A Dangerous Love Affair

Chapter Two-1

Chapter Two

The next morning, while taking a shower, John felt himself getting aroused. The thought of spending a whole weekend with Tara was exciting, but he told himself to behave and calm down. Once dressed, John packed a few things in a small suitcase and went down to wait in the street for a taxi to appear. When one pulled up, John greeted the driver brightly. “The Carlton Hotel, please.”

For the next ten minutes, John fidgeted in his seat as the slow-moving traffic held them up. To him, the lights always seemed to be on red. As they passed a stall selling flowers, John called to the driver. “Could you stop for a minute? I want to buy some flowers.”

The driver pulled up to the kerb. “Make it quick. I’m not supposed to stop here.”

In a flash, John was out. He bought a bunch of red roses then jumped back into the cab. On thanking the driver, he whistled. “Well, someone’s in for a treat! I hope they’re worth it.”

“She is,” John replied.

After what seemed like hours to John, the taxi eventually pulled up outside the hotel. Unsure if Tara would be ready or not, John said to the driver, “Would you mind waiting a minute? I’m meeting a friend. We want to go to Waterloo station.”

“No problem, I’ll have a quick smoke while I wait.”

Leaving his case and the flowers in the cab, John jumped out. Walking into the lobby, he found Tara sat waiting with a small suitcase beside her. She looked elegant, wearing a smart beige trouser suit.

Seeing John, she stood and greeted him with a warm kiss on the cheek. It made his heart pound.

She flashed him a broad smile. “Good morning, John, did you sleep well?”

As John returned her kiss, he smelled her alluring perfume. It did nothing to lower his excitement at spending the weekend with her. Pulling himself together, he grinned. “I did eventually. But I kept thinking of spending the weekend with Sam.” He added cheekily, “And you, of course.”

Tara gave John a wicked look. “I think maybe you did. After all, you did say you loved dogs.”

John’s smile widened. “Okay, you win. It was you I thought about, not Sam. Anyway, I have a taxi waiting outside. If you’re ready, we’ll go.”

Tara tilted her head towards him. “Ready when you are, sir.”

As John wheeled her case outside to the taxi, the driver spotted them and stubbed out his cigarette. He took Tara’s case and put it inside with John’s, then looked at John. “You were right.” He turned to Tara. “Good morning, it’s a lovely day again.”

Tara, who looked puzzled at his remark, caught John giving the driver the thumbs-up. “Yes, I’m sure it will be a great weekend,” she said bemused.

John hid a chuckle as he helped Tara inside the cab.

Seeing the flowers, Tara cried, “Oh, thank you, John, they’re beautiful.” She gave him a big kiss on the cheek.

John blushed. He had noticed the driver trying not to look. “I’m glad you like them,” he whispered. “As you said, I’m sure it will be a great weekend.”

Tara nudged him. “Behave yourself, John.” She caught hold of his hand and squeezed.

At the station, the driver took the money, and the tip John offered him. As he went to drive off, he called out, “Enjoy yourselves.”

John looked up at the sky. “Now what did he mean by that?” he mused innocently.

Tara had a twinkle in her eye. “Hmm. I have no idea. Some people always seem to think others are like them.”

After John bought a ticket, they made their way to the platform. They stood waiting for a few minutes, and then their train pulled in.

John grinned. “Well, that’s what I call good timing,” he said. The doors opened, and crowds of people poured out onto the platform. Then, like a column of ants on the move, they swept towards the exit gate.

Tara snickered. “You obviously don’t catch a train too often, John. If you did, you would know the train will now wait here for…”She looked at her watch. “Another thirty minutes. Still, this a fast train. We’ll be in Guildford about forty minutes after we depart.”

When they boarded the train, John and Tara sat side by side in a section fitted with tables. After Tara placed the flowers on it, she took his hand.

John gazed into her eyes. As innocently as he could, he said, “I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to seeing Sam.”

Tara frowned and elbowed him in the ribs. “I hope that’s meant as a joke.” Seeing John’s smile fade, she laughed. “Like you, I’m only joking. By the way, I have a good reputation in Guildford, so make sure you behave yourself.” Giving John a warning look, she added, “I also have a few girlfriends who are models.”

When John made an exaggerated show of interest, Tara pinched him. “If any of them happen to drop in over the weekend, I’ll be watching!”

John chuckled. “Don’t worry. Even if they look like Victoria’s Secret model, I promise to be good. So, what else is there I should know? Your real name is Tara, you live in a cottage and have a gardener friend named Max who looks after Sam when you’re away.” He chuckled. “Plus, you also have a few friends who happen to be models.”

Tara squeezed his hand. “That’s it. I have nothing else of importance to tell you.”

John felt his suppressed emotions stir at the touch of Tara’s hand. It was something he could gladly get used to. John was convinced that this weekend would either cement their blossoming friendship or be the end of it. He hoped the latter wouldn’t happen, and thought Tara felt the same. Although older than him, Tara looked and acted young at heart. Also, and much more importantly, she made him feel good.

As Tara seemed to have forgotten, she was holding his hand; John was more than happy to keep it that way. While sat holding hands under the table, they exchanged looks and made small talk.

As the train pulled out of the station, John caught Tara looking at him out of the corner of his eye. Her expression was quizzical. He pretended not to see but felt sure she had the same thoughts as he did.

It seemed like no time at all before Tara released his hand. “Well, here we are, John. Welcome to Guildford. I hope you like it.”

The middle-aged couple who had been sitting opposite them exchanged knowing glances.

John flashed Tara, an innocent look. “How could I not like being anywhere with you beside me?”

The couple chuckled, and the corners of Tara’s mouth twitched. “So, we’re back to flattery once again.”

John grinned. “You know I mean what I say when I pay you a compliment,” John told her.

The man opposite nodded. “Well said. It’s always best to say someone looks good when they do.” He winked at Tara. “By the way, your flowers look as lovely as you.”

John shot him a smile. “Thank you. I couldn’t have put it better myself.”

As Tara stood up, she gave John’s hand a tight squeeze. “You are a gem,” she whispered.

With Tara carrying her flowers and John their cases, they departed the train. Outside the station, they climbed into a waiting taxi, and about ten minutes later stopped outside a house on a tree-lined street.

They got out of the cab, and Tara paid the driver. As John followed her, pulling their cases behind him, he stopped dead in his tracks.

“Tara! I thought you said you lived in a cottage. From what I can see, this is a house. It’s not at all what I imagined.”

Tara laughed. “It’s obvious you’re not used to seeing houses in the country, John. This is a cottage. Come on, let’s go in. I’ll show you around.”

John’s eyes lit up as he walked up a narrow gravelled path set between two small lawn areas. “This looks great. After seeing this, I’ll feel ashamed when you visit my apartment.”

Tara glanced back. She smiled and said, “Don’t be silly, John.” After unlocking the porch and the front door, Tara turned. With an extravagant gesture of her arm, she said, “Step into my parlour, said the spider to the fly.” She then stood aside for John to enter.

As he stepped into the small entrance hall, John had a strange feeling of being at home. He thought this a good sign of things to come. Gazing around, John noticed several framed photos hanging on the walls. However, before he could take a closer look, Tara caught hold of his arm. “Leave the cases. Come and see the rest of the house.”

Following Tara through a door, John found himself in an L-shaped lounge. To his surprise, it was more spacious than he’d expected. It looked smart, with a beige leather sofa and two armchairs set on a mottled green carpet. Hanging from the ceiling were two crystal chandeliers. He nodded in appreciation as they flickered and sparkled as the branches of the trees outside moved in the soft breeze.

Tara took John’s hand. “Let me show you the dining room. I think you’ll like that.”

As he followed her through a door, he said, “It will have to be something special to top the lounge.

John found the dining room large and tastefully decked with classical furniture and decor. However, it was the view through a pair of sliding glass doors that made him gasp. In the large enclosed rear garden was a swimming pool.

“Wow, now that looks fabulous.” He turned to Tara. “You told me there were no more surprises, so what do you call this? Without seeing any more of the house, I’m sure it will also look great. Thank you so much for inviting me.”

Tara smiled proudly. “You’re more than welcome, John. My inner instincts told me you’d like it here.”

John grinned. “Only one problem. You didn’t tell me about the pool, so I never brought my swimming trunks.”

Tara’s expression was mischievous. “Well, if that’s all there is, then you have no problem.”

John blinked in puzzlement, and Tara laughed. “I went out early this morning and bought you a pair. If I’d told you, it would have spoiled the surprise. Anyway, I’m sure they’ll fit, and as long as you don’t mind the pattern, they should be fine.”

John laughed. “You’re sneaky for not telling me about the pool, but I will, of course, pay for the trunks.”

“Never,” Tara insisted. “I could have told you to bring some. However, that would have spoiled seeing the look on your face when you saw the pool. Right, now let me show you the rest of the house.”

The kitchen was modern and well fitted. On the gleaming black granite worktop stood an array of electrical gadgets, including a fancy-looking coffee machine. John chuckled. “This looks smart. Do you do much cooking?”

Tara smiled impishly. “Never mind me; you said you liked cooking. Still, as you’re only here for the weekend, we’ll dine out. Right. Let me show you upstairs, and you can see your room.”

John followed Tara up a staircase covered with a thick beige carpet. At the top, they reached a corridor with four identical cream-painted doors. Tara opened one.

“This is your room, John; I use it as a guest room.”

With the sunlight coming in through the front-facing window, the room was light and airy. It contained a king-sized bed and a light cream bedroom suite. To John’s eye, the room looked bright and comfortable.

Turning to him, Tara added, “You also have an en suite. It’ll save you from wandering around should you need to use the bathroom during the night.”

John chuckled. “That’s a pity. I might have opened the wrong door by mistake.”

Tara blushed. “Behave yourself, John; you’ve only just arrived.” She then turned to lead him out of the room and across the passage. Opening a door, she said, “This is my room.”

John took in the white bedroom suite, the king-sized bed covered with white sheets and pillows decorated with violets. The dressing table was littered with an assortment of bottles, jars, and sprays. What caught John’s eye, however, were the lights set around the dressing table mirror. He chuckled inwardly, thinking this suited a woman like Tara. She opened a door in one wall and beckoned John forward. As he looked inside, he gasped. A large circular Jacuzzi filled most of the room.