Page 40 of The Day After Christmas
‘So what we’re going to do,’ he went on softly, ‘is I’m going to pack this bag for you, okay?’ Felicity nodded against his shoulder. ‘And while I do that you are going to find some clothes to wear for the plane, okay?’ She nodded again slowly. ‘Because if there’s one thing I do know, it’s that you are not going to want to be boarding that plane in your underwear.’
He was right, of course. Felicity snort-laughed, looking down at where she was sitting in just her bra and knickers.
‘You normally like this outfit,’ she said with a giggle.
‘That is my second favourite outfit of yours, in fact,’ said James, his voice getting lower.
‘And what’s your first favourite?’ said Felicity, trying to look vaguely coquettish.
James looked at her for a long moment, his sky-blue eyes flashing suggestively, then glanced down at his watch. ‘I’ll tellyou when you’re dressed. Come on now, Crazy Cat Lady, it’s time to catch a plane.’
By some miracle, some blond-titan-shaped miracle, they did in fact catch the plane on time. Felicity had even less clue what was in her cabin bag now than she had had before but at least, she reasoned, as they took their seats on the tiny turboprop plane, she wasn’t still in her underwear sitting on the carpet at home.
‘And Sophie knows when to feed the cats, right?’ she said, as the plane started moving towards the runway.
‘I love how you start a conversation halfway through,’ said James, kissing her forehead. ‘Yes, Sophie is on the case. Stop worrying.’
‘I’m trying. Sorry. Still not used to this whole travelling thing.’
Felicity’s childhood had been so traumatic, so horrendous, that holidays were still rarer than a penguin (man) in summer.
James kissed her again. ‘I know that. But you did it. We’re here, we’re on our way.’
Felicity smiled. ‘Last time I was on one of these, I had a small accident with some toothpaste.’
‘What?’
‘Never mind. I’m glad you’re here,’ said Felicity then, tears rushing to her eyes. ‘You make me so happy.’
James looked a little choked up himself. He stared at her for a long moment, as if he knew what he said next was going to be important. Felicity held her breath. Was this the moment? Was this it? Was he going to pop the question?
‘Naked,’ he said, quietly.
‘What?’ said Felicity, with a start. That was not what she was expecting.
‘That’s my favourite outfit of yours,’ he replied, in a low rumbling tone that went right through her. Heat flooded her body from top to toe.
‘Fancy you waiting till we got on the plane to say that so I couldn’t do anything about it,’ she whispered when she’d got her composure back.
He adjusted his baseball cap on his unruly blond hair and sat back in his seat with a smile. His next words were barely audible.
‘You wait till I get you in that hotel room, Miss Brooks,’ he said softly, closing his eyes. ‘You are gonna get it.’
It was all Felicity could do not to climb into his lap right there and then. She was almost grateful when the stewardess came round to offer them some tiny peanuts. How things had changed since her last trip to Guernsey. This weekend was going to be very different, that was for sure. Little did she know quite how different or what it was going to lead to.
CHAPTER 21
The next morning, after a very – ahem – active night and an enormous breakfast at the Bella Dame Hotel, James and Felicity were finally ready to explore. And Felicity knew the first place she was going to take him.
The sun was beating down on their heads as they poured themselves into their tiny hire car, essential for the equally tiny Guernsey roads, and headed across to the west side of the island. The sky was blue and the sun’s rays sparkled off the sea every time they got a glimpse of it. James could not stop making noises of appreciation as they went.
‘It’s so…’
‘What?’
‘Just…’
‘What?’
