Page 41 of A Poisonous Plot

“Arthur’s gone,” he said, after another quick glance along the beach. He got to his feet and offered his hand. “We should go. We’re about to get drenched.” His heart was still beating too fast and he was hyperaware of the softness of her skin as he pulled her up.

She stared at him, and he had the horrible feeling he’d just ruined their friendship. In all fairness, though, it was her who’d suggested he kiss her.

But she probably hadn’t been expecting so much enthusiasm.

Which was surprising really, given the spark between them. He had a sinking feeling that the chemistry he’d felt might have been one-sided.

“We could jog,” Lily suggested, dropping his hand and taking a step back. “Maybe we can get back before we get too wet.”

“Maybe.”

He didn’t think so – not given the bloated drops that were falling from the sky at an increasing rate. Jogging sounded good though, since they wouldn’t need to speak. Also, he felt the need to dispense some pent-up adrenaline.

They slipped into a gentle run along the sand and upped the tempo a little when they were on the solid path. As the rain fell harder, their pace intensified and by the time they took shelter in a shop doorway back in Hugh Town, they were both drenched and laughing as they fought to catch their breath.

“I’m not sure why we bothered to shelter,” Lily said, her breathing levelling out. “I don’t think I can get any wetter.” Shesqueezed a strand of hair that was plastered to her face, causing a stream of water to fall from it.

Flynn looked down at his trainers. He raised onto the balls of his feet, then squelched back down. “I reckon you owe me a new pair of shoes.”

She laughed, and her eyes lit up. “Why do you always make it sound as though I drag you places against your will? You could always say no. Or you could check the weather forecast.”

“I lead a very sad life these days,” he told her as they stepped back into the street, ducking their heads against the force of the driving rain. “Your little adventures keep me entertained.”

Not only her adventures, but hanging out with her in general. Had he messed that up now? He didn’t want their evenings in front of the TV to end because he’d stupidly kissed her. He didn’t want their dinners to stop either, or the nights in the pub, and definitely not the ice cream tasting.

Should he mention the kiss? Or would that make it more awkward? The best thing was probably to pretend it had never happened. Just carry on as normal, and everything would continue to be normal between them.

When they reached the corner where they’d go their separate ways, she smiled at him in a way that didn’t feel at all normal – it looked forced.

“I’ll see you later,” she said, the words almost a question.

He rubbed his hand over his wet hair, sending drips everywhere. “If you’re refusing to compensate me for the shoes, you must owe me dinner, at least.”

“I can manage dinner,” she said.

“I’ll get warm and dry and come over later.” He took a few steps away from her, not leaving space for her to argue. “Message me if you need me to bring anything.”

He quickened his pace, bracing against the wind and rain and hoping he hadn’t messed up their friendship.

And that their kiss wouldn’t lodge itself in his brain and torture him forever.

He suspected that was one hope too many.

Chapter Nineteen

Lily’s thoughtswhirled while she got dry and put on fresh clothes. She was waiting for the kettle to boil when her mind took her back to kissing Flynn. Her stomach fluttered and she paced to the living room, cursing as she went. She shouldn’t be getting butterflies thinking about Flynn. He was her friend. There was no way anything could happen between them.

When the kettle clicked she went back to the kitchen, but only stared at the wall. She really valued her friendship with Flynn and she didn’t want to lose it. Getting butterflies at the thought of him wasn’t good.

It was only a kiss, though. There was no need for anything to change between them.

She lifted the kettle, then immediately put it down again. Time with her own thoughts wasn’t what she needed. Grabbing her boots and raincoat, she ventured back out into the rain.

The downpour had eased off and only a few drops flicked from her coat when she pushed her hood back and slid onto a bar stool in the Mermaid Inn.

“You look pensive,” Seren remarked, wandering over to her.

“I need a beer,” she said. “And I need you to listen to me rant.”

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