Page 54 of The Wedding Cake Wish
‘No.’ Hudson drags me back into the shadows, and we wait asRory gets out and marches back in the direction of the office.
‘Maybe he forgot something.’
‘Quick. Now’s our chance,’ he hisses. ‘But we’ll have torun.’
‘You say that like I won’t be able to manage it.’
‘Stop talking and run!’ He takes my hand and we flee along,heading for the open gate, our feet echoing noisily in the silence of thenight. I can’t help thinking Rorymustbe able to hear us.
Then, at the noise of an engine starting up again behind us,we speed up, desperate to get through the gate before Rory sees us.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
‘Nearly there,’ pants Hudson.
‘It’s a bit exciting, this investigating lark,’ I gasp, as asharp pain pierces my side. Cramp on top of everything else!
At last, we reach the gate and run through – just as the vantrundles round the corner behind us and comes into view. We dive into sometrees to the left, knowing Rory will likely turn right, retracing his routeback to the village. Then, once the van has disappeared into the distance, we hurryalong to pick up the taxi that’s still waiting there for us...
*****
Back at the glamping site, I flump on the sofa, exhausted.‘I’d love to know what he was doing in that office.’
‘Who knows? Could be entirely innocent.’
‘Bet it wasn’t.’
He hands me a glass of water with a knowing grin. ‘You justwant more mystery and intrigue. Admit it.’
‘Of course I do.’ I smile shyly up at him. ‘You know me sowell.’
We exchange an amused glance that’s full of warm affection,and my stomach flips over with happiness. He put his own glass on the sidetable and sinks back onto the sofa with a tired groan, stretching his arms overhis head, close enough so that his thigh is touching my knee.
‘My eyes are closing.’ He smothers a yawn. ‘I can’t take thepace. I must be getting old.’
‘It’s after midnight.’
‘I guess we should hit the hay, then.’
I swallow. ‘I guess so.’
He looks across at me, his head still resting on the back ofthe sofa, and our eyes meet.
‘You can have the bed,’ he says.
‘What about you?’
‘Sofa bed?’
‘Even if it’s as hard as the floor?’ I joke, my hearthammering in my ears.
He sighs. But he’s smiling. ‘What other option is there?’
There’s a query in his stunning green and blue eyes thatmakes my insides flip over again.Is that a real question he’s asking? Andif so...
‘Well, I suppose we could both...sleep inthe bed.’
‘I suppose we could.’ He gazes at me steadily.
