“Sounds complex. You’ve got a smidge of ketchup there.” I lifted my hands and wiped it away with my finger, a completely mum thing to do, but his response wasn’t one that my daughter would’ve had. He caught my finger in his mouth, sucking on it firmly, then licking it, a promise that spoke straight to between my thighs.
I let my hand drop to his shoulder, unable to look away from his eyes, and then I had to as he leaned in, his hand on my back and closing any gap between us while he took the kiss I’d given willingly.
It probably lasted too long for it to be considered acceptable for public viewing, something that was noted with a female voice yelling at us toget a room,a voice I recognised.
I pulled away, seeing Clover Carew walking her cat along the sand on his lead, a common site to residents of Puffin Bay.
Not to everyone.
“Is she really taking – is that a cat? It looks like it’s escaped from the zoo.” Cas squinted at her and Moonshine, her beloved feline.
“That’s a cat. I think it’s a Maine Coon and there have been reports from holiday makers that there’s a wildcat on the island, probably because they’ve seen Moonshine at night when he’s on the prowl.”
“I’m not surprised. Who’s his owner?”
“That’s Clover. She’s a book editor and works from home. She’s lived on the island forever and I think she went to school with Joel, although he was a bit older. She’ll tell everyone what she’s seen, by the way, so the entirety of your staffroom will know what’s happened before registration tomorrow.” I thought on that for a second. “Which means I can never show my face around the school again.” I felt my cheeks heat and my face start to colour up.
“Am I really that embarrassing?”
“No, I just – what will they think?” I was used to being talked about because of what happened to Joel. Everyone in the town knew the story, everyone in the town had an opinion on how my life should be – usually with best interests and all that.
“They’ll think it’s sweet and if they think any different they won’t say anything. What time are the girls back?”
I checked my watch. “In about half an hour.”
“Come on then, I’ll walk you home. Then I’ll have to locate my training kit.”
I grinned, shaking my head. “Training and then the Puffin Inn for Sunday dinner?”
“Might be.”
It wasn’t until just near the cottages that his hand found mine, enveloping it with his. It was the first time in a long time I’d held an adult's hand, mine usually containing that of a small daughter or her friend’s.
It felt good.
Right.
Maybe too soon, but I knew only too well that you had to make the most of every moment that you had, just in case there weren’t that many moments left.
FOURTEEN
Cassian
“You’re very smiley this morning, Mr Caddick.”
I turned my head to see Reagan Davies, my Year Two teacher, carrying a pile of jigsaws that was almost as tall as her.
“Let me take some of those.” I swept it, not because I didn’t think she was capable, Reagan was more than capable of lots of things, including skydiving which she’d done over the weekend, but because she couldn’t actually see where she was going. This was mainly because she was looking at me.
“Thank you. We’re making our own jigsaws, so we’re starting with some market analysis.” She tipped her chin up and looked forwards as we walked down the corridor that was beginning to feel more and more familiar.
I was still learning as a new head. My previous school had been three times the size, so the role of deputy was full on and it’d prepared me well for this move. Puffin Bay Primary was smaller, the pace was slower, which I liked, and the staff stayed.A lot had always lived on the island, and they didn’t want to leave it, which suited me fine.
“Sounds fun.”
She studied me and smiled. “You definitely are smilier. So is it true? You’re dating Romy McAllister?”
I groaned but I was still grinning. “What rumours have you heard?”
