Forever yours

Chapter 6 Part 7

Oliver gave her his usual speech about judging men before she got to know them and the next day she decided to go over and chat to Jeff. His car was in the driveway but it was probably too early to go over. She sat down and lost herself to her writing until she took a break. Glancing out the window, she noticed that the car was still in the driveway. Plucking up some courage, she walked across the road and knocked on the door.

It took a while before he answered it looking very ill.

'Are you ok? You don't look too well.'

He indicated that she should come in and then sat on the couch with his head resting back.

'Damn migraine. I get them now and again and it takes a while before it goes away. Do you have any painkillers? I don't keep them in the house and I could really do with some.'

'I live with a doctor, of course we have. I'll get you some. Do you need anything else?'

He shook his head and then grimaced. She fetched the pills and gave him some.

'Would you like me to massage your temples? I do it for Val when she has one.'

He stretched himself out. 'I'll try anything to get rid of it.'

She sat down next to him and put her hands on either side of his face with her thumbs on his temples. He had a pajama bottom on but no top and it was causing very strange sensations in her body. He was looking at her and for a second, she considered leaning down and kissing him but closed his eyes when she started rubbing his temples and after a while she heard him breathing evenly. She ran her hand down his stubbly face and he smiled in his sleep. Finding a throw in the spare room, she covered him up before leaving.

She was on the phone with Mike when she saw him walking across the road. He had showered, shaved, and looked much better than earlier. Opening the door, she beckoned him inside.

'How are you feeling?'

'Like a human being.' She was sorting her papers and packing her laptop bag while he was talking.

'I brought these back.' He handed her the bottle of painkillers.

'You look rested.' Marie thought about what Oliver had told her and took a deep breath.

'Would you like to join me for dinner?'

Jeff paused. 'Where are you thinking of going?'

'Junk food, how about a pizza.'

'And here I thought you were offering to take me to an expensive restaurant?' he teased while smiling.

She gaped at him. 'You can smile.'

He grinned and her smile broadened. 'We can order a pizza and stay here if you want?'

That meant spending the evening at home with him. Torn between wanting to be alone with him and trying to keep up a casual front, she agreed to what he suggested they eat without hearing what he had said.

'Where is Oliver today?' Jeff was curious.

'He has gone back to Johannesburg.'

'How often do you see him?'

Marie frowned. 'We see him at every race and sometimes they join us for weekends at the beach house.'

'They?' Jeff needed her to confirm what he was hoping.

'Oliver and his partner, Richard.'

Their pizza arrived and Marie settled herself in her favorite position, legs up on the couch with her back resting against the armrest, facing him.