Page 37 of Wild Swimming at Croftwood Lake
‘You know my mother has been to Hilary’s shop and bought up most of her Hart Pottery stock.’ He grinned as he watched Nora’s reaction. He’d predicted exactly how she’d react and he’d been right.
‘Oh, that’s so awkward. I would have given her anything she wanted. And what happens if —’
‘If what?’
She looked at him with a tortured expression. ‘I was going to say, if we break up.’
Archie was sure the silence that descended meant that Nora was contemplating as much as he was, that she’d just defined them as being in a relationship. They simply hadn’t discussed what this might be since they’d been out for dinner and she’d said it would be as friends. But he felt they’d moved on from there. They spent time with each other every day. He knew she looked forward to seeing him as much as he did her. They’d begun confiding in each other and although they hadn’t moved on from kisses on the cheek, they’d taken to holding hands. They were more than friends, but were they in a relationship?
‘If we break up, I’ll throw the pottery in the lake and be done with it.’
Nora laughed and leant against his arm. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to reach his arm around her shoulders and pull her to him. She rested her head on his shoulder. It was the most wonderful thing and almost took his breath away.
‘I think we’re more than friends,’ she said.
‘I want to be more than friends but if you’re not ready, I’ll wait,’ Archie said, rubbing the top of her arm with his hand as he gazed across the lake, soaking in every moment of the closeness.
‘We don’t need to wait,’ Nora said. ‘Archie.’
He turned to face her and could see in her eyes that she wanted him to kiss her. He’d wanted that since the moment he’d dropped her home after their dinner date. That night, he’d helped her out of the car and wanted more than anything to drop a kiss onto her perfect lips. But although it had felt like the right time to him, he’d been mindful of Nora saying she wasn’t looking for anything other than friendship. He hadn’t been confident that the magic he’d felt between them in that moment had been something she’d felt too.
But now, he could see that magic reflected in her eyes and he leant down, tipped her chin gently towards him with a finger and thumb, closed his eyes and kissed her. He went in tenderly, but it was followed quickly by an overwhelming desire to kiss her deeply, as if that would somehow sate the desire building in him. Nora shifted around, grounding herself so that she could press closer to him. He did the same, their lips never leaving each other. Her hand moved to his face, caressing him, which was distracting but wonderful at the same time. Then her weight was pushing him to the ground, and they were lying next to each other on the dock.
Neither of them registered the splash as Tatty made her way back across from the island but excited by the pair of them laughing and kissing, she came to join in the fun.
‘Get away, Tatty!’ Archie said, trying to keep the wet dog at arm’s length while Nora, snug in her dry robe, laughed at him. Then, of course, Tatty shook herself dry while she was still right next to them, making Archie cry out as he got showered with cold water.
‘Are you alright?’ he asked Nora, although she looked perfectly dry, unscathed by the dog shower.
Nora smiled and bit her lip which was enormously attractive, making Archie want to dive back into a kiss. ‘I am,’ she said. ‘You look a bit damp.’
He grinned, because despite ending up cold and damp, he’d had one of the best mornings of his life. ‘I’m grand,’ he said, standing up and reaching a hand down to help Nora up. He pulled her straight into his arms.
‘Do you want to warm up in here with me?’ she said. ‘I bet there’s enough room.’
‘Nora, you have no idea.’ He leant his forehead against hers, then pulled back and kissed her again, hardly able to believe that this could make him feel so delightfully happy.
After what seemed like a lot more kissing, and yet not enough, Nora pulled away. ‘As much as I don’t want to leave, I’ll never make our meeting later if I don’t go home and shower. And you’ll catch a chill if you don’t get dried off.’
He sighed, wishing that real life didn’t have to interfere.
‘Would you like to come back with me?’ she asked.
‘I’d love that more than anything, but I ought to get back. Take Tatty. You don’t want a wet dog in your house.’
Nora laughed. ‘I wouldn’t mind that at all. But perhaps another time.’
‘Another time,’ he said, giving her one last kiss. He touched her bottom lip with his thumb, then stepped back and clasped his hands behind his back. ‘I’ll look forward to seeing you later.’
‘Me too.’ She gathered up her things and clambered over the wall into the woods.
Archie watched until she disappeared into the trees and then began the walk back to the house. ‘Come on Tatty,’ he said. ‘Let’s get dried off.’
Seb was early for the meeting and was sat in his usual spot by the fire in the estate office, talking about something that Archie was struggling to follow, because his head was full of Nora. Though barely three hours since they’d seen each other, he was desperate to set eyes on her again. And lips too, if he was honest. And it was mildly annoying that Seb was going to be there, unwittingly putting a stop to anything like that happening.
‘So what do you think?’ Seb asked.
Archie had no idea what he was supposed to comment on so looked at his friend blankly as he went through the possibilities in his head. ‘I think that sounds…good.’
