“Apparently.” Catherine straightened. “I did briefly consider the maze but…”
“It would be too obvious.” Alaric smiled. “I discounted the gardener’s shed for the same reason.”
“I do not think there is space for us both to hide.” Catherine gave him a pointed look. “And as I was here first, you can be the one to find an alternate spot.”
“And risk being caught? I think not.” Alaric’s eyes danced. “I do not intend to lose this game.”
“Nor do I,” Catherine retorted. “Fiona will never let me hear the end of it if I am the first person caught.”
“And I suspect my impression on her would drop if I were caught so quickly.” Alaric tilted his head toward Catherine, the smile fading into a more serious look. “I want your friends to think well of me.”
“Why?”
“They are important to you,” Alaric replied simply. “So they are important to me.”
“I...” Catherine began, but the sound of barking and Fiona saying, “Find them, Daisy, find them!” stopped her words short.
Alaric’s eyes widened, and Catherine pulled him toward her just as a dart of fur darted through the opening. Her heart pounded in her chest, and the warmth of Alaric’s skin burned against her. She could feel his breath whispering through her hair.
His arms were on either side of her, rigid with tension. Catherine’s mouth was dry, and the smell of cedar and amber was dizzying, making her head spin. Every breath caused her to brush against Alaric, the feeling sending jolts across her body.
She looked into his eyes. They were dark and magnetic. Catherine licked her lips, unsure if the steady pounding she felt was his heart or hers.
Alaric’s lips parted. He was so close that Catherine could see the faint stubble on his jaw. She reached up a hand, her fingers grazing his cheeks before she knew what she was doing. She heard his intake of breath.
“Catherine.” His voice was strained, so quiet she could barely hear it.
She swallowed as Alaric reached toward her face, his fingertips brushing against her skin, and yet the touch sent fire through her body. She gasped.
His breath tickled her skin. His body pressed against hers. Catherine felt a shiver run through her. They were too close.
“You have a leaf in your hair,” Alaric said softly as he plucked the leaf from her hair and stepped back.
Catherine let out a breath, still leaning against the wall. Her legs were shaking, and the world was still spinning. Sound returned in a whir of noise. Alaric was moving away from her. “I will find somewhere else to hide.”
Catherine opened her mouth, not sure what she was going to say. She had taken half a step toward him when a twig cracked beneath her foot.
“And what do we have here?” Fiona’s voice sounded from the other side of the wall.
A moment later, Oliver, Daisy, Fiona, Louisa, and Harriet all appeared. As soon as Catherine saw her friends’ looks, her cheeks went a shade of scarlet.
She watched an oblivious Oliver run up to Alaric and tug on his hand, grinning broadly. Alaric returned the smile, and Catherine felt something inside her shatter. She wrapped her arms around herself.
The village church bells chimed, and Catherine started.How is it already 5 o’clock?“We should get ready for dinner.”
As she approached Oliver, Alaric waved her off, though he did not quite look at her. “I will take Oliver back to the house. You should spend time with your friends.”
“Thank you.” Catherine wished her voice were not so hoarse.
“It is my pleasure.” Alaric inclined his head and walked back toward the house with Oliver beside him.
There was a moment of silence, and then all three of Catherine’s friends rounded on her.
“What was that you were saying earlier?” Fiona arched an eyebrow at her.
“I think she said they were merely friends.” Harriet nudged Louisa, who laughed.
“Friends who hide in dark corners together,” Louisa added.
