Page 89 of The Little Shop of Curiosities Cursed Object 1, The Music Box

“Leave,” I finish for him.

“Yeah,” he says, and I don’t have to feel his emotions to see his misery. “I just…I didn’t want you to feel like I’d just disappeared after, you know, last night.”

“Sam.”

“Anyway,” he hurries on, “I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, and I don’t want you to think that kiss meant nothing because–”

“Sam,” I say again softly. I reach for him, but he steps back and shakes his head.

“I have to go, but I just wanted you to know.”

He heads back towards his car. He could’ve called or messaged, we both know that. The fact that he came here means something.

“Sam!” I call out, and hurry after him. He stops and turns to me as I reach him. “Is this the first time you’ve been back since the attack?”

He draws in a slow breath, and I can see the pain in his eyes before he nods.

“Do you want me to go with you?” I blurt out before my brain has a chance to catch up to my mouth.

It’s crazy. I have a business to run and can’t just go gallivanting off to Yorkshire after just one kiss with a guy I barely know. Okay, several steamy kisses, and a lot of hot fantasies about him that have not translated into anything physical…yet. But I just know that look doesn’t sit right on his gorgeous face. I don’t want him to hurt—it makes something hot and uncomfortable squirm inside me. Whatever it is that’s upsetting him, I don’t want him to have to face it alone.

Before I can open my mouth to say anything else, he reaches out in one smooth move, his hands sliding along my jaw and drawing me into him. The next thing I know, we’re kissing in the rain. Raindrops catch in my eyelashes as I close my eyes and just absorb every feeling.

I could kiss this man forever, but all too soon, he pulls back and presses his forehead to mine, his warm palms still cupping my face.

“Prickles, you don’t know how much I want to say yes, but not this time. This—my family problem—I need to deal with it alone.”

I swallow slowly and nod. “You could call me,” I whisper. “If you need someone to talk to.”

“I’d like that,” he mutters, and gives me a small smile. It’s nothing like the wide ones I’m used to—that sexy dimple that usually appears is nowhere in sight—but it’s a start, and it makes me feel marginally better.

This time when he presses his lips to mine, it’s to give me a soft, innocent kiss that lingers. I don’t know what it means, but it feels different from the others.

“I’ll see you soon,” he whispers.

I watch in silence as he climbs in the car and pulls away, and I keep watching until he disappears from view, the only thought in my head–

I hope so.

It’s early afternoon by the time I reach Leeds. I wish I could say it was comforting to drive the familiar roads and streets, but I’d be lying.

Every memory I have of home is tainted by what happened. I can’t think of Leeds without being reminded of the friends and colleagues who’d turned their backs on me, thinking I somehow deserved what happened to me just because of who I am, of what I am…

Well, fuck them.

As much as it had hurt, I refuse to be ashamed. It’s been just over a year, and everything is still too fresh. I hope one day I’ll be able to return to my home city and remember all the good things, but I’m nowhere near ready yet.

My thoughts turn back to Harrison and the sweet way he’d offered to come with me, then the adorable confusion on his face when he realised he wasn’t quite sure just what he’d volunteered for.

He has no idea how badly I had wanted to take him up on his offer. I know Danny would have made the same one, but he’s building a life in London with Tristan. I’ve never seen my friend so happy and content, and the last thing I want is for him to have a front row seat to the shitshow of my life.

The only bright spot has been a beautiful, prickly man with hair like the sunrise.

When I kissed him last night, it was unexpected—or maybe not. If I’m being honest, I’d wanted my mouth on his since the first moment I laid eyes on him.

But the way I’d felt had taken me by surprise. It shook me right down to my core. It was like–

Coming home.