Emmerdale's Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) has slept with Kev (Chris Coghill) after he exposed a surprise tender side, following weeks of support since her husband Jimmy (Nick Miles) died.
The pair's connection has been building since Jimmy's death, with Kev becoming Nicola's rock. Nicola recently misread signals and planted a kiss on Kev, and he has been there to help keep the business going, offer a shoulder to cry on, and fend off the likes of Sadie King (Patsy Kensit).
Nicola's Grief and Guilt
Nicola recently learned that Jimmy wasn't the dirty dog Sadie had made him out to be and that he hadn't been cheating on her after all. Now that she knows the truth, she is contending with grief and guilt.
Grief is hitting her hard, and one lunchtime rush is enough to tip her over the edge. She snaps and throws everyone out of the café, and it is only Kev who can convince her to open the door and let him in.
A Heart to Heart and a Shared Bed
Once inside, he gives her a big bear hug. They have a heart to heart as Nicola opens up about the pain she is in. She is surprised to see Kev offer up his own vulnerable side.
Nicola makes a heartbreaking admission – she cannot sleep without Jimmy's snoring. Kev is saddened by this, and for a change of scenery and a break from the marital bed, Kev offers her his. Nicola accepts the kind offer.
But it doesn't change things, she still can't sleep. She gets up in the night, and as she walks past Kev on the sofa, she notices him snoring – the sound she has craved.
She lies down on the floor next to him hoping his snoring will help soothe her to sleep, the comfort of his laboured breathing washing over her. The question now is whether she will turn to him for more than his snoring for comfort.
