Never Say Forever

by Karen King

Genres: General Fiction

Synopsis

Kendall McKenzie has vowed never to get married. She's seen too many people give up their dreams for love, and is determined that's never going to happen to her. Travelling the world teaching English, Kendall dreams of turning her jewellery-making hobby into a proper business one day. ‘No commitment' is high-flying businessman, Jake Newman's motto. He's never met anyone he wants to settle down with, and that's the way he likes it. But when Kendall and Jake meet sparks fly. It's obvious to everyone except themselves that they're meant to be together. Will their fear of commitment prevent them from admitting their love for each other? And if they do, will Kendall have to give up her dream?

Release date: July 23, 2016

Publisher: Headline

Print pages: 288

Sample

‘Want to go!’ yelled Timmy at the top of his voice, stamping his feet. Kendall sighed. Why had she left it until last minute to choose an engagement present for Tanya and Hugh? Shopping in a busy department store on a Friday afternoon with a lively three– year– old and a baby in a buggy wasn’t exactly a relaxing experience. She’d already spent fifteen minutes standing in a queue to pay for the decanter and glasses she’d chosen and didn’t fancy starting all over again.

‘Hang on a minute, Timmy. I’ll be served soon, and then we’ll go and find the toilets. I promise.’

‘Now!’ Timmy shouted, tugging at her sleeve. ‘Want to go now,’ he insisted. Then, ‘I’ll go myself,’ he declared. And before Kendall could stop him he turned away and ran off.

‘Timmy! Come back!’ She left the store’s wire basket on the floor and, turning baby Sophie’s buggy around, set off in hot pursuit of the toddler.

Unfortunately, she hadn’t yet mastered the buggy’s steering and, somehow, instead of going forwards it went sideways ... slamming into a pair of denim– clad legs.

‘Ow!’ exclaimed a deep voice, and a large, suntanned hand reached down to rub the shin she’d just crashed into.

‘Sorry.’ She glanced up into a pair of gorgeous brown eyes and found herself blushing with embarrassment. Then she remembered Timmy.

She looked around anxiously. Lindsay, his mother, would be horrified if she knew Kendall had taken her eyes off him, even for only a moment.

‘Oh no!’ she gasped as she saw the toddler heading for the escalator that led down to the ground floor. If he stepped onto it and lost his footing ...

‘Timmy! Come back!’ she yelled, trying to run after him, but was hindered by the cumbersome buggy.

‘It’s OK, I’ll get him’ The owner of the bruised shin and the gorgeous brown eyes was already sprinting across the shop, his impressive height and long legs making it easy for him to dodge through the crowds.

Kendall bit her lip as she followed him, pushing the buggy as quickly as she could and praying he would reach Timmy – who was by now dangerously near the top of the escalator – in time.

People turned their heads to look, obviously wondering what was going on.

As the toddler reached the escalator and put out a foot to step onto it Kendall felt a cold shiver of fear run down her spine, then, as he was scooped up just in time by the handsome stranger, she let out a sigh of relief.

‘Come on, young man. Your mummy wants you. That escalator’s too dangerous for you to go on by yourself.’

Timmy was staring wide-eyed at his rescuer as he was carried back to Kendall, who had finally managed to battle her way through the crowds.

‘It was really naughty of you to run off like that,’ she scolded. ‘Don’t ever do that again.’  

She reached out as the man handed the child over to her. Their hands touched briefly, and she felt a tingle run up her arms. Feeling her cheeks flush yet again, she was grateful for the chance to hide her face as she bent over to put Timmy down.

‘Now, hold onto the buggy and stay by me,’ she ordered.

‘Wanta wee-wee,’ Timmy told her urgently, screwing up his face.

‘I think perhaps you’d better take him to the loo before he makes a puddle on the floor,’ said the man. ‘The toilets are over there. I’ll look after the baby while you take him. You’d be quicker if you didn’t have to take that pushchair with you.’

She couldn’t leave baby Sophie with a complete stranger. Even a friendly, handsome stranger who had just saved Timmy from a dreadful accident. What would Lindsay say?

‘I’m not going to kidnap the baby, if that’s what you’re worrying about.’ The man took his wallet out of his pocket and handed her a credit card. ‘Here, I’ll trust you with my credit card if you’ll trust me with your baby. And for goodness’ sake get a move on! I don’t think your little boy can wait any longer.’

One look at Timmy told her the man was right.

‘Thanks.’ She took the credit card from him, grabbed the toddler’s hand, and hurried to the ladies’ toilets.

‘I can do it myself!’ Timmy told her firmly.

‘You can? Fine. I’ll wait for you out here. But don’t lock the door – OK?’ She waited for him by the entrance to the toilets, positioning herself so she could keep watch on Timmy and his little sister, who seemed quite unperturbed about being left in the care of ... she looked down at the card. Jake Newman was the name on the gold card.

Well, Jake Newman wasn’t short of a penny or two – this was an exclusive credit card only granted to the mega-rich. Rich and handsome, she thought. Quite a catch for someone.

Not her, though. She wasn’t interested in catching anyone. No commitment was her motto. There was no way she was going to have her heart broken by a man. She’d seen it happen to her friends too often. Just look at how Lindsay had been treated by her ex-husband, Adam.

Everyone had thought that Adam and Lindsay would be together forever, but he’d walked out on her just three years after their wedding to set up home with a PR girl named Alixia, leaving a pregnant, devastated Lindsay to bring up Timmy all by herself.

She’d got over his betrayal eventually, finding love with her second husband, Matt, and going on to have baby Sophie. But Kendall had vowed that she would never let anyone have the power to hurt her the way that Adam had hurt her best friend. How did the saying go? The one who loved the most got hurt the most. Well, she was determined that she would never love anyone enough to get hurt. She had a good job and a hectic social life with a group of close friends. She didn’t need a man in her life. She had boyfriends, yes, but was always careful never to let her relationships get serious.

‘What’s that?’

Timmy’s voice brought her out of her daydream.

‘It’s a credit card, and it belongs to that nice man who saved you from tumbling down the escalator,’ she told him. ‘Now, wash your hands and let’s go get Sophie.’

‘I’ve already washed them,’ he told her.

Had he? How long had she been standing there, deep in thought?

‘Come on, then.’ She grabbed his hand and led him out into the store, to where Jake Newman was playing peek-a-boo with Sophie.

The baby chuckled as he moved behind the back of the buggy so she couldn’t see him then popped his head out – ‘Boo!’

Timmy laughed and Jake quickly stood up, grinning ruefully.

‘I thought I’d better try and amuse her,’ he told Kendall.

‘Thank you. And thank you again for rescuing Timmy.’ She smiled as she handed back his credit card.

As he took it from her, his fingers brushed against hers and she felt the tingle shoot up her arm again. Their eyes met, and she felt herself drowning in his deep, brown pools. This guy really was something, she thought, pulling herself together as she realised he was talking to her.

‘Sorry ... mmm ... what did you say?’

‘I said maybe you should leave the kids at home with your husband next time you go shopping. It would make things easier for you.’

‘I don’t have a husband. I’m not married. I mean –’

‘Look, you don’t have to explain your life story to me,’ he said, a slight edge to his voice. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some shopping of my own to do.’

‘Yes, of course. Thank you again ...’ But he was already walking away.

Kendall watched for a moment as he made his way through the crowds, noticing the way his dark hair curled at the nape of his neck.

She thought of those dreamy brown eyes ... then shook her head, wondering how he could have had such an effect on her when they’d only spoken for a few minutes.

It was just as well she’d be unlikely to bump into him again – with or without the buggy. She had an idea that if she’d had the chance to get to know him better, this guy wouldn’t be easy to forget – and her plans for the future didn’t involve pining over some bloke.

‘Auntie Kendy, can we go home now?’ Timmy tugged at her sleeve and she pulled herself together, suddenly remembering the crystal decanter she'd left in the basket at the till.

‘Just a few more minutes, Timbo,’ she promised, using her pet name for him. ‘I’ve got to go back for something. Then we can go.’

She hoped that the basket containing the present she’d chosen for Tanya and Hugh was still there. Thankfully, the lady at the till had kept it behind the counter, guessing she’d come back for it once she’d taken Timmy to the toilet.

Kendall gratefully paid for her purchases and headed for the lift.

Glancing at her watch, she saw it was almost time for Sophie’s feeding and knew that Lindsay would be anxiously waiting for them. Whilst her friend loved a break from the children, she could never completely relax when they were out of her sight, even though she knew they were safe with Kendall.

Safe. That was a joke. If Lindsay knew about Timmy’s narrow escape she’d have a fit and probably refuse to let her take the children out again. She decided not to mention it. No need to upset her friend unnecessarily.

So much for keeping Timmy’s escapade quiet. He told his mum all about his adventure as soon as they got through the door.

‘I was going for a wee-wee and got lost,’ he babbled. ‘Then a nice man picked me up and took me back to Auntie Kendy.’

‘What?’ Lindsay shot Kendall a worried look as she took Timmy in her arms.

‘It wasn’t as bad as it sounds,’ Kendall assured her, quickly explaining.

‘You mean that Timmy was about to step onto the escalator? That high escalator that runs all the way down to the ground floor?’ Lindsay’s voice was almost a squeak.

‘I’m sorry. He just ran off. But it’s OK, Jake got to him in time.’

‘Jake? I thought you didn’t know this man.’

Kendall sighed. Now she had to explain about swapping baby Sophie for Jake Newman’s credit card while she took Timmy to the loo, and what would Lindsay make of that?

When she’d finished, her friend looked at her knowingly.

‘And what exactly was this man like?’ she asked.

A picture flashed into Kendall’s mind, twinkling eyes the colour of treacle fudge, thick, dark, slightly curly hair, a definitely good– looking face, tall, lean body ...

‘That good, eh?’ Lindsay was watching her with amusement.

Not bad,’ she admitted, trying to sound casual.

‘So will you be seeing each other again?’

‘Hardly.’ Kendall laughed. ‘We didn’t exchange phone numbers or anything. I must dash now, Lindsay. I’ve got to get ready for Tanya and Hugh’s party tonight.’

‘Just stay for coffee, and you can show me the pressie you bought and fill me in on what you’re going to wear,’ Lindsay begged.

‘OK, just a quick coffee,’ she agreed.

It was almost six o’clock before she returned home to her flat. That meant she had just over an hour and a half to fix herself something to eat and to have a shower and get changed before Emma and the taxi arrived. Emma only lived a few minutes’ drive away, so it made sense to share a taxi to the party.

By the time she’d made and eaten a cheese omelette, it was almost half-past six. Less than an hour left to get ready. No time to put her hair up, she’d have to leave it loose.

Thankfully, she’d already decided on what she was going to wear – the emerald-green silk dress she’d bought last Christmas. The colour matched her eyes and complimented her brown hair, while the simple cut showed off her slim figure.

‘You’ll wow everyone in that dress,’ Lindsay had said approvingly when Kendall had told her what she was planning to wear. ‘I bet you end up with a date. Phone me tomorrow and tell me all about it.’

‘There’ll be nothing to tell,’ Kendall had replied. ‘It’s an engagement party. There’ll only be Tanya and Hugh’s family and friends there.’

‘Yes, but High’s bound to have some cute friends,’ Lindsay had teased.

Not as cute as Jake Newman. The thought startled Kendall. What was wrong with her? Had it been so long since she’d had a boyfriend that she fantasised over every man she met now? If that was the case, then maybe Lindsay was right, and it was time she had a bit of light-hearted romance in her life.

The downstairs buzzer sounded just as she’d finished applying her lipstick. She glanced at the clock. It was half-past seven, the taxi – and Emma – were bang on time.

‘Are you ready, Kendy?’ Emma’s voice came over the intercom.

Kendall stood up and surveyed her reflection in the mirror. She’d decided to wear her latest jewellery designs – a jade pendant and matching earrings – that complimented her dress perfectly. She’d made a really unusual silver clasp and chain from which to hang the pendant and was pleased with the effect.

‘I’m on my way,’ she called into the intercom, grabbing her bag and the wrapped engagement present as she headed for the door.

Tanya and Hugh had hired a room at a local hotel for their engagement party. It was a good choice, Kendall thought, as she and Emma walked in. It was a smallish room with a cosy. . .