‘Well, no, but definitely in a good way. I think. I am, admittedly, a little confused.’
‘Confused about Katie?’
Jamie’s eyes widened. ‘No! That was not anything.’Shit, She saw me wiping away a tear from Katie’s face. Why did I do that?As soon as his hand had shot to her face, he thought better of it. And now he was really regretting it. Alicia appeared unconvinced.
‘Are you sure I didn’t interrupt something?’
‘You definitely did not,’ Jamie leant into the car. ‘Come inside and I’ll explain.’
Alicia said nothing.
Jamie was freezing cold. His jumper was in the house and for the past ten minutes, he’d been standing outside in zero degrees Celsius in only jeans and a shirt. He moved back out of the car and took a chance on the passenger door. It opened, and he climbed in. But as soon as he did, the smell of frangipani assaulted him, and he wondered if he’d be able to conduct a sentient conversation.
‘Jamie!’
‘Sorry, but it’s bloody freezing, even for me. If you drive down there and park we can talk, or even better, come inside.’
Alicia didn’t move the car. Or her mouth to talk. What was going on?
‘Alicia, please. You’ve come here for a reason. And two days ago I was in LA looking for you.’
‘I know. That’s why I’m here.’
‘It is? You got my message?’
‘I did.’
‘Great! We’re on the same page then?’
‘I thought we were. I’m just…processing. Look, why don’t I find a guest house in the village. We can talk tomorrow.’
At this ridiculous suggestion, Jamie spoke with authority. ‘Alicia! You are not staying at a guest house in the village. I know what you think you saw, but it was not that, and if you drive away now, after travelling halfway across the world, then you’re cheating yourself.’ It was risky talking to Alicia like this but saying nothing was a risk too.
‘What if you’re the one cheating yourself? When you flew to LA and left that voice note that I had got things wrong, but now?—’
‘Everything on that voice note was true,’ Jamie cut in. ‘I poured my heart out, in front of some random stranger – who was wearing an awful suit, I might add. What you saw’ — Jamie cringed at the memory —‘me wiping away a tear, was nothing. I think for a second I thought I was Clark Gable or something. Katie’s upset because she and Frank have split and she was worried she’d be homeless and pregnant. Possibly it was force of habit – but it means nothing, Leesh, please know that.’
Alicia searched Jamie’s face. ‘Okay,’ she said, with uncertain conviction.
‘I’m not blowing this again,’ Jamie added. ‘I refuse. Will you come inside and let’s talk?’ He reached for her hand and shivered at how cold it was. ‘Jesus, you’re freezing. Come on. Park the car or I will come round there and scoopyou up and take you inside, and you remember what happened last time I scooped you up?’
A small smile crept onto Alicia’s lips. She remembered. But still she asked, ‘Are you sure?’
‘Okay, you know what: My words are not enough to convince you, so why don’t you drive the car down there.’ Jamie motioned to the wide mouth of the driveway in front of the house. ‘Then turn and drive back into town. I want to show you some things that might make you believe me. I’d do the driving, but I’ve had a glass of wine.’
Alicia examined Jamie for a moment, as if for evidence he was serious. Then, when she saw he was, she turned on the ignition and did as he asked.
Chapter 35
Alicia
Jamie told Alicia to drive to his house. It would have been quicker if it hadn’t begun snowing again, but the roads were empty and the village was so small that the journey was a quick one.
Being back at Jamie’s home was a heady mix of strange and comforting. The cottage smelled as she remembered it: of wood smoke and Jamie’s cologne. The same scent was drifting warmly from his skin and Alicia sidestepped a little to calm the effect it was having on her nervous system.
‘Are you okay?’ he asked. ‘You must be exhausted. Would you like a cup of tea, or something stronger?’
‘I’m good,’ Alicia lied. She would love a cup of tea or a nap. More than that, she would give anything for Jamie to pull her into his warm, wide chest and take away all her worries. She wanted to feel safe by his side. To lie down on the bed tucked into his bear-like form and fall fast asleep.
