“Sorry for the meltdown,” I told him as I tried to free myself from his embrace.
“Noah Bright.” His stern voice made me look up. “You stop apologising for how your brain works or what you feelrightnow, do you understand me?”
Oh my God.“Yes,” I breathed.Yes, Daddy.
“I want you to enquire with the hotel on Monday. If they won’t let you stay for free, I’ll book a room for us.”
“Didn’t you want to go for Diwali?” I asked. I couldn’t see a future in which I’d be able to afford two of these trips, even if I got the hotel for free.
“Your health is more important. Pivot, Bright.” Pursing his lips, he gave me a cheeky smile, then straightened up. “Come on, there’s a hot cuppa and a shit-ton of clotted cream waiting for you.”
His hand hovered over the small of my back as he guided me through the polished wood doors.
He was a textbook example of a gentleman, and I had no clue why I liked it so much.
You shouldn’t like it. You said he’s a fake boyfriend for your socials. Why, then, does he behave like he courts me when there’s no camera pointed at us?
We approached the Vulpus at the front desk to grab our tickets. She had plush grey fur and wore a pastel blue dress that made her blue eyes pop.
“Welcome to Windmouth Castle!” Her wide smile put all her bright white fangs on display. “I hope you’ll enjoy your visit with us today.” When the printer was done, she tore our tickets stubs off, and handed them over the counter. “If you have any questions, I’d be more than happy to answer them for you.”
Next she picked a leaflet from a holder and unfolded it upside down so we could see.
She gave us a quick introduction to the floor plan, highlighting their special exhibitions with her perfectly manicured claws. They, too, were pastel blue and perfectly matched her dress.
“Our pride and joy this autumn are the works of Fox Cawley, a painter and sculptor from Port Cillean. They are on display in the East Wing. In the West Wing you’ll find art pieces we were lucky to get as a loan from a local collector. Taran Atax owns a castle on Loch Kilglen not too far from here.”
Lew briefly rested a hand on the small of my back. “Oh, that would be another great trip for our bucket list.”
“It’s a beautiful lake, yes. But I would suggest going there in spring or summer. The way around it gets very muddy at this time of the year,” the Vulpus said with a tinkling laugh.
My heart sank. It was now or never. In the spring I would be back in Bali and by the time summer came around Lew would already have moved on.
“Yes, I agree,” he muttered. “It’s wonderful in summer.” He took the floor plan and pocketed it. “How about breakfast first?” he asked. “I’m starving.”
Watching him rub his tummy made me want to join in the fun. The couple of times he’d hugged me his body had felt so soft and warm.
“Great idea.”
“Make sure you try the scones, they’re the best,” the Fox hybrid called after us and we promised we would.
“Oh my God, Lew! How bloody gorgeous is this?” I blurted out when he had once again guided me through a door and I saw the coffee shop.
It looked straight out of an interior magazine: cosy, warm, and so ArgoS-worthy I didn’t know what to take a picture of first.
“Hi,” the server greeted us as we approached the counter. “What can I get you?”
My eyes fell on the large chalkboard behind her.For fuck’s sake.The cream tea inspired breakfast was 32 quid.
“Hi.” Lew beamed at her. “Can we get the breakfast for two, an Americano for me, and, Noah? A latte for you?”
“Yeah, but—”
Before I could get any more words out, Lew pressed a button on his smart watch and paid for us.
“No, I can’t—” What had I been about to say?I can’t afford it?Because fuck, I couldn’t.
And he knows.
