Page 71 of The Happy Hour
‘It’s all very shiny,’ Jess said, as a group of teenagers in shorts and vest tops went past them, giggling. ‘And it’s important, historically. This staircase is the first of its kind.’
‘I should have taken you to the properBridgertonhouse.’
‘The Ranger’s House? I wouldn’t have been bothered about that, either.’
Ash ran a hand through his hair. ‘I’m sorry. I’ve got this all wrong.’ He looked so forlorn, Jess couldn’t bear it.
She noticed a closed doorway in the far corner of the hall, its heavy frame creating a deep alcove, the area in shadow. ‘Come on.’ She took his hand and led him to it.
‘What’s this?’ he asked, as she turned so her back was against the door. Ash hovered in front of her. ‘What are we...?’ She let go of his hand and grabbed his shirt, pulling him forwards. He smelled amazing, his aftershave smoky and delicious, and she watched his pupils dilate, the grey consumed by black as he looked down at her.
‘I’m interested in you,’ she said softly. ‘I don’t mind where we go, or what we do.’
‘Are we going to stay here until five o’clock,’ he murmured. ‘Hope nobody spots us and get ourselves locked in, so we can hunt for the ghost?’
She grinned up at him. ‘You don’t have to get back home?’
‘For who? Mack, or the cactus that lives on my windowsill? They’re mostly self-sufficient.’
‘Great,’ she whispered. ‘I wonder what the bedrooms are like here.’
‘If we really do get locked in, we can explore.’ He cupped her chin and tilted her face up, and then his lips were on hers, the kiss more gentle than usual, as if they were both aware of the evening stretching ahead of them. Jess felt every nerve ending in her body fizz to life, and she pulled him closer, biting back a moan as his body pressed so perfectly against hers.
‘This was a good idea,’ she said in between kisses, her hands sliding up his back, into the soft hair at his nape. She felt drugged, dizzy.
‘It’s a good doorway,’ he murmured.
‘I meanthis,’she whispered. ‘Friday night. Seeing each other outside our hour.’
‘I think that wasmyidea.’
‘I’m looking forward to seeing what else you’ve got planned,’ she said.
Ash raised an eyebrow, and then kissed her so thoroughly that all her words were lost. They could have gone on for hours – Jess was getting worked up, wishing that she hadn’t started this in a fuckingdoorwayof all places – if it hadn’t been for a very loud, very annoyed ‘Excuse me’ that echoed through the space behind them.
‘I’m not sure Henrietta Maria would have appreciated this behaviour.’ It was the guide they’d passed on their way in. ‘And we’re closing shortly.’
‘We got carried away,’ Ash said, stepping back from Jess. ‘It’s a very romantic building. Henrietta Maria wouldn’t have begrudged us a few stolen kisses, surely?’
‘That may well be.’ The guide hoisted his belt up, as if he was a small-town sheriff with a gun instead of a walkie-talkie. ‘But my boss will have my guts if he finds out I’ve let you engage in illicit acts in here.’
‘Hardly illicit,’ Jess said, though she couldn’t believe that she, of all people, had been caught kissing in a historical building. Ash was addling her brain.
‘Hardly appropriate, either. There are kids here, pensioners. What if one of them has a heart attack?’
‘I don’t...’ Ash started.
‘That was pretty much rhetorical,’ the guide said. ‘Go and roll about on the grass in the park. It’s a gorgeous evening, and nobody will bat an eyelid there.’
‘Understood.’ Ash took Jess’s hand and pulled her towards the exit.
‘Thanks for not arresting us!’ Jess called behind her, and Ash picked up his pace until they were out in the sunshine again.
‘So, that went well,’ he said as they walked down the path, Jess getting her hand comfortable in his, not letting go. ‘Where next on our disastrous date?’
Jess traced a finger over her lips. ‘It was hardly disastrous.’ She gave him an impish grin.
‘Let’s go and get a drink. Do you know the Trafalgar Tavern? It’s got great views of the river, apparently.’
