Page 66 of The Romance Library

‘Thank you for coming to find us,’ Theo said.

‘I’m just glad you’re okay. Let me just give Glenda a quick call so she can tell everyone you’re safe.’

When we got back to the B&B, Glenda raced over and threw her arms around us.

‘We were all so worried!’ she said as if we’d been missing for days rather than hours. ‘Come on. Candace just dropped off some pie and chips for your dinner. You must be starving!’

‘I just need to use the loo,’ I said, trying not to jig on the spot. God knows what I would’ve done if Edwin hadn’t come.

‘No probs. I’ll put the kettle on. Make you both a nice cup of tea.’

After dinner, Theo and I both walked upstairs. When we got to my room door, he stopped.

‘Well, tonight definitely turned out a lot different than I thought it would.’

‘Tell me about it.’ I smiled. ‘Thank you.’

‘What for?’

‘For keeping me calm. And for, y’know, reading to me. I liked it.’

‘My pleasure. Hope it helped.’

‘It did.’

‘And thank you. For the crisps, water and of course the apple. It was very nice.’

‘Even with my saliva?’

‘Especially with your saliva.’ His voice deepened, like it had when he’d read to me, and another wave of tingles erupted between my legs. ‘Sweet dreams.’

Then just like that, he left me standing there and wanting more.

And I knew that if I had sweet dreams tonight, there was a strong possibility that it’d be because Theo was in them.

21

Theo

When I came back from my run, I heard the shower running in Jessica’s bathroom. The walls here were paper thin, so if she coughed, laughed or spoke, I heard it all. I heard everything.

The radio was playing loudly with a Taylor Swift song. But when the chorus was interrupted with a cough, I realised it wasn’t the radio.

No. Couldn’t be?

That was Jessica’s voice. And she was really good. I stepped into my bathroom and put my ear to the wall so I could hear better.

Jessica hit the high note like it was as easy as breathing.

This was good news. We’d been trying to think of ideas for the talent show, but now I’d just found one.

Once I’d showered, I headed downstairs. Jessica was sitting in the conservatory, scrolling through her phone.

‘Morning,’ I said.

‘Hi.’ Jessica’s eyes brightened. If I didn’t know her, I’d say she might have been happy to see me.

‘Good sleep?’

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