Page 86 of Knots About You
‘Better.’
We ate in comfortable silence, soaking in the sound of the gentle waves crashing on the shore. Fingers pressed to the chip paper, half because we were greedy buggers, and half to warm through our frozen hands.
When I finished eating, I flopped back onto the sand and soaked in the glorious view—both Owen and the sky beyond him.
‘So.’ Owen placed his wrapper aside and immediately lost a chip to Trevor. ‘Updates from the land of awful. My lawyer served a cease-and-desist to Becky, and a very blunt note about the legal definition of revenge porn. With any luck, that’s the last we hear from her.’
I relaxed against the sand, hoping she was gone for good. Fingers crossed, I wouldn’t see Becky’s face around Otterleigh Bay again. ‘Good riddance to bad eggs.’
‘Any news from Marty?’
‘Nothing at all, and long may it continue. If he resurfaces, I might need to borrow that lawyer.’
‘What’s mine is yours.’ Owen traced an icy finger over my collarbone, and I shivered.
‘I can’t believe it’s my last week in Rose Cottage, these two months have zipped by.’ I swallowed and rolled to face Owen, smiling as his fingers moved to my jaw. ‘It’s flown by.’
Stepping into the bare cottage, dust sheets obscuring nearly everything, felt like a million years ago. I’d spent weeks perfecting its cottage-core vibe until it was pin-worthy. Theowner had already filled it through until Spring after my time was up. I felt like I’d been renovated, too. Stripped back from all the things I thought I wanted, bared, and rebuilt from the ground up.
‘What happens after your last week? London?’ Owen kissed me sweetly before resting his forehead on mine. ‘And if it is… will I fit in your bag?’
My pulse quickened as I luxuriated in his scent. All wood and whisky and every so slightly vinegar that night.
‘No. You won’t. You’re a big hulking behemoth of a guy, and you’d burst my zips. But also because I don’t wantLondon. I love it here. The thought of leaving makes me want to cry.’
The relief came off him in waves. ‘Move in with me. Inspector Meowrse will make room in my bed, and let’s face it, you already almost live there.’
‘You don’t think it’s too soon?’ I asked.
‘I don’t think it’s soon enough, to be honest.’
I flushed and flattened a hand against his cheek. ‘You’re not sick of me yet?’
‘Never. Not even when I discover abandoned socks and have to watch reality TV.’
‘I want to open my own PR and marketing agency. Aimed at small businesses, like the ones in Otterleigh Bay. Where I can actually help people rather than fighting pop-up fires every day for massive corporations that don’t care about me, somewhere I’m not made to feel small. Where if I cock up, it’smycock-up, and if I win, it’smywin.’
A ripple of pleasure filled Owen’s handsome face, melting my insides. ‘Good. Mum’s been dying for me to invite you for Christmas. Want to put her out of her misery?’
I grinned. I’d grown rather fond of the Harris clan. ‘Right now?’
‘She’ll need ample time to knit you a god awful monogrammed jumper.’
I raised my brows.
‘Oh yes, I lured you in before revealing that secret. I still have all thirty-odd of them stashed away.’
‘And Becky wanted to reveal your rope kink… amateur.’
Owen kissed me as I giggled, his tongue stroking need into me that was entirely indecent.
He fished his phone out and rang Jean. The pub appeared on screen, full-blown noise blasting out over the beach. Jean, Isla, Jeff and Jim hunched over a quiz sheet while Kenny called out questions in the background.
I’ve got great news,’ Owen said.
‘What?’ Jean asked.
‘Speak up!’ Jim added.
