Melody liked to hear him say so. ‘I think so too.’ She thought of her grandfather dying several years before Gran achieved her dream.
‘You look sad.’
She shrugged. ‘My grandad died five years ago and had always insisted Gran would find someone to publish her books, but she didn’t ever think it would happen.’
‘He didn’t live to see the books then?’
She shook her head, sad at the reminder.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever knowingly met a botanist before,’ Zac said after a brief hesitation. ‘I thought she was some sort of therapist though. Crystals, that sort of thing.’
Melody liked that he was interested. She had come across many people who knew very little about alternative therapy and thought that the best way to show their ignorance was to be insulting about it.
‘She does that too. Gran is a creative lady and needs outlets for that creativity.’
‘Like her podcast, you mean.’
‘Yes.’ She smiled.
‘Have you always painted?’
‘I’ve tried to do it since I could hold a pencil or get my hands on paints at school,’ she admitted, thinking back to how surprised her parents had been when her art teacher insisted she had artistic talent.
‘I’m impressed.’
‘I think most people are good at what they love doing, don’t you?’ she asked, interested to know what he thought.
He shook his head. ‘Not necessarily. I believe we can all improve with practice but if you don’t have a natural talent with something I can’t see how someone might have that extra…’ He struggled to find the word.
‘Sparkle?’ she suggested.
He smiled. ‘I’m not certain that’s the word I was searching for, but it will do.’ He stared at her.
Melody’s neck was getting tired, so she turned to lie on her side, mirroring him. ‘What is it?’ she asked, wanting to know what he was thinking.
‘Have you drawn me?’
She smiled and shook her head. ‘No. Why, do you want me to?’
‘Maybe.’ His mouth drew back into a cheeky smile. ‘I’d like to see some of your work first.’
‘What? You’re scared I might make you look like one of the flower fairies, or something?’
Zac fell back laughing again. This time he didn’t stop and soon his infectious laughter caused tears to run down her cheeks.
Melody wiped them away with the back of her hand as she slowly gathered herself and noticed he was staring at her. ‘What?’
‘I want to kiss you,’ he said, becoming serious.
She hadn’t expected that answer. Unsure what to say, it dawned on her that if she didn’t speak soon her chance to kiss him might disappear, never to return. ‘Go on then.’
19
ZAC
She had said he could kiss her. Scared she would change her mind, Zac leant over her, letting his mouth find hers. His lips touched Melody’s and she immediately responded, slipping her arms around his back, pulling him down to her and kissing him back.
She groaned quietly as they kissed and Zac didn’t think he had ever felt so strongly for someone simply from a first kiss. He felt her hands travel under his T-shirt, sliding up the warm skin on his back and taking it as encouragement he kissed her more urgently, his hand moving down to her waist.
