‘I thought you told them your preference was Land Army.’
‘They must believe I’ll be more use elsewhere. Mary thinks it’s because of my secretarial training. The armed forces must be desperate for typists or something.’ She looked up at him. ‘I don’t want to shirk my duty, but I’m so worried about everything at home. My dad, and my sister…’
‘Lilian? Is she not in Greenwich?’
‘Not any more. She’s in Bradford.’
‘What, more leave? She just went back.’
‘No.’ Bobby pressed her fingers to her temples. She felt strangely feverish. ‘Just… kiss me again. Then I’ll tell you all about it.’
He smiled. ‘Do I have permission? I thought kissing was banned.’
‘Clearly I can’t resist you,’ she said, smiling too. ‘Just a little one though, or we’ll get carried away and I’ll never tell you everything.’
He pressed his mouth to hers, and Bobby felt that sensation of freedom and release she only experienced in her lover’s embrace. If only she could stay there, safe, protected, knowing Charlie was safe likewise. But for both of them, tomorrow had to come. War had to come.
Charlie’s lips, gentle at first, became harder and hungrier as passion took hold, and Bobby felt an answering fire stirring within her. How easy it would be to get lost in that fire, and let it consume you! Something her poor sister had found out to her cost. Summoning her willpower, she drew away again.
‘You’re far too good at that,’ she said breathlessly.
He pressed one finger to her mouth. ‘Back atcha, hot lips.’
She laughed. ‘Charlie, you spend too much time at the pictures. You’re starting to talk like a cowboy.’
‘I could fancy a life out in the Wild West, my best gal by my side. The hat’d suit me.’ He leaned over to nibble her ear. ‘How about you mosey over and sit on my lap, little lady? Then I can kiss your neck while you tell me what’s worrying you.’
‘Hmm. Sounds a dangerous plan to me.’
‘Sounds like having our cake and eating it to me.’
‘I don’t know, Charlie. We are in a churchyard.’
‘The ghosts won’t mind. It’ll liven up their afterlife.’
‘Someone might see though. Supposing they tell tales to the vicar and he comes out to throw a bucket of holy water over us?’
‘Best thing about the blackout is that no one sees anything. Courting couples have never had such luck.’ He nudged her. ‘Come on, Bob, it’s our last chance. Besides, are we not practically man and wife? Surely that entitles us to a kiss and cuddle on holy ground.’
She smiled. ‘Well, all right, but behave yourself. Hands where I can see them.’
Bobby shuffled over to sit on his knee. Charlie wrapped his arms tight around her, his hands slipping once again under the voluminous greatcoat. She tried to ignore the soft, teasing tickle of his lips brushing the nape of her neck while she spoke.
‘This is between us, OK?’ she said. ‘Mary and your brother don’t know, or my dad – especially not my dad.’
‘Intriguing,’ he murmured as he moved on from her neck to kiss her right earlobe.
‘Charlie, are you listening?’ she demanded in her best schoolmarm tone.
‘Yes, Miss.’
‘Promise? This is important.’
‘I promise. Go on.’
She sighed. ‘Our Lilian’s going to be married.’
‘You mean that naval lieutenant she was so crazy about realised he’d made a mistake?’ he said, lifting his lips from her skin. ‘Sounds like good news.’
