Chapter 4

I stood rooted to the spot as she kissed me, her tongue even darting briefly between my teeth!

"Danny" she pulled her mouth away but still held onto me as she wept, "That is the nicest, daftest and downright silliest thing anyone's ever done for me"

Which just went to show that women cry when they're happy, I think!

"Now you'd better go and get out of that ridiculous get up, before you get another dose of flu!"

I laughed and turned to go but she stopped me again,

"That was lovely Danny, thank you so much!"

Then she sat down again and reached for her champagne, a contented smile on her pretty face again,

"Jenny?"

"Yes?"

"If I get flu again will you give me your body heat like last time?" The dish towel hit me in the face!

I heard her getting out of the bath as I was changing into my bath robe, it's one of a matching his and hers, but up until then the "hers" had never been used and strange as it may sound, I was quite pleased that Jenny was the first one to wear it.

When I got downstairs again, she was looking very snug in her robe, sitting on the sofa drinking champagne and listening to an old Carpenter's C.D.

"Hi" she said as I poured myself another drink, "Come and sit here" and she patted the couch beside her.

"This has been your retreat hasn't it, your escape from reality?"

I'd never really thought about it like that before but she was right, it had been a retreat for me.

"Yes, I suppose it has been, it still is"

"Have I spoilt it?"

I put an arm around her and she rested her head on my chest.

"No, no you've not spoilt it sweet Jen, all you've done is to improve it"

I felt her cheek moving against my chest as she smiled,

"You don't always fuck your words up you know, sometimes you get them exactly right!"

"Just saying what I feel sweetheart" I squeezed her shoulder.

"Hey?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin at what seemed like the urgency in her voice.

"What is it?"

"What did you do with that tape?"

"What tape?"

"The one that he gave you, just before you introduced your fist to his nose!"

"Oh, that tape! I think it's still in the back of the car why?"

"Just wondered"

"Ok"

"Danny?"

"What?" I ran my fingers through her hair and kissed the top of her head,

"Would you like to see it?"

I felt a minor disturbance beneath my robe when I realised what she'd said, but I gave it my "man of the world" bit before answering!

"I dunno Jen, what makes you think I'd want to see you with another girl?"

She giggled and looked up at me,

"Nothing really" then she put her lips next to my ear,

"Apart from the fourteen lesbian videos I found in the cabinet at the flat!"

Busted!

"Wouldn't it embarrass you, me watching you like that?"

"I'll take that as a yes then, will I?"

I couldn't stop the big cheesy grin from spreading all over my face,

"Ok!"

"Well go on then!"

I must have looked blank (again)

"Eh?"

"Oh for God's sake Danny, I'm not going out there, it's cold!"

"Oh right!"

She sighed exasperatedly and sat back laughing!

She was right, it was bloody cold, especially when I hadn't anything on my feet, so I was back in the cottage in less than a minute, clutching the tape and teeth chattering merrily!

She's put more coal on the fire though and the dull glow was fast becoming an inferno, spreading it's warmth to every corner of the room.

The other bottle of champagne was on the table or rather most of it was, the rest of it being in our freshly charged glasses.