Knife Edge Read Online Free Page B

herself hoping that he was.
    Slowly, she pulled her top up and over her head, and began to undress.
    She just wanted the thoughts to stop, wanted to push all the confusion out of her head.
    Stepping out of her underwear, she could feel her heart racing. Slowly, deliberately not covering herself, she turned around.
    He was gazing at her, his eyes intense, thoughtful. He pulled the duvet aside for her and she walked across to the bed. It was all too much.
    As she lay down, his strong arm enfolded her and pulled her against him. The last of her reluctance melted away, and she gratefully allowed his touch to push her objections aside. Closing her eyes, she welcomed the inevitable movements that brought them back together and drove out her fears. For tonight, that would be enough.

4
Saturday,
31
May
    It was raining as they turned off the main road, a mournful shower that drizzled down through the open archway of trees lining the lane. The bowling green slid past, a perfect square of unnatural colour, lush in the wet behind its tidy box hedges, and the dark water of the river surged beneath the low bridge. Kim looked up at the grey sky and sighed.
    Nearly home.
    It felt strange, driving back into the village, as though she’d been away for years. Everything from before he’d told her seemed such a long time ago now. They slowed as the road swept around to the right, past the Pembroke Arms, then turned off as they reached the grassy square, the indicator clicking in time with the raindrops that pattered on the windscreen. Rob found a space just beyond the house and parked the car.
    She sat for a moment while he got out and grabbed the cases from the boot. One final deep breath, oddly loud in the quiet of the car, and then she made herself open the door. The rain was cold on her face as she emerged and she drew her jacket collar about her throat. Everything looked the same but it felt different as she stepped around the puddles, following him to the house.
    ‘Got your keys?’ He indicated the cases, one in each hand, and looked towards her expectantly.
    She nodded and reached into her handbag, fishing out the keys, which had somehow worked their way into a side pocket, and moving beside him to unlock the door. As it swung open, she stepped into the quiet stillness, aware of his footsteps behind her as she walked into the hallway and shrugged her bag from her shoulder.
    Who was this man standing behind her, putting down her case? She caught her breath as the front door shut behind her, confused by such a familiar sound making her jump.
    ‘Coffee?’ He was beside her now, his voice close to her ear. ‘The milk will be out of date but I’m sure there’s some creamer in the cupboard.’
    She turned her face towards him but kept her eyes downward.
    ‘Thanks.’ Her voice wavered slightly, as the tightness in her throat stole her breath. She needed some space, a moment to think. ‘I’m just popping up to the loo.’
    Kim could feel his eyes following her as she climbed the stairs, willing herself not to panic, not to run. What was the matter with her? How could she feel so unsettled in her own home?
    She hurried into the bathroom and closed the door behind her, her fingers moving to slide the bolt across – a strangely unfamiliar motion. Rob had routinely walked in on her, gently teasing her for her shyness, doing so until she had abandoned her modesty and accepted him being in there with her. She never locked the door now … unless they had someone else staying with them.
    She walked over to the small white basin and splashed some water on her face. There was someone else now. Here, in their home, her awareness of the stranger was suddenly heightened. The other man who stared out of her lover’s eyes.
    The house seemed quiet the following evening. At another time, the subdued atmosphere might have seemed like the natural comedown after a week away, but Kim was disturbed by it as she made her way through to the kitchen. Her