‘I guess never say never.’ She looked up at him. ‘Only you don’t have that privilege, do you?’
She understood. ‘No. I don’t.’
Laurie took his arm ‘I’m so sorry, Ross.’
The sudden hint of her scent, the feeling of her skin brushing his made Ross recoil. Just that small, friendly gesture made him want to forget all that he knew to be right, and to want more. Laurie jerked away from him, as if he’d burned her.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean...’ He could see the hurt look in her eyes and there was only one way to show her what he really did mean. He reached out for her, taking her into his arms.
‘This is what you meant?’ She smiled up at him.
‘Yeah. This too.’ He brushed a kiss against her cheek.
‘Mmm. I like what you’re saying.’ She stretched up, kissing his cheek.
A whole conversation would have been better. They were alone here, by the shore of the lake, and no one would ever know. Ross could feel his body hardening at the thought and wondered if she felt that too.
Maybe she did. But it was okay because everything was suddenly okay between them. Everything apart from the misunderstandings and the vain attempts to keep each other at arm’s length.
‘Are you going to say it again?’ Her eyes were amber in the sunlight, her hair flaming. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
‘I shouldn’t...’
She heaved a mock sigh. ‘Yes, I know. You don’t mess with your staff. Does it make a difference that I’m only part time?’
Ross chuckled. ‘I’m not sure. It might come under the category of splitting hairs.’
Laurie grinned. ‘That’s better than a straight-out no. And remember that I’ve been in denial for much of my adult life, so I’m very good at it—’
She gasped as he stopped her talking with a kiss. One of the sweetest—no, the sweetest—he’d ever experienced. He could feel her fingers clutching at his shoulders, her body pressed against his. Her mouth, and the softness of her skin. When she responded, everything seemed to just fall into place and a bright happiness washed over Ross.
He told her that she was beautiful, and she sighed. Felt her run her fingers across his shoulders, and was suddenly grateful for all those mornings spent in the gym, because Laurie told him that she approved. Ross kissed her again, knowing that this was the last time.
‘Time to go back now?’ When he drew away from her, Laurie understood his meaning.
‘There are only so many rules that we can break, Laurie. Too many of them and we’ll end up hurting each other.’
She nodded, holding her hand out to take his. ‘Then maybe we’ll just walk very slowly back to the car...’
* * *
She’d kissed him. Twice. That was a breach of the rules of more than double the severity.
Because...once might be classed as a mistake, but twice definitely wasn’t. When Ross had kissed her the second time it had felt as if the limits that they’d put on their lives weren’t just wobbling a little, they’d been truly crushed.
All the same, she didn’t want to take it back. Laurie couldn’t bring herself to regret it either. What she should do was stop it from happening again.
When they came within sight of the car, he let go of her hand. Started to walk a little further from her, the quirk of his lips sho
wing his regret. They both knew that they couldn’t take this any further.
‘As relationships go...’ she smiled up at him ‘...that might have been short, but it was very sweet.’
Ross chuckled. ‘Are you telling me that you’re breaking up with me? Already?’
‘Afraid so. But I really hope we can still be friends. Not just civilised, let’s do this properly friends. Real friends.’
His eyes softened. ‘That would be my fondest wish.’