Page 41 of Ignited in Iceland
‘It does happen.’
‘I feel so lucky. My first time of looking for them and I see this.’ The lights were still dancing across the sky, the energy of them almost palpable as they moved, growing alternately brighter before fading a little and then coming back.
‘It is incredible luck,’ Siggi agreed. He tucked his arm around her waist. ‘You could come again tomorrow night, if you would like to.’
Iris wanted nothing more than to replicate the day she’d had with Siggi today. To laze around in bed, getting to know each other in every sense. But the report was weighing on her mind and she knew she had to make a start on it.
‘I’d love to, but I should work tomorrow.’
‘All day?’ His expression was so forlorn that Iris imagined for a moment that the best thing to do was to quit her job, tell Jay to stuff his report and spend tomorrow and every day forever more with Siggi.
‘Maybe not all day,’ she relented. ‘I’m going in to meet Bjarkey again on Monday and hopefully we can run my data alongside theirs so I can get some analysis for my report. But I suppose I could get some work done, enough to prepare for Monday, and then we could hang out?’
‘That sounds good to me,’ he said. ‘And we have tonight.’
‘We do,’ Iris said, grinning. And when she’d left the hotel, Embla hadn’t been on the desk, so Iris knew they were safe to be there tonight without fear of a look that could kill on the way in.
He kissed her, no longer caring that anyone might see. It didn’t matter. Now that everyone had seen the Northern Lights, they were too happy to care about the tour guide canoodling withone of the guests. And anyway, their eyes were still trained on the sky.
‘I think it is time to go,’ he said. ‘I am starting to feel a little bit cold.’
He rounded everyone up, and they all climbed aboard the minibus again. Iris sat up at the front with Siggi this time.
‘See? I told you they were a couple,’ she heard Barb say to her husband.
Siggi turned and looked at Iris, his eyes shining. Iris could see he liked what Barb had said, and Iris loved that. They were a couple.
The lights were visible almost all the way back to Reykjavik. Everyone in the back was sitting in a peaceful silence, the darkness and the late hour lulling a couple of them to sleep. Iris kept stealing looks at Siggi and occasionally, he glanced across at her and gave her the most wonderful look that told her he couldn’t wait for them to be alone again.
It was after eleven o’clock by the time they got back to Reykjavik. This time, Siggi dropped everyone directly at their various hotels. Barb and Ronald were the last, since their hotel was closest to the place where Siggi had to park the minibus.
‘Thank you, Siggi. We had the best time,’ Barb said, giving him a hug once she’d climbed out of the bus. ‘That was on my bucket list and it’s well and truly ticked off now.’
‘You’re welcome,’ Siggi said, shaking Ronald’s hand once Barb had turned her hugs over to Iris instead, who had also climbed out to say goodbye.
‘And you’ll send the photos from Pieter?’ Barb asked.
‘Of course,’ Siggi said. ‘We have your email address from the booking.’
‘And you look after this one,’ she said, patting Iris on the arm. ‘She’s a keeper.’
‘Thank you, that is good advice,’ Siggi said sincerely.
‘It was lovely to meet you both,’ Iris said.
‘You too, honey,’ said Barb.
Once Ronald and Barb had gone inside their hotel, Siggi drove them to the car park on the edge of the oldest part of town, where they left the minibus.
‘We’ll leave everything for tonight,’ said Siggi when Iris asked whether they should take the cups and flasks with them. ‘I’ll pick it up tomorrow in the jeep.’
They walked through the quiet streets together, hand in hand.
‘Would you like to stay in my room tonight?’
Siggi beamed at her. ‘I would love to.’
Iris was glad she’d decided not to work all day Saturday after all. She could hardly bear to contemplate spending an entire day without him. It was ridiculous, she knew that, but also such an overwhelming feeling. She’d never had that feeling of missing someone when you’re still with them. If she felt like this at the prospect of a day apart, what would it be like when she finally went home?
