‘I’m so sorry about that,’ he said relieved to find Lettie finishing her food. ‘My sister can be a little bit…’
Lettie smiled. ‘Annoying?’
‘Yes.’
‘It’s fine. Zac can wind me up too, so I know how that feels only too well.’
He let out a relieved sigh. ‘Good. Well, not good, but at least you understand.’
‘I do.’ She patted the sofa next to her. ‘Why don’t you sit down and eat the rest of your food and we can forget that Maddie ever interrupted us.’
He smiled at her, thinking how incredibly lucky he was to have found someone as calm and kind as Lettie. Seeing her relaxing inhis living room, a plate of food in front of her and their dogs settled on the rug in front of the fireplace, Brodie realised he wanted this as his future. That he loved her. The realisation struck him hard.
‘Are you all right?’
He closed his mouth, aware that he must look ridiculous. ‘Fine, thanks.’ He needed to tell her. Tonight. He scanned the messy room. This wasn’t the place he wanted Lettie to picture when she remembered tonight. Needing to think, he sat down and slowly began to finish his food. It tasted of nothing.
‘Is something the matter?’
Brodie knew he had to take his courage in both hands and admit his feelings for her. If she didn’t reciprocate them then he would have to deal with that, but nothing would be worse than her thinking he didn’t want to see her any more.
It was a beautiful evening. He had an idea. ‘Shall we go for a stroll on the beach?’
‘Now?’
‘Yes. It’ll help our food digest. What do you say?’
‘Do you want to go to the beach, Spud?’ Lettie asked, laughing when both dogs immediately sprang to their feet and barked excitedly. ‘I think that’s a unanimous yes.’
Ten minutes later, they strolled hand in hand as the dogs ran back and forth with each other. The moon was full and its light cast a pearly glow on the slowly rolling waves.
‘This was a perfect idea,’ Lettie said, resting her head against his shoulder. ‘We should do this more often.’
‘I was thinking the same thing.’
Lettie stopped walking and looked up at him. ‘Is something troubling you, Brodie? I’d like to think you know you can speak to me about anything.’
He smiled. ‘So says the most independent woman I’ve ever met.’ He leant down and kissed her lightly on the mouth.
‘You seem very thoughtful though. Is there something wrong?’
He didn’t want her to get the wrong impression about his reasons for their romantic stroll. ‘Only that I like you, Lettie. A lot. In fact, I’m falling in love with you.’
‘You are?’ Her hand fell from his and she covered her mouth with it.
‘Yes. I love you, Lettie Torel.’ His stomach lurched when he saw her eyes widen. ‘I know, you probably think it’s far too soon. Damn, now I’ve gone and ruined what we had.’ He took her hand in his. ‘I understand if this is too fast for you. Or, that you don’t feel the same way.’ He felt his breath quicken. ‘It’s fine if you don’t feel the same way, or if this isn’t what you want from our, er, friendship.’
His anxiety increased the longer she was silent. ‘Lettie? Please, say something. Anything.’
‘Sorry. I’m trying to think.’
If she was needing to think about things then surely she didn’t reciprocate his feelings. His heart ached at the thought.
‘Let’s walk to the water’s edge,’ he suggested, desperate to change the subject and try to rescue their evening somehow. He began walking, reaching the edge of the sea, his breath catching in his throat when he felt her hands slip around his waist and her head rest against his back. Unsure whether she was trying to reassure him or let him know she felt the same way, he rested his hands on top of hers He felt her warm breath on his back and then her head resting between his shoulder blades.
‘Dare I let myself believe that you might feel the same way?’ he asked slowly turning to face her.
She stared into his eyes for a moment, her face lit by the moonlight. ‘I do.’
