Baggage & Buttons (6 page)

‘You’re both welcome, I’m just sorry I had to send
them in the first place,’ he said, having the grace to look embarrassed again.
‘Wear something sexy for me,’ he whispered in my ear, before kissing me on the
lips and heading off with Milo.

‘What just happened?’ I asked, slightly stunned.

‘What?’

‘Gabe being nice to Milo and inviting him out.’

‘He’s making a bloody effort after yesterday that’s
what,’ scoffed Lexi.

‘I hope he’s being genuinely nice and doesn’t have
some ulterior motive, he’s very overprotective of me.’

‘Really?’

‘Lexi Clarke, sarcasm doesn’t become you.’

‘But I’m
so
good at it Mia. So what anniversary
present have you got for Gabe?’

‘I didn’t buy anything, I didn’t know I was supposed
to. What the hell am I supposed to get? I don’t have a clue what he likes.’

‘Well we know he likes you. Why don’t you surprise him
by turning up on his doorstep naked?’

‘Now that’s not a bad idea,’ I nodded.

‘I was joking.’

‘I’m not, he said wear something sexy. He went crazy
to see me in stockings and suspenders last time and I haven’t worn my Basque
for him yet.’

‘The black and red one?’ I nodded. ‘That ought to do
it,’ she grinned.

‘Well I’m going to have to skip Pilates tonight then
and go and get ready.’

I sat staring out of the bus window on the way home
confused at my reactions to the last 24 hours and mulled them over again.
Despite what had happened I somehow wanted him even more, I really did have it
bad for him. I pulled out my phone, did some research and made a call and
startled Lexi from her game of flappy birds by nudging her.

‘Damn it Mia, I was on a roll.’

‘Sorry but I’d like you to come somewhere with me
tomorrow morning.’

‘Yeah sure. What you up to?’

‘I’ve thought of something I can give Gabe, instead of
just sexy clothing, or lack of it,’ I grinned as we hopped off the bus.

I made another call from my bedroom to arrange the
taxi to his for five past seven, just to be safe, I knew he hated lateness.

I hopped in the shower and washed my hair and shaved
where necessary and slathered myself in sparkling body moisturiser before
pinned my hair up in a sexy messed up do. I did some minimal eye makeup and did
my finger and toe nails in sparking black. I put on a black lace g-sting, my
stockings and suspenders and high heels and yelled for Lexi to come and do up
my Basque for me. She nodded her head in approval when I did a final twirl for
her.

‘Holy crap you’re going to make his head spin. You
won’t be able to walk after the rodgering he gives you.’

‘I was hoping that was what you’d say, thanks.’ I
grabbed my black mac out of the wardrobe and tied it tightly around my waist
and shoved some clean knickers and a bra in my handbag, along with my phone and
a few toiletries. ‘Right, be ready for nine thirty tomorrow will you?’

‘What are you up to?’

‘Not telling, it’ll be a surprise for you too and I
want to see the look on your face.’

‘Ok,’ she frowned, looking puzzled. ‘It better be
bloody worth it to make me get up that early, again. That was the door buzzer.
You and your outfit better get going.’

‘Will you be ok on your own? You know you only have to
ring if you need me?’

‘I’m not a child, I’ll be fine Mia. Have a lovely
evening making up. Hope he’s stocked up on condoms.’

‘God me too, see you tomorrow.’

I sent Gabe a text as the taxi set off.

On my way. Really looking forward to seeing you. I’ve
got a surprise for you. Mia x

He replied quickly, really quickly.

Great, really looking forward to seeing you too and I
also have a few surprises G xx PS I love the kiss at the end of the text. It’s
my first from you xx

I smiled, glad he’d spotted it. We were parked outside
his house in just over ten minutes, no way was I knocking on his door to ask
for money, so I paid the taxi driver and stepped out with my bag. As he drove
off, I looked around in amazement. King Street was a
very
expensive
looking road, with large detached houses in substantial grounds. In front of me
was an old tall brick wall and there was a black wrought iron double gated
entrance, with a small gate for visitors at the side. I opened it and passed
through, my feet crunching on his gravelled driveway, which was lined with big
thick oak trees.

As I rounded the corner I was faced with a beautiful large
double fronted Georgian house, covered in creeping ivy. Parked outside was a
gunmetal grey Porsche Boxster convertible, a black Audi TT RS Coupe and a black
Range Rover. So it seemed Gabe
was
a Porsche and a push bike guy after
all. I was surprised, I knew he liked designer gear, but he’d never indicated
he came from this sort of wealth, other than his throw away comment last night
about me pretending “the baby” was his, because of what I thought he may have
in the bank.

I stood in front of the glossy black front door and
checked my watch. It was seven twenty, I was ten minutes early. I figured he
was always early, so I looked around to make sure I couldn’t be seen, undid my
mac and placed it on top of my handbag on the stone step and lifted the heavy
metal door knocker and rapped it sharply a few times. I heard the door being
unlocked from the inside and felt my stomach warm at the thought of seeing his
reaction and what it might lead to. I put my hands on my hips and looked down
to check on myself. My Basque was extremely tight fitting and sucked in my
waist, squeezing my breasts together, pushing them up so high they were nearly
spilling out of the top. I looked like an extra from Pirates of the Caribbean. As
the door opened I made my announcement.

‘Mr Austin, tonight’s your lucky night,’ I giggled. The
giggles were soon replaced with a startled scream, as I came face to face with
an older, but equally good looking, version of Gabe.

‘Indeed it appears so, but I think you’re actually
here for my son,’ he replied with an Austin dazzling smile, before he turned
his head to avoid looking at me. I quickly crossed my legs to protect my
privates and tried to cover my heaving bosom with one hand, as I reached down
and grabbed my mac with the other, dying inside.

‘O god Mr Austin … I’m so sorry, I thought you were
Gabe … If I’d known that you were here … I would never have … God I’m so
embarrassed. I have my coat on now,’ I stuttered, as my trembling fingers did
up the belt way too tightly and he turned to face me again.

‘How about we start again? I’ll push the door to, you
knock and it will be like it never happened.’

‘Thank you, I’d
really
like that,’ I nodded, as
I felt every inch of my skin burning with shame. I wished a fissure would open
up below me and swallow me down. He closed the door and I covered my face with
my hands and stamped my foot on the floor a few times in frustration. Damn it,
what was he
doing
here? If Gabe had deliberately set up this meeting, if
that was my surprise, I wasn’t going to be happy at all. I contemplated
running, but in these heels and with that gravel, I knew I wouldn’t get far. It
was too late anyway, as I heard the door being reopened.

‘Hello Mia, I’m Robert, Gabriel’s father. A pleasure
to meet you, please come in,’ he smiled as he held out his hand for me to
shake.

‘Hello Mr Austin nice to meet you too.’ I took his
hand and shook it, noticing what a firm grip he had and how incredibly well-spoken
he was. To think Lexi said I talked posh? Mum would love him, that voice, those
looks. I was trying to act all cool, but inside I was cringing, how could I have
been so stupid to stand there like that? Not only was I not ready to meet a
parent, but to do it like
that
. He shut the door and turned to face me.

‘Gabriel’s still in the kitchen. I’m so sorry, I
wasn’t supposed to be here but my onward flight was pushed back, some
complication with papers not having been filed correctly at the airport. Anyway,
I decided to take the opportunity to come home to surprise him, as I’m not in
the UK often. I’ll be leaving you both alone within the next couple of hours.’

‘I can always get a taxi home and leave you both to
enjoy your time together.’

‘Nonsense, Gabriel would never forgive me, though it
was very kind of you to offer,’ he smiled.

‘Ok, thank you, I’m sorry to intrude.’ I breathed a
sigh of relief that it was just a coincidence that he was here.

‘It’s me who’s intruding, I’m sorry to gate crash your
evening.’

He led me down the wide hall and I kept my eyes down,
too embarrassed to look at him again. I noticed I was walking on the old original
black and white tiled floor, it seemed an incredible house. I heard him open a
door and took a breath to compose myself and looked up to see him indicating
for me to go ahead of him. I walked into an unexpectedly modern white shaker
kitchen, with black granite worktops, a modern white Aga and large island unit.
It looked as if the back wall had been removed and an extension with glass bi-fold
doors and a glass roof lantern had been done, which housed a large oak dining
table with 12 leather scroll back chairs. It was a stunning room.

Gabe stood at a large chrome range, dressed in his
pair of dark blue jeans, which showed off his bottom fantastically and a fitted
white shirt with the sleeves rolled back. He looked up and saw us both standing
there and gave me the most beautiful, if slightly nervous smile and came over
and kissed me quickly on the lips.

‘I see you’ve met my father.’

‘Yes Mr Austin answered the door.’ I blushed again as
the scene played out in my head.

‘Mia. I think we’re past formalities don’t you? Please
call me Robert,’ he gave me the same kind smile that I saw so often on Gabe’s
face. ‘I’ll leave you both to it for a while. As I’m here I may as well grab a
few more things to take back with me.’ He left and pulled the door to and I
covered my face with my hands.

‘Mia, I’m so sorry, I know you were against the whole
meeting the parents’ thing, but he just turned up unexpectedly about twenty
minutes ago, I promise I didn’t plan this.’

‘No, but I planned this, I’m so embarrassed,’ I said,
as I opened my mac and showed him my outfit. He let out a long low whistle and
gave an approving nod.

‘Wow, when I said sexy, you really went all out. Why
are you embarrassed? I love it, your tits look sensational.’

‘Because I wasn’t wearing the coat when your dad
answered the door and I told him “
Mr Austin tonight’s your lucky night.”
’

‘What?!’ Gabe’s voice had gone up a couple of octaves.

‘I heard the door being unlocked and said it before I
realised it wasn’t you. Gabe I’m so sorry, I could’ve died of shame. He was
very gentlemanly about it.’ Gabe started laughing. ‘It’s not funny,’ I
protested as I did my mac back up. ‘How am I going to look him in the eye
again? I’ve never met the parent of a boyfriend before, but I’m pretty sure that
wasn’t the way to make a good impression.’

 ‘Well you’ll have left a lasting one,’ he said, still
laughing and I punched his arm, before he grabbed my waist and kissed me. ‘I’m
sorry. I can just imagine how shocked he must’ve been. He was already shocked
enough that I’d invited you over, let alone seeing you dressed so sexily.’

‘Why would he be shocked at you inviting me?’

‘Because you’re the first.’

‘First what?’

‘First girl I’ve ever brought home.’

‘
Seriously
?’ Now it was my turn to be stunned.

‘Yes seriously, I’m serious about you Mia. I’m
comforted when I’m not with you to picture you in your apartment, so I wanted
you to see where I lived.’

‘I don’t understand why you haven’t brought anyone
else here. Not even Julie?’

‘No not even Julie. I haven’t because I didn’t love
anyone else Mia. Bringing someone to my home’s personal for me, it means
something. It shows things about my life that I don’t necessarily want others
to know.’

‘Like your Porsche sitting outside? You told me you
had a push bike,’ I smiled.

‘I do have a push bike, but the Porsche is my dad’s,
as is the Range Rover. Mine’s the TT.’

‘O right, it’s a very sexy looking car and your house
is amazing,’ I said, as I looked around the room again, taking it all in.

‘Dad’s pretty well off,’ Gabe shrugged.

‘So he bought your car for you?’

‘No, I received a substantial trust fund when I turned
eighteen from a life insurance policy mum had. I don’t tell people, or often
use the car at Uni, as I only want friends who like me for me and not because I
have a sports car and some money.’

‘Damn it, we better end this then as that was all I
was interested in you for, for me and my illegitimate baby of course,’ I
giggled. He gave me a mock scowl and picked me up and spun me around kissing
me. ‘Gabe?’

‘Yes?’