‘And I have to go back to London.’
They smiled at each other. Ava was glad he couldn’t read her mind. But then he’d know that she wanted to take things further. Maybe she should air her thoughts to gauge his response?
Jack wasn’t as slow as her to react.
‘I’m not sure I can keep my lips to myself while you are around,’ he confessed.
Her laugh was dirty now, the cheeky smirk she gave him making his stomach roll over. He decided to take the plunge.
‘Do you think we should finish what we started all those years ago?’
‘You mean have a holiday fling?’ Ava teased.
Jack shrugged. ‘I think we both know it could be more than that.’
She said nothing, but her smile became a grin.
‘You’ve just walked back into my life,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to lose you again.’
‘Let’s take it one day at a time.’ Ava smiled coyly. ‘We need to stay professional in the week, mind you.’
‘And the weekends?’ He pulled her into his arms.
She wrapped hers around his neck. ‘Well, it would be foolish not to spend them wisely.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Later, walking back to his house, Ava hadn’t felt so happy in a long while. How had she missed so much fun in her life? Jack made her smile, like she’d found someone to care about her again. Oh, her heart was going to be in for a battering if this didn’t work out, because she was smitten already.
Graham greeted Jack as if he’d been gone for months and then gave Ava some of his attention.
‘Park your butt down on that stool and I’ll do you an after-lakeside-event special.’ Jack unravelled his scarf and hung it up with his coat.
‘What’s that?’ She passed over her outer wear for him to do the same.
‘It’s when I’m in charge of everything. You can sit back and watch and wait. Although, to be fair, I’m usually cooking English breakfast for the kids, singing at the top of my voice, or generally making a prick of myself.’
‘And there was me thinking that you were such a professional businessman.’
‘As if! How about a mug of tea and a cheese toastie?’
‘You sure know how to spoil a girl.’
Ava sat on a stool, and rested her chin in her hands while she watched him work. She loved how the banter was so easy between them. There was sexual tension in the air, but it was more an anticipation of what was to come.
Jack passed her the food and drink and sat on the stool next to her, Graham at their feet waiting for any crumbs or titbits.
‘I feel like I’m on holiday,’ Ava said once they were fed and watered.
‘You are today. I’ve given you an official day off.’
‘It’s Saturday!’ She slapped his arm playfully. ‘You know what I mean.’
‘I do.’
The tension rose as they looked at each other.
Jack reached up and placed a hand on the side of her face. ‘I’m so glad you came into my life again. It’s taken me an age to find someone I feel this much for. I think… I’m falling in love.’
