“Because we’ve been hanging out. But I think I’m done just hanging out. What about you?”
I picked up her hand and threaded my fingers between hers. “I don’t need to redo us being teenagers anymore.”
She nodded, leaning closer to me. “So how does this look? Not being teenagers? Because we get to miss a chunk of the normal courting process out.”
“I don’t know, I think I’ve done a pretty good job of courting you. Your dad would be impressed, if he knew.”
She laughed, tossing her head back, her hair moving like a wild veil. “He’s not stupid. I know he threatened you.”
“Rosie, he’s been threatening me since I was eighteen. Seph’s threats are nothing new.”
“Did they work?”
“Yep. Not going to lie. You were sixteen and I was at university but home for a holiday and he came at me in the kitchen with a knife, not like that - ” I saw the look on her face – “he was carving beef for Sunday lunch, but it still made a point. He told me to just be your friend.”
“So you did.”
“Because he was right. He said sometimes you could go into a relationship too young, because you haven’t had the experience you need to be the person you’re meant to be, and he told me about your aunt Claire and Killian. It made sense.” I watched her, hoping to be able to read what she was thinking.
Claire and Killian might have missed being together. They'd hooked up early and spent years pretending to hate each other because the breakup was so hard. They'd eventually gotten it right, and had several of Rose's favourite cousins, including Eliza, who she was forever texting.
“We’re not kids any more. You’re thirty-two. I’m nearly thirty. We’ve both had at least some experience.” Her fingers tightened around mine. “You’ve experienced a wedding.”
I shook my head. “Not a proper one. The next one will be for real and the opposite of what happened in that room.”
“Fallon told me it was pretty basic.”
“It ticked boxes. We should hear about the annulment in another couple of weeks.” Laurie had chased up the solicitor a couple of days ago, which she hadn’t needed to do. It didn’t matter to her how long it took to be granted. “But I’m not waiting on a judge to tell me it’s okay to be with you.”
She waited a while before speaking, watching me. “I can’t promise that if we ever get to the point of getting married, I’m not going to think about you and Laurie, but I know the motivation was totally different. I know it was a favour and that there was nothing between you. I have dealt with that.”
“Good. I’m sorry it happened.”
“I’m not. I really like Laurie, she’s fun and intelligent and if you hadn’t offered to help her out she wouldn’t be here now in London. So I’m glad it happened. Also, if you’re ever a shit, she’ll be the second person I’d call to help me bury the body.”
“I take it Fallon’s the first.”
“Absolutely. She'll help with the pre-burial.”
“You mean the killing bit.”
“That bit.”
“Not going to lie, I feel slightly scared right now.”
She nodded, slowly. “You should, but I don’t think you need to. I trust you, Carter, and something feels right about this.”
“I know.” My arms were around her now. “I’m going to want to rush things.”
“I won’t let you. But I won’t let things drag either.”
Then she surprised me, swinging her leg over my lap so she was facing me, her legs wrapping round me, her hands on my shoulders.
The awkward anticipation left the room, not even leaving a memory, and her mouth met mine with a kiss that was soft and sweet, tentative at first and then picking up speed.
I let her stay on top, letting her lead, matching her pace because she needed that control after it had been taken away from her with a decision I’d made in haste. She tasted of mints and lipstick, her skin soft under layers of clothing that March still demanded.
I peeled them off one by one, flinging the fitted jumper she’d worn over the side of the bed, followed by a vest, leaving herwearing a bra that made my mouth water. It was green, the colour reminding me of a forest, silk at the bottom and lace above, offering a teasing glimpse of her nipples. If I hadn’t been hard already, I was now.
