CHAPTER 34
Jess woke to the sound of heavy rain clattering against her small bedroom window. Reaching over in the bed, she plucked back the orange-and-brown floral curtains to peer out before falling back for a few moments to stare at the ceiling.
They’d had such amazing weather yesterday, she thought. And the film people were loving the slightly freakish weeks of unbroken sunshine they’d been enjoying since their arrival.
Still, somebody needed the rain. The farmers, probably. Briefly, she wondered how Adam’s parents were doing. She’d only met them a few times but they were warm, down-to-earth people. Adam had once had all sorts of plans for the family farm. And now she was thinking about Adam again …
She forced herself to get out of bed and into the shower, relieved to have hot water this morning. Sylvia hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d said that it wasn’t dependable.
She took extra care with her clothes and makeup and, after drying her hair, she brushed it smooth, before twisting it behind her head and securing it with an oversized clip.
Deciding she’d grab some breakfast at the hotel, she shrugged on a rain jacket and pulled up her hood before stepping out the front door. She banged the door behind her, locked it and ran down the road to her car.
She was in the middle of a three-point-turn when there was a knock on her window, and she jumped, letting out a sigh of relief when she saw it was Robert. She whizzed down the window.
“Sorry if I scared you!” He flashed her a smile. “Are you going up to the hotel?”
“Yeah, get in!”
He ran around the other side and slipped into the passenger seat. “Hey, you!” He leaned across and planted a quick kiss on her lips.
“Hey, yourself!”
Jess turned on the heaters to clear the windows, before driving down the main street towards the access road for the hotel.
Now that she and Robert seemed to be getting more serious, she contemplated again telling him more about the past year.
But she’d already told him about her and Simon calling off the wedding.
Everything else seemed too much. She was clearly destined never to say anything.
“How come you’re going to Linford?” she said.
“There’s another set being built in the Great Hall. It’s pretty big, and quite close to the Whispering Gallery.”
Jess glanced over at him. “You have a pretty cool job, you know. I can’t imagine that you’re ever bored.”
“I could say the same about your job,” he said lightly.
She hesitated, wondering whether to mention the poster. Maybe he’d tell her in his own time? Even if he didn’t, it wasn’t exactly a deal-breaker. Yeah, definitely not a big deal. No need to say anything, in fact.
“I was in Kilshanley yesterday, and I saw a poster with your contact details on it,” she blurted out.
She risked another glance. He was frowning slightly.
“Why were you in Kilshanley?”
“The mid-week market. Emily took a stall to sell her jewellery, and I took a day off to keep her company.” She glanced over again, but Robert’s face was a mask of polite interest.
They reached the gates, and Jess slowed to a crawl as she waited for them to open. Nudging the car through, she held up her pass to the security guard on the other side and then pulled away up the driveway.
“So, you’re part of the local theatre group there?” she prompted. “I didn’t know you acted.”
He shrugged. “A friend asked me to help out with auditions.”
“But you must know a lot about theatre?”
He shot her a quick smile. “Just doing a favour, that’s all.”
Okay, she wouldn’t push this. Driving around to the west side of the castle, she parked as closely as she could to the door and switched off the engine. They got out, dashing inside out of the rain.
Robert shrugged out of his wet coat before helping her out of hers.
“I was thinking I haven’t seen much of you since the summer solstice,” he said as they walked up the corridor towards the foyer. “No regrets, I hope?”
“Of course not!” Jess said quickly. “It was great, you were great.” She felt her face warm.
“That’s a relief.” He laughed. “So, what are you doing later?”
“What had you got in mind?”
“I was thinking I could cook dinner for us and then you could stay over?”
“Stay over?”
They reached the west corner of the foyer and Jess sneezed loudly, wishing there weren’t so many flowers everywhere.
Robert nodded. “I can promise you a more comfortable bed than the one you’re sleeping in every night.”
“Oh, when you put it that way.”
“Come over around seven. Just bring a toothbrush.” He winked and started off in the direction of the Great Hall.
She stood for a moment, watching him. Look at me, moving on with my life. Sleepovers with my new boyfriend. Was he her boyfriend? She hadn’t actually asked him if they were exclusive. Shit, she should really figure that out before she started jumping to conclusions.
“Robert?” He’d already disappeared from sight but Jess’s voice echoed in the high-ceilinged foyer.
He reappeared, an expectant look on his face.
What was she thinking? She wasn’t going to ask him something like that. “Nothing.” She smiled brightly. “See you later.”
She really had to stop overthinking her life. Things were finally moving on – she was finally moving on. It’s all good, Jess.
Slipping in behind reception, she noticed her office door was already open. As she got closer, she froze.
There, sitting at her desk, was Adam.