‘You could have bought
some from here, there’s a machine over there.’

  
‘I didn’t see it,’ he
said. ‘Like another drink?’

  
‘Please. The barmaid
wants an autograph as well.’

  
‘You’re joking! Bloody
hell, can’t go anywhere.’
  

  
The next couple of hours
flew by as they enjoyed their meal and each other’s company. The age gap fell
away as she informed him she was just twenty-two while
Roy
told her that at forty-two, he was
old enough to be her father.
   

  
As they left the pub he
announced he needed the gents and handed her the car keys. She strolled across
the road to the car park and unlocked the door to find the large teddy bear,
with the blue and white spotted bow tie, sitting on the passenger seat. Tears
filled her eyes as she picked him up. A little gift card was pinned to his
front with the
mes
sage,
“Dear Livvy, I like
plenty of kisses and cuddles, love Teddy. PS, so does
Roy
.”
  

  
She turned to face Roy who
had appeared behind her. The bear in one arm, she put her other arm around him
and hugged him. Standing on tiptoe she pulled his face down and kissed him full
on the lips.

  
‘Thank you so much. He’s
the nicest present I’ve ever had in my life. So that’s where you disappeared to
earlier?’

  
Roy
grinned. ‘Right, get in the car
and we’ll take him home. F
ind
him a place on the end of your bed with your other bears.’
  

  
Livvy sat the bear on her
knee as
Roy
turned to face her and looked into
her eyes. She swallowed hard as his hand gently stroked her cheek. Then she was
in his arms, and he was kissing her as though his life depended on it. She
responded, pushing against him, wanting more, but…

  
‘Livvy, baby, I want
you,’ he whispered, holding her face between his hands.

  
She stiffened and pulled
away. He wanted her? Did he mean…? Was that the reason he’d asked her to lunch,
the reason he’d bought her the bear? Did he do this all the time, to amuse
himself while his wife was working? He probably had a string of girlfriends
around town and she was about to join them. Well if that was the case he had a
shock coming. It would take more than a sirloin steak and a teddy bear to get
her
into bed.

  
Roy
frowned, looking at her. ‘What’s
wrong?’
 

  
‘You said you want me.’

  
‘I do.’

  
‘But you’re married.’

  
‘I know,’ he said with a
heavy sigh. ‘But it doesn’t stop me wanting you.’ He lifted her chin and
smiled. ‘I know what’s going through your head. You think I do this all the
time, don’t you?’

  
She nodded. ‘And do you?’

  
‘I’ve never been
unfaithful in all the years I’ve been married. Sammy has been the only woman
I’ve ever wanted
or
needed - until
now,’ he finished softly. ‘It’s the truth, Livvy, believe me.’

  
She chewed her lip and
stared at him. What he’d said made her feel better. Made her feel special. ‘
Roy
, I’ve never been with a man. I
mean, I - err…’ she faltered, lowering her gaze.

  
‘You’ve never slept with
anyone, not ever?’ his tone was incredulous. ‘Really?’

  
‘I’m still a virgin,’ she
mumbled. ‘Sorry.’

  
He tilted her chin. ‘Why
are you sorry?’

  
‘Because I’ve no
experience. Does that matter to you?’

  
‘Not at all,’ he assured
her. ‘But you won’t want an old geezer like me to be your first.’

  
She touched his hand,
feeling a strange tugging sensation in her tummy as he leant in to kiss her
again. ‘Yes, I do,’ she whispered as they drew apart. ‘Let’s go to my
flat.’
 

  
He started the engine and
headed for home while Livvy held on tightly to her bear.
Roy
reached across and took her hand,
squeezing it gently. He held it all the way home, letting it lie on his lap as
he changed gear. On the car park at the front of the apartment block he parked
beside her Mini.