Page 69 of Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

Jay chuckled. ‘It was. I’m soaked now though.’

‘Yes, same here.’

Jay seemed to have come off the worst. He really was soaked. His light blue T-shirt had been turned navy with the water, and on his jeans it had fashioned huge wet patches.

Megan grinned, holding in her laughter. ‘Are you feeling refreshed?’

Shaking his head, Jay reached out to her, drawing her into a hug.

As she laughed against his shoulder, Megan could feel the water dripping from his hair onto hers and the liquid from his T-shirt soaking hers too. Pulling away and holding his hands at arm’s length, she said, ‘I can’t believe you’ve just done that!’

Jay shrugged, his lips twitching as he tried to stop himself from laughing. ‘I was being nice. Refreshing you too.’

Megan smiled. There was something about Jay – he made her feel comfortable, made her feel as though she could just be herself. She didn’t feel the need to put on an act or try to behave in a certain way as she thought he’d expect her to. She hadn’t felt that way with Lyle, or with the people they’d used to spend time with. She’d always felt as though she wasn’t enough. Wasn’t enough for Lyle, wasn’t enough for their friends. That she didn’t fit in. But with Jay, here, at Wagging Tails, even at his house, she was able to be herself. No airs or graces or second-guessing her actions and words.

Jay tilted his head. ‘You look as though you’re thinking about something deep.’

Shaking herself from her thoughts, she took hold of his hands again and met his gaze. ‘I was just thinking that I can be me around you.’

Jay frowned. ‘Of course you can.’

‘I couldn’t always be me, be just me, but with you I can.’ She wasn’t explaining herself very well, she knew that, but she hoped he knew what she was trying to say.

‘Well, I’m glad to hear that.’ He smiled, his dimple deepening in his cheek.

With her hands still in his, she leaned forward and touched his lips with hers. What was she doing? Leaning back again quickly, she dropped his hands and held her palms against her cheeks, trying to cool the hot rush across her skin. ‘I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.’

Jay looked into her eyes again, the lines around his creased with kindness. ‘Don’t be sorry.’ He leaned forward, pausing a mere inch away from her. ‘Is this okay?’

Megan nodded. It was more than okay. It was what she’d been hoping for since he’d kissed her that day at Wagging Tails. She leaned forward, meeting his lips as he wrapped his arms around her.

‘This looks nice. Just what I need after all those rides.’ Jay lowered the tray of sandwiches and drinks to the table and sat down.

‘Me too! Although I felt that sick after going on the Sky Force ride I didn’t think I’d be able to stomach lunch.’ Megan laughed as she took the plates and mugs from the tray before slipping it onto a spare chair next to her.

‘Ooh yes, that one was brutal. I think I might be a little old for rides like that.’ Jay chuckled.

‘You’re not too old, you just don’t have an iron stomach any more.’ Megan bit into her sandwich and then held it up slightly. ‘Thank you for this.’

‘You’re very welcome.’

‘I’ll pay you back when I have a job. If anyone ever wants to employ someone with zero experience in the last ten years, that is.’ Shifting in her chair, she pulled her mobile from her back pocket and looked at the screen. Still nothing. ‘They don’t seem to be in a hurry to contact me.’

‘You’ll get one. Just you wait and see.’

Megan smiled and nodded. She wished she had his confidence.

‘You will.’ He took her hand and grinned at her. ‘So, are we like official now then?’

Bursting out laughing, Megan wiped her mouth with a napkin. ‘Official? What are we, teenagers?’

Jay shrugged as he chuckled at himself. ‘I’ll say it again, but I did warn you I’m not used to this sort of stuff.’

‘Yes, you did.’ She met his eyes. ‘I’m not either though, remember?’

‘True.’ He nodded.

‘But, yes, I’d like that. Let’s call ourselves official.’ She grinned. It felt right, here with him. It had felt right before too, but hopefully this time Lyle wouldn’t get in the way.

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