* * *
“I was thinking I should get your number,” Trystan said when he appeared on the patio shortly after Beth had put Ellie to bed that evening. “It’d be easier than always coming over here any time I want to ask you something.”
She took his phone and programmed the number in before calling herself. “What did you want to ask?”
“How do you mean?”
“You said you wanted to ask me something …”
“Oh! No, I only wanted to ask for your number … and that was just an excuse to come over here. I guess I’ve kind of blown that now.”
“I guess you have. In future, we can just have messaging conversations from one patio to another.”
“I might just delete your number,” he joked.
Beth glanced behind her. “Do you want to go to the pub if I ask your mum to babysit?”
“I’d love to.”
Mirren made it easy for her by offering to look after Ellie before Beth had even got the words out.
As usual, the conversation flowed easily while she and Trystan walked to the Mermaid Inn. Noah was working and kept coming over to chat to them. By the time they walked home, the lack of physical contact was driving Beth crazy, and she felt self-conscious as she slipped her arm into his. She’d suggested they leave after a couple of drinks in the hope that they might go back to his place, but his previous flirty energy had all but disappeared.
“Can I ask you a question?” she said when they were almost at the cottage.
“Yep.”
“The other day when I had a go at you …” She paused, not quite sure where she was headed with the sentence. “I think maybe I seriously offended you. You’ve been a little standoffish since then.”
“Was there a question in that?” he asked playfully.
“No. I suppose there wasn’t. I meant to ask if I’m imagining it, or if you’re being standoffish?”
They’d stopped at his cottage and he moved to perch on the stone wall. “Maybe,” he said on a sigh.
“Maybe? So I did irrevocable damage with my comment about you crowding me?”
“No.” He smiled lightly and crossed his legs at the ankles. “But it made me realise that I’m pretty intense. And I have no idea if that’s just the way I am, or if it’s because I’ve spent ten years in a relationship and that’s all I know. I don’t think I know how to date.”
“I’m not sure if that makes me feel better or not.” She moved closer. “I’m not exactly a pro at dating myself … but I kind of preferred it the way you were before.”
“Really?” He straightened up and slipped his arms around her waist.
“Yes.”
The lightness of his lips against hers made her insides quiver. He pulled back too soon. “I’m also never sure how affectionate I can be when Ellie’s around.”
“It’s probably better to keep it toned down.”
“Good to know.” His lips met hers again and he kissed her in earnest.
“Maybe we should go inside,” she murmured.
He took her hand and led the way, a smile playing at his lips. “No one could accuse you of being standoffish.”
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
With Trystan working the following day, Beth and Ellie spent a relaxed morning in the garden, then set off for a walk into town.