She shook her curls, drinking the last of her milk. “It’s okay. Kitty says you and Felix may want to hug each other.”
If she’d blushed earlier, Thea’s face raged like a furnace now.
“O-kay!” Josh laughed, taking Ammy’s hand and loading her onto his back. “I think that’s our cue to leave.”
Thea blew her a kiss, and they headed up the stairs, but not before Ammy spun her head around to Thea. “I want you two to hug. I like Felix. Goodnight, Mummy.”
Thea side-eyed Felix, who was now leaning against her sink. The corners of his eyes crinkled, and his lips turned up in a gorgeous smile. Her heart wobbled in her chest. Damn, she could get used to having him around.
“And on that very awkward note,” said Kitty, hauling her substantial bulk off the chair, “I think I’ll make myself scarce so all hugging can commence.” She winked at Thea. “Night, boss.”
The kitchen fell silent when Kitty left, apart from the ticking clock on the wall. Felix stared at her, his eyes full of love, full of a cheeky promise that made her pulse race and her cheeks fire hot again. She turned to him, worrying her bottom lip.
“Do you want another glass of wine? Or a cup of tea? Or I can put the telly on,” she offered.
Felix stepped towards her, taking her hands, mercifully stopping her rambling. “No. I have other ideas.”
“Oh?” she said, feigning disinterest. She had a lot of otherideas herself, but she didn’t want to mention them too soon in the relationship and certainly not on a weeknight. Thea’s ideas would involve a bit of research and long, lazy weekends in bed.
Felix pulled her in, wrapping his arms around her. “I booked the nanny overnight. And you know, it just struck me that I’ve never seen your bedroom.”
Thea’s thoughts drifted to her room, and the laundry basket spilt like lava from a volcano. Her unmade bed and her three cats no doubt stretched out on the mattress.
She winced. “I’ll be honest, it’s a shit show up there. Total chaos.”
Felix’s sage eyes filled with laughter, and he leaned down to press his lips against hers. He applied the gentlest pressure, but after a heartbeat, he trailed his tongue along her lips, and Thea opened up her mouth to him.
Their kiss was deep, long, and enough to steal Thea’s breath as their bodies entwined in the half-light of the kitchen lamp. When they finally parted, she let out a tiny moan.
Felix chuckled, the deep resonance of his voice pulsing through her body. “Are you sure your room is in total chaos?”
Thea tipped her chin, wanting nothing more than to kiss him again. “Guilty as charged. Maybe you’ll have to show me the error of my ways Mr. Walsh. Whip me into shape.”
One corner of his mouth lifted, and he shook his head slowly. “I’m all for experimenting, but who says I’m not addicted to your particular brand of chaos?”
Thea swallowed. “You are?”
Felix kissed the top of her head, drawing his arms tighter around her. “Definitely. I’m completely hooked, thoroughly obsessed, and totally dependent. And I nevereverwant to go cold turkey.”
Thea sighed, resting her head against his chest, relishing its hardness. “I promise Felix, you won’t have to.”
The End.
EPILOGUE
Thea sipped on her pink-gin fizz and took in the scene in the meadow. Today was her birthday, and Felix had organised a party for her. The day was hot and sunny, and he’d hired an open-sided marquee, complete with banks of summer flowers at its corners, deck chairs and mountains of cushions. On three tables, cake stands burgeoning with pastries and fruit tempted her guests. Felix had hired Holly from the bakery to run the catering. Thea’s lips bowed at the corners. There wasn’t a Swiss roll in sight.
He’d also offered Holly a job at the Rusty Plough, but she’d chosen to stay at the bakery in the village. Thea would be eternally grateful. It would be criminal to have to travel all the way to Clavenham to get her doughnuts.
A sultry breeze rustled the oak leaves above, and Thea ran her hand over the patchwork quilt beneath her. Her mother had handmade it when Ammy was born, and though it was a little frayed, it was one of her daughter’s most precious keepsakes. Ammy sat between Thea’s legs, leaning against her chest, and she bent to kiss her blonde curls.
Thea had spent the last fifteen minutes giving her andLucas a lesson in making corn dollies. Kitty had joked she was encouraging pagan rituals or voodoo doll-making for the under sevens. Still, it was something she and Josh had done as kids.
“Pew, Pew!” a high-pitched voice rang out next to her.
Daniel sat cross-legged on the grass, his characteristically perfect hair looking a little less catwalk-ready than usual. He held two corn dolls and was acting out a Star Wars worthy gun battle on the blanket, to the delight of Lucas.
Tottenbridge’s most notorious resident had turned out to be a great friend to Thea and Ammy. He and Felix had buried the hatchet, and though they would never be bosom buddies, they played golf together, complete with a healthy rivalry. The loser of their matches had to buy a mystery bottle of liqueur for the other.
