She cupped his face in her gloved hands, pressed up on her toes, and kissed him on the lips.
She’d done it. She’d charged right through the sea, and she released him.
His expression—his eyes wide with longing and confusion and joy. Slowly building joy.
“Rechtdoorzee.” She ran to the car. “Now take me to London.”
24
Hugh couldn’t stop watching Aleida, seated beside him in the train compartment on the Buntingford Branch Line. She’d never looked more beautiful. And she had kissed him.
Her eyes were bright, her cheeks pink, her lips curved in a smile.
They’d curved rather nicely around his lips too. If only she’d given him a few more seconds so he could have kissed her back properly.
She gazed out the window at the passing countryside. “London.” Gave Hugh a dreamy smile. “Theo.” Smiled around the compartment. “I found him.”
Round and round she went, smiling at everything and everyone. “London ... Theo ... I found him.”
She could think of nothing but her son—quite rightly.
Hugh could think of nothing but the kiss—quite selfishly.
Yet in an entire day devoted to elation over Theo, was it truly selfish to squeeze in some elation over the kiss? Perhaps squeeze in another few kisses?
He leaned closer. “Recht ... door ... zee.”
Her smile tipped higher into mischief.
Excellent. She was open to flirting. “I admire that about you,” he said in a low voice. “Especially today.”
She swung her gaze to the window, and the pink of her cheeks darkened.
He nudged her with his shoulder. “I have one complaint.”
Her gaze flew back to him. “A complaint?”
“Far be it from me to complain about a kiss from a beautiful woman.” He spoke as low and as close as possible. “Much less a woman I care for deeply, but complain I must.”
“Must you?” Her breath tickled his lips.
“It was too short. I didn’t have time to respond.”
Laughter frolicked in the sea-blue of her eyes. “Is it my fault you’re slow?”
He chuckled. He did like her. “When dealing with a man of my limitations, you must make certain allowances. Next time, I ask for fair warning.”
“You want ... a warning?”
“Allow me time to prepare and kiss you properly, as you deserve.”
Color rose even higher in her cheeks. How he wanted to kiss her right there, but the older woman facing them was trying most desperately not to watch.
Aleida sat back. “May I see your diary? And a pen, please?”
“My diary?” At her nod, he fished diary and pen from his pocket.
She flipped through, wrote something, and handed it back.
