Page 91 of Perfect

“I’ll be fine. You should go before I change my mind and keep you in here,” he announced, turning me gently and placing a palm in the hollow of my back. I trotted forward through the doorway.

“Oh, and Harlow…” I spun back to face him.

“Yes?”

One mouth-watering muscled arm was resting on the door frame above his head, his tattooed skin close to my face.

I lifted my eyes to meet his assessing stare, it was as if he was looking at me for the first time again.

“It isn’t a date,” Connor pointed out in a semi-playful/serious tone.

I raised my eyebrows and beamed up at him. It was so a date, and webothknew it.

I purposefully lifted my chin up towards his, confidence thrumming within me.

“If you say so.”

And with that I twisted and sashayed off down the corridor, ensuring I gave him the best view of my backside and that perfect Monroe sway which I had mastered the art of after many years of practice. I knew my bum would look pretty fantastic in the black skin-tight jeans.

I heard him inhale sharply before he chuckled quietly to himself and closed his door.

I had definitely won that round.

Fourteen

The drive to the coast was a vast improvement on my last two experiences in Connor’s car.

We spoke about a variety of topics and I was really enjoying myself. It felt comfortable and the banter flowed naturally between us. The old animosity had well and truly gone now and I was grateful that he had started to open up more.

I told him about my exams and he explained how he’d dropped out of school and didn’t have any GCSEs. It didn’t bother me as there were other routes to travel career wise and he was already well involved with the farm. I also knew he was naturally intelligent, mature and a hard worker. After what had happened to him as a child, he’d had to grow up fast.

Connor was encouraging about my idea of studying teaching and the fact that this could bring me to Yorkshire on a more permanent basis was now even more appealing to me.

I thought about my mum and how disappointed she’d be if I did say I wanted to study away. No doubt she’d get over it though given time and at least she had Phil on the scene now.

Connor pulled the Ranger into a parking place, high above the sea and then unclipped his seat belt.

“Let’s do this,” he said, leaning across me and releasing my belt. He was so bossy and always in control, but I liked it.

We both climbed from the car; the sun was starting to set but it still cast a pretty glow across the ocean and the breeze was fairly gentle considering how the sea was crashing against the rocks beneath us.

Connor took my hand and walked me over to a gap in the fence where there were steps leading downwards.

I glanced at my shoes with a frown. Strappy sandals werenotthe right choice of footwear for tackling those fairly steep steps. I’d had an image of walking hand in hand on the beach, but it appeared we needed to hike down there first.

Following my focus, Connor cocked his head and also glanced purposefully down at my feet, before looking back at me with an unimpressed eyebrow.

“Yes, I know, not the best idea I get it,” I grunted. Annoyed at myself.

“Take off your shoes,” he commanded, his deep voice firm. It sent another flutter of heat across my skin which hadnothingto do with the sun.

I did as he instructed and stood before him on the top step, sandals in hand, awaiting his next move.

“Jump on,” Connor beckoned and turned to offer me his broad back. OMG, he’s offering a piggyback and he’s only recently recovered from busted ribs, the guy was mental.

“Connor, I don’t think—.”

He cut me off. “Don’t think, don’t speak, just climb on and I’ll do the rest.”

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