Page 58 of Starting Over at Halesmere House
‘Please.’ Zac dropped a kiss behind her ear. Another landed on her shoulder and then her neck. ‘I thought you were getting up?’
‘And I thought you weren’t going to stop me?’
‘I’m not,’ he murmured, inching lower. ‘I’m not doing a thing. I’m not even touching you.’
‘I think your mouth right there definitely counts as touching. I thought you were hungry as well?’
‘Let me show you just how much.’
Alice closed her eyes, and all thoughts of breakfast were abandoned. It was another forty minutes before she dragged herself out of his bed, searching for her bag. She found it behind the bath, where he’d left it last night. Zac propped a hand beneath his head, watching as she lifted out an ivory silk robe she’d never worn. She slipped it on and tied the belt.
‘You’re wearing that to bring me breakfast?’
‘I am. I didn’t bring much else with me and I’m not putting that cycling kit back on now.’ She looked at him over her shoulder at the top of the stairs and very nearly turned around. He was sitting up in bed, the duvet around his waist, and she was wondering again if breakfast could wait.
‘Please don’t be long.’
‘I’ll try.’
Downstairs, it only took a couple of minutes to explore the cupboards in the tiny kitchen, and ten minutes later she returned to the bedroom with a tray.
‘Tea and toast. There isn’t any cereal and anything else would take too long. I hope you don’t mind crumbs in the bed.’
‘Not if you’re joining them. Come here.’
Alice set the tray down beside him and he took her hand, sliding her onto his lap. ‘Do you have any plans for today?’
‘No plans, just an idea.’ Last night was already over and she’d made sure to keep today free, just in case. ‘Do you?’
‘No.’ The teasing laughter from before disappeared. ‘Alice, just say if this is too much and it’s not what you want but I was wondering how you felt about spending the day together?’
‘Really? I’d love that.’ She curled an arm around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss.
‘Perfect. So what’s your idea?’
‘Didn’t you say you wanted to see my car?’
‘I did. I’ve been wondering when you were going to suggest it.’ Zac hooked a finger through the belt on her robe.
‘Then how do you fancy a drive up the coast?’
‘I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.’ He undid the belt and slid the robe from her shoulders. ‘Later.’
Alice showered and changed at the barn and when they were ready, she opened the garage, starting her Porsche with the usual thrill as the engine roared into life. Everything inside it, from the steering wheel beneath her fingers, the view of the three dials on the dashboard and the seat snug around her, were all so familiar as she eased the car onto the drive, winter sunlight streaming off it.
‘Wow. That’s some colour.’
‘Are you being rude about my car already?’ A breeze was catching at her hair as she got out and gave him an indignant look. ‘I know she’s bright, but I love her.’
‘So this isn’t the right moment to say something about bananas?’
‘You’d better not,’ she warned, one arm leaning on the open door. She turned the engine off and flicked the keys at him. ‘Not if you’re going to drive.’
‘Me?’ The grin faded as Zac came around to her side of the car. ‘Alice, are you sure? You don’t have to do this, not if you don’t want to.’ He hesitated. ‘I’ll be okay. I trust you.’
‘You do? That’s so lovely.’ She raised a hand to his face. ‘But you’ve never seen me drive.’
‘Well, how fast can you really go in a lorry, and this?’ He ran a hand along the door. ‘It’s practically an antique.’
