He gives a cough. ‘My eyes are currently closed.’
‘Open them now, and get zipping.’
This time I lean into the shivers, swish the fabulous full skirt, then step forward into the heels he’s holding out. ‘Red suede?’
Lando pulls a face. ‘You could choose some others for dancing and bring your trainers for when we go adventuring.’ He gives a rueful laugh. ‘I’m not sure I’ll last a whole day on the lawns.’
‘I’ll remember my Converse.’
He’s watching my face. ‘Bring your toothbrush too, because once your mum picks up the kids, you might want to stay over.’
I gave a sigh. ‘It’s all arranged then?’
‘It is.’ Lando winces. ‘You’re having my room; it’s in one of the turrets.’
‘What about you?’
‘I usually sleep in the tree house anyway. It’s less wild than it sounds.’ He looks at me sideways. ‘In the interests of full disclosure, the gateposts have lions on.’
I hold up my hand. ‘It’s one day. I’ll cope. If you’d said there was a tree house earlier, I may have been there sooner.’
He looks down at me. ‘That dress looks great.’ He frowns, then stoops down beside me. ‘There’s something hanging off the bottom.’
I’m always wary of dangling threads. ‘Careful, don’t unravel the whole hemline.’
His face is level with my knees, and as his hand grazes the inside of my leg, I snatch my breath. He looks up, our eyes lock, and as tiny shivers spread from my thigh and over the whole of my body it’s as if the world has stopped turning and time is standing still. I can hear the thud of a heartbeat too, but it could be his, not mine.
And then he moves his hand away, and the spell is broken.
‘It’s okay, only a piece of cotton.’
I wobble slightly on my heels, and as he stands up I’m fighting to bring myself back in the room.
‘Unzip me then, and it’s job done.’
This time I don’t wait for him to turn away to strip off, and in three seconds flat I’m back in my shirt, buttoning up my jeans.
Lando nods at the bed. ‘I’ll tidy this lot up if you want to head off.’ He’s watching as I bend and pull on my Converse, and I notice his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows. ‘Or we could have a drink before you go?’
If I did, I might not leave.
I have no idea where the hell that came from. He might live on fresh air, but there are still a hundred other reasons not to throw myself at him. Especially if my judgement is clouded by my new awareness that still hasn’t gone away. I smile at what a disaster that would be, give a half whistle to Angel who jumps up from the rug, head for the door and run all the way down the stairs.
I hurry through the shadows of the hallway and I’m reaching for the front door handle when I stop. I’m thinking how far I’ve come since that day dancing on the harbour, and how, for better or worse, Lando has been at the centre of everything this summer, helping with the beach hut, hanging out with the kids, and even bringing us Fi. And then there were those seals. I really wouldn’t be where I am if it hadn’t been for him.
He’s two steps behind me. As I turn to smile at him I catch the crinkles at the corners of his eyes, think about the hints of his troubled past, and I’m engulfed by a rush of affection.
I spin and put my palm on his chest. ‘Thank you for everything, Lando.’
Then I go on tiptoe, and because I’m suddenly weirdly overwhelmed by gratitude, I drop a kiss on his cheek.
‘Any time, Maevey.’
His breath is warm in my ear, and as his jaw brushes against my chin my whole body feels like it’s filled with hot syrup, especially the bit between my legs. My brain is telling me to run, anywhere, as fast as I can, but my whole being is howling for me to stay. My mouth skids down his cheek. And then I find the corner of his lips, the heat of his mouth, and as he starts to kiss me back, he tastes of chocolate and vanilla and summer days and walks on the beach. I’m giving into the ache, arching my body against him when there’s a loud rap behind me.
Angel leaps through the air barking, the front door opens and hits me in the back, and as Martha belts down the hall to the living area, we’re left gawping at Sav.
He blinks for a moment, then recovers himself. ‘Sorry to barge in, it’s an emergency evacuation! Martha just crashed Erica’s parents’ outdoor dinner party, and they’re going postal.’ He wipes a clump of what looks like raspberry roulade off Lando’s wall with his thumb. ‘She’s still shedding remnants of the sweet trolley.’
