“I have,” he said. “Even before I met you. But especially since our first night together. If you hadn’t turned up here the next day, I was going to find you. I knew it the second we woke up together. There was no way I was letting you slip through my fingers.”
I ran my hands down his chest, smoothing the wrinkles from his shirt. “I never stood a chance, did I?”
Charles shook his head, grinning. “Nope.”
I draped my arms over his shoulders, running my nails through the soft hair at the back of his head. “I can’t believe this is really happening.”
“There is just one thing I need from you,” he said.
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“Well, I mean, I told you how I feel . . .”
I breathed out a laugh, sucking my bottom lip between my teeth. He was so cheesy. And I was so happy.
“Well, duh,” I said, locking my ankles behind his legs. “I must be in love with you. I don’t go skinny dipping with just any guy.”
Charles laughed, cupping my face in his hands to press his warm, soft lips against mine. Tender and sweet. I hugged him closer, comforted by the beating of his heart against my chest.
“So, London,” he said, pressing his forehead against mine.
“London.”
“Well, this should make for an interesting family breakfast in the morning.”
Chapter 32
Charles thought it was best he speak to Amelia alone the next morning, which was fine by me. So, following breakfast service, I met up with Megan and Hannah at the marketplace. They were seated at a picnic table just inside the barn, with cups of cocoa and fresh pastries, and a mountain of shopping bags beside them.
“Wow, you two have done some damage, huh?” I said, folding myself in beside Hannah, who was bundled up in a thick green knit scarf and matching cap I recognized from a local handmade goods store. “Must’ve gotten an early start.”
“There are so many cute shops around town. We’ve been hitting up all the great spots you posted about on Après Brie.”
“I can see that,” I said, laughing at their haul.
“Just a few souvenirs and Christmas gifts,” Megan added, picking off a flaky bit of croissant to pop in her mouth. “Might as well take advantage of the sales, right?”
“Well, on behalf of the local economy, thank you for your business.”
“Oh!” she said then, waving her hands in mild panic. “What happened with the party? I hope it wasn’t a total disaster. I couldn’t believe how quickly the snow shut down everything last night.”
Just thinking about that damn sage got my blood pressure rising again. I’d have stress dreams about that dinner service for months.
“Actually, it all worked out. Charles really came to my rescue. Trudged out to the neighbor’s house in the middle of the blizzard in his tux to scrounge up just enough. Then he and his dad jumped into the kitchen to lend a hand.”
“Really?” Megan sat back, impressed.
“And I almost forgot . . .” The whole night was sort of a blur. “I met Marcus Lee!”
“Whoa,” she said, eyes wide in awe. “What was he doing there?”
I shrugged. “Good friend of Mrs. Hawthorne, apparently.”
“Well, what’d he say?” Hannah demanded. “What was he like?”
“Very nice. Way more handsome in person. Said he loved my squab and to stay in touch while I’m in London.”
Hannah whistled, brushing off my shoulders. “Check out who’s moving up in the world.”
