Then Max comes rushing up, and Cullen lowers his hand.
“I found a shell,” Max says, showing me. “It’s really pretty. You can have it, Mummy.”
“Thank you, darling. It’s beautiful.” I slide it into my pocket, and we continue walking on. I feel full of emotion, but also hope and excitement. Cullen understands. He’s going to stay for Christmas. It gives us time to get to know each other. To see if there’s anything more between us than physical attraction.
Maybe wishes do come true, after all.
Chapter Nine
Cullen
We arrive back at Isla’s place, and she unlocks the door. Max runs inside, but I stop on the steps to the small deck.
“You’re welcome to come in,” she says. “My parents have mentioned calling me at seven tonight, but I can always text and put them off for a while.”
I’m tempted, but she looks tired, and I’m weary too. It’s been a busy day, and I need some time to think about the meeting today, and the fact that I’ve told her I’ll be staying for Christmas. I’m already doubting myself. I shouldn’t have done that.
But despite the dark circles under her eyes, when she looks at me I still get a zap of electricity down my spine. I like her, and I know she feels the same way about me. Neither of us thought this would happen when we came to the Ark. But she’s like a comet shooting through my solar system, a blaze of light in the darkness. Am I just going to observe her passing through? Or am I going to encourage the collision?
“No,” I say, “that’s okay, I know you have to get Max ready for bed. But you’ll be at the party tomorrow?” It’s the staff Christmas party, and even though I’m not normally one for parties, it sounds as if it’s going to be fun.
“I’ll be there,” she says, and smiles.
She’s standing a few steps up, so as I move closer to her, we’re almost level. Her eyes flare. She knows I want to kiss her.
I lift a hand and cup her cheek. Her turquoise eyes stare into mine, and then she turns her head and kisses the inside of my wrist. Just that simple touch of her lips against my skin sends little electrical pulses through my system. I really, really, like this girl. I can’t put my finger on why, but she takes my breath away.
Sliding my hand to the back of her neck, I move closer and lower my head.
“Mum! I can’t get the TV to come on.”
I drop my hand and move back hastily as Max comes out onto the deck. Isla looks at him, then, without looking at me, takes the remote control from his hand. “That’s because you were watching a DVD this morning. You need to change the HDMI channel, remember?”
“I tried that. It still doesn’t work.”
She clicks her tongue and goes into the house.
I slide my hands into the pockets of my shorts. Max stands in front of me, twisting another dinosaur in his hands.
“Were you going to kiss her?” he asks suspiciously.
I purse my lips. “I was thinking about it.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you want to kiss her?”
“Ah… because I like her, and it’s what you do when you like a girl.”
“Kissing’s yuck,” he says.
I stifle a laugh. “It is when you’re a kid. It’s not so bad when you’re a grown up.” I shouldn’t mock him, though. After everything he’s been through, it might be alarming for him to see his mother kissing another man. I’m well aware she’s not the only one I have to win over.
“Is that okay?” I ask softly. “Me kissing your mum?”
He studies his dinosaur. Then he looks inside, to where we can see her bending over the TV to check the plug. “She cries a lot.”
