Just Tell Me (The Justice Series) (24 page)

Nicole hadn’t ridden since before she had George, she put her foot in the stirrup and jumped in the saddle and rode round the
arena while Daniel got ready. Chester seemed to want to go faster than she did, and she had to pull him up. Joanna shouted at her, he was a polo pony. She had to sit back to slow down and lean forward to go faster. 

The cob she had ridden for years was quiet and slow but she was pleased to see she could still ride
. Besides there was no way she was going to show fear in front of the stern faced Joanna or Daniel. Daniel watched her ride as she worked the horse into an outline; she was a bit wobbly but her years of experience clearly visible.  She pulled Chester up and adjusted her stirrups while Daniel came into the arena

“You ride well” he said as he helped her with the leathers, he ran his hand up her inner thigh
and she hit him with her crop. He ducked out the way and laughed “Control yourself” she said playfully. 

He got on Monty, his lean muscular legs wrapped round his horse while it was prancing across the stable yard eag
er to go, Joanna shouted over “Ah he’s ready for a ride, you’re going to have fun, be careful Danny”. 

Nicole mouthed “Danny?” at him and he laughed and shrugged his shoulders. 
They set off through the meadow and Monty was prancing his head was high, he really wanted to go and his excitement was rubbing off onto Chester. Nicole concentrated on controlling him. This wasn’t the romantic ride she had thought of when he asked if she wanted to get on a horse, it was a death wish. Chester started leaping in the air and she held the reins as a bridge across the horse’s long neck.

“Nicole, we are going to have to let them go
, are you ready? I don’t think I can hold him back any longer” he smiled over at her and she wondered if he meant him or the horse. She was about to say no as Daniel left her behind. Monty’s hooves hardly touched the ground ahead of her as they rode a long stretch of grass up a steady incline, she had no choice but to let Chester go and she reached forward in the saddle as the horse galloped. The wind whipped into her eyes making them water
this will do nothing for my sodding mascara
she briefly thought as they reached the top and regained some control of her horse. 

“
Bloody hell” she was smiling, her eyes streaming “That was amazing, it’s been so long since I did anything like that, I feel like a teenager again”  Chester was stood still trying to reach for some grass and Nicole relaxed on him now. Monty was still prancing; Daniel had to spin him round to stop him charging off again. She watched him with admiration by the way he controlled the horse, his confidence and how horse and rider understood each other from years of being together.  

“You really love that horse” she smiled at him “I feel like I’ve seen the real Daniel now, like you have given me an insight into who you really are” 

“Oh yeah?” he asked “And you’re still here?” He kept his voice light and Monty lunged forward so she couldn’t see his face. She could sense an undertone as they continued to ride down the hill and she pushed Chester so she could ride beside him again.

“It’s beautiful here, I ne
ver want to leave” she spoke her thoughts, was now a good time to tell him about George? He started talking before she had chance.

“
Don’t then.  I’ve never had anyone in my life like you Nicole, I’ve never had a meaningful relationship with anyone, even my parents have never told me they love me do you know how that feels?”  His eyes shone bright blue and she could see it was difficult for him to articulate his feelings “Don’t take this the wrong way but since meeting you I have felt more alone than ever, even when we first met you made me feel alive, showed me how life could be and since then I have felt so empty, I have been drinking too much to block out the loneliness” he continued “And when I thought you were with someone else it hit me like a ton of bricks. That’s why I haven’t been with another woman since we met Nicole” he looked over at her and she was quiet, listening to his words, understanding more and more the reasons for how he was. How he hid behind the character the media created for him and how he threw himself into his career to fill the void. She spoke, finding the words.

“
You’re not alone anymore Daniel, I will be here for you, for as long as you want me to be anyway” She added this with sadness, would he want to know her when he found out the truth? oh God she had to tell him now but she just couldn’t, she needed more from him, she realised, she needed him to tell her he loved her, she didn’t just want him to tell her she filled a void for Gods sake. 

She still didn’t know how to tell him, she needed to choose the right time and she needed to know how he really felt about her.  She was worried it could tip him over the edge.  They were having such a good time, but she felt guilty for
her son, poor innocent George. He had a right to know his father. She urged Chester forward as they carried on along the grassy track, Daniel kept Monty at a steady pace next to her.

”W
hat did you want to tell me?  You said you needed to talk to me”

She composed herself and looked over at him
his eyes were sparkling. Oh God she couldn’t tell him not here sat on a horse “Oh just that” she stopped “Erm that I was worried you wouldn’t want me, you know that you will get bored”

“I want you.
Everyday Nicole.” their eyes met and she felt her whole body tingle “I remember you don’t let strange men take advantage of you, especially on the second date” he said teasing her “I don’t think I will be able to control myself tonight”

“Who says I’m staying Daniel?  I’ve a taxi booked at 11”
she laughed as his face fell “Come on lets carry on, I want to see this castle” she said as his parents house came into view, it was a magnificent building the turrets on each corner gave it a fairy tale like quality.

“
Wow” she breathed as they got closer, she could see some people on the terrace at the front “Who’s that?” she pointed down and Daniel sighed.

“
Oh God it’s my parents” he looked over “Do you want to meet them?  They are utterly mad though I will warn you”

Nicole laughed she remembered him telling her abo
ut them and she was intrigued “It must be serious if I’m meeting your parents Daniel?” she teased but he just looked at her, he still couldn’t tell if she was joking. He didn’t know if she wanted the same as he did and it was frustrating. They had talked but he just couldn’t get the words right, how could he make her realise she was the one? 

He led them down the hill and tied the horses in the old coach house, he turned the tap on
to fill the water trough. Nicole slackened the horses girths and made sure they were comfortable, her black dress was covered in horsehair and grass stained horse saliva. Her hair was stuck to her head from wearing the hat and she was sure her face was streaked with mascara.  She walked over to Daniel, he turned round and she stepped up to kiss him,

“
God I look a mess” she broke away from him “Do I look respectable enough to meet your parents?  I need a mirror”. 

“Y
ou look beautiful” he said, and he put his hand in the water trough and wiped her face with his fingers, he pulled his sleeve down and dried it.  Nicole was moved by his act of tenderness. “That’s it, you look perfect” he held her face in his hands and kissed her “Come on lets have some fun with these two, they are convinced I’m gay, lets put them out of their misery” he said as they walked up the stairs to the terrace. 

His mother was sat on her own
on the terrace shouting through to the drawing room “Don’t be so silly” she scowled “That’s the most ridiculous statement I’ve ever heard, that vice treasurer is a fool someone should assassinate him” She turned round and stopped shouting as she realised someone was walking towards her, she squinted in the sunset as she saw the two figures as they walked towards them. 

It was her son with his arm round a woman, she shielded her face with her hand as
they walked over “Hello Daniel” she stood up and looked at Nicole.  “Are you going to introduce us?” she asked not taking her eyes off her.

“This is Nicole, she’s my girlfriend” Nicole looked up at Daniel and he kissed her lightly on the lips smiling as he did. 
His girlfriend. 
Nicole felt like heart was going to burst and she accepted the gin and tonic that materialised in front of her. His mother asked Nicole about herself, firing questions like she was on Mastermind, what school did she go to? Who were her parents? Did she want children?  Nicole flinched at this question;
I’ve deceived the whole family now
. She said yes she did, and she felt Daniel’s hand squeeze hers as she continued to answer his mothers probing questions. 

Daniel spoke “M
other will you stop with all these questions, Nicole I’m sorry about this, my mother has no idea”

She smiled “I’m sorry” she said “
It’s just he’s never brought anyone back to meet us before and he just sprung it on me” she whispered to Nicole as though Daniel wasn’t sat next to her “We thought he was you know one of those homo sexuals” she said it as two words and Daniel shook his head at her.  She poured herself another drink and Daniel’s father wandered out.

“I’ve never heard so much nonsense” he had been watching a political documentary on the shadow opposition he explained to no one in particular and barely registered Nicole as he sa
t down to pour a drink. He took a sip and suddenly looked over.

“
Who’s this?” he asked his son “Did you find her wandering about? there’s a law against kidnap you know” and he put his hand out “Hello I’m the Duke of Hambelby” he said smiling at her “But you can call me Ronald” and despite his suggestion that Daniel had found her at the side of the road she warmed to this eccentric man. “So you’re a friend of Daniel’s? well it’s good to meet you, welcome to Hambelby, would you like a tour?” 

Daniel stepped in “Nicole’s only here for a few hours father and we have to get the horses back before it gets dark”

His father nodded in agreement, “Maybe next time you will stay longer then aye?” he said winking at her. 

They got up to leave, Nicole felt the effects of the gin and tonic and she was suddenly starving.  The sun was starting to set and the countryside was swathed in golden light as they
mounted their horses. Daniel turned to her, his face was lit by the dusk and Monty looked like he was glowing “We will have to ride fast to get back before it gets dark”

Nicole was ready for it this time as she followed Daniel through the meadow, he kept Monty in a
canter and they rode together. 
This is more like it. A true romantic ride.
Nicole looked over and smiled at him as they rode steadily towards home.  By the time they got back to the stables it was dark and the stables were lit up.

Joanna was s
at waiting for them to return “Ah you’re back” she said “I was going to come looking for you, here I will take them” she grabbed both horses as they jumped off.  Nicole felt guilty leaving her with two sweaty horses to cool down “Aye don’t worry they will cool off in the horse walker, you get yourself off” 

Nicole took her
jodhpurs off and stuck them in a pile of dirty washing, her legs felt bare and she shivered as the cool night air hit her. Daniel held her hand tightly as he led them back to the house, in the dark light it was past 9’oclock she looked at her phone. No messages from Libby and she wondered how her friend was getting on with Alex. 

“I’m starving” she said as they got back in the house “I’m also filthy, look at the state of me” she looked in the hallway mirror, her dress was stained and her face had streaks of muck where the dusty earth had stuck to her sweaty face. She had spent hours getting ready at the hotel and she looked like she had literally been dragged through a hedge.

“Daniel I thought you washed my face?” he stood behind her and looked at her through the mirror.

“
You don’t look that bad to me” he smiled and handed her some French bread and pate from the fridge. She looked at him back through the mirror his blue eyes intensely on hers.

“I feel grubby, I need a shower” she said as his hand moved across her shoulder, dropping the straps on her dress and he moved his hands over her body as she shivered in pleasure.  He
kissed her neck and watched her through the glass memorised by her beauty and unable to speak.  She reached her hand round and felt the hardness of his erection, she couldn’t wait any longer she needed him.

“Do you want to join me?” she asked, she wanted to laugh at his face as he tried gained some composure; she could tell he was turned on.  He led her upstairs to the bathroom and turned
the water on in his wet room. She slipped her dress off and stood in front of him tracing his neck with her hand as she unbuttoned his shirt.  Her hands ran over his smooth tanned shoulders as his shirt dropped to the floor, still watching his face as he breathed deeply. 

H
e pulled her towards him and she felt his body pressed close up to hers, his erection pushing against her and she needed him. His kiss was intense and Nicole was unable to move as he trapped her against the dark Italian marble tiles and the spray of the hot water. The water was warm and fell like rain as their hands explored each other, he picked her up and she wrapped her legs round his muscular body.