Knife Edge Read Online Free

under her as he placed a pair of plastic glasses between them and opened the wine. Her fingers trailed through the cold water in the depression, rippling it then watching it settle again. She brought a finger to her lips, tasting the salt as a droplet touched her tongue.
    ‘This might be better.’ Rob was looking at her, a glass of wine in his outstretched hand. She took it from him, holding it by the stem as she tilted it this way and that to catch the light. He reached across with his own glass, tapping it against hers before drinking, but today there was no toast, no light words.
    He was better than that.
    She glanced across, her eyes resting on him while he stared out at the waves. He was taking things easy with her, she realised. Giving her time – some breathing space – while she dealt with what he’d told her. So patient, so intense. Looking at him, she was struck by the
presence
that seemed to emanate from him.
    And now she was beginning to understand why.
    She wasn’t really hungry, but she didn’t refuse the food he offered. There was crusty bread, and French Brie, and grapes – his idea of her favourites – and the sea air made everything taste good. She poured them both another glass of wine and ate in silence, her eyes drawn to the distant horizon and upwards to where small clouds drifted across the sky, mottling the rippling water with shadows. Gulls were wheeling above them, riding a fresh breeze that had crept in from the sea, harsh cries echoing back off the cliffs behind her. She watched them circling, silhouetted shapes against the clouds, wondering how they could appear so dark when she knew they were white.
    ‘Are you cold?’
    Rob was looking at her, and she realised that she had been hugging her arms about herself.
    ‘I’m OK,’ she replied.
    He got up onto his knees and leaned across to touch her bare forearm, his fingers brushing her skin.
    ‘You’re shivering.’ He rolled back onto his feet and stood up, another silhouette against the sky, quickly slipping off his jacket and stepping round to drape it over her shoulders. ‘There you are.’
    Kim reached up and drew the jacket around her, welcoming the warmth of his body still held in the material.
    Always thinking of her.
    She watched him as he sat down again, catching his eye as he reached over to retrieve his glass. He looked at her quizzically, reading something in her face.
    ‘What is it?’ he asked.
    She looked down, frowning slightly, trying to clarify her own thoughts.
    ‘You really
do
care for me, don’t you?’ Watching him now, half questioning, half believing.
    He stared back at her for a moment, then set down his glass and reached out to take her hands gently in his own. His eyes were close to hers, clear, unblinking.
    ‘I do,’ he said softly. ‘More than you could ever guess.’
    She forced herself to return his smile until he looked away, then continued toying with her glass as she tried to make sense of everything.
    Had she been stupid? Given herself to a man she didn’t know? No, it wasn’t possible – what she’d felt must have been real, at least in some part. And she was sure, even now, that it wasn’t just her – he felt something for her too. Nobody could fake that, not long-term – she’d have seen through it.
    And yet, he’d hidden something so terrible from her. And she’d had no idea …
    She bit her lip again, small fingers reaching up to twirl a strand of hair.
    … or had she? Had she been so preoccupied about him cheating on her that she’d missed everything else? So busy telling herself that he wouldn’t be unfaithful that she’d drowned out the other warnings?
    Kim closed her eyes.
    Perhaps he’d been more honest than she had. Perhaps she’d always suspected, but had pushed it all under the carpet, lying to herself. What did that make her?
    ‘Hey.’ His voice seemed calm, but he was looking at her intently, his head inclined. ‘Did you want to talk?’
    Caught off guard, she