“I loved being here. This place is incredible and meeting your family was great … and being with you has been ….” She had no idea how to describe it, so she kissed him instead. The groan she got in response told her he’d got the message loud and clear.
His eyelids were still heavy with sleep, but as he looked at her the adoration in his eyes was undeniable.
“I keep thinking about you moving back here,” she confessed. The conversation with Seren had made her feel better about the situation, but she’d still like to hear his thoughts on the subject. “I hate the thought of us being so far apart.”
Pulling her closer, he gave a small shake of the head. “I hate it too, but I also think it’s not something we need to worry about. I know we’re only just getting to know each other properly, but I already can’t imagine being apart from you.” Her eyebrows pulled together as she waited for him to go on. “We’ve got another month to keep getting to know each other, and after that, if we both feel the same, we’ll figure out a way to be together.”
“So, you’re not going to move back to Scilly and leave me in Bristol without a second thought?”
“Of course not.” He pressed a soft kiss on her forehead. “I promise.”
That was exactly what she needed to hear. “When do we need to leave for the airport?” Going home wasn’t a particularly welcome thought, but it was easier when she knew her relationship with Noah had a future. Hopefully, there’d be lots more trips to St Mary’s on the horizon.
“About an hour,” he said, then adopted a mock thoughtful expression. “I wonder what we should do with that hour…”
“Maybe a walk on the beach?” she suggested playfully.
“That’s a poor imagination you’ve got.” Dipping his head, he dropped a featherlike kiss on her shoulder. “I guess I’ll have to try and inspire you to come up with something better …” His lips on her collarbone made her insides fizz with desire. The feeling only intensified as his mouth explored her neck. By the time he reached her lips and shifted his weight on top of her, she forgot all about having to get home and back to reality.
Chapter Twenty
With his phone poised in his hand, Noah contemplated what to write in a message. After spending a long weekend with Keira he’d felt at a loss almost as soon as he’d dropped her at home. Three hours later and he was itching to get in touch with her. Would it be too much to invite her over for the evening? Leaning back on the lumpy couch, he massaged his temples and decided that would probably come across as a bit too keen. Then again, hewaskeen. Did it really matter if she knew it?
After tapping on his phone, he lifted it to his ear and listened to the beeps.
“Missing me already?” Trystan asked. He’d stayed on Scilly when they’d left, working remotely for a few days.
“Desperately!”
“What’s up?”
“I dropped Keira at home a few hours ago. Do you think it will come across as sad and desperate if I call her now?”
Trystan’s cough was laced with laughter. “So Seren’s right?”
“Right about what?”
“You’re going to stay in Bristol, aren’t you?”
Noah flopped back on the couch, then squirmed against a broken spring that dug into a lower rib. “No. I’m moving home next month. What did Seren say?”
“She thinks you’re so smitten with Keira that there’s no way you’ll leave Bristol now. I don’t blame you, by the way. Keira’s great.”
“She is, but I’m still moving back.”
“Seriously? Why?”
“Because I feel guilty enough for leaving in the first place.” When he’d left he’d told himself he needed space to sort his head out and then he’d go back. “I’m sure Mum’s not doing as well as she makes out. The issue with Lowen has made things about a million times worse.”
“They’ll figure things out eventually. I’m not sure what difference you being back there will make.”
“Probably none, but I’ll be able to keep an eye out for Mum and won’t feel so guilty for abandoning her. Besides, I don’t want to live in Bristol long term. The only draw is Keira.”
“Isn’t she enough of a draw?”
He ignored the question. “I need to be at home.” Instead of sorting his head out, the time in Bristol had only made him feel guilty for not being there to support his mum when she needed him.
“At the expense of your relationship with Keira?” Trystan asked sceptically.