Tea for Two Read online

  Sam listened to the shower, a shard of worry rippling through him. If he didn’t handle Helen right, she’d slip through his fingers, disappearing as quickly as ice turning to water on a hot summer’s day.

  The phone rang, disturbing his thoughts.

  “Hello.”

  “Sam, it’s Maggie. Tara’s on the other line. Can we come and stay the night with you?”

  “Hi, Sam.” Tara added a quick greeting and waited for his reply.

  His sisters. Normally he loved spending time with them, but Helen was so skittish, he didn’t want them to scare her off with talk of love at first sight and how the Norville clan curse would trap her if she didn’t run. He’d seen them at work with his brother and they’d already personally scared off one woman he’d really liked. Tara had told Amber, his then-girlfriend, how big families were the norm for Norvilles and multiple births ran in the family. The talk of many children had sent his career-oriented girlfriend fleeing in the opposite direction.

  “I’m sorry. I have plans for tonight. You’ll have to crash with Jase and Rhiannon.”

  “What plans?” his sister demanded. He thought it was Tara this time, but they were difficult to tell apart on the phone.

  “Private plans,” he said firmly.

  Maggie let out a mini shriek. “A woman? Do you have a woman at your apartment?”

  “That is none of your business, but as it happens I have some of my staff coming over to work on conference plans. We’re putting together a quote.” Sam held the phone away from his ear.

  “That’s not private. That’s work,” Tara scoffed.

  “Yeah, and it sounds boring.” Maggie agreed with her sister.

  Sam heard his sisters’ hasty discussions on the other end of the phone and held his breath while they decided to change their plans. Slowly his breath eased out, relief making his shoulders lose their tense set.

  “Can we come up next weekend and spend Saturday and Sunday at your apartment?” Maggie asked after their frantic whispering stopped.

  “That’s fine,” Sam said, mentally rearranging his schedule. He’d wanted to ask Helen out, but perhaps if he gave her space and took the time to formulate a plan, it might propel their relationship in the direction he wanted. Yeah, sounded like a plan. “I’ll expect you next weekend.” He hung up with his sisters’ shrieks of excitement ringing in his ears.

  “Am I interrupting?”

  Sam looked up to see Helen hovering in the doorway, dressed only in one of his T-shirts. A slow smile spread across his lips when he took in her slender legs and the thrust of braless breasts. “Not at all. Just my sisters. Take a seat while I finish the coffee.”

  The legs of a chair scraped across the tiled floor. Sam sensed Helen’s eyes on his back, discerned the wave of confusion with satisfaction.

  “My sisters wanted to come and stay the night,” he said.

  “Oh, we don’t have to spend today together if you have other plans.”

  “I put them off until next weekend. They didn’t mind.”

  Sam pulled two mugs from the cupboard. He sloshed milk in one and added coffee before handing it to Helen. It gave him a small burst of pleasure knowing how she liked her coffee. Soon he’d know a lot more about Helen, and he couldn’t wait for the exploration to begin.

  Hayley spent a wonderful day with Sam, one she didn’t want to end. They’d caught the tube to Notting Hill and wandered through the market, eating a meal in a small café before walking off their late lunch by checking out the artwork on Bayswater Road. They talked about everything and nothing, laughing and joking together as well as touching on politics and Sam’s work.

  They parted with a kiss at the tube station, with Sam heading back to Knightsbridge and her catching the tube to Fulham. She stared out the window at the blackness of the tunnel while the train rushed toward her station. Sam hadn’t asked her out again or made arrangements to meet. He hadn’t even asked her for a phone number.

  It was what she wanted. Or so she’d thought. Jeez, she didn’t know what she wanted of Sam. She knew she didn’t want complications or evidence for her parents or her sister to pass comment on. Yeah, right. That was the aim, but when Sam had walked away without looking back, something had fractured inside. It had hurt.

  Hayley stepped off the train at her stop and pushed her way through the crowd to get up to the street, a frown of dissatisfaction in her heart. A ten-minute walk later, she unlocked the front door to her building and climbed the stairs to her second-story flat.

  “Suzie, are you home?”

  A muffled cough and the loud blowing of a nose confirmed her friend was home and still suffering. She dropped her bag on top of the kitchen counter and walked through the small lounge area, past the battered second-hand couch and the newer but equally scruffy leather chair. In the passage, she caught the faint scent of eucalyptus and the fragrance became stronger as Hayley neared Suzie’s room. She tapped on the door and waited a beat before pushing it open and entering the bedroom.

  “How are you?”

  “The prodigal returns,” Suzie mocked, spoiling her words with a hacking cough. She slapped a tissue over her mouth, her shoulders heaving in a second punishing cough.

  “I left a note.”

  “With me,” Suzie agreed. “You didn’t tell your sister where you were going. She’s been ringing and leaving messages since yesterday afternoon. You just missed her.” Suzie’s aggrieved tone told Hayley her friend thought she’d had a narrow escape, but should pay because Suzie had suffered from Abbey’s dramatics.

  “Sorry, Suzie. I’ll ring Abbey in a minute.”

  “So, did you have a good time?”

  Hayley closed her eyes briefly, bringing to mind Sam and the way her body reacted whenever he touched her. She grinned, thinking of the way she melted like butter under his attention. Lord she missed him and it had only been half an hour. Her eyes snapped open again and she risked a glance at Suzie. “I had a great time.”

  “Good,” Suzie said. “Then you can tell me why your name is Harriet and not the usual Helen. And why another “H” name? It’s bad enough keeping Helen and Hayley straight, but now I have to add Harriet to the mix.” She sneezed, her expression one of misery when she accepted the box of tissues Hayley handed her. At least it stopped her tirade.

  “Can I get you something?”

  “Some orange juice, and don’t think I’ve finished with you either. I need to get my story straight with Sam, so you’re going to have to spill all.”

  Hayley wrinkled her nose but nodded. “Orange juice first, then I’d better ring Abbey before she arrives in person. I’ll talk to you after that.”

  Suzie rubbed her hands together. “This will be good.”

  Shaking her head, Hayley walked back to the kitchen and grabbed both a glass and the bottle of orange juice from the fridge. She took it to Suzie and, after making sure her friend was comfortable, returned to the kitchen and the phone. Suzie had left a pile of messages written on bright pink paper beside the phone. Six in all, with another message partially written. The heavy writing and the broken pencil lead told of Suzie’s annoyance and frustration with Abbey.

  Hayley picked up the phone and dialed her sister. The phone rang once before someone picked it up.

  “Yes?”

  “Abbey? What’s wrong?”

  “Hayley. About time! Where have you been? I’ve been ringing for the last day. Don’t you ever answer your messages?”

  “I’ve been away,” Hayley said, immediately biting on her bottom lip. Stupid. Now that would raise more questions. She steeled herself for the interrogation to begin, but for a change her sister ignored the slip.

  “I’m in trouble, Hayley. I need ten thousand pounds in a hurry.”

  “Ten thousand…what for?”

  An impatient huff echoed down the line. “None of your business.”

  Hayley bit back a snappish reply. Typical. Abbey expected Hayley to take her word for anything she said, yet had c
ompletely different standards to apply to her. “Why are you telling me?”

  “I know you’re saving for a flat. You haven’t got enough to pay a deposit yet. How can you on a secretary’s salary? You can give me the money.”

  Hayley’s mouth dropped open in shock. Give? Her sister astounded her at times with her self-centered behavior. She hadn’t changed even after her marriage. “I don’t think so.” And she hung up on her sister before taking the phone off the hook. Suzie needed to sleep tonight, because Hayley had a feeling she’d want to return to work tomorrow.

  “How did the conference go?” Suzie asked when Hayley returned to check on her friend almost two hours later. When she’d gone to see Suzie after talking to Abbey, her friend had been asleep. Figuring that Suzie needed her rest, she’d left her in peace.

  “The conference was brilliant. Really good. You did an awesome job organizing the program, and I heard a lot of compliments.”

  “What did Sam say?”

  “He was pleased, too. Said you did a great job.”

  An expression of worry clouded Suzie’s pale face. “But I had to bail on him.”

  “Suzie, you were sick. You’re still not well. Of course he understood, or at least he never complained to me.”

  Suzie sent her a sly grin. “Which brings us back to Sam and the “H” dilemma. Which name am I supposed to call you by?”

  “I don’t think he’s interested in me, Suzie. He didn’t even ask for my phone number when we parted today.”

  “But you spent the night with him?”

  Fiery color sped into Hayley’s cheeks and she avoided Suzie’s knowing gaze. “I might have.”

  “Well, I know you didn’t spend the night with your parents or your sister.” Suzie’s brows shot up, the interrogating pose interrupted with a sneeze. She grabbed yet another tissue and wiped her running nose. “What’s going on with you and Sam?”

  “I really like him but, as I said, he didn’t even ask me for my phone number. I don’t think he’s interested. Besides, I haven’t actually been truthful with him, and he’s a playboy with a reputation for never having more than one date with a woman.” Okay, she’d had two, but two different names, so that didn’t count.

  “Why did you lie?”

  Hayley shuffled her feet and glanced down, unable to meet her friend’s eyes and the condemnation she’d probably see. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t criticized herself for her stupid behavior. “It’s a long story.”

  Suzie patted the bed beside her. “I have plenty of time.”

  “And catch your flu? No thanks.” She laughed, and it was a hard sound. “You know that work party you invited me to?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, let’s just say my bad girl side made an appearance that night and totally misbehaved.” Oh, boy. Had she ever misbehaved.

  “Misbehavior looks good on you. You should do it more often.”

  “Humph,” Hayley snorted. “I’m not sure my heart can stand the strain, especially trying to keep up with your playboy boss. And before you ask again, my name is Harriet now and forever more if Sam is present. Not that we’re going to see each other again. Can I get you some dinner?”

  “I think there’s some soup in the pantry. I wouldn’t mind some of that.”

  “Coming right up,” Hayley said, pleased to change the topic of conversation yet again. She walked down the passage to the kitchen and opened the pantry doors to peruse the contents. Chicken soup. Perfect. She grabbed the can, found the can opener and tipped the contents into a pot. She was just about to turn on the gas when the intercom announced a visitor.

  “Hayley, I need to talk to you.”

  Her sister. Hayley scowled, buzzed her sister inside, and strode to the door to wait for her arrival. It seemed Abbey wasn’t about to take no for an answer. Hayley’s mouth tightened. She was determined not to buckle under Abbey’s bully tactics. In the past, she’d let Abbey boss her around, but this time she’d stand firm. She’d worked hard for her money and wasn’t about to give it away.

  “Abbey, what are you doing here?” Exasperation colored Hayley’s tone as she glared at her older sister. Hayley liked it better when they kept their mingling to weekly phone calls and family get-togethers for special occasions like birthdays. Hayley didn’t enjoy unexpected phone calls or visits because it usually meant she was in trouble for some reason or another.

  “You wouldn’t listen to me on the phone.” Abbey prowled around the kitchen, looking like a caged leopard Hayley had once seen at a zoo. Her black sandals tapped a staccato beat when she paced past. “I deserve a hearing. What on earth have you done to your hair? And what are you wearing? Mum would have a fit if she could see your cleavage.”

  Hayley’s mouth dropped open, and when she realized this, she closed it with a distinct snap. “Mum isn’t here to see. I’m not a kid anymore and I can dress how I like.”

  Abbey sniffed. She cast a disparaging glance at Hayley’s jeans and shirt before flicking a spec of dust off her own smart designer suit. She looked out of place in their apartment. Too bad. For once, her sister was the odd one out.

  “Aren’t you going to offer me a cup of tea?” The frenzied tap-tap of heels halted abruptly. Her brows elevated in a superior manner. “It would be the polite thing to do. Didn’t Mum teach you anything?”

  Silently Hayley fumed, but set about preparing a pot of tea while Abbey continued to prowl back and forth. Tap, tap, tap. The sound was starting to get on her nerves. Hayley pulled two cups with matching saucers from the cupboard and measured tea leaves into her china teapot.

  “Do you have to use tea leaves? I hate the feel of them in my mouth.”

  “This is my home and I prefer tea leaves,” Hayley said without inflection. She badly wanted to give nuance, but in the interest of peace, buttoned her lips.

  “You’ve changed.”

  “You mean because I’m not agreeing with everything you say?”

  Abbey let out an abrupt laugh. “Probably.”

  Hayley’s irritation smoothed away. Her sister wasn’t usually this cranky. “Sit,” she said, indicating one of the two wooden chairs in the kitchen.

  Abbey pulled out one and took a seat at the small kitchen table.

  When Hayley poured her a cup of tea, she picked up a teaspoon and fiddled with it, leaving her tea to go cold rather than drinking it. Her right foot hit the floor in a continuous tap, tap, tap.

  “For goodness sake! Stop tapping your foot. It’s driving me crazy. What’s wrong, Abbey? Is it Mum and Dad?”

  “No.” Abbey slumped, and alarm spread through Hayley. “It’s Dan. He has a gambling problem.”

  “Dan? Gambling? Oh, Abbey. Is he getting treatment for his addiction?”

  “He doesn’t need treatment,” Abbey snapped. “He’s not addicted. He’s merely had a bad run of luck.”

  Hayley started to disagree before deciding to maintain silence. “How bad is it?”

  “We might lose our house. The bank is already making noises about missed mortgage payments.”

  “Oh, Abbey. I’m so sorry.”

  “I need money, Hayley, and you’re the only one who can give it to me.”

  Give? A tight sensation closed off Hayley’s throat, and she had to swallow several times before she could even think about speaking without letting her temper rip. Give? Exactly the same words Abbey had used on the phone. Her temper rose at the thought. She’d do almost anything for her family. Despite their strict attitudes, she knew they loved her. Sure, she wasn’t exactly close to her parents, but there were worse family situations than hers. They meant well.

  “Give?” she asked, finally voicing her disapproval.

  “I mean lend,” Abbey said hastily, obviously sensing she’d erred.

  “I’ve been saving hard for years, Abbey.”

  “But you have this flat. You don’t need your own property.” The callousness and purely selfish attitude made Hayley blink.

  “You know, the world do
esn’t revolve around you, Abbey.”

  “You have money. I know you have. Dan and I need it.”

  Slow anger started to build in Hayley, tightening her chest. “How much money do you need? You mentioned ten thousand pounds. Are you budgeting? Have you tried a loan? And are you looking for a job?”

  “A job? I can’t work.” Abbey’s horror was obvious.

  “Why not? It seems to me if you’re that desperate, you could find a job.” Hayley picked up her cup to take a sip.

  “But we have a reputation to uphold. Our friends would laugh if I took a job.” Abbey fiddled with the chunky gold necklace she wore, her fingernails immaculate with their delicate pink polish.

  Hayley spluttered, unable to speak for precious seconds. She set down her teacup with a distinct rattle. “Abbey, can you hear yourself? You’re in debt. Your reputation is probably already shot. You need to budget and get a job. Maybe sell some of your designer clothes.”

  “So you won’t lend us any money.”

  Part of Hayley wanted to say yes, but she knew a little about gambling addiction from the brochures they displayed in the local library. She hardened her heart. “Show me a budget and what you’re going to do with my money. I might consider it then.”

  “Really?” Abbey’s face burned with hope.

  “I’ll think about it.” Hayley picked up her tea and took a sip. “Dan needs treatment, Abbey. A gambling addiction is an illness, and it won’t go away. Do Mum and Dad know?”

  Abbey shook her head. “They lent us money, but it’s all gone. Dan withdrew it from our account and lost it all at the casino in Kensington.”

  “Hiding the truth won’t help Dan.”

  Abbey stood, swiped a tear from her face and forced a smile. “Thanks for listening to me. I haven’t always been nice to you, and I’m really sorry. I…” She hesitated before continuing, “I’ve been jealous of you, the way you’ve made a life for yourself, despite the mistakes you made when you were younger. I wish I’d trained for a career of some sort instead of jumping straight into marriage.”

  Hayley couldn’t say a word because shock knotted her throat. Jealous? She stood and hugged her sister tightly, the backs of her eyes stinging with emotion. For once she actually felt as if she were part of the family.