Free Tripping on Love by Carrie Stone Page A

shut and his face softened.
    'Sorry, business and incompetent lawyers' he said standing up and signalling that we should leave.  
    Marcel was quick to fetch my coat and Edward gallantly helped me into it. However, his body language suggested he was no longer in the moment. He looked deep in thought and I felt slightly awkward as we said our thanks and I followed him back to his car.
    It had been an almost perfect evening and as I sat alongside Edward on the journey home, my stomach twitched at the thought of him kissing me farewell. He'd certainly expressed his attraction to me. We'd found ourselves more than at ease in each other’s company. Even now as he lightly chatted about his impending business trip, I felt like I was in the presence of an old friend. Except this friend was sexy, charming and gentlemanly.
    As I pretended to listen to his chatter, my mind was awash with thoughts of ripping off his suit and letting him do things that friends certainly do not do to one another. Was he feeling the same way about me?
    Our gentle laughter filled the car as he pulled into my road and delivered the punch line for the joke he had been telling.
    The lights in the living room glowed softly through the Indian silk curtains. Mel was home.
    'Here we are then' Edward brought the car to a stop outside the house and turned to face me. 'I hope you had a good evening. I had a really wonderful night, I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you a bit better , Lizzie.'
    I tried to suppress the toothy smile that was spreading across my face and continued to fiddle with my seatbelt, nerves causing me to avoid eye contact.
    'Yes, I've really enjoyed myself too. Especially the food. It would be great to do it again sometime.'
    Shit. That had come out completely wrong. I sounded like I was more concerned about gaining another free meal than spending time in his company. My realisation made me cringe and I looked up in embarrassment.
    'Sorry, what I mean is, I'd love to spend more time with you. I enjoyed tonight.'
    Edward laughed. 'I know what you meant' and his eyes locked with mine.
    I knew he was assessing whether to lean in to kiss me. My heart jumped into my throat. 
    I opened the car door hastily, breaking the moment.
    'OK, so thanks again' I lifted one leg out of the car smiling in Edward's direction, trying to hide my mortification at my actions. I was behaving like a teenager. So nervous was I to let him kiss me, that I was scrambling from his car.
    Edward looked amused and reached out, grabbing my arm gently before I had a chance to escape.  
    'I'll call you , Lizzie - let's do this again.'
    My toothy smile beat my nerves to spread itself proudly across my face 'Sure, I’d love to.'
    His grip dropped from my arm and he turned to start the car engine. I walked the short distance to the street door, knowing his eyes were watching my every move and feeling his stare against my back. Turning to wave him off, I watched as he winked at me before slowly driving away. 
    It had been a magical evening and I felt secure in knowing that he too had felt the connection between us. He'd even made reference at the dinner table to it being the start of something potentially special. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect unfolding.
    Why then did I have a niggling feeling of impending disaster in the pit of my stomach? 
     

CHAPTER TWELVE
    Stella was heating up the children's porridge as Miles walked into the kitchen.
    'Morning darling' he said chirpy, seating himself at the large oak dining table and reaching for the coffee pot.
    'Morning' Stella rolled her eyes, back turned to her husband.
    He hadn't returned home for dinner last night as he'd been working late. She'd spent the evening alone once again, thinking about Chris.
    Ever since Stella had told Lizzie of her affair she'd felt like a guilty child waiting to be caught and reprimanded. She constantly looked for excuses to blame Miles, his annoying habits, the way he spoke, the things