Chapter Seven
I didn’t expect to share so much. Still, the reason I’m in this place is more important than any of what I’ve just told him.
“I can see you as a teacher,” Merlin says. “I bet the kids love you. What subject do you teach?”
“Science.”
Merlin looks at me for a few long seconds. “Not just a pretty face, then.”
Heat creeps up my neck and cheeks. They must be bright red. “Hardly.”
“Oh, Trent, love. You have to know how gorgeous you are. You got the whole understated, easy-going, take-me-as-I-am vibe going on. Add the blond hair, the sparkling blue eyes, and you’ve got it all.”
I snort, shaking my head. “Says the rugby god. You’ve got exactly what you’ve just said about me. Without the blond hair.” I bury my head in the menu. Hopefully, the compliment loop can stop.
After we give our orders, we move on to other topics, and I relax, perfectly happy to hear about his plans for the new nursery and building a new house. It’s fascinating.
“Will you take me to see it?”
Merlin’s eyes light up. “I’d love to. Are you free tomorrow?”
I chuckle. “I’m on holiday. I can be yours any day.”
Merlin flicks his gaze down to my mouth, then back to my eyes. “I’ll have to remember that.”
Before I can reply, our food arrives, and any chance of another innuendo is lost.
“What did you do before coming here? You said you were in an office, didn’t you?” I ask. What did he find boring enough to take such a huge decision?
“Nothing interesting. I was in recruitment, specialising in engineering positions in the aviation industry. So I spent most of my time searching for the right person in a niche industry. It got very monotonous. I’m not putting down the job, mind. It just stopped being the one for me.”
“I can see you being very persuasive. I doubt you ever failed.”
“Not true. Sometimes it just didn’t happen, or another agency would get the placement first. But a healthy commission made me work very hard.” He takes a sip of his wine. “I’m much happier now. Even in winter, with the cold and wet weather, I prefer to be outside.”
I shiver. “I don’t do wet and cold. I’m a summer person. The only thing that’s good about winter is being inside with a roaring fire and the curtains closed.”
“That’s a good point.” Merlin chuckles a little.
“I can’t believe I ate all that.” Merlin pats his stomach, his flat and muscled stomach, as we walk out of the restaurant.
“It’s great food, but if I eat there regularly, I’ll have to run even farther every day. I’ll save it for a special occasion.”
“My work is my only sort of exercise at the moment. I’ve never been much of a runner. At least not outside. I use the treadmill in the gym, but it’s not my favourite thing to do.”
“Let me guess. You and your mates rule the weights area.” I nudge him with my elbow. His quick reaction results in my hand in his much larger one. He proves how strong he is by pulling me against him and wrapping me in his arms.
“Maybe you like my muscles. I’m more than happy to show them to you.” His voice is growly, rough, and god, it makes me shiver.
I take the opportunity to slide my hands around his waist and up his back, the muscles rippling under my touch. “I’d like that.”
“Let’s go.” He kisses me far too briefly, his lips firm and smooth.
I take his hand, and we walk back in the direction of my cottage. “Where do you live?”
“I rent a little house on the edge of town. It has enough garden space for my heavy equipment. I’m thinking of getting a static caravan for the new land. I’d like to be on-site when all the building work starts on the new house.”
“Are you building it yourself? Are there no ends to your many talents?” I wouldn’t mind spending my days watching him flex his muscles.
“I wish I had that skill. No, Drew is the main contractor in the town, and he’s going to be doing it. I hope to help, though. I like the idea of being part of making my own home.”
It seems like he’s going to be busy. His passion for his work and new life is admirable.
I’ve never felt that desire for what I’m doing with my life.
I like my job, and I’m good at it. I like watching kids get excited about experiments and theories, but I don’t feel it’s the be-all and end-all of my life.
It was all I’d focused on since I was sixteen and got encouraged to stick to the sciences for my A levels, and then it was university.
My life had been mapped out for me since that one parent-teacher night.
Effectively ending the dreams I had for my future.
It was okay for Josh to draw because that was a precursor to his dream of being an architect.
My art wasn’t taken seriously. A fun hobby, my father called it.
And both my parents forced me into science.
But now I want to try something new, something I’ve been dabbling with, and this time, I’ve got the chance to put some serious effort into it.
If it doesn’t work, if I fail miserably, I can always go back to teaching.
Is this my chance of changing my future, or will I be back in an overcrowded classroom at an underfunded innercity secondary school?
“Hey.” Merlin gives my hand a squeeze, bringing me out of my musings. “You okay?”
“I’m sorry. I got lost in my head.”
“Anything I can help with?” He’s smiling, but a crease of concern lines his forehead.
“No, not tonight anyway.” I’ve got a lot of thinking to do, but not when I’ve got a gorgeous man holding my hand.
Merlin swings our hands, his happiness genuine again. “Okay, it’s quick-fire question time. You have to answer with the first thing that comes into your head.”
“Okaaaay, this sounds scary, but go for it.” I grimace at him, but he shakes his head.
“Favourite colour?”
“Blue.”
“Predictable, but okay. Favourite season?”
“Summer. I love the bright early-morning sunrise, the warmth of the sun still on me as the sun goes down.”
We’ve stopped walking, and we’re looking over the bay.
“Dogs or cats.”
“Dogs. Cats make me sneeze.”
“Tea or coffee?”
“Tea, preferably. Staff room coffee is always foul.”
“Who’s your hero?”
“Josh, my brother. He was stupid yet so brave.” I could say so much more about my brother, but the croak in my throat threatens to break free again.
“What is your biggest fear?”
“Dying. Or more the fear of leaving those I love behind.”
“Shit, this has got heavy. You’re in your car, music or silence?”
“Neither. I like audiobooks.”
“Karaoke, yes or no!”
I let out a groan. “No, unless I’m very drunk.”
“Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?” Merlin has moved in close, his hands on my waist, his eyes locked on mine.
“Three months ago, I would’ve said the head of my department. Now, I have no idea.”
“Do you believe in love at first sight?”
As his breath warms my lips, I close my eyes. I want to say no, to step away from the intensity of my feelings for this virtual stranger. God, I’m so easily swayed by the right words from a pretty face, but my throat is thick, my lips are dry, and my heart is beating too fast.
“Yes,” I croak. With him, yes. Maybe I’ve read and listened to too many romances and insta-love characters. Why shouldn’t it be real? Or is it because I’m the hopeless romantic who wants to be swept off my feet by this handsome man?
His lips are on mine again. The kiss is even better than last night.
He wraps his arms around me, holding me close.
I angle my head to the right and slide my tongue inside the wet heat of his mouth, deepening the kiss.
I lick over his tongue, flick up to the roof of his mouth, and slip over his lips, only to lick inside again.
With my hands in his hair, I lose myself in him.
In twenty-four hours, my life is changing, making me question all the things I know about myself.
Footsteps in the background bring me back to the here and now.
Shit, we’re out in public. However relaxed the locals are, plenty of people still object and are offended by two men kissing.
I release my grip on his hair, and our mouths part.
He takes my hand and guides me back to the lane that will lead me to my temporary home.
We don’t talk, but it’s a comfortable quiet. He rubs his thumb over mine, and sparks shoot up my arm. When we get to my door, he turns me and pushes my back softly against it.
He’s so tactile, stroking up and down my arms, brushing his nose up mine. He leans forward and rests his forehead on mine. He breathes in deeply. “Me too.”
It takes my brain a moment to catch up on his meaning. Wow! What does it all mean? Is he talking about us?
“Goodnight, Trent. I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Be ready by eight thirty.”
I watch him walk away, his hands in his front pockets as if nothing monumental has just happened. Okay, it’s not as if we’ve said “I love you.” That would be over-the-top crazy. And untrue. I don’t love him. I know him a little better now, and getting to know him more is exciting.
I push my key into the lock and open it. I don’t bother turning on any lights but go straight to the bedroom.
It’s not until I’m in bed and just about to drift off that doubts slip into the haze.
Is he doing the same thing as Marc? Is this a game?