At least not until a gust of icy wind makes me gasp.
Vic turns me so his back is to the worst of it, but the spell is broken. “Go back inside. I’ll go get my stuff, then come say goodbye.”
I’m not ready to let him go, so I step back and grab his hand. “Come on, we’ll jog there. That’ll warm us up.” He laughs as I tug him after me and we jog all the way to where his car’s parked in the main pub car park.
He’s still grinning as he leans against his car and pulls me to him, cold hands cupping my jaw. “When can I see you again?” He kisses me before I can answer, urgent and demanding, and I groan into it.
Maybe Jerry will understand if I ditch him for Vic?
As tempting as that thought is, I would never. I cling to that resolve as Vic slides a thigh between mine. “Soon,” I murmur. He kisses along my jaw and then my neck, and it’s too distracting to offer more.
“I can’t do tomorrow or Thursday,” Vic says as he straightens to face me. “I promised Joe he could stay at the lodge with me. Boys’ nights,” he adds with a smile.
I love that he’s excited to spend time with his son. Not that he shouldn’t be, but I know a few men who wouldn’t pass up sex for family time.
“How about Friday?” I slide my hands up under his coat, seeking warm skin. Find it and laugh when Vic sucks in a breath.
“Cold,” he hisses, but he’s still smiling. “And yeah, Friday would be good. You can come to my lodge if you like?” He pulls me close enough to rub against the hard outline in his jeans.
Fuck. Friday seems years away. “I can’t leave Lucky all night.”
His eyebrows rise. “You staying over?”
“What?” I play my words back and realise how that sounded. “No, I just meant?—”
He kisses me again. “I was messing with you. I’d love you to stay the night, and bring Lucky with you.” Another kiss. “I’ll check with Liz, but I don’t think it’ll be a problem.”
I could stay here in this moment, with Vic’s arms around me, holding me close, his hot kisses keeping the cold at bay. But I have food to prepare and Vic has a pregnant lady to take shopping. “Friday,” I whisper, drawing back so I can meet his eyes. They’re more of a hazelly green tonight, and our gazes lock, the heat in his unmistakable and I wonder if mine is the same.
“Can’t wait.”
I step back because someone needs to make the first move.
His hand catches mine. “Have a good night tonight. Text me later?” It’s subtle but there’s a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
My free hand has a mind of its own and I’m cupping his jaw before I realise. “You want me to say goodnight, Vic?” I’m only half teasing, and his slow smile is a thing of beauty.
“Yeah, I do. Is that okay?”
Perfectly okay with me. I nod and drop my hands. “Later.”
I walk away before I’m tempted to push him into the back seat of his car and have my wicked way with him. That would give the villagers something to talk about.
It’s not until I get back inside the pub that I realise Vic’s still got my coat.
Arse.
Oh well, I have spares back at home. And if I’m honest, I quite like the idea of him wearing it.
Jerry watches me as I walk over to our table. For once his expression is hard for me to read and I sit down, not sure what reaction I’m going to get from him. I make a fuss of Lucky, but when Jerry still hasn’t said anything, I sigh. “Spit it out.”
He shrugs and takes a drink of his pint. “You like him.”
I huff. “I told you I did.”
“I know, but it’s different seeing it for myself.”
“Yeah, well. I also said it’s early days, so don’t go reading too much into it.”
