Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
With her hair splayed around her on the sand and her cheeks adorably rosy, Flynn’s mind had been on kissing Lily from the moment he lay beside her. He hadn’t expected her to give him the green light so explicitly, but he also wasn’t about to waste the opportunity.
If he hesitated, she’d no doubt change her mind or insist it had been a joke or something.
Surprise widened her eyes as he shifted his weight so he was lying on top of her. His hand on her cheek had the effect of hiding her from view as well as tilting her face towards him.
He caught her sharp intake of breath just before their lips met in a kiss that made his pulse skitter. Their noses brushed together as he pulled back slightly, locking eyes with her.
Considering she’d told him to kiss her, she looked oddly confused by the situation. Presumably, she hadn’t expected him to be so eager. Maybe he should have played it cool.
And maybe he should move away now.
He couldn’t bring himself to. When he moved his lips back to hers, she reached a hand around his neck, pulling him closer.
His heart raced and his insides fluttered as he tilted his face and kissed her unrelentingly.
Somewhere, in the back of his mind, a voice told him to stop. They were friends and they shouldn’t be kissing.
But they were, and it felt so bloody good that he couldn’t bring himself to stop.
Eventually, he pulled back and forced his eyes open to face reality.
“What was that?” she whispered, her voice hoarse.
“You told me to kiss you,” he said, not shifting his body from hers.
“I didn’t think you’d just kiss me.”
“I’m very obedient,” he said cheekily.
“But…” Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. “I thought you’d ask why… Not just kiss me.”
“I assumed it was to keep our faces hidden.” Now seemed as good a time as any to play it cool – better late than never. “And so it wouldn’t look weird that we were lying in the sand.”
“It was.” Annoyance gave her words a bite. “But I thought you’d ask why before you kissed me.”
“I’ve found it’s best not to question it when women ask me to kiss them.”
“I didn’t want him to see me, that’s all,” she muttered. “It would be hard to explain what I was doing so close to his house, and I really don’t want to make him suspicious. People get defensive if they know I’m on to them. It’s harder to find things out.”
“You could have just said you’d gone to his house to speak to him. I’m not sure he’d have assumed you went to his house to snoop.”
“Well…” Her jaw tightened and her eyes flashed with irritation. “I didn’t think of that.”
“Clearly,” he said, still not shifting away from her.
He should move, or he’d end up kissing her again. That probably wouldn’t be a great idea. Not given the way she was scowling at him.
A large raindrop hit the back of his neck, encouraging him to move. Glancing around, he checked the coast was clear before sitting up.
“Arthur’s gone,” he said, after another quick glance along the beach. He got to his feet and offered his hand. “We should go. We’re about to get drenched.” His heart was still beating too fast and he was hyperaware of the softness of her skin as he pulled her up.
She stared at him, and he had the horrible feeling he’d just ruined their friendship. In all fairness, though, it was her who’d suggested he kiss her.
But she probably hadn’t been expecting so much enthusiasm.
Which was surprising really, given the spark between them. He had a sinking feeling that the chemistry he’d felt might have been one-sided.
“We could jog,” Lily suggested, dropping his hand and taking a step back. “Maybe we can get back before we get too wet.”
“Maybe.”
He didn’t think so – not given the bloated drops that were falling from the sky at an increasing rate. Jogging sounded good though, since they wouldn’t need to speak. Also, he felt the need to dispense some pent-up adrenaline.
They slipped into a gentle run along the sand and upped the tempo a little when they were on the solid path. As the rain fell harder, their pace intensified and by the time they took shelter in a shop doorway back in Hugh Town, they were both drenched and laughing as they fought to catch their breath.
“I’m not sure why we bothered to shelter,” Lily said, her breathing levelling out. “I don’t think I can get any wetter.” She squeezed a strand of hair that was plastered to her face, causing a stream of water to fall from it.
Flynn looked down at his trainers. He raised onto the balls of his feet, then squelched back down. “I reckon you owe me a new pair of shoes.”
She laughed, and her eyes lit up. “Why do you always make it sound as though I drag you places against your will? You could always say no. Or you could check the weather forecast.”
“I lead a very sad life these days,” he told her as they stepped back into the street, ducking their heads against the force of the driving rain. “Your little adventures keep me entertained.”
Not only her adventures, but hanging out with her in general. Had he messed that up now? He didn’t want their evenings in front of the TV to end because he’d stupidly kissed her. He didn’t want their dinners to stop either, or the nights in the pub, and definitely not the ice cream tasting.
Should he mention the kiss? Or would that make it more awkward? The best thing was probably to pretend it had never happened. Just carry on as normal, and everything would continue to be normal between them.
When they reached the corner where they’d go their separate ways, she smiled at him in a way that didn’t feel at all normal – it looked forced.
“I’ll see you later,” she said, the words almost a question.
He rubbed his hand over his wet hair, sending drips everywhere. “If you’re refusing to compensate me for the shoes, you must owe me dinner, at least.”
“I can manage dinner,” she said.
“I’ll get warm and dry and come over later.” He took a few steps away from her, not leaving space for her to argue. “Message me if you need me to bring anything.”
He quickened his pace, bracing against the wind and rain and hoping he hadn’t messed up their friendship.
And that their kiss wouldn’t lodge itself in his brain and torture him forever.
He suspected that was one hope too many.