(unedited) - Please read Chapter 47 first
Her breath hitched when she saw him waiting for her by his car. She had rushed out of the office once she was done tying up all the loose ends before her trip. She had quickly bid Rachel and the boys a quick bye before she rushed to the tube. It felt like that night in Dishoom all over again, only this time she was spending the night with him; the overnight bag in her hand a jarring reminder. If anyone was to ask her if she knew what she was doing at that moment, heading to a man's house on a train with an overnight bag; she would have replied with a 'fuck if I know, mate'. Her sense of haram and halal were completely silenced by the need to see him.
Her heart was pounding a crazy rhythm as she walked towards, her knuckles pale as she squeezed the handles tight. Richard stood against his car in his light wash denims and a dark flannel shirt. He hadn't shaved since she saw him last night and he had left his hair unstyled. His hair was a flaming ember in the sun, against the blue sky and she loved it. She loved the way his lips curved up the moment he saw her approaching. She loved the way he walked towards her, as though he couldn't wait the extra seconds it would take for her to reach him.
"Hello you," Farrah said sweetly, her face alight with a happiness that she wasn't even aware of in that moment.
"Assalamulaikum (may peace be upon you)," Richard said with an cheeky smile. Taking the bag from a shocked Farrah, he led her towards the car with his hand on the small of her back. He had wanted to personally drive her today to his cottage, to for just one moment feel like a normal couple. He had gotten Ben to pick her up from the tube and bring her here when he could drive her home. Home, he had called it. Not his place or the cottage, it was home. A home with her in it he hoped.
He swallowed when he saw her exit the Range Rover; her legs were encased in the tightest of light wash blue jeans, which she paired with a loose white shirt that she tucked in and her white Converse. Over that she had a smart camel-colored trench coat, with her hair done up in a bun. His fingers itched to undo her bun and comb through her hair, but he kept his fingers to himself clenched in a tight fist as he closed the door to the passenger seat. He bounded to the driver's side and quickly and slid in.
He knew Farrah was watching him as he started the engine and put on his seat belt. He turned to face her and was arrested by the brilliant smile on her face.
"I'm loving the look," she said teasingly, recovering quickly from the earlier surprise.
"What this?" Richard smiled as he rubbed his beard. "Don't you know, the lumberjack-bear look is all the rage right now?"
He watched as she broke out in laughter, the car was ringing with the echoes of her laugh. "Oh God, you still remember that," she said as she struggled to breathe after laughing so much.
"I remember everything about you, love," Richard said winking at her as he slid his sunglasses on.
Farrah fell silent for a silent as she watched him, laughter still alight in her eyes. "That does it then," she said decidedly.
"What does?" he asked as he focused his attention on the road.
"You must be an elephant; because elephants never forget," she said as she punctuated each word with a poke at the side of his ribs.
"Hey," with quick reflexes Richard caught her hand and raised it to his mouth capturing her finger between his teeth giving it a quick nip before releasing the digit. "Stop distracting the driver," he chided playfully as he released her hand.
Her breath was stuck in her throat, and when he released her hand; she somehow remembered to expel the breath. She quickly looked out the window, her hand unconsciously rubbing the buttery texture of the leather door pane.
"This is a beautiful car," she said as her eyes roamed about the interior of the car stopping to rest on Richard. "I never pegged you for a James Bond fan."
Richard grinned at her, "I didn't peg you as one either."
"Don't get too excited, I am British after all. And you can't not know a thing or two about Bond," she said shrugging. "Plus it's a DB5; it's one of the most 'famous cars in the world'."
"So, you're not actually a fan then," he asked sounding a bit disappointed.
"No, not really," she laughed. "Just very well educated in popular culture."
"Okay, note to self: do not show you my James Bond collection," he muttered.
"Wait, what? You have an entire Bond collection? This I need to see," she said laughing.
They didn't even realise how quickly the time flew by as they spent the entire drive to the cottage bantering playfully with each other. They talked about everything except that she was leaving tomorrow. They had spent a good five minutes with the car idling in the cottage garage, just talking. It was only when Ben knocked on the window that both Richard and Farrah realized that they needed to actually exit the car. Pocketing the car keys, Richard and Farrah walked into the cottage side by side. Richard kept one hand on her lower back keeping her close and the other carried her overnight bag.
Walking her in, her showed her around the cottage and to the guest bedroom. Leaving her to freshen up. He casually told her to come downstairs once she was done while anxiety started building up in him. He shut the door to the guest room and quickly walked outside to breathe in the crisp air. It was almost May but the was still a bite in the air and he was thankful for it. Richard felt flushed all over and struggled to take a breath.
He felt a light thump on his back and turned to see Ben behind him handing him a glass of water and his pill.
"I don't want to take these while she's here Ben," Richard struggled with his breathing.
"You're working yourself up into a right state, mate. Think of how much worse it'll be if it becomes a full-blown attack," Ben tried to reason with him. "We'd have to call the physician in and you'd have to kiss your time with Farrah goodbye."
Gritting his teeth, he took the pill from Ben and quickly placed it at the back of throat and washed it down with water.
"You need to tell her," Ben said as he watched Richard look up with his eyes clenched tightly closed.
"Tell me what?" came the sharp voice behind him.
Both men turned around and found Farrah standing there looking at them, waiting for an answer. Farrah stood before them in a white loose-fitting maxi dress that was tied at the waist. It was a V-neck collar with the buttons starting right above her breasts. Her hair was still piled on the top of her head, which showed off her neck. Long and elegant as it curved and straightened into her shoulders. The dip of her clavicle playing hid and seek as she moved towards him, the slit in her skirt showing flashes of smooth tan legs.
"Why are the both of you looking at me weird?" Farrah asked as she looked between the both of them.
Ben cleared his throat and said with a chuckle, "Good Lord, Farrah. You look amazing! Now, if you'll excuse me I have to run."
Furrowing her brows, she looked at Richard expectantly, his eyes still raking all over her. "Richard," she snapped, "seriously!"
"Sorry, I'm sorry. I can't help it. You look stunning," Richard said in a low voice.
Farrah stood there in front of Richard as he kept looking at her while she couldn't stop fidgeting in discomfort. Having mercy on her, Richard chuckled softly and held out his hand to her, "Come on."
Expelling a breath gratefully, she quickly slipped her hand into his outstretched palm as they walked side by side. Their fingers laced up seamlessly without them even realizing as they kept walking.
"Oh, can we go and see the rose garden? I bet it's beautiful this time of year," Farrah said smiling widely at Richard.
"Later, let's walk to the lake first," he said simply as he kept his focus on getting them to the lake.
As they approached the lake Richard heard her sharp intake of breath and smiled.
"You like it?" he turned to look at her.
"I love it," she breathed out as she looked at the picnic set up under the tree by the lake.
***
Don't say I don't love you, because it's a triple update you guys.
Now on to the next chapter!!