I smirk as I look over at her. “I would if I was you. If Twinkle is anything to go by, I imagine Thomas is genetically blessed, too.
We both stay silent and stare at the sky. “Oh, and he asked me to move in with him,” I add.
“What!” she shrieks as she sits up violently.
“Relax. I told him no. I’m not that stupid.”
She lies back down and shakes her head. “I’m not going home without you Em. Remember… this is just a holiday romance.”
“I know.” I smile, but somewhere in a place deep down inside my stomach, I know it’s not.
Alastar O’Shea is the one. I would bet my life on it.
* * *
I walk down the street and crane my neck over the crowd to try and see if Alastar is waiting at our designated corner. It’s 5.15pm and I have been counting the hours down until I see him again. Is he here? I can’t see him. I start to panic and then out of nowhere he turns the corner, coming into my vision. A huge smile crosses his face when he sees me and it’s all I can do not to run and jump into his arms. Wearing a long coat, with his hair messy and blowing in the wind, he looks just like a man from a movie.
Am I serious? It’s been nine hours since I saw him last and it has been the longest nine hours of my life. I can’t help myself—I rush to him when I see him. He warmly envelopes me with his arms. We stay still in the embrace and he lifts my chin and kisses me gently.
“How was my girl’s day?” he whispers.
I beam. “Fine, thank you. How was my man’s day?”
He smiles broadly and I know he likes being called my man. He kisses me quickly. “It was dull without you.”
He turns me and we walk down the street arm in arm.
I am giddy… Giddy for this man. He could take me on a date to Hell and I would be so damn happy as long as I was with him.
“We shall just go to yours, grab some things, and then I will make us dinner back at our house.”
I smile. “Okay.” I kiss him again as we walk and we nearly run into a man coming in the opposite direction.
“Get a room.” He growls.
I smirk. “Twinkle, stop it. You make me kiss you in the strangest places.”
* * *
I stand back as Alastar opens the door to my room. He takes control of all things. I don’t even have to think when he’s around. We walk in and he flicks the light on. I look around at the sparse space. It seems so empty compared to his opulent home.
“Show me your drawings,” he says as if he’s been waiting to see them.
Oh no. “They are not very good,” I tell him. Although, that’s not really true. I know they are a lot better than anything I have ever done before. I walk over to the cupboard and hand him my large art pad. He flicks over the first page. It’s a picture of countryside with a stable drawn in lead pencil.
“This is?” he asks.
“This is Henry and Elizabeth’s house.”
His eyes lift up to me and he smiles, as if in wonder. “Is this the stable here?” He points to the barn.
I nod and smile proudly.
He turns the page again and it’s a picture of a large sandstone church. His eyes meet mine again and he smiles softly. “Where is this church?”
I shrug. “No Idea.” I smile, embarrassed, wishing I was as talented as he is. “I just made it up.”
He turns the page again and it’s a picture of a... I don’t even know what it is, other than a doodle. It’s a shield with an emblem on it. His eyes meet mine and he bends and kisses me gently. “What is this, my love?”
I love it when he calls me that. “Just a doodle.”
He smiles. “There is no such thing as just a doodle.”
“I’m not sure,” I reply.
He turns the last page over and his brow furrows. It’s a picture I have drawn of a little girl. She’s about two and has curly hair just above her shoulders. She has large eyes and perfect lips and is looking up at me.
He stares at it and drops to the bed.
I sit down behind him. “I’m not very good.”
He smiles softly. “Who is this wee child?”
“I don’t know, she’s just in my head.”
He continues to stare at it deep in thought. This picture has affected him in some way.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
He stands and walks over to the window to look at the picture closer under the light. His bleary eyes meet mine. “Nothing is wrong. Everything is as it should be.”
I smile, confused.
“I love you, Emmaline.”
Chapter 21
“What?” I whisper.
Did I hear that right?
He stands and wraps his large arms around me then kisses me on the lips. “I said…” He kisses me again. “I love you.”
My eyes widen. “You do?”
“Aye. I do.” His lips brush mine.
I smile and throw my arms around his neck. “I love you.”
He kisses me gently. “I’m sorry I put you through so much. I don’t deserve for you to love me.”
Emotion fills me. This is the first time he has apologized for treating me the way he did.
“I just…” He hesitates, as if going to say something.
“You just what?” I whisper. I need to hear why.
“I just wasn’t prepared to feel anything so strong. It shocked me.”