Page 36 of Hold Me Tight

I duck my head and blush at his compliment.

“Tell me something about yourself, Angie.”

Uh, what? I blink across at him. Something about myself? I have no idea what to say, or where to start? Or why he would be interested.

“Uh….” I chew on my tongue. Tim glances over at me, and pulls off the road, outside a little inn in the village we are passing through.

“Come on.” He unbuckles and climbs out of the car. What’s happening? I pause for a moment, scrambling to follow. This isn’t Oxford. We’re in the middle of nowhere.

Tim leads me inside, and leans against the reception desk, flashing the blushing young lady manning the desk a charming smile. “Are there any notable walks around here?”

She simpers and hurries to grab a map of the area. “This is the best route for a walk from here.” Her finger traces along a marked trail. “It goes through a small forest area where there’s a hill or two with some pleasant views, and a ruined tower house somewhere in there as well.”

“Thanks. Can I keep this map?”

“O-Of course, sir.”

Surprise, surprise.

“Thanks.”

Collecting the map, Tim takes my hand on the way out, leading me away from the village, following the path on the map. It doesn’t take long for us to leave the village behind, tramping through a stunning, and very English, forest.

“I thought we were going to Oxford?” I finally speak up, looking up through the leafless trees. Tim grins over at me with a shrug.

“We are. Eventually. But we have all day to get there. Don’t you ever go off book?” His eyebrow is quirked adorably, and I flush.

“My job is to make sure everything runs according to the laid-out plan,” I reply, somewhat defensively, and his grin widens.

“But you’re not at work right now. You’re on vacation.”

“No.you’reon vacation. I’m staying at my boss’ holiday home in England.I’mworking.”

Tim smirks over at me. “Oh yeah? And what does your job entailright now?”

My footsteps falter, and since Tim’s holding my hand, he notices. He glances sharply across at me with his lips pursed. Whatever he sees in my face has him coming to a halt and emotions warring for dominance on his face. The two I can predominantly see are anger and nausea.

“Please tell me you aren’t sleeping with me because you’ve been told to,” he whispers faintly, looking ill at the very idea. Tim’s hand is tight on mine and I pale, shaking my head vigorously. Oh my god. No!

“No. Absolutely not!”

He relaxes immediately, releasing my hand to scrub his face as he mutters to himself, “Thank fuck for that.”

Silently, we crunch through a bit more undergrowth until we come out in a natural clearing, with a giant boulder in the middle, which Tim beelines for. He helps me climb up next to him, and we sit, side by side, admiring the beautiful clearing.

Tim reaches over, taking my hand again. “You never told me what job you’re supposed to be doing right now.”

I sigh, dropping his hand and pulling my knees to my chest, hugging them. I was hoping he was going to drop it. Wishful thinking, huh? “I told you guys my very first night at the Manor. I’m a spy.”

Tim snorts, but does a double take when he realizes I’m serious.

“What kind of spy?” he sounds both incredulous and suspicious. I sigh, resting my chin on my knees, looking out over the clearing.

“I had a twofold mission. Step one has been accomplished, though I didn’t really have anything to do with it.”

“What was step one?”

I glance over to where Tim’s eyes are burning into the side of my face.

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