it here though, your garden is way too small for that thing.’
Rupert eyed the large firework in Marla’s hand. She nodded. He was right. Her garden was tiny with overhanging trees, and Rupert’s communal apartment garden was out of the question. No, the chapel garden out back would be perfect.
She placed the rocket back in the box and turned to Rupert. His skin was warm and smelled of expensive aftershave; she wound her arms around him and nestled into his neck.
‘Thank you.’
His hands moved straight down to massage her bottom as he sought out her lips with his own.
‘You can show me the full extent of your appreciation later.’
She kissed him and leaned back in the circle of his arms.
‘Oh, go on then. I’ll let you light the first rocket.’
Rupert laughed low and dirty.
‘You’ve just lit my rocket.’ He rocked against her and pinched her bum hard to prove his claim. Marla jumped away and slapped his hand.
‘Rupert, I’m at work. Come back later.’
He rolled his eyes.
‘You’re the boss. I’ll be back at eight. Be ready for action.’
Marla watched him leave, not entirely sure if he’d been talking about the fireworks or not. Probably not. She bit her lip, and tried to summon enthusiastic thoughts, not prepared to give headspace to the fact that the thought of sex with Rupert didn’t excite her as much as it really ought to.
She knelt down and fussed Bluey’s ears.
‘Don’t worry darling, I’ve got some lovely furry earmuffs and a big bone to distract you from the fireworks.’
Bluey was impractically large for her office, but her neighbours complained if she left him at home because he wailed like a baby. As long as he was with Marla he was happy, a feeling that went both ways. Bluey’s constant presence at her side was something she’d come to love and rely on. On previous bonfire nights he’d proven himself to be mostly unfussed by fireworks, which was just as well if he was going to be here for their little display later.
Melanie took the Mars bar out of the fridge and sliced it into tiny slivers, before arranging it on the plate in a perfect spiral.
‘I’m going to my room.’
She wasn’t sure why she bothered to tell her father. It wasn’t like he could actually care less whether she was in her room, or in the house at all for that matter. As long as his dinner hit the table at six o’clock and she left betting money on the side each morning, he didn’t give a damn what happened in between.
Up in her room, Melanie perched on the edge of her bed and slid open the bedside drawer. Gabe’s post-it note from a few weeks back was the only thing in there, and she held it for a few seconds to help herself to calm down. She’d just placed it back in the drawer and reached out for a piece of chocolate when the most terrible thought struck her.
The other note.
The note from the fireworks box was still on her desk.
Shit, shit, shit.
Cold panic iced her heart. There was no way she could leave it until the morning. Gabe might get there early and spot it; she couldn’t bear him to question her on what had happened.
She’d have to go back and get it right now. Thank God Gabe had trusted her enough to give her a set of keys. He’d never know that she’d been back there this evening.
She tipped the Mars bar into the dustbin in disgust and dashed outside.
Chapter Nineteen
‘Happy Independence Day, gorgeous.’
Marla clinked her glass against Rupert’s outstretched one with a smile. She was all warm inside and out from two glasses of champagne and the last rays of the evening sunshine.
‘I think it’s dark enough now,’ she declared as she fished around in the box for the lighting rod. As a child back home in the States they’d have rowed out on the lake near her mother’s Florida holiday house to watch the July Fourth fireworks with blankets around their shoulders, but in its own unexpected way, this was just as exciting.
She banged the stake into the lawn and nodded towards the box.
‘Choose one.’
Rupert studied the contents and picked out a small fountain.
‘A reserved choice, sir.’ Marla laughed as the swish of flame shot along the fuse, sending a spray of gold shimmers up into the dwindling light.
‘What shall we have next?’
She rummaged in the box like a kid in a sweetshop and came out with a huge rocket