let him. He sighed. For the first time in forever, he’d felt lust, but only for an imaginary woman. Why couldn’t he feel that way for someone real? Why couldn’t he move on?
His wife, Karen, was dead and he needed to put the past behind him once and for all.
The dreams didn’t seem to be connected to her, though. In fact, he’d had them on and off since they had moved into Ashleigh Cottage, although never quite as vivid as the one tonight. And where before he’d always been alone on the horse, riding without destination or purpose, now his mind had dreamt up a female companion. This disturbed him more than anything else.
‘What the hell does it all mean?’ He shook his head. ‘Maybe I need a shrink.’ But he didn’t really want to discuss it with anyone. It’s my problem and I’ll sort it.
He took a deep breath and tried to forget the dream. Instead, he allowed his mind to return to the subject of Karen. He’d wanted her once with the single-mindedness only those newly in love experience. He’d craved her touch, yearned to make love to her. But in the end, she had killed his feelings stone dead and he hadn’t wanted a relationship with anyone ever again in case they hurt him the same way.
‘I would never do that …’ The soft lilt of the dream woman’s voice washed over him, as clear as if she’d been real. Jake blinked and shook his head. He was imagining it. He couldn’t erase her from his memory though, and remembered once more the feel of the woman’s soft curves against his back, the way her husky voice had sent shivers down his spine. Another jolt of desire shot through him.
‘No, this is crazy.’ He cursed under his breath. He’d sworn never to involve himself with a woman again, relationships were too painful. When he closed his eyes, Karen’s face returned to taunt him. She had been beautiful too, but her beauty had only been skin-deep.
‘You’re so boring, Jake! I don’t know why I had to go and marry a country vet. Honestly, all you ever do is work. No excitement, just work, work, work.’ The sneering tone and hard eyes were etched into his memory.
Karen had never been a good mother either, and had refused point blank to have any more children. Jake strongly suspected their daughter had been a mistake on Karen’s part, but he could never regret having her. She was his life now.
Karen’s remarks during their last evening together had destroyed any love Jake had ever felt for her, and he’d wished her good riddance. Perhaps that was why she had driven off at such speed, without paying attention properly. Maybe it was why she had lost control of the car and spun into a tree? He’d never know now and there was no point thinking about it.
Jake straightened his duvet and lay down with one arm flung across his eyes. Almost immediately, the faint scent of lavender returned to tease his senses and his body reacted as if the dream woman was right there in bed with him. He swallowed hard. It was definitely time to move on. Time to forget. They can’t all be like Karen. I’ll just have to be more careful in my choice of partner , he thought.
He was so tired of being alone.
‘Come, sit by me and tell me all that’s been happening in my absence.’ Maude had just returned from a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral to pray for her dead son’s soul. Sibell wished she could have gone with her, but there had been no point in even asking. Her father would never have given his permission. Maude patted a cushion on the comfortable window seat next to her, and Sibell obliged willingly. ‘Spare me nothing, I beg you, there’s no need to pretend with me,’ Maude added.
They were ensconced in Idenhurst’s beautiful solar, warmed from within by a goblet each of mulled wine, and heated on the outside by two sturdy braziers. Sunshine poured in through the unusually large glass window, which gave plenty of light for sewing or reading. The room was further made comfortable by a
His wife, Karen, was dead and he needed to put the past behind him once and for all.
The dreams didn’t seem to be connected to her, though. In fact, he’d had them on and off since they had moved into Ashleigh Cottage, although never quite as vivid as the one tonight. And where before he’d always been alone on the horse, riding without destination or purpose, now his mind had dreamt up a female companion. This disturbed him more than anything else.
‘What the hell does it all mean?’ He shook his head. ‘Maybe I need a shrink.’ But he didn’t really want to discuss it with anyone. It’s my problem and I’ll sort it.
He took a deep breath and tried to forget the dream. Instead, he allowed his mind to return to the subject of Karen. He’d wanted her once with the single-mindedness only those newly in love experience. He’d craved her touch, yearned to make love to her. But in the end, she had killed his feelings stone dead and he hadn’t wanted a relationship with anyone ever again in case they hurt him the same way.
‘I would never do that …’ The soft lilt of the dream woman’s voice washed over him, as clear as if she’d been real. Jake blinked and shook his head. He was imagining it. He couldn’t erase her from his memory though, and remembered once more the feel of the woman’s soft curves against his back, the way her husky voice had sent shivers down his spine. Another jolt of desire shot through him.
‘No, this is crazy.’ He cursed under his breath. He’d sworn never to involve himself with a woman again, relationships were too painful. When he closed his eyes, Karen’s face returned to taunt him. She had been beautiful too, but her beauty had only been skin-deep.
‘You’re so boring, Jake! I don’t know why I had to go and marry a country vet. Honestly, all you ever do is work. No excitement, just work, work, work.’ The sneering tone and hard eyes were etched into his memory.
Karen had never been a good mother either, and had refused point blank to have any more children. Jake strongly suspected their daughter had been a mistake on Karen’s part, but he could never regret having her. She was his life now.
Karen’s remarks during their last evening together had destroyed any love Jake had ever felt for her, and he’d wished her good riddance. Perhaps that was why she had driven off at such speed, without paying attention properly. Maybe it was why she had lost control of the car and spun into a tree? He’d never know now and there was no point thinking about it.
Jake straightened his duvet and lay down with one arm flung across his eyes. Almost immediately, the faint scent of lavender returned to tease his senses and his body reacted as if the dream woman was right there in bed with him. He swallowed hard. It was definitely time to move on. Time to forget. They can’t all be like Karen. I’ll just have to be more careful in my choice of partner , he thought.
He was so tired of being alone.
‘Come, sit by me and tell me all that’s been happening in my absence.’ Maude had just returned from a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral to pray for her dead son’s soul. Sibell wished she could have gone with her, but there had been no point in even asking. Her father would never have given his permission. Maude patted a cushion on the comfortable window seat next to her, and Sibell obliged willingly. ‘Spare me nothing, I beg you, there’s no need to pretend with me,’ Maude added.
They were ensconced in Idenhurst’s beautiful solar, warmed from within by a goblet each of mulled wine, and heated on the outside by two sturdy braziers. Sunshine poured in through the unusually large glass window, which gave plenty of light for sewing or reading. The room was further made comfortable by a