A Swing at Love Read online

  This filled her with a slight panic. What kind of grandmother starts dating a woman for the first time? And why would anyone want to date a soon-to-be grandmother?

  Stop this. Diane shook herself out of the spiral of negative thoughts. She was not a grandmother, yet. And Tamsin did not appear to have any issue at all with that aspect of Diane.

  She finally decided on a light blue V-neck knit top. It was cut quite deep, admittedly, but if she couldn’t show off a bit of cleavage on this date, then when could she?

  Diane sat in front of the mirror and inspected her face. The slight bags under her eyes betrayed the sleepless nights she’d been having, drafting all kinds of scenarios in her head about how the evening would unfold. Should she wear some make-up? Wasn’t a date about looking one’s best and seducing the other? Tamsin never seemed to wear any, but then Tamsin had the healthy complexion of someone who spends most of their days outside.

  Diane picked up her mascara, but found there was a slight tremor in her hand. She’d never be able to apply any make-up in a proper manner with her nerves acting up like this. Au naturel it was, then.

  As Diane was walking down the stairs, the doorbell rang. Goodness, Tamsin was punctual.

  Diane went over to the front door, her heart beating furiously in her chest. She paused for a second to take a deep breath and steady herself, and then opened the door.

  Before her stood someone she assumed was Tamsin, holding up a huge potted plant with budding purple flowers in front of her face.

  “Hello,” Tamsin said from behind the plant. “I wasn’t sure if you preferred flowers or plants, but I figured this would look nice in any garden.”

  “It’s gorgeous,” Diane said opening the door wide and making way for Tamsin to come inside.

  Tamsin immediately deposited the pot on the hallway table. “I ordered it online and picked it up on my walk over,” she said shaking out her arms, “but they didn’t say how heavy it was on the website. It weighs a ton.” She turned to Diane and a warm smile lit up her face. “It’s so lovely to see you.” She took a step closer and leaned forward to brush a kiss over Diane’s lips.

  Where Diane’s heart had been beating furiously with nerves a minute ago, it was now doing a somersault at the touch of Tamsin’s kiss. She put her hands on Tamsin’s shoulders and pulled her closer, pressing her lips more firmly against Tamsin’s.

  She let go after a few seconds, not wanting to get too carried away this early in the evening. “I’m so happy you’re here,” she said. “Please, come through.” She led them into the living room. She had tried sitting outside on the patio earlier, but it had been chilly, so she had set up a couple of glasses and some nibbles on the low table in front of the sofa.

  Tamsin walked around the large lounge, looking at the art on the walls. “This place is amazing.” She stopped in front of the sideboard and leaned forward to look at the array of picture frames, mostly candid shots of Timothy: as a child, at his graduation, with Lucy at their wedding.

  She turned around to Diane and said, “Sorry, I don’t mean to snoop around like this. I just love looking at the more personal things people display in their homes.” She had a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. “Is this your son?” she asked pointing at one of the frames.

  “Yes,” Diane said, “that’s Timothy.” Diane couldn’t help a smile from forming on her face at the mention of her lovely boy.

  “I can’t wait to meet him,” Tamsin said, straightening her posture again.

  Diane froze. She hadn’t even thought about having to introduce Tamsin to Timothy if things progressed.

  “Sorry,” Tamsin said quickly and placed her hand on Diane’s arm. “I’m getting way ahead of myself.”

  “What can I get you to drink?” Diane asked, steering the conversation onto more comfortable ground. “I have some white wine in the fridge.”

  “White wine would be perfect.”

  Diane took her time opening the bottle and placing it in an ice bucket. When she returned to the lounge Tamsin had taken a seat on the sofa, her right leg slung over her left and her arms stretched out on the back rest.

  She looked so comfortable, as if she belonged in Diane’s home.

  Diane put the bucket on the table and took out the bottle to pour out the drinks. As she handed Tamsin her glass, Tamsin’s index finger touched her thumb and gave it a light brush. Tamsin was looking straight into Diane’s eyes and the combination of her touch and stare sent shivers up Diane’s spine.

  Diane sat down next to Tamsin on the sofa. “So,” she said.

  Tamsin was still peering at her. “Here we are.”

  Diane could not take the intensity of Tamsin’s stare and looked down at her glass. She took a sip, and then another. She felt like she should start things off, as it were, since they were in her home and she was the one who had run off the previous time.

  She cleared her throat. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot since we had dinner at your place. As a matter of fact, if I wasn’t doing someone’s year end accounts, I was probably thinking about you.” She finally looked up at Tamsin.

  Tamsin’s face was a picture of openness and attention. Her green eyes exuded kindness and sympathy. But also something else. Something that spurred Diane on.

  “I thought a lot about the kiss we shared, and what it means.” Diane paused. “I, er—I talked about it with Isabelle. I hope you don’t mind.” She recalled Isabelle’s advice of a few days ago.

  Tamsin took Diane’s hand in hers. “What did Isabelle have to say?” Tamsin’s fingers were softly rubbing the back of Diane’s hand.

  Diane put her glass down on the table. “Isabelle said I should do this.” She took a deep breath and put her hand on Tamsin’s cheek. She pulled Tamsin’s head in towards hers and gently kissed her on the lips. After a while she opened her mouth a fraction, allowing Tamsin’s tongue to meet hers. As their kiss gained in intensity, all the worries that had occupied Diane’s mind—about her age, about how Timothy would react—seemed to disappear and the only emotions that remained were happiness, and a desire for more.

  When they came up for air, Tamsin said, “I’ve always liked Isabelle.” She smiled at Diane. “Did she say anything else?”

  Diane chuckled. “She did, but I’m not sure I’m ready to implement that advice just yet.” Diane had spent a lot of time going over that part of the equation in her head. She considered herself a pretty well-educated woman, who knew the mechanics of what could happen between two women. But when the time came, would she be able to overcome her fears and be intimate with Tamsin? And how would Tamsin react to having a fifty-four-year-old body in front of her, she who was used to sleeping with women thirty years younger?

  “You’ve been on my mind too, Diane.” Tamsin had a solemn look on her face. “I know all of this is confusing to you. It was a long time ago, but I remember how it felt to realise that I had feelings for a girl. It was terrifying and exciting at the same time. Of course, I can’t pretend to know exactly how you’re experiencing it, but I think I have an idea.” She was still holding Diane’s hand. “I want to spend more time with you. I want to get to know you, explore this thing we have between us.”

  “I want that too,” Diane said, holding on to Tamsin’s hand tightly. “After I left your place the other night, I felt so energised and alive. I haven’t felt that way in years. And I want to feel like that again.” The passion in her own voice surprised Diane. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so invigorated.

  Tamsin’s face broke out into a warm smile. “You can’t imagine how happy I am to hear that.” She pulled Diane into her arms, hugging her tightly.

  The feeling of Tamsin’s embrace started a fire in the pit of Diane’s stomach. Her body seemed to awaken from a long hibernation and she felt its longing for touch and intimacy in every fibre of her being.

  Diane extricated herself from Tamsin’s arms and stood. She held out her hands to Tamsin and pulled her up out of the sofa. “I
feel as though if I don’t do this now, I might lose my nerve.” She looked down at her feet for a moment, then moved her gaze back up to meet Tamsin’s. “I’m ready to do what Isabelle told me to do.” She pulled Tamsin closer against her and gave her a languorous kiss. “Will you come upstairs with me?”

  Tamsin’s eyes were alight with a fire more intense than Diane had ever seen. They were reflecting Diane’s desire right back at her. “Are you sure?” Tamsin asked.

  Diane just nodded and pulled Tamsin in for another kiss.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Tamsin opened her eyes. She felt something scratchy between her right shoulder blade and the bed sheets. She pushed herself up and glanced over her shoulder. A crumb.

  Diane had brought them up a few slices of toast to nibble on last night, which had been the extent of their dinner.

  Diane. Where was she?

  Tamsin looked around the room. To her right, the curtains had been drawn over a small window. To her left, a chair had Tamsin’s clothes draped over its back. Underneath the sheets, Tamsin was naked. They had really done this. Tamsin had just woken up in Diane Thompson’s bed, only… Diane was nowhere to be seen.

  She listened for sounds in the house. Maybe Diane had gone down the stairs to fetch more toast, famished from making love—and missing dinner. In her own house, the first sound Tamsin usually heard was Bramble rousing from sleep. This house was eerily quiet. No clanking of cups. No smell of coffee drifting upwards.

  Had last night freaked Diane out so much she’d done a runner again? From her own house?

  Tamsin scratched her head. There wasn’t much else for her to do than get up and put her clothes back on. Bramble needed to be fed and let out. At least her dog would be happy to see her this morning.

  Tamsin threw off the sheets and slipped into her jeans and blouse. She walked to the window and opened the curtains. The window looked out over Diane’s back garden and the rolling landscape beyond. Then all the images from last night flooded Tamsin’s mind. The kiss on the sofa. Diane’s outstretched hand. The rush up the stairs, followed by tearing off each other’s clothes. Tamsin had been gentle with Diane, careful and deliberate. Perhaps not careful enough. She took a deep breath, turned on her heel, and headed downstairs, where she found no one.

  She had just located her handbag and was about to swing it over her shoulder, when she heard a car approach. She stilled to listen further. The dull thud of a car door being shut. The click-clack of heels on the driveway. The scratching of keys in the front door lock.

  Tamsin peeked her head into the hallway and looked into Diane’s face. She was holding a paper bag from which emanated the most enticing smell.

  “You’re up,” Diane said.

  “You’re here,” Tamsin replied.

  “Where else would I be?” Diane closed the door behind her and walked up to Tamsin.

  “I thought you’d run off again.” Tamsin identified the smell coming from the bag as freshly baked croissants. She could murder one of those.

  “From my own house?” Diane turned on her full-wattage smile.

  Tamsin shrugged.

  “I’d been awake for two hours and you just kept on sleeping. I took the opportunity to get us some much-needed breakfast. I left you a note by the coffee machine.” She held up the bag. “Are you hungry?”

  “Desperately.” Tamsin planted her hands on Diane’s hips and pulled her close. “Someone made me miss dinner last night.” She shook her head. “What kind of a dinner party is that?”

  “The hostess deserves all the punishment you can muster, but first,” Diane leaned in, “she also deserves a kiss.”

  Diane smelled freshly showered, her breath minty. Tamsin felt a little self-conscious, but they’d slept together last night, so she kissed her despite feeling less than fresh. The way she leaned into the kiss, Diane didn’t seem to mind at all.

  “Coffee,” Diane whispered, when they broke from their kiss. “And lots of it.”

  “Maybe I should jump in the shower first,” Tamsin offered.

  “Nonsense.” Diane glanced at the bag of croissants. “If I don’t eat in the next minute, I’m not sure what I’ll do. Isabelle told me that ‘hangry’ is very much a thing these days.” Diane led the way to the kitchen.

  Tamsin eagerly followed her. In her previous affairs, she’d always been the one running out to buy pastries in the morning. It was nice to have it done for her.

  Diane made coffee while Tamsin laid the table and then they sat next to each other at the kitchen table which offered the same view as the bedroom window, only much grander.

  Tamsin bit into the croissant. She’d had croissants from the same bakery before but they’d never tasted like this. It wasn’t just that she was hungry. It was the woman sitting next to her, sharing breakfast with her.

  “Good god.” Diane moaned in exaggerated fashion. “Where have you been all my life?”

  “Are you talking about me?” Tamsin asked. “Because I grew up in Derbyshire, then I moved to South London, although when I say South London, I actually mean Croydon. Then I moved to Tynebury and here I finally am.” She turned to face Diane.

  Diane’s gaze on her was soft. Her eyes narrowed further when she spoke. “Last night was amazing.” She paused. “I feel like a different person. Like a new me.”

  “Your latebian status isn’t freaking you out too much?”

  Diane shook her head. “Not one bit, which is a bit strange. I might still be under the influence of… sex with Tamsin Foxley.” She curved her lips into an irresistible smile.

  Tamsin waggled her eyebrows. “It has that effect on people,” she joked.

  “Will you spend the day with me?” Diane’s voice had grown more serious. “I still owe you dinner, after all.”

  “I’d love to, but I do need to get home to Bramble. She’ll be going bonkers by now.”

  “I’ll go with you.” Diane put a hand on Tamsin’s knee. “If you want me to, of course.”

  “We might as well tell Bramble,” Tamsin said. “She’s the least judgmental creature I know.”

  On the walk from Diane’s home to Tamsin’s cottage, Tamsin had wanted to take Diane’s hand in hers, but she’d fought the urge. After all, she wasn’t the one who’d lived in this village all her life. She figured that, for Diane, just being seen walking through Tynebury with the new lesbian in town was enough of a challenge already. But if it was, Diane hadn’t let on at all. Despite their hands not touching, Tamsin had felt close to her because Diane had barely seemed to notice any passers-by—she’d only had eyes for Tamsin.

  After lavishing Bramble with enough attention to make up for having to spend the night on her own—a few extra treats and throwing her tennis ball into the thicket of shrubs bordering the property—they stood in Tamsin’s kitchen.

  “Do you, er, want to talk about what happened?” Tamsin asked.

  Diane pursed her lips and locked her gaze on Tamsin’s. “I think I might have to do it all over again before I can talk about it.”

  Tamsin burst into a chuckle. “We do have all day so I suppose that can be arranged.” She stepped closer and pushed herself against Diane, pressing her backside against the kitchen counter. They kissed and any desire to talk fled Tamsin as well.

  When they broke from their kiss, Diane said, “I don’t want to think about any of the consequences of this. Not yet. I just want to enjoy it.” She ran a fingertip over Tamsin’s upper arm.

  “Excellent plan.” Diane probably didn’t realise that this was a departure from Tamsin’s usual ways as well. But it felt good—different. Full of possibility. And they may not be at the exact same stage of their lives, but they already had a lot more in common than Tamsin and Ellen had ever had. In fact, Ellen hadn’t crossed Tamsin’s mind much at all in the past twenty-four hours. This was a first.

  They’d just locked lips again when Tamsin’s phone started ringing. She rolled her eyes. “I bet you that’s my loving, but very nosy sister.” She
dug her phone out of her purse and showed Diane the screen, which displayed a picture of Eve pulling a silly face. If it had been anyone else, Tamsin would have pressed the ignore button already, but she’d always had a hard time ignoring Eve. It wasn’t something they did with each other. Although this time, Eve couldn’t possibly use the excuse she’d worry if Tamsin didn’t pick up. They both knew why she was calling.

  “Are you going to pick up?” Diane asked.

  Tamsin had only to look at Diane, her head tilted back, her eyes full of desire, to be able to ignore her twin. “Eve can wait,” she said, and tapped the red button. She switched her phone to silent mode and tossed it back into her bag.

  “What if there’s a golfing emergency at the club today?” Diane said, a wide smirk on her face. “What if Debbie gets a ball stuck in the bunker again and needs to reach you urgently because she has no clue how to get it out?”

  “Really?” Tamsin stepped closer again. “Debbie’s who you’re thinking of right now?”

  “Screw Debbie.” Diane hooked a finger in the waist of Tamsin’s jeans and pulled her all the way to her. “I feel kind of sorry for her now, actually. She’s stuck with Lawrence while I’ve got you.”

  “My dad made this very bed we’re lying in,” Tamsin said. They had to stop ending up in bed around meal times because her stomach was growling again.

  “It’s very sturdy.” Diane turned to her side. Tamsin adored her playful side. “Give him my compliments.” She kissed Tamsin on the nose. “What about the bedside tables? They’re gorgeous.”

  Pride swelled in Tamsin’s chest. “I bought those for ten quid each at a charity shop in London, then gave them a new life.”

  “A charity shop?” Diane sat up a bit straighter. “They look like they come from a designer store.”

  Tamsin held up her hand and wiggled her fingers. “The magic Foxley touch.”