Birthday Girl
Two Months Later – September
‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, happy birthday to me. Happy birthday, dear Georgie, happy birthday to me,’ I sang as I swung my legs out of bed.
I felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Today I hit the big three-O. A brand-new chapter in my life. After a quick shower, I raced down the stairs in my jeans and a combined jumper-shirt to check the mail. I scooped up a pile of letters and headed into the kitchen to flick on the kettle, then put some croissants in the oven to crisp. It was a birthday tradition, a rare treat. I’d always tried to eat healthily, but since I’d been dating Weston, benefitting from his expertise in food and nutrition, I was eating healthy on a whole new scale that I hadn’t even realised existed.
My hair and nails were stronger, my skin and eyes were brighter, and I’d even shifted those last few stubborn pounds and toned up all over. I’d also noticed a dramatic increase in my energy levels, unless Weston spent the evening with me and drained me. I bit my thumbnail and blushed at the reminder of how incredible my sex life had become since that dramatic day in the park. I’d been seriously missing out all of these years. I felt sorry for women who thought they had a great sex life, like I had when I was with Greg, when in reality it was appalling. The only downside was that we rarely saw each other during the week. Being a personal trainer meant he had to work a lot of evenings to suit clients’ needs, some weekend mornings too, so he rarely slept over. It was starting to get harder and harder to say goodbye to him when he snuck out of my bed in the early hours. Bertie too, though he didn’t always bring him.
I’d never wanted a dog of my own, but I’d started to miss Bertie as much as I missed Weston. He even had his own food, water bowls, dog bed, and blanket for when he came to stay. In fact, he had more stuff here than Weston did. Other than his toothbrush and a framed picture of us on the mantelpiece that Abbie had taken, if anyone came to do a home inspection, there was no indication that I even had a boyfriend. Admittedly that, along with the fact that he’d only ever slept over for one full night and I’d never been invited to go and see his home or place of work, made me a little nervous.
During a recent girls’ night, Charlie, ever the imaginative thinker, put forward a theory that he was actually married and spent weekdays with his wife, then weekends with me. I’d laughed it off at the time, but I had to admit that it had sparked a small element of doubt in my mind about how honest he was actually being with me about his life. It wasn’t normal to date someone for so long and not have been introduced to his friends or spend time in his home. However, I was sure of the strength of his feelings for me. When we saw each other, our relationship was comfortable and easy. My friends loved him, and he even got on well with Miller, which was a huge bonus. As I slid my croissants onto the plate and carried them over to the island with my coffee, I squashed down any negative feelings. Life at the moment was better than it had been in years.
‘Bill, bill, another bill,’ I sighed as I sorted through my mail. ‘Ok, where are my birthday cards?’ I felt my bottom lip protrude as I realised that I had none. ‘What’s that all about, even my parents have forgotten? Maybe it’s because you’re a crazy person. I mean, you’re sitting here talking to yourself, Georgie. Maybe you’re not really here, you’re in a padded cell hallucinating your life as you hoped it would be. Hmmm, no. If I was, I’d have been teleported to a Caribbean island and would be sunbathing right now, not sitting here alone with no cards on my birthday.’ I wondered if most people who lived on their own were quite as vocal with themselves as I was.
I spent the next few hours alone. I’d assumed that I would be doing something to celebrate such a momentous occasion and had cleared my schedule for the day, but after no calls or visitors all morning, I was feeling pretty miserable.
‘Hey, Abbie, what are you up to?’ I asked when she answered her phone.
‘Sorry, Georgie, can I ring you later tonight? I’ve got clients with me and a packed day.’
‘Oh, ok. Well, let me know as soon as you’re free as I was thinking that … hello? Abbie?’ I stared at my phone, aghast. She’d cut me off. Feeling most put out, I dialled Daphne next and asked if she fancied coming to The Fox, a popular gastro pub in the next village, for lunch.
‘Oh, I’m so sorry, dear. Mr. Bentley is taking me to Shrewsbury to buy some curtains for my new apartment.’ She interrupted herself with a violent sneeze.
‘Bless you.’
‘Thank you. I’m so sorry, I think I’ve got a cold coming. What was I saying? Oh yes, we’re going shopping as we’re trying to get the apartment set up so I can move across before Christmas. How about tomorrow?’
‘No, it’s ok, I just thought it might be a nice idea today as I’m free. I have back-to-back appointments tomorrow,’ I sighed.
‘Why don’t you try Abbie or Charlie? I’m sure they’d love a break from work to go for lunch with you. Must dash, speak soon.’
‘Ok,’ I responded, feeling more than a little deflated. Had everyone forgotten it was my birthday today? I was about to dial Charlie when there was a knock at the front door. I virtually skidded on the polished oak floor in my socks in my haste to open it and beamed as I found a delivery man with a huge autumnal-coloured free-standing bouquet in his arms. The scent radiating off them, especially the gorgeous lilies, was heady.
‘Here, you need to sign for them,’ he grunted, thrusting them in my arms with no pleasantries. I set them down on the floor, feeling excited to see who’d spent so much money on the gorgeous display, and turned to grab the clipboard and pen from him. I scanned the page for my name, but drew a blank.
‘I can’t see where I need to sign.’
‘I marked it with an X, lady.’ He stabbed his finger at the document and I looked where he was pointing.
‘Well, that’s not my name.’
‘You sure?’
‘Yes.’
‘Huh, let me look.’ He grabbed the clipboard back off me and squinted at it. ‘You’re not Charlie Faulkner, of Jasmine Cottage, Dilbury?’
‘No,’ I responded, a little more sharply than I’d intended.
‘You sure, love?’
‘Yes,’ I said more firmly. ‘I think I know my own name as I’ve lived with it for thirty years. Besides, this is Ivy Cottage, like it says in big letters on the gate and up here above my door,’ I responded, pointing up.
‘Oh, right, my mistake. Better give me the flowers back then,’ he suggested, without any apology for getting my hopes up, only to dash them in a matter of minutes. He tucked the pen behind his ear and the clipboard under his arm as he waited for me to scoop them up. I thrust them back at him and virtually slammed the door. So far, being thirty sucked. I watched out of the window until I saw his van head back up the lane a few minutes later, then rang Charlie.
‘Who were your gorgeous flowers from, Charlie? He delivered them here by mistake.’
‘Amazing, aren’t they?’ she replied, and I sensed the smile on her face from her joyful tone. ‘My book agent sent them for meeting my deadline. She’s so excited about this new one and has had interest from one of the industry’s publishing giants, who wants to meet with us in London tomorrow. She thinks it could be the one to make me a household name. I’m drowning in the preparation of the perfect sales pitch that we’ll work on together tomorrow morning, before making our formal presentation in the afternoon.’
‘Charlie, that’s incredible! I know how hard you’ve worked for this. I’m so proud of you.’
‘Thank you. I’m caught in the ether between wanting to jump up and down with joy or tear my hair out as I have so much to do and I need to pack as well. The train is at stupid o’clock in the morning.’
‘Can I do anything to help?’
‘You’re so sweet, Georgie, but I think I’m best left in my own head space to focus. It’s an author thing, we’re terrible loners when we’re on a mission. We’ll have to fix up a celebration when I get back. Anyway, enough about me, what can I do for you? Is everything ok?’ she asked. I opened my mouth, about to say how miserable I felt that it seemed not one of my friends, or my family, or even Weston, had remembered it was my birthday, but realised how selfish that was. I didn’t want to burst her bubble, it was so deserved.
‘Everything’s just fine. I just wanted to make sure those lovely flowers made it to you. Good luck tomorrow and make sure you text or call me the minute your meeting is over. They’d be crazy not to take you on, Charlie. You’re an incredible writer.’
‘Thanks, babe, that means a lot. Right, better dash, speak soon.’
‘Yes, speak soon.’
I ended the call, then went into the lounge and slumped in my armchair. I had no one to blame but myself. I’d never pushed myself forward, thinking it would be rude to organise my own birthday celebration. My parents had always taken me out for a nice brunch with champagne when I’d lived at home, then my friends would book a table at a fancy restaurant and we’d head to a cocktail bar afterwards. Since living in Dilbury, Abbie had always organised some social gathering that usually started at lunchtime and invariably ended in the small hours with us all tipsy. I’d had no reason to think she wouldn’t do the same this year.
Half an hour later, I got into my car and reversed out of the drive. If no one was going to celebrate with me, then I’d have to do it alone. I took out my aggression on the gear stick of my car as I headed to Shrewsbury, parked up, and went straight to my regular hairdresser and beauticians to see if they could fit me in for a cut and blow-dry and pamper session.
Looking polished from the roots of my hair to my freshly pedicured feet, I called in at The Golden Cross. I treated myself to a glass of wine with a cheese board platter while I enjoyed a few chapters of Charlie’s new book. She’d sneaked Abbie and me an advance unedited copy, as we were too impatient to wait.
After putting some cash down for the bill, I checked my phone, thinking that right now I’d even have been ecstatic to have a mis-sold payment protection insurance text. I cursed as I realised my phone was on silent and I’d missed numerous calls from Abbie. I debated calling her back, but the part of me that felt so disappointed that my best friend had forgotten my birthday didn’t want to have an awkward telephone conversation with her. Instead I sent a text to Weston.
Hi, hope you’re having a good day. Are you still coming over tonight? G x
His almost immediate response improved my mood a little.
Of course, I should be there for seven o’clock. Looking forward to seeing you. Been dreaming about you teasing me in black lace lingerie! x
Sometimes dreams become realities, Mr. Argent x
Mine already did. You’re mine x
I clutched my phone to my chest and let out a contented sigh. Ok, he may not have mentioned my birthday, but he was coming over on a weekday, which was practically unheard of, and sometimes he managed to say just what a girl needed to hear.
Are you up to your arms in suds? he asked.
Actually no, I took the day off x I replied, wondering if he was even going to say happy birthday. Seriously, everyone had forgotten?
I wish I’d known, I’d have come and spent it with you. What are you doing?
I’m in town having lunch, then a quick bit of retail therapy before I head back home. See you later x
Oh, ok. We need to leave by seven-thirty remember x
I headed off in search of something to make his fantasy come true and lost track of time. When I returned to the car, laden with a pick-me-up shopping spree, it was nearly five o’clock.
I cast an eye over to Abbie’s house on the way down the lane and saw a car I didn’t recognise in her drive, which meant she probably still had clients with her. When I walked up my front path, there didn’t appear to be any signs of life at Daphne’s or Charlie’s. I let out a huff of disappointment as I unlocked my front door, kicked off my heels, and headed straight upstairs to offload all of my shopping bags. I started running a bath, fragranced with my favourite perfume’s bubble bath, and ran back down to pour myself a large glass of wine. As I headed back into the hall and was about to take the stairs, I caught the scent of something in the air. Odd, it smelled like lilies. I knew they were pungent, but they’d only been in the hall for a minute or two. I ran back upstairs for a much needed tension-relieving soak in the bath.
‘Weston, is that you already?’ I called. I was sure I’d just heard someone sneeze downstairs. ‘Weston?’
I brushed it off as my desperate need for some company, drained the bath, and spent some time rubbing oils into my skin before doing my makeup and slipping into my new lingerie. A delicate lace demi-bra that pushed the girls right up and together, showing an almost indecent amount of nipple, and a tiny lace thong that cut through my toned derriere would be sure to send Weston wild when he undressed me later. I finished off with a matching suspender belt and clipped on some sheer black stockings with lace trim around the top. I giggled to myself as I imagined how he’d react when I did a sexy striptease for him later when we got home. Checking the time, as I hated tardiness, I found that it was only quarter to seven. I stopped in my tracks when I left the steamy bathroom. This time I knew I hadn’t imagined the sound of a sneeze downstairs. My heart started racing. If it was Weston, why hadn’t he come up and let me know he’d arrived?
All of a sudden, I was having flashbacks to Miller’s annoyance that Abbie left a spare key to her front door under a flowerpot on the front doorstep. He insisted it wasn’t safe, that anyone could let themselves inside. While Dilbury wasn’t the sort of place you’d expect an intruder to break in, he was right, of course. But Daphne and I hadn’t heeded his advice of having a combination key safe installed outside. My key was left under the doormat.
‘Weston?’ I called in a shaky voice. ‘Is that you?’ I was desperately trying to think of a suitable weapon upstairs to defend myself, but all I could come up with was my hair straighteners. Maybe I could swing them like a lasso, or heat them up and grip body parts in a tight and searing vice-like hold if anyone came at me.
‘Hi. Yes, it’s me. I’m in the lounge settling Bertie in,’ came his never-more-welcome voice.
‘Thank God, I thought I had a burglar,’ I called.
‘How many times have I told you it’s not safe to leave a key under your doormat? Anyone could let themselves in,’ he called back. I rolled my eyes, while secretly thinking maybe they did all have a point. I’d have to call Heath over to get a key safe installed. ‘Are you nearly ready?’
‘Yes, I’ll be down in a minute,’ I said, heading into my bedroom. My sexiest little black dress was already laid out on the bed, along with my handbag, and my over-the-knee suede boots were sitting on the floor. We had over half an hour before we had to leave, and I had the sudden desperate urge to reconnect with my man before dinner. Maybe that would put the smile that had been missing from my face most of the day back in place. I sat on the edge of the bed and zipped up my boots, then made my way downstairs. ‘I hope you’re ready, big boy, as I’ve been dreaming about that buff and ripped sexy body all day, not to mention the extra-large package that comes attached to it. I can’t wait to unwrap it right now. Start getting unbuckled as I’m about to ride you like a Grand National champion and make all of your wildest fantasies come true,’ I purred, strutting sexily into the lounge.
I screamed, my hands flying to try and protect my modesty, as about twenty people crammed into the far end of my lounge all yelled “Surprise!” in unison, right before their mouths dropped as they took in the state of me. Dad’s party horn unfurled, then slowly deflated as the loud honking sound died on his lips. The plastic and paper party piece fell out of his shocked mouth while he blinked rapidly, before Mum’s hands quickly moved over his eyes. I hastily backed out of the lounge and fled upstairs, not sure if my face was more scarlet than Dad’s had been after seeing his little girl dressed like an Amsterdam “lady of the night” touting herself for sale, with a mouth on her like a gutter tramp. If I hadn’t just given him a heart attack, I was pretty sure that Mr. Bentley might not make it through the night. His eyes had bugged out and he’d needed to be steadied on his feet by Quinn, while Abbie had quickly elbowed a gawping Miller, and Charlie had nearly knocked over the floral display I’d almost taken delivery of earlier, which was now sitting on my coffee table.
I sat on the edge of my bed, my face in my hands as I tried not to hyperventilate.
‘Georgie?’ Abbie knocked on the bedroom door, but entered before I had a chance to reply. ‘Are you ok?’
‘No. I’ve just turned thirty. Thirty! It was supposed to be a special day celebrating with my friends and I spent it all alone, thinking everyone had forgotten, and now my dad has seen me virtually naked, not to mention all my friends. And I said … I said … oh God, I said something about riding Weston and his penis size!’ I wailed.
‘I’m so sorry, sweetie, it’s all my fault. I thought it would be fun to tease you this morning, but we were all gathering to come and surprise you here with a party lunch, then we were going out to Drapers Hall tonight for dinner and on for cocktails afterwards. But you shot out of the house like a bat out of hell this morning. I even ran up the lane after you. Me, running!’
‘You did?’ I asked, dropping my hands into my lap as I looked over to see her fretting by the door, wringing her hands together.
‘I tried calling, but you didn’t answer your phone.’
‘It was on silent. You really didn’t forget my birthday?’
‘Of course I didn’t. Weston told me it was a stupid plan, but I thought, what does he know? I’ve known you longer, I thought you’d see the funny side. By the time everyone had arrived and parked up at the village hall, laden with food to bring down, you’d texted him to say you’d already had lunch and were going shopping.’
‘Why didn’t he tell me to come back?’ I moaned.
‘We decided we’d surprise you as you walked through the door, so we’ve all been camped out in your lounge for hours thinking you wouldn’t be long. Then when you eventually came home, you never came back into the lounge. We were sure you’d hear us all whispering, especially with Daphne sneezing every five minutes because of her cold. And speaking of cold, fancy putting those nips away? You’re going to take someone’s eye out if you come back down undressed for dinner like that again.’
‘Well, how was I supposed to know you were all there? Dad saw me, Abbie, Dad. How am I supposed to face them all?’ I groaned as I flopped backwards onto the bed, cupping my exposed breasts with my hands.
‘Nearly everyone’s seen you in a bikini before.’
‘Yes, but bikinis make you think of swimming, not of having wild monkey sex with your boyfriend, which is something no Dad ever wants to imagine his daughter doing, especially not with a guy he hasn’t even met before. It’s not the way I wanted my parents’ first meeting with Weston to go.’
‘Well, you can punish me as you see fit, as it was all my doing. Even the pretend misdelivery of flowers,’ she huffed, as she plopped down to lie on her back on the bed next to me. ‘I scripted everyone’s excuses and even paid the delivery guy extra to play along.’
‘Oh no, Charlie’s publishers haven’t called her for an important meeting tomorrow?’ I asked, tipping my head to face Abbie and feeling really badly for poor Charlie.
‘Well, that bit was true, just not the flowers. It was supposed to be a masterpiece in misdirection, not to make you run away and think nobody cared. How upset are you?’ she asked, her face crinkled with an expression that told me just how much she regretted her silly plan.
‘I’ll admit, I’ve been pretty blue all day, but I forgive you. Can we just agree that you never do something like this for one of my birthdays again?’
‘Deal,’ she beamed. ‘Now, tell me all about Weston’s extra-large package. I think you’ve been holding out on me.’
‘That’s not a conversation I’m having now, with all my friends and family waiting downstairs after they’ve seen me virtually naked, Abbie. Go on, shoo, let me get dressed and decent so I can try and summon the courage to come downstairs and face everyone again.’
‘Spoilsport,’ she huffed, before leaning over to plant a kiss on my cheek.
I waited for her to disappear, then sat up and released a deep breath of tension before slipping my dress over my head. I spun around when I heard my bedroom door open again, to find Weston standing there with the bouquet of flowers from downstairs.
‘Are you alright?’ he asked gruffly.
‘It depends on how mad my parents are and if Mr. Bentley survived the shock of seeing me practically naked.’
‘He’ll make it, but it was a close call,’ Weston chuckled. ‘As for your parents, I have a feeling I’m going to have to work extra hard to win them around, after they found out that I’m defiling their beloved daughter with my “large package.” Though I admit, I’m glad you bigged it up and gave me a great reputation.’
‘It looks like you bigged it up yourself,’ I laughed, as he set the free-standing bouquet on my dressing table and I realised he must have grabbed it to protect his modesty, as the snug trousers of his very attractive dark grey three-piece suit were straining around his visible manhood.
‘I’m a red-blooded male, Georgie. When my girlfriend tells me what she’s planning on doing to me, then appears in the lingerie I’ve been fantasising about for weeks, it’s a bit hard to keep any sense of rational thought,’ he mumbled, adjusting himself quickly.
‘You liked it?’ I asked with a blush, as he prowled over to where I was standing and yanked me to him by the waist with one strong arm while he gripped my chin in his other hand.
‘I loved it,’ he replied in a husky tone. ‘And I …’ He stalled and blew out a sharp breath, then licked his lips nervously. ‘I … what I’m trying to say is that I … God damn it, I’ve taken on six hostiles single handed and emerged unscathed, and I’m having trouble saying a few damn words.’
‘What words?’ I asked gently, reaching up to brush my fingers down his cheek as I barely dared to hope they were the very words I’d been wanting to say for the last few weeks, but had held back for fear of rushing things.
‘I love you, Georgie,’ he expelled in a rush, his voice full of unmistakable emotion. ‘Deep, scary, “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before” love. It makes what I felt for my ex pale into the kind of feelings you might have for a best friend, as this, how I feel about you, is burning me from the inside out. You’re all I can see anymore, you’re all I want. I’m madly in love with you, Georgie Basset.’
‘Weston,’ I choked, blinking back tears of happiness as my heart bloomed, heavy and full and so, so happy to have confirmation of everything that I’d been hoping for from my relationship with him. ‘I feel the same about you.’
‘You do?’ His bright blue eyes held mine, the look on his face telling me that he was still fearful that I wasn’t in the same place as he was. ‘I need to hear you say it, Georgie. I need to hear the words, and I need to hear that I mean more to you than he did. I know it’s petty to compare, but if I’m going to give you all of me, I want all of you in return.’
‘You’ve got all of me, Weston. Of course you mean more to me. What we have is incomparable to how I felt with Greg. I love you that much too.’
I laughed as his face lit up at my declaration, a solitary tear of happiness rolling down my cheek as he dipped his head to bruise my lips in a poker-hot kiss that left me clinging to his arms for support.
‘Tell me you’re staying tonight,’ I whispered against his lips when we came up for air.
‘Try and stop me. Thank God your parents are booked in at Severn Manor. It’s one thing hearing what the new boyfriend might be about to do to their daughter, quite another hearing it for real.’
‘Oh God, don’t,’ I laughed, my cheeks heating up in embarrassment again.
‘Turn around,’ Weston ordered as he released me and slipped a hand into his pocket.
‘Do we have time for that?’ I asked, shooting him a smile over my shoulder as I did as I was told.
‘No, get your mind out of the gutter,’ he laughed. ‘Not with everyone eavesdropping, and when we need to get going to make it for our dinner reservation. I have one of your presents and I’d like to put it on myself.’
‘If it’s nipple clamps, there’s only so much embarrassment I can take today,’ I warned him with a giggle.
‘Hmmm,’ he murmured, gently kissing my neck. ‘No, it’s not, but I know what to get you for Christmas now.’
‘Lucky me. Hurry up, December,’ I teased, then shivered as he kissed my neck again before putting something around it, and I felt his fingers working a clasp at my hairline.
‘I hope you like it. I wanted to give you something special for your thirtieth, and to mark the moment I shared how I felt about you.’
‘Weston,’ I exclaimed as I picked up the pendant attached to the necklace. It was a stunning, dazzling heart padlock adorned with what I assumed were crystals, with a small silver key attached. ‘It’s beautiful.’
‘It’s white gold and diamond. I wanted something that would last, like I hope our relationship will.’
‘I love it, and what it symbolises,’ I said as I spun to face him and flung my arms around his neck. He laughed as I peppered his face in grateful, and very touched, kisses. ‘And I hope we last that long too. While I don’t love the reason you were in Mexico, on your honeymoon alone, I love that it meant I got to meet you, as you’re the best boyfriend I’ve ever had.’
‘That means a lot, Georgie,’ he stated sincerely, then sucked his lips into his mouth as a frown marred his handsome features. ‘I need to tell you something, something I should have–’
‘Hey, you can ride him later, Georgie,’ Abbie yelled from downstairs, interrupting us and making me cringe. ‘We need to get going now. Andy’s up at the village hall with a coach to take us all into town.’
‘I’m coming,’ I yelled.
‘I’m not surprised if his package is as large as you implied.’
‘Shit, Abbie. I didn’t mean as in … I mean we’re coming down, I just need to grab my bag.’
‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, get your hands off him, no matter how delicious he looks rocking that businessman “suited and booted” look,’ she called. ‘What? Well, he does look hot, although not as hot as you,’ I heard her add, clearly trying to placate Miller.
‘You do look exceptionally hot dressed like this,’ I agreed, as I ran my hands up and down his chest, desire unfurling in my belly.
‘Hey,’ Weston uttered as he circled my wrists in his strong grip. ‘I’ve only just made myself respectable again in the trouser department. Less of the lustful looks and hand action please.’
‘As long as you promise not to interrupt me later.’
‘That’s a promise I’m more than happy to make.’ He kissed me quickly, then released my hands and headed over to my bedroom door.
‘Weston, what did you want to tell me?’ I reminded him as I swept my bag off the bed.
‘It’s nothing, it can wait,’ he replied, gesturing for me to head down in front of him, to where we could hear the excited chatter of our guests as they all started to gather, ready to leave.
Other than getting over the initial embarrassment of facing everyone again, I had a feeling we were going to have a fun night. One thing was for sure, my birthday couldn’t end any worse than it had started, especially not after Weston and I had been honest about our feelings for each other. I reached for his hand as we made our way downstairs together and squeezed it tightly.