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“I think it is.”

Oliver’s teasing me, and I’m falling for it. He smirks. “I have to admit. Knowing you were on the farm somewhere but not being with you was like torture.”

“Hmm. Sounds like you’ve never been waterboarded before. That’s real torture.” His fingers graze my wrist, and I’m forced to look into his eyes. And now there’s no hiding.

“Eden.“ He leans forward ever so slightly. His hand comes to rest on the back of my neck, and his breath is warm on my lips. He’s close. So close. Shutting my eyes, I try to close the gap. The…very large gap?

“What’s wrong?’ I ask, fluttering my eyes open. My face burns with shame.

Maybe he doesn’t want to kiss me? Was I reading too much into this?

“Molly and Charlie are watching,” he whispers, looking over my shoulder. I go to turn, but he holds me back, fingers tightening ever so slightly around my neck. I hate the way my body melts under his firm pressure. “Shh. You can’t let them know they’ve been caught.”

And just like that my perfect date has been ruined. Of course. You can always trust your nosy siblings to do that.

“Molly! Charlie!” I shout, ignoring the panicked look Oliver shoots me as I wiggle out of his grip. “I believe it is way past your bedtime. I’m telling Mum!” They scatter, their giggles disappearing into the night. And when I turn back to Oliver and watch him dig back into the cheese, I realise the moment has passed.

15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Oliver.

“Oliver! Wake up!” Someone hisses from above me and I can’t help the groan that escapes my lips. Although I can’t see the time, my body knows it is far too early to be torn from my slumber. I snuggle into the warmth next to me, trying to hold onto the last dregs of sleep, until it starts wiggling.

“No,” I moan as the warmth leaves, and as I crack open an eye I can see why. Eden stands over me, blushing furiously. I fear that maybe the little guy might have made an appearance this morning. I shut my eyes against the dawn light (and the shame), and I feel the bed shift under her weight as she sits back down next to me.

So, the little guy must be properly contained.

“Shush,” she giggles. “You’ll wake the whole house up.”

“What’s going on?” I rub my eyes as I sit up.

“It’s Easter.”

“Yeah, I figured,” I yawn. “What’s that got to do with me?” Eden looks scandalised.

“Oliver! We have the very important task of hiding the eggs!”

“The what?”

“Oh, don’t tell me you’ve never had an Easter egg hunt before!” Something must cross my face because Eden’s eyes widen. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

I lean over the edge of the bed and grab my jumper, pretending not to notice the ways Eden’s eyes trace my shirtless chest. The very one she was tucked up against the whole night, fingers splayed across my arms. Unconsciously, of course. No doubt. The bed was small. It was cold. I was warm. Sue me.

“No, it’s fine. You didn’t know.” I hate the way her face has fallen. I’d do anything to bring that smile back. “So, what does the egg hunt involve?”

A grin turns up the corner of her mouth. “Well, each family member gets a buddy and an area to hide eggs in. We’re together obviously, and we’ve got the front yard. Once Dad lets us go, we’ve got half an hour to produce the most eggs— not from our own area, of course. They’re all colour-coded, and an equal amount to make sure it’s fair and that no-one cheats.”

My mind flashes back to when we first arrived. There’s a long gravel driveway, trees, and some patches of garden beds. A ceramic fountain that I’m not even sure has water in it sits off to the side. With so many bushes and trees it shouldn’t be too hard.

“I’ll let you get dressed.” Eden’s hand rests for a second on my own, then she’s gone. I resist the urge to slam my face into the pillow. It’s bad enough we had the whole romantic candlelit picnic last night, but then to spend the whole night in bed next to each other, arms wrapped around her? My fingers itch to touch her again.

At least I was able to blame it on being asleep.

I pull on a pair of trackies and my Ugg boots, groggily trying to come to terms with being awake so early. It must be like 6am with the way a rooster is crowing. Jesus, is there ever a moment of silence on this farm?

Eden’s in the kitchen when I come in, nursing a cup of tea.