Page 36 of A Kiss under the Stars
So why am I not feeling my usual elation, thinking aboutit?
Liam nods. Then he looks away, down the garden towards thebeech hedge that marks out the Sycamore House plot. ‘Bournemouth isn’t too faraway,’ he murmurs, almost to himself.
I glance at him, admiring his strong jawline in profile. Helooks lost in thought.
But then next second, he turns with that eye-crinkling smilethat turns my knees to jelly. ‘If you wanted to come back and visit, I mean.’
‘Yes. I suppose so.’ I return his smile, my mood suddenly lighter,although I can’t imagine why. Coming back to Sunnybrook has never been on myradar. My plan all along has been to get the house fixed up, get it back on themarket – and then get the hell out of here.
So why am I feeling so conflicted and confused?
CHAPTER TWENTY
I give a little shiver and Liam gets to his feet.
‘Come on. It’s getting chilly. I’ll help you clear up andthen I’ll go and leave you in peace.’
‘Okay.’
‘Great cheesecake.’
‘I can make some coffee,’ I say quickly. ‘Would you like acup before you go?’
My heart is on tenterhooks, waiting for his reply.
He smiles and nods. ‘I’d love some.’ He holds out his handand I take it, and I’m laughing as he pulls me up. I forget about the cheesecakedish at my feet, stepping over it at the last moment and bumping into him in a ratherungainly manner. ‘Oops. Sorry.’
His hands are on my waist to steady me. ‘How strong was thatbeer?’ he jokes.
I laugh and our eyes meet, and my reply dies on my lips. Welook into each other’s eyes and another little shiver runs through me – a feelingthat has nothing to do with the chill of the evening. I can’t seem to drag mygaze away and neither, it seems, can Liam. My heart is pounding so fast, I feelsure he must be able to hear it.
His mouth is so close now. He has a beautiful mouth. I’vebeen longing to kiss that mouth, I realise, ever since our first ratherexplosive meeting when I was swinging a sledgehammer around.
I feel his hands move, holding me more naturally, and Isettle myself in the circle of his arms, my own hands on the small of his back.I can feel the heat of his skin through the thin cotton of his shirt and myhands travel upwards, exploring the hard muscles of his upper back andshoulders.
He pulls me hard against him and a soft moan escapes mylips. Then he brings his mouth down on mine and I’m lost...floating away on a cloud of bliss... my fingers tangled inthe hair at the nape of his smooth, strong neck... feelinghis body against me and wanting more and more of him...
The owl hoots overhead, three times in succession. Spellbroken, we move apart.
‘Sorry,’ I mumble awkwardly.
Liam chuckles softly. ‘I’m not.’
‘Neither am I, really.’So why on earth did I feel I hadto apologise! And why the hell am I finding it so impossible to look him in theeye now?
‘It’s a dangerous combination.’ He bends to pick up ourdishes. ‘A night sky full of stars and cheesecake. It does for me every time.’
We look at each other and laugh, the ice broken.
I pick up the beer bottles and follow him inside, my heartstill bumping along at a fair old rate as a result of that steamy kiss. Maybeitwasthe stars and the moonlight to blame, although I’d like to think theyhad nothing to do with it.
I make coffee and we drink it sitting on my ‘bed’ in theliving room.
‘You got mail today, by the way.’ Liam’s eye travels to thewindowsill. ‘I put it up there, out of the way.’
‘Probably just junk mail.’
He nods. ‘And one letter addressed to you, if I rememberrightly.’
