Page 117 of Seduction Under the Southern Stars

“A corporate one, yes,” I reply. “The Australian and New Zealand Archaeology Society yearly get-together. They thought it would be fun to host it on a ship this year and call in at some of the major sites in New Zealand and Australia on the way.”

“And you’re speaking?” he asks.

“Yes, on the two hoards of Roman coins I found, as well as recent developments in excavation in the UK.”

“You’re going with him?” Juliette asks, leaning over to help herself to one of the remaining sausage rolls.

Elora nods. “Around to Milford Sound, in the hopes of tracking down a family taonga.” It’s a Maori word that means treasure.

“That’ll be fun,” Juliette says. She bites into the sausage roll, her eyes dancing. “So… separate cabins?”

“Juliette!” Henry and Alex scold together. “That’s none of your business,” Henry reminds her. But they all look at us, intrigued and amused.

Elora pops a grape in her mouth. “Nope,” she replies, then gives a mischievous grin.

Henry chuckles. “It was only a matter of time.”

She frowns at him. “What do you mean?”

“He was always crazy about you,” Henry says, taking the last sausage roll before Juliette can claim it. “He used to doodle your name on his schoolbooks.”

“I did not,” I protest.

He grins, because he’s telling the truth and we both know it.

Elora looks at me, eyes wide. “Aw, Linc. You wrote my name on your book?”

I bear her mocking with a wry smile. “Yeah, yeah. You can tease me.”

“He used to write your initials, ERB, and put little love hearts around them,” Henry says, and everyone goes Awwww.

My face heats for the first time in about twenty years. “Shut up.” My lips curve up as they all laugh. I gesture at Elora. “I think that’s our cue to leave.”

We say goodbye to everyone and promise to keep in touch, then let Henry show us to the front door. “Thanks,” I tell him when we stop in the foyer. “It was great to see you again.”

“You too, bro.”

We exchange a big bearhug, and I laugh as he lingers, seemingly unwilling to let me go and unafraid to show it. Eventually, though, he releases me and gives Elora a hug, and then we go through the front doors and head down the steps.

It’s only just gone two, but we decide to go to the ferry, and we’ll get ourselves a coffee while we wait until they start boarding. I call for an Uber, and we wait by the curb for it to arrive.

“That was fun,” Elora says. “Great to meet the others.”

“They’re a nice crowd.”

“I miss Henry. He’s one of the good guys. I’m so glad he’s settled now—he seems very happy with Juliette.” There’s a touch of wistfulness on her features.

Time has moved on, and none of us is as young as we used to be. We’ve all gotten on with our lives, matured and grown up. I swallow against the tightness in my throat at the thought that I might not see Henry again. We were close once, he and I, with Joel and Fraser, and we’ve drifted apart, which is entirely my fault. I don’t want that to happen again.

I look away. Last time, I had no control over what happened, but this time the future is in my hands. If I walk away, it’ll be my choice, and I’ll have to live with the consequences. I love England and enjoy my life there. But returning to it means leaving Elora, and my friends, and the country I’d forgotten I loved.

There are no easy choices, and my heart aches at the thought that I’m going to have to make them, when the time comes. I knew this would happen, but I was cavalier with the decision to get involved with Elora, telling myself that Future Linc would deal with the fallout, and he’d be much better at it than me.

I’m such a fucking idiot.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Elora

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