“But that’s… insane!”
“If insanity is what’s needed to convince you to give us a chance, then I’m happy to be completely and totally bonkers.”
His expression, so serious until now, finally betrayed a flicker of amusement as his lips lifted in a smile.
A smile that stole Carole’s heart and caused that crazywhooshof déjà vu to sweep through her once more.
Only this time, the fuzzy lenses of past and future crystalised into one bright, sharp image—and image of her and Tom, together, happy… and in love.
I’m not in love with him, she told herself.
But I will be. Very soon.
And I can’t wait for that moment to come.
“Tom,” she said, hearing the lightness in her voice that matched the lightness in her heart. “The fact that you’d even suggest such a mad idea makes me realise there’s an awful lot about you I don’t know.”
His expression filled with surprise when Carole closed the distance between them and stepped into his arms.
“And it makes me realise that it’s time we got to know each other a lot better.”
She laughed at the look on his face, a mix of relief and happiness. People passed by on the market square, and she was aware of the glances they were drawing, the two of them clasped in one another’s arms as they gazed at each other.
Maybe the middle of Hamblehurst market square wasn’t the perfect place for this heart-to-heart.
Then again, the sun was shining down, the trees around the square were rustling in the summer breeze, and music was drifting from the marquee on the other side and filling the space with happy vibes, so maybe this was the perfect place after all.
Tom’s arms around her and his eyes searching hers felt like a perfect moment.
When he dipped his mouth to hers and kissed her, the perfect moment turned into something spectacular.
There might have been a few whoops and cheers from passersby, amused by the impromptu show of affection in the middle of the square, but if there were, Carole hardly heard them.
The earth-shattering kiss blocked out almost everything except the sensation of Tom’s lips on hers.
When they came up for air, the world was spinning and Carole’s heart was racing double-time. Tom brushed a stray strand of hair from her face and let out a low laugh.
“Wow,” he said.
“Exactly, wow.”
They laughed together, and Carole saw in Tom’s expression the same things she was feeling—exhilarated, shy, pleased with herself, and already wanting more.
“What are you doing for the rest of today?” Tom asked, his hands still around her waist.
She thought about it for precisely half a second. “Getting to know my next-door neighbour better.”
Tom grinned. “That’s what I hoped you’d say.” Releasing her from his embrace, he held out his hand. “Your place or mine?”
She laughed, amused at the question considering they lived next door to each other. “Let’s decide when we reach our front gates.”
Hand-in-hand, they left the market square behind and began the walk back to Foxglove Street, the bright sunshine lighting up the exciting and unexpected twist in the road that now lay ahead of them.
