“Nothing,” I replied evasively, trying to shove the small notebook with The Darlington logo into a drawer, but Henry got to it faster.
“Stacking shelves at supermarket. Costa or Pret A Manger till. Barista training? Cinema ticket counter.” He read out only a few of the ideas I’d written down. His expression darkened as he looked back at me. “Are you looking for a new job?”
I lowered my gaze. “Maybe.”
“Because of Mr. Fleming?” Henry asked through gritted teeth.
“He said he was going to file a complaint against me, and I wasn’t sure if you’d kick me out. I’m new here, after all, and he’s a regular guest,” I confessed. “But it’s not just that. I like working for The Darlington, but a second job would give me more security. I could build something up. That way, if you get sick of me and fire me, I wouldn’t be left with nothing again. I’d have something to fall back on.”
Henry looked at me silently. I couldn’t read his expression in the darkness. Was he disappointed? Or angry? I didn’t want to seem ungrateful—I was more grateful to him than I could ever express. But I’d been through too much shit in my life to throw caution to the wind. I didn’t want to risk becoming dependent again—on anyone.
“Are you angry at me?” I asked tentatively.
Henry seemed to realise that he’d been silent. He blinked and shook his head resolutely. “No, not at all. If anything, I’m impressed.”
My heart pounded. “Really?”
“Yes. I think it’s amazing how you’re taking your life into your own hands,” he answered with a faint smile that only intensified the pounding of my heart. “I promise that your job at The Darlington is safe, no matter what happens between us. I didn’t hire you because I expect anything from you, but because I want to help you. However, it’s healthy not to trust anyone blindly, including me. It shows you’re looking after yourself. Which is important.”
My throat constricted again, but this time not from sadness or rage, but relief. I hadn’t realised how desperately I needed to hear the words Henry had spoken so easily. “Do you know how glad I am that I met you?”
Henry smiled and touched my cheek, as if to catch my unshed tears. He ran his fingers over my skin tenderly, sending electricity sparking through me. “I’m also very glad to have met you.”
A comforting warmth enveloped me. The feeling of no longer being alone. I’d had no family or friends before I’d come to The Darlington. For months, there had been no one who mattered to me, and it had left a gaping void in my heart. Now Henry was starting to fill that void, and he seemed to know it.
A longing look flashed up in eyes as his thumb brushed gently across my lower lip, fuelling the heat in my chest. My response was the complete opposite of the revulsion I’d experienced with Mr. Fleming earlier. I remembered how good it had felt to be held by Henry. I was certain it would feel even better to be kissed by him. I felt the pounding of his heart when I placed a hand on his chest. My nipples hardened, and I knew that if his gaze were to stray from my lips for even one second, he’d see them pressed against the fabric of my shirt. We were so close that I felt his breath on my lips, our noses only centimetres apart.
I leaned in towards him, and he leaned in towards me...
... and touched his lips to my forehead again.
“We should try to sleep. It’s late,” Henry said.
Why?I didn’t want to sleep. I wanted to be kissed!
He removed his hand from my face and pulled back.
I missed his warmth even before I realised what had just happened. I looked at him in confusion, searching in the dim light for an explanation for why he wasn’t pressing me into the mattress, kissing me greedily. But I saw nothing but affection in his eyes, which irritated me even more.
“But you’ll stay?” I heard myself asking.
He nodded. “I’ll stay for as long as you want me to.”
I was relieved. I didn’t want to be alone with my thoughts. If Henry were to leave now, my doubts would come flooding back. I switched off the light, snuggled into my blanket and turned away from Henry onto my other side. I didn’t want him to notice how disappointed I was that he hadn’t kissed me.
Why had he pulled away? Had I read the situation wrong? Or had Henry reminded himself in the last moment who we both were? That I was beneath him? That we’d never truly fit together?
“Kate...” He whispered my name in the dark. “I can practically hear you thinking. Stop worrying.”
“I’m not worrying,” I lied, my voice wavering.
“Yes, you are. And it’s not necessary.”
Isn’t it?The question was on the tip of my tongue, but before I could voice it, a strong arm wrapped around me from behind. A jolt shot through my body as Henry pulled me close, my back pressing against his firm chest. One of his legs slid between my knees. I held my breath.
“We’ve both had a long day. Try to sleep,” he murmured into the nape of my neck. He was close again, his warm breath brushing the sensitive skin behind my ear with every word. I shivered. When I dared to breathe again, Henry’s familiar scent filled my nose. I couldn’t help it—with a sigh, I melted into his touch, as warm and secure as his earlier embrace had felt. It wasn’t a kiss, but it wasn’t nothing. It was an acknowledgement that there was something between us, something we both felt. It calmed me.
I snuggled closer to Henry. “Sleep well, Snowflake.”
