Page 46 of Whispers from the Past

‘Thank you for saying that. I hope we can get to know each other a bit better. When it won’t be too much fodder for the gossipers?!’

‘I’d like that.’

‘I’ll let you close up. Bye, Rose.’

‘Bye,’ Rose smiled and then cringed at the awkwardness as the door closed behind Lucy.

What time can I expect my surprise?

Rose messaged Luke just after she’d cashed up the till. The conversation with Lucy still made her cringe as she thought back to it, so she needed a good distraction.

I’m round the back. Nowhere to park out the front.

Rose peered out of her bathroom window to see Luke standing by her car. Her car. Her car that had been on death’s door six weeks ago. She couldn’t contain her delight as she squealed and ran down the stairs. She launched herself at Luke who was leaning against the bonnet.

‘She’s fixed?!’

‘All finished. Just promise me you’ll take better care of her now.’

‘I promise!’ And she wasn’t sure whether it was because of their proximity, or the fact that she was so pleased to have her car back, but either way she was filled with the urge to kiss him. She inched her face towards his, until she was so close she could feel his breath, and then she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling their mouths together.

She’d meant to just give him a soft kiss. But as soon as their mouths met, the kiss was filled with an intensity that took them both by surprise. He tangled his hands through her hair as they stumbled backwards away from the car and up against the wall of the book shop.

* * *

Rose woke the next morning with a heavy arm across her chest. She smiled as she hugged it closer and heard Luke mumble something in his sleepy state. She swivelled so she could look up at him. Thinking back to their kiss last night, she was reminded of the perfect song. She reached for her phone and moments later Faith Hill’s dulcet tone filled the bedroom. Rose joined in with the chorus. Luke’s mouth curled into a smile. He pulled her close again.

‘You’re good for my ego,’ he mused into her hair.

‘Oh this song isn’t about you,’ she teased. ‘I was thinking back to a different incredible kiss, with this other surly mechanic I know.’

Instead of arguing back he simply pulled her in for another kiss.

Chapter 17

🎵 Drive my Car by The Beatles 🎵

As Rose turned the key into the ignition, she sighed. ‘It is so good to be back in this seat. I’ve missed it so much. Pass me that box in the footwell. I know just the song we need.’

Luke passed Rose a small cardboard box that was filled with black cassette tapes.

‘You do know that you can fit a more modern tape deck into this car? One where you can see what buttons you’re pressing and where you don’t run the risk of cutting yourself on a broken volume knob?’ he teased.

‘If it isn’t broken, no need to fix it. And I think the tapes sound better in the original tape deck,’ she said triumphantly as she held up a battered tape.

‘Is that still going to play?’

‘Oh ye of little faith.’

She confidently pushed the tape in and waited as the stereo whirred into life. And then the Beatles filled the cabin with their excited countdown in the intro. Neither could help but smile at the fast beat as Rose pulled out onto the main road.

‘Where are we going?’

‘You need to meet my mum,’ Rose smiled back.

‘Your mum?’ Luke looked a tad confused. ‘ I didn’t think your mum was still alive.’

‘She’s not.’