‘Is that so? And what would that payment be?’
‘That’s for me to know and you to take a risk on finding out.’
He laughed and buried his head in her hair. God, he was a rush. How could it be like this so quickly with him? So dangerously, addictively good.
‘Okay.’ Niall dabbed kisses in time with Carli’s pulse down her neck to the dip of her clavicle. ‘I’ll take down these tents and then we can erect something else somewhere else. I’ve a place in mind you’ll like. And I’m paying.’
Carli tried to protest. ‘No, I’ve budgeted for this holiday. And you’ve done enough.’
‘What, going down on you and sleeping next to you for one night? I can do better than that.’
‘It was good hospitality. I’d have given you four and a half stars.’
‘Four and a half? What are you knocking the bloody half star off for?’
‘For forgetting the condoms,’ she joked.
He leaned back and laughed. ‘I didn’t forget them. I had no idea I was going to need them. And don’t worry, we’ll be stopping off at the nearest shop and stocking up this morning.’
‘Great. And don’t worry. Four stars is giving you room for improvement. If I give you five stars, then it doesn’t setthe bar high for today.’
‘Absolutely, although the bar in my mind is already set very fucking high.’
Carli’s breath hitched at the beauty of the place. Niall had driven them out onto a rocky outcrop of land where a pristine white lighthouse overlooked the mighty blue of the Irish Sea. Surrounding it was a small white lighthouse keeper’s cottage.
‘This is beyond stunning,’ she said. ‘How did I never notice this place?’
‘You probably did. It’s been cleaned up a bit since you were here and now it’s fancy holiday accommodation. I’ve booked a night in the cottage.’
‘Oh, Niall! Thank you. It’s absolutely beautiful here. I’m blown away, almost literally. It’s kind of windy.’
As a counterpoint to the wind, the cottage was a cosy little chocolate box with a wood-burning stove and vintage velvet couches in the lounge. Carli didn’t get to explore any more because Niall stole her attention by taking her hand and pulling her to him.
‘Come here.’ His eyes twinkled – a spark of promise she wanted to turn to fire. But something had set into Carli already. After a late night and the stress of the drive, she had twinges of pain and her body was crying for rest.
‘I might have a nap and a bath first.’
‘Want some company,’ Niall asked, stroking her hair. It almost cancelled out the need for a nap. Almost.
‘It’s okay. Maybe we can have lunch and…’ Carli edged backwards and flopped into one of the armchairs.
Niall scrutinised her, like he knew she was avoiding something. ‘Do you not want to?’ He hunkered down infront of her. ‘Because if you don’t, then you only have to say.’
‘No, I do want to. I… I’m a bit tired and could do with a little rest first. It’s the jet lag.’ Blaming it on the jet lag was injudicious. It was an excuse with a rapidly approaching use-by-date.
‘Okey dokey,’ Niall conceded. ‘I’ll wait until the jet lag is gone and tough old Cass is back on the scene.’
She froze.Tough old Cass.Niall wasn’t to know, but he’d called her possibly the worst thing he could. The use of that word – tough – bothered her, because what did tough mean? What Niall meant was old Carli would have raced up a hill or had a play fight or sex whenever she felt like it, and that constituted tough. Physical resilience was toughness; the obviously visible was strength. And Niall had no idea that ‘tough old Carli’ the girl he’d fallen for, wouldn’t ever be back on the scene.
He must have seen that he’d hit a nerve. ‘What did I say?’ He pulled over a footstool to sit on and implored the truth from her with his willingness to listen. But she wasn’t ready for this. Not nearly ready for it, for the discussion about her health problems. She was only finding her feet with him again and needed time to work out how to approach what would normally be the dating euthanasia conversation. Because, the thing was, Niall was different. Whatever this was between them, Carli didn’t want to euthanise it. But she didn’t want him to kill it either.Fuck.
‘It’s nothing,’ she said.
‘Why does that feel like a big fat lie?’ Niall ran his hand over his jaw. ‘You’re not telling me something here, Cass. Can you be honest, please? What’s changed?’
‘I’ve changed, Niall.’ The words tripped out of her, taking control in a way she wasn’t sure she was ready for.
‘Since last night? Since the car journey?’
