A Kiss in the Snow - Rosie Green Page 0,48

make those mistakes in the first place.’

I frown. ‘But Krystle tends to panic about stuff like the MOT. It’s far easier and quicker for me to just do it myself.’

‘Okay.’ He nods and lets the subject drop, which I’m relieved about. It’s not the first time I’ve been accused of pandering to my sister, but people don’t really understand. With parents who were absent half the time when we were little, I suppose I’ve kind of taken on the role of a substitute mum. Even now, I know she looks to me to make decisions for both of us. And I’m not about to leave her in the lurch.

With Ronan questioning me about it, I can feel my irritation starting to rise, and I’d hate this lovely evening to be spoilt.

‘The snow ploughs might make it through tomorrow,’ he says, changing the subject.

‘Oh. Do you think so? Anita will be pleased. The lorry will finally be able to make deliveries to the shop.’

‘Yup. I guess everything will be returning to normal. I’ll be able to get back to work.’

‘And I’ll be able to go home.’ I paste on a smile, wondering why my heart just sank at the idea of this. It’s good news, surely? So why am I sad at the thought of leaving? Has the little community of Silverbells really made such an impression on me in the few days that I’ve been here?

‘Back to Adam,’ says Ronan. He looks away and stares down at the candles.

‘Not really. I have a feeling he’ll be with Krystle now.’

‘You don’t know that.’ He glances across at me, eyebrows drawn together in a frown. ‘There’s still a chance the two of you might get together.’

‘I doubt that will happen.’

‘You don’t know what Adam’s thinking.’

‘True. But I know what I’m thinking,’ I say ruefully. ‘I’m thinking that I was living in cloud cuckoo land imagining someone like Adam would ever look at me in a romantic way.’

He frowns. ‘That’s rubbish, Carrie. Why would you even think that?’

‘No, but it’s fine,’ I protest, shaking my head, not wanting him to think I’m feeling sorry for myself. ‘Because I’ve realised Adam and I weren’t meant to be together anyway. I always knew deep down that he liked Krystle. I’m over him.’

The sceptical look on his face tells me he doesn’t really believe me. But weirdly, to me, it feels partly true. Could I really be starting to get over Adam?

‘It’s weird being snowed in,’ I say, changing the subject. ‘It’s as if life is on pause. I quite like it, actually.’ I glance around our igloo, at the shadows dancing on its solid walls. The candles are throwing out a surprising amount of heat. ‘You wouldn’t have made this if we hadn’t been snowed in.’

‘It’s definitely had its compensations. If we hadn’t been snowed in, you’d have gone home, and I wouldn’t have had the chance to get to know you better.’ He smiles at me, his eyes full of such warmth that I feel myself blushing. I stare at him wordlessly. Then in an awkward rush, I blurt out, ‘I suppose you’ll be looking for somewhere to live, with everything getting back to normal?’

His smile slips. ‘I suppose I will. I’ll start looking around for a place to rent.’ He looks away, pensively rubbing his lower lip, and I have a sudden urge to scoot alongside him and run my fingers through his thick, dark hair. With an effort, I drag my eyes away and focus instead on the candles. Some of them look as though they’re about to flicker in the melted wax and go out, and I feel a sudden pang of sadness that our cosy Snowdrop Cottage bubble is coming to an end.

‘There’s no rush, of course.’ I swallow. ‘I mean, you don’t need to find somewhere to rent immediately…do you?’

‘No.’ He straightens up. ‘I guess not. As long as you don’t mind my company for a bit longer.’

We exchange a look that seems to be about more than accommodation, and my heart lurches. ‘I don’t mind a bit.’ It’s on the tip of my tongue to say: In fact, stay as long as you like. But then a noise outside distracts us.

Ronan gets up and ducks out of the igloo. ‘Someone’s putting their bin out, I guess on the off-chance the lorry manages to get through tomorrow, which I have to say seems doubtful.’

‘Ours is full so we’d better put it out.’ I join him outside. ‘Just in case.’

Ronan