A Kiss in the Snow - Rosie Green Page 0,49

is standing there, looking upwards. It’s stopped snowing and there are a million stars winking in the inky sky overhead.

‘The Milky Way,’ he murmurs, pointing at a hazy white band of light, and I stare up at it for a moment, thinking how very tiny we all are in the grand scheme of things. Feeling suddenly a little dizzy, I sway against him and he catches my hand.

My entire body leaps in response to his touch. His fingers are surprisingly warm and a little rough, and with my hand tucked in his, I feel a sudden surge of power, as if I could take on the world.

‘Are you okay?’ he murmurs. ‘Do you need to eat?’ He releases my hand and instantly, I’m missing the warmth of him.

‘I could make a picnic. To soak up the alcohol.’

‘Sounds good. What are you offering?’

‘Home-made cheese and thyme scones with butter, and vine tomatoes? And chocolate cake for afters?’

‘Sounds perfect. Served in the ice bar, of course.’ His lazy smile makes my insides do a funny forward flip.

‘Of course. We need to make the most of it while it’s here.’

‘We do.’

I smile up at him. I’m finding Ronan’s amazing green eyes even more of a draw than the Milky Way. I’m not sure if it’s the romantic, starry setting or the fact that I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast, but my head is spinning crazily and I really don’t want this night to end…

Then a door slams in the distance, and a little voice in my ear tells me not to be so ridiculous. Ronan’s lovely. Of course he is. But the only reason I’m feeling close to him tonight is because he opened up to me about his heartache over Amy. And I could feel his pain, having been through similar with Adam…

I take a step away from him. ‘How about I take the bin out. This is the twenty-first century, you know. It’s not just a man’s job.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course. Then I’ll get the food together. You worked your butt off all afternoon constructing this amazing igloo. It’s only fair that I do something.’

He grins. ‘Okay. Any of those triple chocolate cookies left?’

‘Yes. I saved you one. I know they’re your favourite.’

‘Perfect.’

Happiness ripples through me as I crunch through the snow to collect the bin. For the first time since my disastrous dinner with Adam, my heart is feeling light as a feather. I should just enjoy my time with Ronan and stop analysing things.

I pull the bin onto the cleared pathway and make my way out of the gate, ready to leave the bin on the pavement. Then with a shock, I catch sight of someone in next-door’s garden. They’ve spotted me, too, because they’re staring over at me, frozen to the spot, arms looped around the bird table. I can tell it’s not Reenie. This person is much smaller. And even in the semi-darkness, I can see they’re wearing a hoodie.

Are they stealing Reenie’s bird table?

I walk to the open gate and go inside. The closer I get, the more I’m certain this is the same person who peered into my kitchen window on my first night here.

‘Hello?’ I call over. ‘Are you okay?’

There’s no response. Then suddenly, the bird table seems to sag. The stranger, knocked off balance, tries to grab it and haul it back but it must be too heavy.

I stand there, rooted to the spot, as the figure suddenly ploughs through the snow towards me. I brace myself for a clash, but this time, they race right past me. I catch some flashes of colour as they stumble by - purple lipstick and the deep pink of the hoodie over skinny black jeans.

It’s a young girl.

‘Everything okay?’ calls Ronan. He emerges from the gate of Snowdrop Cottage and the stranger bangs straight into him. She’s moving so fast, she seems to bounce off him, landing sprawled in the snow.

I hurry over. Panting, she gazes up at us.

‘Are you all right?’ I ask. Ronan holds out his hand to her, and after a slight hesitation, she allows him to pull her up.

Her hood falls back, revealing lots of tumbling chestnut curls.

My mouth falls open. I know her. She’s the daughter of Bella’s friend, Maggie. They were arguing in the snow when I met them.

‘Becca?’

CHAPTER NINETEEN

‘What on earth are you doing here at this time of night?’ I gasp. ‘Your mum will be so worried about you.’

She shakes her head. ‘No, she won’t. She’s over at