Yes Chef, No Chef

chapter Thirty Two



Two days later, Tim told her he was taking the Eurostar home which would arrive at St Pancras on Friday at 7pm, and she’d agreed to meet him on the upper concourse at The Meeting Place, a 9 metre high bronze of a couple locked in an intimate pose by the sculptor Paul Day. The couple stands under the famous St Pancras clock at the apex of the Barlow shed and when she’d told Sarah where they were meeting she’d crooned with the romance of it all.

He’d also suggested that they could have supper somewhere and maybe stay overnight in the new five-star St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. He’d found it on the internet where it claimed that after years of devoted restoration, it was now being hailed as the city's most romantic Victorian building and that they would stay in a world where modern amenities mingle with the extravagance of rail's golden age.

Katie had giggled with excitement when she’d read the email but knew she didn’t care where they stayed as long as she was with him again. He’d ended the email with sexual innuendos about what he couldn’t wait to do to her and she’d decided on a major plan of preparation which involved the beauty salon, hairdressers, retail therapy, and of course, Lisa.

“I have to look gorgeous and sexy,” she said to Lisa as they hit the boutiques on Kensington High Street. “I hope you don’t get into trouble for ducking out of work this afternoon?”

It had rained all night and they both side-stepped the puddles on the pavement. “Tsk, I’m the boss, I’m allowed to bunk off,” she said indifferently. Lisa had always been nonchalant about her work in PR but one of her colleagues on the Thames boat had told Katie she was fantastic at her job and could virtually pick and choose who she worked for now, which Katie thought was awesome.

Three hours and numerous changing rooms later, Katie was on the verge of giving up when Lisa dragged her into a small boutique off the high street.

“If we can’t find anything in here I’m throwing the towel in!” she cried in exasperation.

A young sales assistant picked out a beige dress and held it up against Katie. “If I had a nice boyfriend this is what I’d wear on a date,” she simpered. “It doesn’t look much on the hanger but…”

Lisa took it from her, gave the dress to Katie and pushed her into the changing room. “Go!” she said plopping down onto a chair.

The assistant returned with shoes, bag and a belt which Lisa slid under the door of the changing room.

Katie pushed her arms through the beige, silk, wraparound dress which draped seductively across her full breasts, fastened the wide gold belt around her small waist, slipped her feet into the gold sling backs, picked up the matching gold clutch bag and emerged from the changing room to stand in front of Lisa and the assistant.

“Fab-u-lous!” Lisa exclaimed, “If that doesn’t get you guys kneading bread again, nothing will.”

The assistant looked puzzled. “Private joke,” Katie whispered, admiring herself in the full length mirror.

Giggling, they left the shop and went to Harrods where Katie bought a cream silk bra and panties, and then headed into the beauty salon to be waxed, plucked, and moisturised.

“All I have left to do now is have my hair cut tomorrow morning and I’ll be ready to meet him,” Katie said feeling her stomach do a triple somersault.

“Nervous?” Lisa asked as she pulled up outside Katie’s flat.

“Christ, Lisa, every time I think of it my stomach churns with excitement and I think I’m going to be sick! How I’m going to get through tonight I just don’t know,” she groaned.

Lisa giggled and squeezed her arm reassuringly. “Ok, let’s crack open a bottle of wine, purely for medicinal purposes of course,” she said climbing out of the car.

It was a balmy spring evening and because the flat seemed stuffy, Katie suggested they sit in the garden with their wine. Feeling peckish, she put some nibbles onto a tray, uncorked the bottle of wine and with two glasses headed out to find Lisa sitting on the small wall between her and Sam’s garden. Her long legs swung gracefully from the short dress she wore which fluttered in the breeze and she had a genuine coy expression on her face that Katie had never seen before. Sam was practically dancing in attendance around her and making her giggle while demurely, she girlishly twirled a strand of hair around her little finger.

Unless Katie was very much mistaken there were sparks flying between these two.

“Hey Sam. How’s it going in the world of courgettes and cucumbers?” Katie asked laughing. “Can you manage a glass of wine?”

Sam gave her his cheeky-chappy grin. “Lovely, just pour me a little in here,” he said, raising an empty coffee mug.

Katie poured the wine, handed a glass to Lisa and plonked down on the grass next to them both. They idly chatted about the warm weather so early in the year and how she’d loved his vegetable box and then discussed her plans to landscape the garden next year.

They all heard her landline ringing from the kitchen and excusing herself, she hurried inside knowing Lisa was in safe hands with Sam. While chatting to her mum she looked out of the window and saw Sam lean towards Lisa and play with the spaghetti straps on her dress while lightly caressing her shoulder. From what she could see this intimate gesture was welcomed by Lisa and Katie quivered with excitement knowing how perfect Sam would be for her. Ending the call and heading back outside, she wondered if Sam could cook as well as grow vegetables.

Her question was answered when Lisa said softly, “Sam has offered to cook dinner for us Katie, isn’t that lovely?”

Making a quick decision she declined the offer, feigning a work project to finish but encouraged Lisa to go and enjoy herself. And as there were no protests she figured they were both more than happy to be alone. She gave Lisa an encouraging wink and watched Sam help swing her legs over the wall onto his side of the garden and stroll with her into his kitchen.

Later that night when she pulled down the blind at her bedroom window she noticed Lisa’s car still parked outside. Hmm, things must be going very well she thought, if Lisa has decided to stay over. The street lamp was directly outside her bedroom window therefore the room was never in complete darkness which she loved, because getting used to sleeping alone again hadn’t been easy. At first lying alone in her bed had brought images and stories of burglaries and attacks on women to the forefront of her mind - whereas when she’d slept wrapped around Tim every night the thought had never entered her head. She climbed into bed, pulled the quilt up under her chin and hugged herself in excited anticipation knowing this time tomorrow night she would indeed be wrapped around Tim’s body and every nerve she possessed tingled in all the right places.



Her brown hair had been cut into a swinging, shiny bob and when she stood in front of the full length mirror in the bathroom her skin seemed to glow with the effects of the light spray tan she’d had applied. Revelling in the silkiness of her new cream bra and panties she carefully pulled up the natural, seven denier stockings with lace tops knowing full well they weren’t strictly necessary because her legs were tanned. But she knew Tim would love them and, giggling with excitement, she headed out to the taxi.

Hurry up, he thought impatiently as he sat on the Eurostar train travelling through Ashford and heading towards St. Pancras station. The two hour journey from Paris, which had flown over when he’d gone out there, seemed to be taking twice as long to get home. Smiling, he thought of Kate waiting for him and still couldn’t believe his luck to be given another chance with her. He was longing to see her and had been counting down every minute since their last email.



Katie stood under The Statue and glanced around at the crowds of people arriving from their destinations or setting out on their holidays armed with cases and bags. Her stomach churned with excitement and nerves but for the first time in weeks they were happy nervous fluttering’s and looking at her watch for what seemed like the hundredth time in the last ten minutes, she looked up to see him striding down the concourse towards her.

She caught her breath at the sight of him. It wasn’t just the fact she hadn’t seen him for two weeks it was more because he looked so incredibly sexy. Ooh, la, la, she murmured as her heart began to race and the blood seemed to pump through her veins at a rate of knots. He was tanned; his hair was cut much shorter than usual and he wore a grey T shirt tucked into slim black jeans. He even seemed to be walking differently with his shoulders pulled back and his head held high while swinging his leather holdall. A couple of young girls noticed his jaunty swagger and turned to check him out which made her glow with pride and pleasure. Hands off girls, she thought, he’s all mine.

Much like his father, he’d never been a demonstrative person and would normally have greeted her in public with a reserved kiss on the cheek but this was, he decided, time to ring-in the changes and as soon as he got close enough to her he picked her up in a bear hug and swung her up into the air much to the obvious delight of passers-by.

“Put me down!” she squealed giggling and he saw the happiness shining from her lovely eyes.

He looked her up and down drinking her in. “Jeez, Kate, you look sensational”.

Feeling flustered but laughing, she smoothed her dress down carefully while he held her at arm’s length.

She beamed at him. “And you’ve scrubbed up pretty well yourself.”

“What a home-coming. It’s fantastic to be back and especially to have you waiting for me,” he said, draping a protective arm around her shoulders while they strolled into the St Pancras Grand Champagne Bar.

It was the first time she’d been into the bar and was awestruck by the grand décor of high, gold leaf-clad ceilings, plush leather seating, elegant lighting and cleverly positioned mirrors. She slithered elegantly up onto a stool at the bar and tried to take a few deep breaths to calm herself because she felt giddy with happiness and excitement.

He sat on the stool opposite her and rubbed his hands together in anticipation while he read through the menu. “It says the Champagne Bar is hoping to combine the romance of travel from a bygone era and is fabulously British.”

“Well, I think they’ve managed that,” she said looking around. “It looks absolutely lovely.”

“Champagne?” he asked, “And maybe oysters?”

“I’ll leave that to you,” she said provocatively and gazed longingly into his eyes.

He ordered half a dozen oysters from Mersea Island in Essex, and a bottle of Lanson Black Label NV champagne, then took her right hand in between both of his.

“It seems strange,” she said. “It’s almost as if we’re on a first date and yet, I know you as well as I know myself?”

He squeezed her hand tightly. “Well, that’s good isn’t it?” he asked. “It means we can have all the thrill of a first date but know from experience what fun we’re going to have later.”

“Hmm,” she uttered and then gasped when she saw the blatant sexual hunger in his eyes.

She pulled him gently towards her and whispered in his ear. “You know it was rumoured that Casanova ate over fifty raw oysters a day to boost his libido. And allegedly, they are at their most potent when eaten raw!”

While the waiter poured out glasses of champagne Tim let go of her hand and sat back on the stool looking at her with smouldering, passion driven eyes. Idly, he traced a finger down the side of her arm which made the small hairs stand to attention and a longing in the pit of her stomach.

“And the Romans claimed that women were reckless after they ate giant oysters,” she said sipping the champagne.

Her mind was racing; he was here, it was happening, and she was back with her Tim. The feeling of euphoria made her feel reckless and totally carefree - she squirmed on the stool and re-crossed her legs knowing the split in her wrap-over dress had fallen to the side exposing her right leg. She saw him wet his lips staring at the lace on the top of her stocking.

Jeez, he wailed silently when he saw the top of her stocking and felt the urge in his trousers strain against the zip. How much was a man supposed to take? He croaked, “Christ, Kate, what are you trying to do to me? I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to wait much longer at this rate!”

She smiled playfully and teased him. “Well, we’ve waited for a couple of months now so a few more hours won’t kill us, will it?”

The oyster platter arrived with the Mersean oysters lying in pretty, brown and white shell cases, wedges of lemon and shallot vinegar, all served on a bed of crushed ice. He picked up a shell and poured a glistening, plump oyster into his mouth and she watched spellbound as he threw his head back to devour it. His Adam’s apple looked huge as it swallowed up and down, and she fought the urge to drag her lips across his throat. And then throwing all caution aside she changed her mind and did just that.

His eyes filled with a look of delighted surprise and he bent forward and kissed her passionately devouring her lips until they tingled.

When they finally pulled apart she murmured, “And the French poet Leon-Paul Fargue once said eating an oyster was like kissing the sea on the lips, and your lips taste just like that and very seaweedy.”

Laughing, he said, “Uh-huh, and because oysters are aphrodisiacs they’ll make us feel even more sexy, if that’s possible?”

She took another sip of champagne and a string of bubbles ran up her nose making her giggle. “Well, if the oysters don’t, this champagne should, it’s fabulous! It tastes of ripe citrus fruits and it’s so light my nose is tickling,” she said reading the label on the bottle. “It says to expect a pleasant, racy wine with a long and lingering taste.”

“Wow! I like the sound of that, long and lingering…” he drawled sexily.

She picked up a shell from the platter and squeezed lemon onto it. “But just in case the champagne isn’t enough, I’d better try one of these.” The oyster was tender and succulent as it slipped from the shell down her throat and made her feel very sensual.

He reached across, ate another oyster and gulped his champagne. “I feel ready to burst!” he declared loudly and she burst out laughing with pleasure.

They finished the bottle of champagne and fought amicably over the last oyster but finally she gave in and allowed him to have it. “After all, if it’s true what they say about enhancing sexual performance,” she taunted. “You’re the one who’s going to need it!”

He threw his head back and roared with laughter. “Come on,” he said, “I think it’s time we went to the hotel and maybe ordered another bottle?”

“Oh, you do – do you?” she smirked with delight and slid off the stool while he put his arm securely around her waist. She settled easily into his arm, it felt reassuringly familiar, yet at the same time very exciting.

Checking in at the reception desk seemed to take forever although realistically it was only a few minutes after they swiped his credit card and he signed the paperwork. But these were all lost minutes that he wasn’t touching her, he thought, and impulsively reached across to tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. The printer on the desk whirled away printing his receipt and he gently traced his finger along the curve of her jaw, thinking how beautiful she was. Just this simple touch of skin against skin had every nerve in his body screaming for her and then at last they were finished and running hand-in-hand along the foyer to catch the lift up to their room.

They stood alone in the lift catching their breath and she stared wantonly at him. He came to her and eased her against the side of the lift sliding his hand through the split in her dress. She moaned at his touch and felt his hot breath as he roved up and down her neck grazing her with his teeth.

Driven with passion she threaded her fingers through his hair and scrunched a handful, non-too gently while taunting him even further. “You know, there’s no actual scientific evidence to support the theory of aphrodisiacs and it’s said to be based purely in imaginary folklore.”

His hands moved around the tops of her stockings and panting with desire she threw her head back clinging to him as the desperate ache flooded through her body. She could feel his hard member against the side of her leg and every pulse in her body was throbbing.

Unashamedly she traced down the zip on his jeans with her fingers and stroked it with her hand.

He groaned with longing, “Oh Kate, I don’t know about folklore, but I’m not imagining this and it’s definitely not happening in my mind. It’s all yours and raring to go,” he rasped harshly and kissed her long and hard. She knew her lips would be bruised but couldn’t have stopped him even if she wanted to, which she didn’t. He was her man, his body was hers to touch and take and she wanted him desperately.

They practically fell out of the lift when it reached the fourth floor and ran into the hotel room collapsing onto the bed together. He straddled across her and whipped her belt off, opened her dress and moaned in pleasure at the sight of her.

“Christ, Kate, you’ve no idea how much I’ve missed and longed for this. Just to touch and smell you…” he drawled and started to kiss her passionately while she pulled his T-shirt over his head. She ran her hands down his taut, tanned chest muscles and practically purred with lust for his body.

“I…I can’t wait, Tim,” she stuttered, “I need to have you inside me.”

He tore his jeans off and climbed back over her. She pulled her arms out of the dress, undid her bra, and he caught both of her wrists, raised them above her head and started to suck her nipples. She arched her back in response as waves of pure ecstasy flooded through her and then wrapped both legs around his back pulling him deeply into her. Her heart was racing as they began to move, sweat, and rock together; she knew his rhythm so well as he did hers, and she pulled him further and further into her never wanting it to stop. She was climbing higher and higher, working her way to the sweet relief that crashed through her at the same time as he cried out in release. He collapsed on top of her.

As her breathing slowed he moved slightly to shift his weight but she begged, “Don’t move, Tim, stay where you are. I just need to feel you on top of me again.”

“Oh Kate,” he moaned. “Thank, God, I’ve got you back again.”

Her heart slowed back to normal and feelings of true joy swelled inside her making her feel tearful. She wiped a small tear away that leaked sideways out of her eye while he kissed her tenderly on the lips.

He whispered, “You’re my own Greek goddess and I’m never going to lose you again.”