Stolen Kiss (The Turners of Copper Island #2)

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Heidi

I t had been some time since Heidi had been on a date. She spent most of her down time sleeping or drinking martinis down at The Anchor. Everyone knew everyone, so it was difficult to date. It tended to be a case of people gravitated to one another and then the next the island knew, they were planning their wedding.

New people came to the island but not all settled. Anytime a handsome man stepped foot on Copper Island, Heidi’s mother would make it her mission to find out everything about him, deciding if he was suitable to her daughter. If he was, then her mother would impart the information. Otherwise it was like the person never existed. Freya dragged her, or rather Heidi went willing whenever she whispered martini. The Anchor made a great martini and Heidi liked hers dirty. Much like her men, not that she indulged very often. Sometimes when summer arrived, she had a lover for a few months knowing they would leave when the final gig race was won.

She preferred it that way. No one had turned her head, not since Jason Turner broke her heart.

It had taken her an hour to get ready, styling her hair and applying her make up like she was going to a photoshoot. It took her more time to look natural than she did to look glam.

Freya had watched from her perch on the ottoman chest she’d dragged along the corridor to Heidi’s upstairs bathroom.

“You look lovely. It’s a lot of effort for a boy who broke your heart,” Freya commented.

She was sitting on the trunk, knees together, ankles apart with her elbows on her thighs, hands holding up her chin.

“It’s just a catch up. To say hello,” Heidi said, dragging the wand through her eyelashes.

“Will he say hello with tongues?”

“Freya,” Heidi said in shock but then burst out in giggles, trying not to blink until her mascara dried. “No kissing.”

“He’s already kissed you.”

“Not with tongues.”

“I shall require a report in the morning before I head to school.”

“I’ll already be at work,” Heidi replied looking at Freya in the mirror.

“I’ll come earlier, or better still wake me up with a cup of tea.”

Heidi laughed again. They had keys to each other’s houses and spent time going back and forth like the two premises were one.

Heidi squirted her neck with perfume and then dropped her lipstick into her purse.

“Come on, let’s go. I don’t want you here when he arrives making me all nervous.”

“I want to say hello.” This came out as a whine like she was one of her kids in her class.

“You said hello at the gig race.”

“Don’t spoil my fun, babe.”

Their bickering was interrupted half way down the stairs when a rap on the door sounded. They froze like they were cat burglars.

“Get going, open the door so I can say hello,” Freya nudged Heidi.

Heidi loved her best friend, but this wasn’t helping her nerves. She had no idea why he wanted to take her out or have anything to do with her. But she was going to go with it. This light kiss he’d given her still burned on her lips from the other day.

Heidi jogged down the rest of the steps. The front door was three paces from the bottom stair. She swung the door open just has Jason was raising his hand to knock again.

“Holy hell,” Freya said behind her.

Heidi couldn’t agree more. Jason looked good at twenty-two but at thirty-three he was breath-taking. His dirty blonde hair had been tamed as much as it allowed, but looked gorgeously messy. His dark jeans, polished shoes and proper shirt made him superbly put together but one look at his leather jacket and she was transported back to that time when it was the only thing she wore. It was long enough to cover her naked bottom but only just. He made her walk away from him in the flower fields in the moonlight just to make sure.

“Jason.” She could hear her breathy tone and felt her cheeks flush when his eyes melted at her tone.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked.

Snapping out of her gaze she turned at the waist to look at Freya who was still froze on the steps.

“You’re leaving now,” Heidi said.

“Okay,” Freya said holding up her hands.

Heidi watched as she took her time to pick up her handbag in the open plan living room. The front door opened into the living room. The front window was on the street and anyone looking in could see what she was doing.

She’d wished she’d closed her curtains because Betty Boyle chose that moment to walk past her front door and looked at her then at Jason and then back to her. She slowed her pace as she scowled at the scene.

“What’s her problem?” Heidi muttered.

Jason looked over his shoulder and then back to Heidi.

“Did she say something?”

“Only with her face,” Freya said. “I’ve never seen her smile but her face was grim.”

“Hi Freya,” Jason said beaming her a wide smile.

Heidi was dazzled for a moment and then made herself busy pulling on her ankle boots. She couldn’t balance so plonked her arse on the bottom step. She watched as Freya said a few words and pulled her school bag over her head to sit cross ways. Freya lived next door so why she was getting ready like she was going to for miles was a mystery. Heidi didn’t think too much about it because Jason’s gaze was back on her.

“Where are the buggy keys?” Jason asked.

“They’re on that set of keys,” Heidi said pointing to the hook by the door at Jason’s side.

He unhooked the keyring with a single finger and then clutched them in his hand.

“Goodbye Freya,” Heidi said in a more formal tone. Her nurse voice when her patients wouldn’t do as they were told.

“Don’t forget the tea,” Freya whispered as she squeezed past and kissed her cheek.

Heidi shook her head and watched her go.

Then there was just the two of them. Jason stepped over the threshold and closed the door, leaning against it. His eyes swept over her living room briefly and then settled back on her. He held out his hand to help her to stand, and she took the offering. When she was upright, they were inches away from each other. She had to contain the shiver than ran down her spine when she smelled his aftershave. He leaned in and kissed her cheek the same way he did the first time on the quay. A little of his mouth touched her lips. That sensation went directly to her belly turning it over.

“You look good, Heidi,” he whispered keeping his mouth near her ear.

“You smell amazing.” It was out of her mouth before she could suck it back in.

When he smiled, his cheek grazed hers. Jason brought his head up and then back down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Heidi was so dazzled by his proximity her lips were soft too and she kissed him back, then stepped away.

It seemed too easy to go back to how it was.

“I’ll grab my coat. It’s getting chilly in the evenings,” Heidi said.

“So I hear,” he replied craning his neck to look up the stairs.

“Do I get a tour?” he asked.

“Maybe later, I mean another time,” she said and looked anywhere but at his face.

Heidi snatched up her bag and shooed him with her hands to leave the house. It was getting too small with him in her living room looking handsome and relaxed when she felt anything but relaxed.

“You have to stop kissing me, Jason,” she said, righting her jacket.

“That’s a shame,” he said and held out his hand when she closed her front door. It was a latch lock that didn’t need any further locking.

“We’re taking a dozen steps to the buggy,” she said looking at his hand.

“Take the hand, Heidi,” he replied and floored her with his smile.

She sighed deep and took his hand. He threaded their fingers immediately, and she dropped her head back. She was in severe trouble going on a date with Jason Turner. Betty Boyle had likely told the whole island by now.

They slid onto the bench seat and Jason drove off as soon as her bag was stored between her feet. She held onto the handrail as he drove just has wild as Freya did. He weaved along the roads and then away from the town. The direction he was heading meant one of two things. He was either taking her to Turner Hall or to Chilli Farm Restaurant.

When he reached the fork in the road he didn’t slow and turned right towards the chilli farm. The last time they had gone there, Jason had snuck them in, hoisting her over the fence because she’d lost a bet and the punishment was to eat a chilli at random. Thankfully she’d got a mild one, much to the disappointment of Jason.

These days, the chilli farm had expanded and had a restaurant on top of the hill that overlooked the bay.

“Are we having dinner here?” she asked, worrying that she had no tolerance for spice. Once upon a time, Jason knew this.

“Yeah, you haven’t eaten, have you?”

“No. I didn’t know what our plans were.”

“How’s your spice levels these days?”

“Still at OXO levels.”

Jason chuckled and pulled the buggy into an open spot. There were more golf buggies than cars in the back lot. There were plenty of cars on Copper Island but the council preferred they were kept to a minimum.

“How did you get a reservation so quickly, this place gets booked up weeks in advance,” Heidi said.

“I made friends with all the chefs on the island after Archer got married.”

“Is this going to be enjoyable for you?”

“I’d say it will be the highlight of my month,” he said then came around the front of the buggy and took her hand.

She slid from the seat and stood at his side.

Jason slide his hand around her waist, she was wearing a figure hugging black wool dress and a jean jacket. On her feet were blacks shoes with a chunky heel. She wanted to be taller when she was with look, even though she didn’t feel it.

There was one good thing about keeping their summer fling a secret. No one knew of her internal humiliation of being dropped and him disappearing from her life for over a decade. Heels gave her power. She shoved the feeling deep down as Jason’s hand went lower, not quite to her backside but really near.

“I like this,” he whispered as her pulled tighter against him.

“My dress?”

“No. This closeness, this nearness. I know this is confusing but I’m glad we have this chance.”

Before she could ask what chance he was talking about, he pressed his lips to hers softly, keeping them there until he completely relaxed against his body. He dropped his hand, skimming over her bottom as he pulled his head away.

“I like it a lot,” he said and then took her hand.

They were on the move and ushered into the restaurant to a table in the far corner. The whole place was in a conservatory with chilli plants acting as seclusion booths to give privacy. She’d never been to the chilli farm restaurant and took in everything around her. If she squinted through the leaves, she could just about make out the table in the next section.

Tea lights were lit on their table. Two seats were positioned with their back to the wall looking out into the main body of the restaurant. The chilli plants surrounding them in a semi-circle shape.

It was warm, so she shrugged off her jacket at the same time Jason did. He’d filled out since she’d been close enough to touch him eleven years ago. There were the two times she attended his family’s funerals, his dad and grandfather but her and Keith were so far back she could barely see him.

Now up close, his shoulders were wide, and he looked strong.

Jason took her coat and draped it on the back of her chair. He did the same with his sexy leather jacket and he sat down. They were close but seemingly not close enough for Jason as he shifted his chair nearer her and put his hand on her knee.

“Jason,” she said looking down at his hand that squeezed her knee.

Jason was looking straight ahead, and she had a glorious view of his jawline. “I know what you taste like. I know how you feel when I slide inside you. My hand on your knee feels positively Victorian in comparison.”

“That was a long time ago,” she said.

He turned and looked at her, eyes blazing. She took a breath and waited as he moved to the shell of her ear. “I will never forget it, not until my dying breath.”

She trembled at his words, confused at his outright flirting. Heidi wanted to sit on his lap and kiss the life out of him. But then she remembered he’d dumped her, unceremoniously, by text message to her brother. Jason couldn’t even do it in person or give her a reason.

“Jason,” she said. “I can’t handle the heat coming from you.”

She was rewarded with his blinding smile but he kept the hand where it was. When she picked up the menu sitting at their place settings, she fanned her face for a few seconds and looked across at the approaching waiter.

“Good evening, can I get you anything to drink?”

They decided to skip starter course. It was the kind of restaurant where there was only one set menu. You either ate it or you didn’t. When the main course arrived, Heidi’s dish looked different to Jason’s. Not taking too much notice she watched as he put a fork in the spaghetti, twirled it and then lifted it to his mouth. He could feel her eyes on him because he started to laugh and turn her way.

“Something up, sweetheart?”

“I’m waiting for you to taste it first so you can tell me the spice level.”

They both had spaghetti on their plates, but Jason’s had a rest sauce and Heidi’s spaghetti was laced with green sauce.

“Why don’t you twist your fork and we’ll try together. If you don’t like the food, then we can go and I’ll cook you something at my place.”

While she was eager to see his place, she didn’t think it was a good idea. Jason squeezed her knee for encouragement, then took his hand away. She missed the contact.

Picking up her fork, she eyed the food warily and loaded up her fork.

“Ready?” he asked.

She nodded and ate the food. Her eyes widened as the flavours hit her tongue. Jason had done the same and was giving her a closed mouthed smile. Heidi was shocked there was no spice. She was bracing to swig down the jug of water, without using a glass.

“This tastes fantastic, no heat at all.”

“Do you want to taste mine?”

“Sure,” she said.

Then he shook his head. “You won’t like this, I guarantee it.”

Heidi was confused, then took a single piece of his pasta and twirled it on her fork. She slipped into her mouth and chewed and swallowed and then her eyes bugged out of her head. Jason was chuckling with a glass of water ready.

Heidi couldn’t speak, waving her hand in front of her mouth, debating whether she would be the first fire breathing woman.

“That’s hot,” she said after drinking half the water in the glass.

“I told you it wouldn’t be to your liking.”

Heidi ate some more of her dish and after swallowing, she sighed at the delicious pesto flavours, delighting in the delicate taste compared to the chilli dish Jason had.

“You sure like your heat,” she said and eyed his plate.

His arm came around the back of her chair and his thumb lazing stroked her back.

“I do,” he said. Giving her a smouldering gaze.

Heidi slow blinked.

“I asked the chef to make you a non spicy dish. This place looked cool, and I wanted to bring you here. It’s more about the atmosphere than the food. I like that no one can see us unless they are right in front of the table.”

“I think the cat’s out the bag that we’re getting to know each other.”

“Still, you seem like you want privacy to see where this might go.”

The fact that he understood her floored her. Even when they were together, it was only three months. They saw each other every day but still, how could he understand her so well?

“I’m not a sharer, beyond Freya. I have plenty of friends but I don’t share personal stuff with anyone else but Freya.”

“There is nothing wrong with that. I don’t share anything beyond my siblings and now Erica.”

Heidi nodded.

The rest of the evening was spent with Jason’s hand on her leg or his arm draped over the back of her chair. He ate dessert one handed. The food was amazing. Jason still had the spicy version and her cheeses and ice cream didn’t have any heat. She was thankful as the heat coming from Jason was warm enough.

Heidi didn’t see a bill or any form of payment exchange hands and she was rubber necking as they left the premises, scared that the manager would chase them down waving a card machine.

“Stop stressing. It’s already paid for, no one is going to chase us,” Jason said pulling on her hand to get her to move faster.

“How did you know?”

“You only get that expression on your face when you think you’ve broken the rules.”

She loved and hated that he knew her that well.

Jason drove her home and turned off the engine, switching off the lights at the side of her house.

“Do I get a tour now?” he whispered, leaning in to her neck.

Heidi shook her head. There was no way she could let him her little house. The sexual tension had expanded to surround them through dinner. She’d never had such a quiet conversation with her head close to another person before. But it had been intimate the moment they sat down.

Breathing normally had become tricky as he waited for an answer, his arm sliding behind her back on the bench seat.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Jason,” she said looking at her lap.

“That’s all I need to know for now,” he answered lifting her chin with the tip if his finger. She looked ahead into the darkness. The houses on the other side of the street in darkness. Jason then pinched her chin lightly between his finger and thumb to turn her head. When she was looking at his face in the dark, she felt his breath on her mouth.

“Maybe a goodnight kiss for now?” he asked.

Jason didn’t wait and dipped his head to kiss her.

She wanted to cry at the contact. His mouth was soft on hers. She dropped her head back until it leaned on his arm. On the third press of his lips he swiped, and she opened for him. Then his tongue slid in so slowly she thought she’d combust. Her nipples were hard as he curled his free hand around her waist pulling her into his chest. One of her hands was trapped between them but the one that wasn’t lifted to rest at his nape. This was a bad idea but she couldn’t stop her reaction to grown-up Jason Turner. He knew what he was doing, and she hated to think how many women it took to perfect the way he kissed her.

Jason was always a good kisser, but this kiss was incendiary. She opened wider and pressed closer as he held her tightly. They were necking in the golf buggy like they were teenagers. When the thought of inviting him into her home entered her head, she knew it was time to break the kiss. She pulled away and turned her head to look the other way. The side of her house had never been so interesting as she caught her breath and willed her heart rate to slow the hell down.

“Heidi, look at me,” Jason whispered.

It was late, nearing midnight and the part of the island they were parked was quiet. She turned her head back, and he nuzzled her neck.

“I had a great evening. Can we meet again on Saturday?” Jason asked.

“I can’t, I have the final gig race. The amateurs were last Saturday, this Saturday it’s the semi-professionals and my boat it going to win.”

“Is that right?” he said chuckling.

“Yeah, we’re gonna beat the boys, all three boats. Bragging rights are at stake and so is a game of trivia pursuit.”

Jason frowned, waiting for further explanation but it would’ve taken too long to explain. If she didn’t peel herself off Jason, she was in danger of dragging him inside her house.

“I’d like to see that. I’ll come and watch, then make you dinner.”

“I can’t. I go on a pub crawl after, it’s tradition and hope I can get sober enough to make it to mum and dad’s for Sunday lunch without throwing up.”

“Is that also tradition?”

“Not throwing up?” she asked.

“No, Sunday lunch with your parents.”

“Yeah. Since mum… well for a very long time Freya’s family and my family always spend Sundays together.”

Thankfully Jason didn’t question her on her almost statement and pressed a kiss to her mouth and pulled back.

“Well if its permitted, I’ll cheer on the side lines, bring Archer and Erica down to watch Heidi Shaw row to victory.”

“Okay,” she said quietly.

“Okay.”

Jason kissed her again deeply and then got out the buggy to walk her to her door and then kissed her again. She eventually pushed him away and let herself in while Jason stood in the middle of the road with his hands in his pockets.

“Goodnight, sweetheart,” he said and turned on his heel up the road to Turner Hall.

Freya’s door opened a crack, and she popped her head out.

“I better be getting tea in the morning, Heidi Shaw. That kiss was something else.”

Before Heidi could answer the door was closed and she heard the chain sliding across. Shaking her head, Heidi closed her front door and slide the bolt across at the top. Then she kicked the bolt at the bottom and toed off her boots. With heavy feet she trudged up the stairs in a Jason Turner daze and flopped onto the bed wondering what the hell was going on.