Page 80 of On Circus Lane

“We could be here a while,” I advise Tom. “If you can set light to it, Ivy will buy it.”

His grey eyes search mine, and I know what he’s going to say before he says it. “I have to say I’m surprised you asked me to come with you today,” he tells me.

I start to respond flippantly, which is always my fallback position, but then hesitate. There’s a faint hoarseness to his voice like he’s nervous, and I feel a wave of affection and protectiveness rush through me, which is both surprising and unwelcome.

When I finally say something, my voice is soft and warm. “Well, maybe I like your company, Tom.”

He instantly brightens, and I can’t help but smile at him. We’re grinning at each other when someone clears their throat behind us. I spin to find an old man observing us and waiting to get by.

“Sorry,” Tom instantly says. “We’ll get out of your way.”

“Thank you, young man,” he says, moving slowly past.

“We’d better move.” Tom takes my arm and steers me away from the shops.

As we move, my boot hits a slippery bit of the cobbles, and my foot shoots out from under me. I gasp, expecting to hit the ground painfully, but Tom grabs me, swinging me into him. We fall together against one of the park railings.

“Ouf,” he grunts.

“Oh my god, I’msosorry,” I gasp. I pull away to check if I hurt him, but he stays me, his gaze holding mine. His eyes are full of heat and amusement, and before I can think twice, I rise on my toes and fit my mouth to his.

Tom’s cheeks are cold, but his lips are warm, and his fingers, when they cradle my face, are so gentle they make my eyes hot. He pulls back. “I didn’t think we’d do this again.”

“You wereverywrong,” I inform him, and he grins before kissing me again.

We’re shielded by the hanging branches of a big tree, and I enthusiastically return his kiss, finding that he tastes as sweet as he did last night. I make a disgruntled sound when he pulls away, and he smiles, his lips swollen and pouty.

“Ivy,” he warns.

For a second, I can’t remember who that is. “Oh,Ivy. Oh yes.”

I go to move away, and he stops me again. “I want to pick this up when we get back.”

Before my mind can tell me no, my mouth opens, and I say, “Yes.”

His grin widens, and I blink as he drops an almost fond kiss on my nose. “Good.”

When Ivy comes out laden with bags we’re standing innocently waiting for her. Her eyes narrow, and then I see the moment she decides not to ask.

Tom jumps forward to grab her bags, and she gives him a warm smile of approval. “Thank you,” she says gratefully.

He looks at the bags in his hands. “Did you buy all the wax in Edinburgh?”

She chuckles. “I bought you one.”

“Did you?” he asks, surprised and obviously touched.

“Yes, it’s got cinnamon and vanilla in it, and it’s warm like you.”

I clear my throat. “And what about me?”

She waves a dismissive hand. “Oh, I bought you something with sage in it in the hope that it’ll cleanse your soul.”

The two idiots laugh at me, and rather than get snippy, I smile because they’re adorable.

We continue walking down the road, and I look at the huge church looming ahead of us. It’s tall and gloomy but has a sort of gothic beauty about it. I read from the board, “St Stephen’s.” I glance at Tom. “Is that where we’re going?”

“Nope. Take a left turn.”

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