Page 27 of Secrets of the Eternal Flame

‘Will you join me if I do?’

How could I resist? I slipped off my trainers and socks, we both rolled our trousers up to our knees, then walked to the breaking waves where Eva lay basking in the sun and the sea.

Fraser should have looked ridiculous, in his black suit with the trouser legs rolled up, but he didn’t. He looked delicious. ‘I was about to ring you,’ he said with a smile, ‘but this is even better. I’m glad I didn’t resist the Mother’s call today.’

I smiled. ‘Me too.

‘How’s your day been?’

‘It’s going okay,’ I said. ‘I’ve got a new case, helping the old goblin up at Grimoires and Goblets.’

‘Sounds interesting,’ he said. ‘Not a murder this time, I take it?’ He was only half-joking.

‘No, just some stolen items –possiblestolen items. It’s also possible the owner misplaced them. How’syourday been?’ I asked.

‘Mostly back-to-back meetings. This is the first time I’ve had five minutes to myself.’

‘And I’ve stolen it!’

‘I’m more than happy for you to interrupt any “me time”. Always.’

Something in his tone made me feel hot under the collar. ‘Good to know,’ I said, a tad breathlessly. With an effort, I turned my brain away from what Fraser Banks might do alone and back to serious matters. I took a deep breath. ‘So, I tried to talk to the Flame, but there was nothing.’

‘I’m sorry, Beatrix.’ He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and squeezed me before releasing me.

‘I’ll keep trying.’ I shrugged. ‘I can’t give up.’

Never give up, Bumble Bea. My mum’s words rang in my head and my heart ached at the thought of her. I could remember her words but not the timbre of her voice. Try as I might, I couldn’thearher anymore and that just about killed me.

Eva gave a great bark: she was playing again, trying her hardest to catch the foam on a wave as it broke. No matter how fast she swam, it raced away from her and disappeared by the time she reached the shore. She did it several moretimes and I laughed as she barked in frustration, telling off the sea for being too fast as if she could command the waves.

As I watched, Fraser leaned into the water and plunged his fingers under the surface. This time the foam stayed unnaturally still, long enough for Eva to catch it. She barked repeatedly at her triumph and Fraser pulled his fingers out of the water. ‘Did you help her win?’ I asked, incredulously.

He smiled. ‘Losing all the time is demotivating. Look at her now.’ He was right. Eva was back to living her best canine life, frolicking in the foam. ‘I wondered if we could go on that date tonight?’ he went on. ‘I have some council business but I can wrap it up by eight at the latest if you’re free.’

I wanted to say yes, I really did, but I couldn’t. ‘I’m sorry, but Maddie, Nour and I are having a girls’ night. I’m finally going to Shady’s.’

‘You know that you just spent six weeks with them?’ Fraser sounded bemused.

‘I spent six weeks with you, too,’ I reminded him, jostling him lightly with my hip. ‘And like with you, we didn’t actually get any private time. Nour hasn’t had a chance to fill us in on what’s happening with her andEzra.’

Fraser grinned. ‘We’ve already seen what’s going on with her and Ezra.’

‘True, but there wasn’t any time for proper women’s talk,’ I said. ‘Maddie needs it after the shock of seeing Yanni – you know, the other night. So we’re going to Shady’s and, depending on how late we stay there, we might all go back to ours, do a face mask and watch a romance film.’

‘Romance, hey?’ Fraser grinned. ‘You know, I’m pretty sure I could show you a few of those tricks you watch in the movies.’ He moved closer towards me and I felt the buzzing in the air growing stronger and stronger. My body was being drawn to his by more than magic, and every cell in my body was screaming to be connected to him.

‘Show me what you’ve got,’ I challenged him.

He didn’t hesitate. One hand slid into my hair, the other gripped my waist and then his mouth was on mine: hot, demanding, devastating. His kiss was all swagger and heat, like he had something to prove and every intention of proving it. His tongue swept against mine, slow at first, teasing, before deepening with a hunger that made my knees buckle. Sparks danced across my skin where he touched me; magic and desire tangled into something that was far too good to resist.

Somewhere in the back of my mind a thought whispered through the haze – this was the man who’dgiven up his one shot at love to save me … and I was starting to think he hadn’t made the wrong choice after all.

Chapter Eighteen

‘It was out of this world good,’ I confessed. I hadn’t planned on telling the girls about things heating up between me and Fraser, especially after what Maddie had said to me the previous night: I didn’t want to make her feel any more of a third wheel. But the minute I’d walked into Shady’s, my wide grin had given me away.

‘Oh my God,’ Maddie screeched as I walked in. ‘You did it, didn’t you? You finally shagged Fraser Banks!’

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