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“You’ll see,” he said cryptically.
Soon enough, dozens of thundering hooves stomped across the television, and her heart jumped. She looked to Matthew, his blue eyes bright.
“Horses?” she asked.
His smile faded. “If you don’t want to, we don’t have to. I just thought…”
His words trailed off as Winnie shook her head. “No. This is perfect.”
And it was. An excellent trip. An enthused response to her job proposal. A film about horses. Matthew seated beside her, creating an oasis of utter perfection. Now all they needed was…
Winnie paused, reaching for her suitcase. “Chocolate?”
“Ooh, yes. Only if it’s British, mind.”
She pulled out a few of the candy bars she’d purchased at the shop back in York. “Will these suffice, Sir Matthew?”
“Oh, yes. The good stuff,” he cooed, reaching for a Mars Bar first.
Winnie could only smile. “Now stay on your side, and we’ll have a good evening, okay?”
“Don’t have to warn me twice,” he said, then he took a bite of the candy bar and winked, his jaw working as he chewed.
Winnie looked away, focusing on the screen, though her eyes could have stared at his rolling jawline until the end of time.
They watched the movie in silence, and while Winnie was fully invested in the storyline and the gorgeous horses on display, nothing could pull her thoughts from her proximity to Mathew.
Especially when he rested his arm on the pillows between them.
She swallowed. “Are you crossing your line, sir?” she asked with a pointed brow.
“I daren’t.” He lifted his arm to reveal the pillow beneath. “See? I’m clearly on my side.”
“All right, you just watch yourself,” she warned half-heartedly.
“I will.” He paused, then spoke again, his eyes remaining on the TV. “There’s a lot of room on this pillow, you know? I reckon even your arm could fit on it…if you wanted it to.”
Her pulse raced. He was asking to get closer to her. “I dunno. It looks pretty small.”
“Cross my heart,” he said.
“Don’t finish that phrase. You might end up in the same place as Minnie.”
Matthew sighed wistfully. “Ah, Minnie. She was a good lass.”
They fell silent as the movie continued.
“You’ll never know unless you try,” he said after a minute.
“What?” she asked. Even though she knew exactly what he was talking about still.
“How big the pillow is.”
She shook her head with a smile. Well, he was nothing if not persistent. And convincing—he was very convincing.
A few moments passed by before he leaned closer. “Still room,” he muttered under his breath.
She glanced at him, but he looked around the room, pretending like he hadn’t said the words, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
