Page 84 of Artful Deceit
“In three weeks?”
“Yeah. I want to have a definite date, so when I leave I know when I’ll see you again. That would make it easier, wouldn’t it?”
“Yeah,” she said vaguely. That would make it easier. And three weeks felt manageable. “I could come to London. And it’s good if I come before Jessica leaves, so she can open the shop if the weather is decent.”
“We’ll arrange it so you come on my days off. We can go sight-seeing… or just lie around in bed. Oh, but you also have to meet my mum.”
“What?” she said, a small smile pulling at her lips.
“She’s desperate to meet you.”
“You told her about me?”
“Of course. She’s heard all about you.”
“I’d like to meet her,” Lily mused. “And a few days in London with you sounds like fun.”
Her muscles slowly relaxed, and she sank into Flynn’s embrace as the sun descended to the horizon. The tips of waves reflected the soft pink light, twinkling gloriously.
“The sunset was worth waiting for,” Flynn said, wrapping his arms tighter around her.
“Yes,” she turned her face into his neck and inhaled the scent of him.
He’d told her he loved her, and she was very aware that she hadn’t said it back. She opened her mouth, but the words wouldn’t come.
It felt like a mental block, and it occurred to her it wasn’t something she’d said often in her life. Only to her uncle, and definitely not as often as she should have done.
Lifting Flynn’s hand to her lips, she kissed his palm.
Hopefully, he knew how she felt about him without her having to say it.
Chapter Forty-Two
The restof the week went far too quickly. On Friday evening, Lily and Flynn went to Kit and Seren’s place for drinks after his last official day of work. Being with other people was the breath of fresh air they needed, and when the rest of the Trenearys turned up over the course of the evening, along with Ted and PC Hill, it turned into the perfect understated leaving party for Flynn.
It involved a lot of chatter about the new sergeant, who neither Flynn nor PC Hill had taken to. There was also a fun exchange of stories about Sergeant Proctor, which seemed to prepare Lily for the memorial service the following day.
Having that to focus on meant the weekend disappeared with Lily barely having time to think about Flynn’s imminent departure. Their plan to see each other helped, though. With that in place, she no longer felt the uncontrolled panic she’d previously had. But she also still hadn’t fully rid herself of the notion that he may be able to stay after all.
At least until she was saying goodbye to him in the hallway of her flat. Neither of them was keen on an airport farewell, and since Jago had offered to drive Flynn to the airport, they opted for an unemotional goodbye at Lily’s place. It felt like all theother times they’d said goodbye. Just an extended hug and a see you later.
Easy.
Except a little more than an hour after he’d left, she wasn’t sure an easy goodbye was what she wanted. She told Jessica she was heading out for a walk and set off toward the airport, gradually increasing her pace while keeping an eye on the sky for the sight of his plane leaving. After being adamant she didn’t want an airport goodbye, she was suddenly desperate for one. Especially as there was something she needed to tell him and it suddenly felt imperative.
By the time she had the airport in her sights, she was jogging, and shifted into a sprint as she approached the building.
“Have I missed him?” she called to Jago Treneary when he almost ran her over driving out of the car park.
“I don’t know.” He grimaced through the open window. “He was about to go through security when I left. Do you want me to wait for you?”
“No, thanks,” she said and darted to the entrance. Inside the small building, she didn’t have to go far. Relief made her slightly giddy when she spotted Flynn slouched in a chair near the security area with his backpack at his feet. “Aren’t you supposed to be getting on a plane?” she called happily.
Flynn’s head whipped up, but it was the airport worker nearby who replied.
“He’s got about two minutes and then he’s missed the plane,” he said with a hint of an eye roll.
“What are you doing here?” Flynn asked, standing as Lily approached him.
