“I’m so sorry, Mummy,” Ammy mumbled into Thea’s shoulder. “I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
Thea nodded into her daughter’s curls. She had a million and one questions. Why did she go? What was she planning todo if she actually made it to Felix’s? But none of that mattered now. She had Ammy home, safe and sound. “It’s okay, darling. I’m just so glad to have you home. I missed you.”
Ammy broke away from Thea. “I missed you too. It was a long way, and then I got hungry and cold. But Felix gave me his jacket, and he didn’t get eaten by the ducks.”
Thea’s brows drew together, and she looked up towards Felix. He was shifting on his feet next to his car, hands wedged firmly in his pockets. He wore a white T-shirt, striped pyjama bottoms, and expensive trainers, and his usually pristine hair looked a little mussed up. Despite herself, the corners of Thea’s mouth curved a little. He must have come straight from his bed. He looked adorable.
Felix met her gaze, and he gave a tiny shrug and a half-smile of his own. Thea touched the scrunchie at her wrist. She kissed Ammy on the top of her head, then stood, taking her daughter’s little hand, its warmth filling her soul. “You go inside, darling. I need to thank Felix for bringing you home.”
Ammy nodded, her face pale and grave. “He was very brave, Mummy.” Thea quirked a brow before Ammy continued. “I think he was scared of the ducks, but he only used a medium-sized stick, and they didn’t eat him. I think Felix might be a duck person, like me.”
The image of Felix’s testicles being pecked mercilessly only weeks ago, down at her own pond, popped into Thea’s head. It would be aeons before he’d be comfortable around anything with a long neck and feathers again. “Run along, darling and wash your hands. I won’t be long.”
Ammy uncurled her hand from Thea’s and, with a backward glance at her rescuer, skipped off into the house.
Thea and Felix were alone now in the still of the yard. The distant hum of a tractor and the occasional donkey bray were the only sounds competing with the hammer of her heart. Thea tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth and steppedtowards him. He met her somewhere in the middle, and they both came to a stop, only inches from each other. He was so close she could smell the scent of his cologne and soft waves of mint on his breath. His eyes were warm, the softest sage. She’d missed their colour.
“Are you okay?” he asked, searching her face.
Thea nodded, stuck for words. “Thank you.”
The moment she spoke, an enormous ball of pressure rose in her chest, and all the distress and worry she’d held inside burst forth like a tidal wave. Large tears welled in the corners of her eyes, and her face crumpled.
The minute he noticed, Felix curled his arms around her and held her close as she sobbed against him. He pulled her into his body and laid her head to rest on his chest, its hardness safe and comforting. Felix kept her there against his warm body, making shushing noises like he was soothing a child, stroking his fingers through her hair.
With her ear pressed against him, each of Felix’s heartbeats matched her own. As she focussed on the steady rhythm in his chest, her tears subsided.
When her shoulders finally stilled, Thea spoke. “Thank you for finding her.”
Felix let out a long breath and brought his lips to the top of her head, kissing her hair with the lightest pressure. “It was the least I could do.”
“Is she okay, though? Did she say anything?” Thea dreaded the answer.
“Other than ingesting a truckload of sugar in the form of pink icing, I’d say she’s fine.” Felix snickered, and the vibration of his voice against Thea’s ear curled her toes. “She spent the entire way back singing the Peppa Pig theme tune and telling me about Jeffrey’s wind issues. I think you have a long day ahead of you.”
Thea’s lips bowed. “What did you say to her before? Whenyou got out of the car?” Thea closed her eyes, the hypnotic stroke of Felix’s fingertips behind her ear making her lean into him.
“I told her not to worry. That you wouldn’t be cross. She’s a great kid and didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Thea frowned at Felix’s unsatisfactory answer. His lack of detail. She hadn’t expected them to discuss world peace or come up with ways to reverse climate change, but she’d hoped he might have some insight into why she’d felt the need to run away.
“I know she didn’t, and I’m sorry to involve you in my drama.”
“Drama?” Felix laughed, a low, throaty sound that made Thea’s chest fizz. “I’m a veteran where drama is concerned, and after last weekend, I owed you one.”
The sharp reminder of the fight with Adrienne broke Felix’s spell. She’d unconsciously woven her hands around his waist, where they now rested, stroking the soft fabric of his T-shirt.
Her face was wet, and she pulled away from him, her gaze settling on where her cheek had been only moments ago. She’d left behind a damp circle of tears on the white cotton of his T-shirt. Thea looked up to meet Felix’s gaze. “I’ve made you dirty.”
A hot burn flared in Felix’s eyes, and he reached to bring his hands to either side of her face. “You have,” he murmured before tipping up Thea’s chin and pressing his lips softly against hers.
At their touch, a gentle tingle ignited low down in Thea’s belly, and she was seized by an urge to throw caution to the wind, to open her mouth, to taste him, to claim him for her own. To press herself against the hint of his hardness.
But quenching her desire for Felix wasn’t why they were here. Despite his finding Ammy and bringing her back, nothing had changed. Felix’s life hadn’t changed, and neither had hers. Today’s adventures were just a reminder of why sheand Ammy were better on their own. Ammy was so vulnerable. Who knew what she'd do if Thea and Felix got together and anything went wrong?
With a frown, Thea pulled away from his lips. “Felix, no,”
Felix shut his eyes tight, letting out a breath before bringing his hands to rest on her shoulders. With a slight bow of his head, he brought his lips to her forehead. “I miss you. Not seeing you this week has been hell. And you haven’t answered my texts.”
