Chapter 9
Rocco had the wood burner on, the food cooking in the oven, a candle burning on the table, and a small skip in his step while he waited for his dinner guest to arrive.
He’d had a great day hanging out with Iris at the food fayre, but after Cookie had told him Reg wanted to see him in the morning, it kept swirling in his mind.
Iris called out, ‘Hello,’ while knocking, and Rocco put all other thoughts to the back of his mind as he opened the door, a huge smile ready, because she brought that out in him.
‘Come in, come in.’ He glanced at the dish in her hand. ‘Ooh, what you got there?’
‘Apple crumble. Just needs heating.’
‘Lovely.’ He closed the door, glad to keep out the chill, then offered her a drink as she went to the kitchenette to put the dessert down.
‘Just water, please.’
He watched her sit at the table and smile at the candle. ‘Is it a bit much?’
‘No, I love candles.’
The timer went on the oven, so he put a bottle of water on the table, then served dinner, and even though it wasn’t a fancy meal, he was quite pleased with himself that Iris was happy with the food.
‘Are you looking forward to starting work, Rocco?’
‘Yep, can’t wait. Although Clint has already got me walking around the village with him to break me in, his words. It has been nice meeting the locals, and letting them get to know me.’
‘And you’re on the case of missing Lady Vic.’
Rocco chuckled. ‘Sure am, but so is half the village.’
Iris lowered her fork. ‘You would think someone would know something by now.’
‘I’m sure it will turn up.’
Iris smiled her soft smile that always stirred his stomach. ‘Is it all a bit too quiet around here for you?’
‘I like quiet.’
‘Me too. Not sure I’d cope well in a big city.’
‘I guess it wasn’t for me either.’ He chinked his water glass against hers. ‘Here’s to peace and quiet.’ And suddenly the electricity cut out.
Iris dashed to the window. ‘The B&B is in darkness as well. Must be a power cut.’ Her phone rang. ‘It’s Cookie.’
Rocco gazed outside, hardly seeing a thing. Good thing they had the wood burner and candle going inside. At least they had some light. He set about lighting another candle for the living room area.
Iris got off the phone. ‘Magnus is checking if it’s just us or the whole village.’ Her smile went to the candle glowing on the side table by the sofa. ‘Looks even better now.’
‘I was sure you’d think I was trying to be romantic with the one on the dinner table when you only want to be mates.’
Iris sat on the small cream sofa. ‘It’s all right, Rocco.’
He joined her side and simply stared into the flickering flames in the burner. ‘Don’t you ever want to date again?’
‘Aren’t you scared?’
‘I think most people are worried about having their heart broken, so it can make you wary, but I’m not sure I’m ready to give up on love just yet.’
Iris shuffled his way. ‘Have you never been hurt?’
‘I was in love with my job for a long while, so I didn’t put a lot of effort into any other area of my life, but when the job started to get to me, it would have been nice to be able to go home to someone. A shoulder to lean on at times. Not that I’m much of a leaner, but still.’
‘I understand. And you don’t have an easy job.’
‘It can be rewarding at times, but when a work colleague of mine was shot, so much about me changed, and I just needed somewhere quieter.’
Iris took his hand, causing that flutter in his stomach to return. ‘That’s terrible. Were they okay?’
‘In the end.’
‘I’m glad I run a B&B. The occasional complaint is all I have to deal with.’
It was nice holding hands with Iris, so he slipped his other hand over the top as he faced her. ‘Just so you know, when I stayed at Cookie Castle B&B, I had no complaints.’ Her smile really was amazing.
‘A guest once complained about the colour of the wall in their room, saying they preferred blue.’ She shrugged. ‘It happens.’
Perhaps he shouldn’t be holding her hand by candlelight while they were supposed to be just friends, but it was hard to let go.
The now familiar sweet scent of her and the warmth from her slender fingers wasn’t helping matters, but he felt quite lost in her until her phone rang and she slipped away to the door.
I need to get a grip.
Rocco listened to her conversation with Magnus, and within a moment, it was clear, the whole village was in darkness. ‘Is there anyone we need to check on?’ he asked as soon as her call ended.
‘No. Everyone’s got it covered.’
He had to smile. ‘You lot certainly know how to come together.’
Iris was peering out the window. ‘It’s been like that as far back as I can remember.’ She shivered and hugged herself.
‘Come back to the burner. Warm up.’ He found himself standing behind her as though she needed a guide, and when she turned, they were quite close, the glow from the candles adding colour to her rosy cheeks, and he couldn’t help but lean towards her mouth.
‘I’ll just check on my sister though.’
He groaned on the inside as she left, chastising himself for entering her personal space.
Why didn’t I kiss him? ‘Argh!’ Iris mumbled, irritated on all levels. He was right there. She was right there, and it was obvious what was on his mind. The soft gaze in his eyes told her that much.
Stomping off to Puddle Cottage, her phone as a light, she continued to complain to the darkness until she came face to face with Norma on the front porch. ‘At least I can moan to you now.’
Norma’s eyebrows knitted as she stepped to one side to allow entrance to her home. ‘Moan about what?’
‘Rocco.’ Iris slumped into the sage-green puffy chair in the corner of the rustic living room that all visitors knew had the ability to send a person to sleep within ten minutes.
Norma got comfy in the chair opposite. ‘What’s he done?’
‘Nothing. It’s me and my frazzled mind.’
‘Care to start at the beginning?’
‘We were having dinner, getting to know each other some more, the lights went out, but we had candles, and it just felt romantic. He leaned closer, and I’m sure he was going to kiss me, but I crumbled on the inside and fled here.’
‘Oh.’
Iris raised her eyebrows. ‘Oh? That’s it?’
Norma showed her palms. ‘Not sure what else to say. You obviously like him, and—’
‘I don’t obviously like him.’ Lie one. ‘I just see him as a friend.’ Lie two. ‘And I didn’t want to be kissed.’ Biggest lie. Oh, shut up!
‘There are a lot of women around here who wouldn’t mind a kiss from him. And, yeah, it is obvious you’re one of them.’ Norma sat forward. ‘He seems nice, Iris. Why not give him a chance?’
‘You know why.’
‘I do, but this one has moved here, so at least he’s sticking around.’
‘Doesn’t mean he’ll stick around me after sex.’
Norma struck a match to light another candle on the oak coffee table, as one in a row of three burned out. ‘There are no guarantees with anyone, Iris.’
‘I know, and it’s really annoying how this is rattling me, especially as I did want him to kiss me.’ She stood to pace and steady her breathing, as her anger at herself slapped at her heart.
‘Were you nervous through dinner?’
Iris shook her head. ‘No. It was quite nice. Relaxed. Felt comfortable, as though we ate together every evening.’
‘Aww, Iris, that’s lovely.’
Iris drooped her shoulders as she headed for the door. ‘I messed it up.’
‘You didn’t. You just let a bad memory take over.’
‘Well, you know what. That bad memory can get stuffed.’ Iris marched outside, not hearing anything Norma had to say. Determination filled each step along the damp pathway, only the hoot of an owl jolting her from her trance with Cosy Cabin. Then she stopped as all bravery vanished.
Rocco came out from behind his truck, a battery-operated lantern in his hand. He seemed to notice her standing there so approached, his lamp swinging up by his face. ‘Everything all right with Norma?’
It wasn’t Norma who had an issue.
‘She’s fine. I was just coming to say goodnight to you.’ She pointed at the opened doorway. ‘I left in a hurry.’
He was in front of her now, his smile as soft as ever, as sexy as ever. ‘No worries.’
‘I didn’t even say thanks for dinner.’
‘Emergency and that.’ He placed the lantern on the ground, and Iris stepped closer.
‘I wanted to at least kiss your cheek.’ Did I actually say that out loud?
He leaned over and lightly pressed his full lips against her cheek. ‘Goodnight, Iris.’ His voice husky, warm.
As he hadn’t moved his face from hers, she slowly turned so their lips met, ignoring the fact her breath hitched, and as soon as they kissed, she melted to a complete pool of slush.
Rocco’s arm came around her, and she raked one hand through his hair as things heated quickly.
Iris stepped back to take a breath and compose herself, as she hadn’t expected to almost climb the man. ‘Sorry.’
‘No apology needed. And just so you know, if whatever we have here ever leads us to the bedroom, that’s where I’d want to stay with you forever.’
Was it possible to swoon without moving?
His hands slipped down her arms to rest on her fingertips. ‘Only a fool would walk away from someone as lovely as you.’
A rumble filled the air, then light raindrops fell, and Rocco quickly grabbed the lantern in one hand and Iris in the other, and she didn’t mind him rushing her inside his cabin. Nope, not one bit.
They shared a laugh as they shut out the weather, and Iris swiped some dampness from his temple. ‘Almost got us.’
‘It’s just one of those nights, eh?’
‘Not quite sure I’ve had such an interesting night.
’ She bit down on her lip for a moment. ‘Except that time I had to help Norma find her hamster that had escaped somewhere in the B&B, and Josie tripped over trying to dodge the little thing and sprained her arm. We all ended up at the hospital for the rest of the evening.’
‘At least our night isn’t dangerous.’
It kind of felt somewhere along those lines.
As though reading her mind, he added, ‘I would put the kettle on to warm us up, but power cut.’
‘Your arms did a pretty good job just now.’ Brave Iris was back.
Big brown eyes were locked into hers. ‘Here whenever you want them.’ And a slight nod was added.
Oh, she wanted them all right. And those lips once more. Perhaps twice more. Oh, who was she kidding? A million times more.
‘We can take things slowly, Iris.’ His head dipped, voice gentle. ‘I’ll follow your lead.’