Secrets at the Loch (Loch Lannick #5) - Hannah Ellis Page 0,63
you,” Nick said as he wiped tears from her cheeks. “But I promise I’d never intentionally hurt you.”
“I know you wouldn’t.” She could taste salty tears on her lips as she kissed him. “Do you really have to leave already?” she asked, pulling the covers further over her chest.
“No.” He smiled. “I just couldn’t face the thought of you throwing me out again.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know,” he replied with a shrug. “I’ll get over it, one day.”
“I don’t want you to leave yet.”
“Move up a bit then.”
She lay back down and moved to make room for him. Slipping under the covers, his hand trailed over her stomach, making her quiver. “I think there might be a slight imbalance of clothing,” she murmured as she put her hand on his cheek and pulled him closer.
He kissed her tenderly, then pulled back, his eyes twinkling. “You want me to find you some clothes?”
“Not what I was thinking,” she said as she tugged his T-shirt up and over his head.
When they finally made it out of bed, Lexie sent Nick to put her bag in the car while she returned the key to Daphne.
“Did you enjoy your stay?” Daphne asked, standing in the doorway to the upstairs apartment.
“I’ve had a brilliant time.”
“I’m glad to hear it. You look better now.” She pushed her glasses onto her nose and squinted at Lexie. “Have you got over your heartbreak?”
“I wasn’t heartbroken,” Lexie insisted.
“You looked it. Anyway, a little holiday can often cure these things. I know when my Derek left me it was a holiday that saved me––”
“I’ve got to go,” Lexie said. She had the feeling that if she didn’t interrupt she might be there a while. “Thanks!”
“You’re welcome!” Daphne called as Lexie hurried down the stairs. “Write me an online review if you get the chance.”
“Okay,” Lexie called behind her. Outside, she paused for a moment, watching Nick as he leaned against the wall. He was gazing up at a bird of prey while he waited. Her heart fluttered as she walked towards him, and it occurred to her that Daphne might have been right about the trip curing her heartbreak. “Falcon?” she asked as she approached Nick.
“Yes!” He beamed at her. “Have you been swatting up?”
“Lucky guess.” She took his hand, entwining her fingers with his. “Do you feel like having lunch with me before I leave?”
“I was about to suggest the same. The pub around the corner does decent food.”
They wandered over there and sat close together on a bench in a booth. Neither of them spoke much over lunch but the silence was comfortable. After the waitress took their plates away, Nick leaned closer to Lexie and took her hand. She tensed reflexively and he moved his hand away with an apologetic smile.
Cursing herself, she grabbed at his hand and interlocked her fingers with his. “Sorry,” she said quietly. After spending so long avoiding affection it was probably going to take a bit of getting used to. It felt good, though. Leaning into Nick, she kissed him briefly.
“You look confused,” she remarked as she pulled away.
“I am, a bit.” He ran his thumb over the back of her hand, making her insides flutter. “You said you want to be in a relationship but you’re scared. I’m not quite sure what that means for us.”
“It means that I spent ages avoiding relationships because I was scared of getting hurt, but now …” She shook her head, feeling uncomfortable with her emotions.
“Now what?” he asked.
She grinned as she continued shaking her head. “I realised what I was going to say would sound really cheesy!”
“Say it anyway. I’m pretty cheesy myself so it will probably sound poetic to me.”
She hesitated. “I was going to say that not being with you feels far scarier than being with you.”
He looked at her intently before his lips twitched to a smirk. “Yeah, that was pretty cheesy!”
“Shut up!” She stifled a laugh.
“I’m kidding.” He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “So just to clarify, we’re together now?”
“Yes.”
“And I can tell people you’re my girlfriend?”
“Yes.” Lexie beamed. It sounded so weird. She loved it, though. “What’s so funny?” she asked, aiming a playful elbow at his ribs as he chuckled.
“Nobody’s going to believe me!”
She couldn’t help but smile at his amusement. They were an unlikely couple.
“I’m going to be really smug when I tell Elspeth,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because she always told me I had no chance with you and I should give up.”