‘Thank you, thank you, thank you!’
Automatically, I wrapped my own arms around her. ‘You’re very welcome, Maisie. I’m so glad you like it.’
‘I love it!’ she said, tilting her head back to look up at me.
My smile was so wide, it almost hurt. ‘Mind if I come and say hi and maybe help you groom Honey occasionally?’
‘That’d be awesome!’
Jesse and I left Honey and her owner making themselves comfortable in the pony’s new home and began walking back towards the house.
‘Somebody’s happy.’
‘I am! She was so thrilled.’
He chuckled. ‘I was talking about Maisie.’
‘Oh!’ I replied, laughing. ‘Yes. She did seem so, didn’t she? I thought I’d messed up for a minute.’
‘Nope. You just made that kid’s year.’
‘It was your idea.’
‘But not one you had to act on. That was all you. As was the decision not to charge her family anything for keeping Honey here. And don’t think I haven’t noticed you’ve been back in there with the broom again this morning.’
‘Least I could do,’ I said, giving him a shake of my head as though that was obvious. ‘I’m desperate for a coffee. Have you got time to have one with me?’
His smile was slow and sexy. ‘Always.’
17
‘Watch out. Incoming,’ Jesse said with a grin as we took our seats at a table in Jules’ café. It was the first time since that initial incredible night that we’d been into the café together.
‘What?’
‘Oh my God!’ Jules plonked herself down at one of the spare seats and stared first at me, then at her brother, before her face broke into a huge beaming smile. ‘I knew it! I knew it the moment I first saw you together.’
‘Jules.’ Jesse’s one-word warning was enough.
‘Sorry. Of course. You know people will find out soon enough though, right?’
‘Find out what?’ I asked.
Julie gave me a head tilt.
‘I meant what is it they will conclude?’
‘That you’re together. I mean, you are together, aren’t you? The look on both your faces says you are.’
‘I… we…’ I looked across at Jesse. The truth was, after that first night, we hadn’t actually got as far as whatitwas. Apart from mind-blowing and the best ever. Well, for me at least, but I was pretty sure Jesse had had a good time too. At least twice. Life with him had slotted into place in a far more natural way than I’d ever experienced. I no longer slept in the guest bedroom. The night after that first one, I’d not wanted to presume but as we’d headed upstairs and I’d taken a step towards the other room, Jesse had caught my hand. He hadn’t spoken. He didn’t need to. Everything was there for me to read in his eyes. Further than that, we hadn’t discussed. I knew it was complicated – at least on his side. If I was honest, maybe part of me didn’t want to know what he called it in case it wasn’t the same as me. For once in my life, I was enjoying the moment rather than plotting out a five, ten or fifteen year plan.
‘We are,’ Jesse replied, unflustered. ‘But,’ he added.
‘But what?’ Julie asked.
‘But I don’t want our love life being the talk of the village.’
‘Would I?’ A hand went to her hip.
