Without Saying a Word by Amanda Ward Page B

asked.
    “Mmm,” Rhean murmured. He took his tray out to the kitchen. Sitting back down, he took one of Laura’s hands, lacing their fingers together. He brought them to his lips and kissed hers gently.
    Laura rolled her eyes at the romantic gesture; she felt comfortable with the way his fingers interlaced with hers. Strong, protective and so masculine. “Rhean, as much as I love your company, why you here?” she asked. “It’s late.”  Rhean turned and had the audacity to look amazed.
    “You don’t like my company?” he asked and sounded shell-shocked. Laura raised her eyes to him in disbelief. He chuckled softly. “Relax Laura, I’m teasing.”
    She smiled back.”I know.”
    “And as for why I’m here, apart from not wanting to go home without seeing you, I wanted to ask you out on a date,” Rhean told her, not releasing her hand.
    “A date?”
    “Yes, a date. Man and woman go out of house. Watch film, eat dinner. Kiss lots,” he said mock-caveman style. Laura’s heart leaped into her throat. She was suddenly nervous and tried to pull her hand away from his. But Rhean tightened his hold.
    “Saturday night?” he asked.
    Emotions tumbled through Laura’s mind. She wanted to be with him so much, but she was afraid of taking the first step.
    “Laura, its dinner, just the two of us,” he pressed. Taking a deep breath and going on what her heart told her, she looked him in the eyes.
    “Yes, Rhean, I’d love to,” she told him shakily. Rhean leaned over and kissed her gently on the cheek.
    “See you Saturday night then.” He got up and left the house.
    ****
    As he left Laura’s house, the breath Rhean held left his body in a  “Yes.” Looking up to the sky, he saw the stars twinkle brightly. “Thanks,” he whispered, crossed the gardens and let himself into his own quiet, lonely cottage, eager for Saturday.
    ****
    Saturday came all too soon for Laura. The main issue was that her darling offspring  dropped more than helpful hints ever since she’d told them. After giving her home a damned good cleaning, trying to take her whirling mind off the evening in front of her, Laura felt wiped out—but at least the house was clean. She figured after a glass or two of wine, she would be relaxed enough to enjoy her date. For some reason, Maisie became her shadow that day, helping and talking so much that when the time came for Laura to get bathed and dressed, she more than welcomed the peace and tranquility of her bathroom.
    Theo and James acted all ‘manly’ and told her to be careful. She winced when, through the bathroom door, the boys asked her if she had protection. Great, her teens were more comfortable about sex than her. Covered in bubbles, it was all she could do not to sink under them and pretend they’d swallowed her whole.
    This would be Laura’s first date since she divorced Max. Anticipation of an evening spent with Rhean built up inside her. She was excited, nervous, and scared in case she made a fool out of herself. Eventually, after the long soak in the lavender-scented bath  to make herself calm down, Laura padded into her bedroom to find all her clothes on the bed, enough make-up to make up the cast of a costume drama, and Maisie rifling through drawers as though she were her mother’s own personal stylist. Oh this is going to be a fun evening, Laura thought to herself wryly.
    “There Mum, my work here is finished,” Maisie said proudly. Laura turned ’round to study her daughter,  and wondered just when she grew up.  While she slept, no doubt. At the loud bang at the door, Laura jumped while Maisie giggled.
    “Theo or James will get it. Look Mum, look!” Maisie urged her.
    As Laura regarded herself in the mirror, she saw a strange woman. Her highlighted hair fell loose and carelessly tumbled, styled as though a pair of hands ran through it. Maisie brushed her eyelids with smoke gray eye shadow. Green eyeliner and the sparkling mascara helped her eyes look larger and