He laughed. ‘Yes. You told me how much you loved it that first time you saw it, and as luck would have it they have one night free, but it had to be tonight.’
She squealed in excitement and grabbed hold of him around his waist, kissing him. ‘You are perfect, Zac Torel. Do you know that?’
‘Er, I wouldn’t go that far, but I’m relieved you’re happy.’
‘Happy! I’m ecstatic.’ She let her arms fall from around his waist. ‘Well, are you going to show me inside, or are we spending the night out here?’
‘You’re so impatient,’ he said, leading her up to the door.
She waited for him to take the key from his pocket and unlock the door, not caring that she had a beaming smile on herface that probably made her look a little odd to the dog walker who was passing. She was trying not to show how intrigued she was to have a peek inside the property.
He stepped back to let her go inside first. Melody stood trying to absorb every detail inside the barge-shaped property. It was incredible. She listened as Zac explained how the building had been requisitioned by the Germans during the occupation, how it had also been used as everything from a clinic by a doctor who specialised in dealing with stutters to a scout hut.
‘But it’s now owned by Jersey Heritage, isn’t it?’ she said, recalling the information she already knew. Everything was perfect, from the lounge diner that took up most of the building with its perfectly polished walnut herringbone flooring, to the 1930s furniture.
‘There’s even a kitchen,’ she said, excited to see it seemed to have everything anyone might need. Finding the bathroom, Melody was relieved to see a pristine loo, basin and even a shower. ‘There are two portholes in here, too, just like in the kitchen,’ she shouted excitedly, hearing Zac laugh with amusement at her excitement. She spotted a wide ladder fitted in an alcove and read the plaque. ‘We go up here to the roof,’ she said. ‘I hadn’t noticed there was an area up there too.’ She gasped as an idea occurred to her. ‘We could go up there later when it’s dark, drink cocktails and take a blanket to lie down and watch the stars together.’
‘We could. Although I’m not sure we have any ingredients for cocktails right now.’
‘I don’t mind.’
She caught Zac watching her, aware he was enjoying her delight at all the discoveries she was making in this incredibly special place. Determined to see everything, Melody went in through the next door and found two tiny bedrooms. She tried to hide her surprise that both only contained bunk beds.She couldn’t have hidden her disappointment very well as she returned to the living room, because Zac pointed at another doorway.
‘There’s a sofa through there, which I gather opens out to a very comfortable sofa bed.’
‘A double?’ she asked, before thinking.
He nodded, looking happy that they seemed to be on the same wavelength.
Melody gazed out of the bedroom window at the view of turquoise waves rolling onto pale golden sand on the beach below the folly. She smiled, feeling Zac’s hands slip around her waist as he came up behind her.
He kissed her neck. ‘Happy?’
‘Very,’ she admitted. ‘This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me.’
He slowly turned her to face him. ‘I’m hoping we’ll have many more romantic occasions.’
She liked the thought. It occurred to her that this was the first time any man had ever made her feel like they were meant to be together, and it made her question whether what she had initially felt for Rhys was anything other than naive infatuation.
She slipped her arms around him and held him tightly. ‘It’s the oddest feeling,’ she said almost to herself. ‘But I feel as if I’ve come home.’ Then, wondering if she was getting carried away by how special he made her feel, looked up at Zac, embarrassed. ‘I know that probably sounds a bit strange but it really is how I feel right now.’
Zac kissed her. ‘It’s exactly how I feel when I’m with you.’ He smiled and she relaxed, glad that sharing such feelings hadn’t unnerved him. Like it would have done Rhys, she thought before pushing his memory from her mind.
‘I wish we had more than one night here,’ he said. ‘There’s so much I want to say to you, although I also just want to be here quietly with you. Just the two of us.’
‘I know exactly how you feel,’ she said, happy that they were so in sync with their feelings.
He pulled her against him and Melody was only vaguely aware of one hand in her hair and the other holding her tightly against him. She wrapped her arms around him, feeling the taut muscles in his back, and kissed him. Finally they were alone and for a whole night.
36
ZAC
‘Isn’t it exciting news about Lettie and Brodie?’ Melody sighed.
‘I am delighted for my sister. And Brodie – he clearly loves her very much.’ Just as I love you, he thought, taking Melody’s hand and leading her to the table. He knew she had feelings for him and presumed they were fairly deep ones, but after all Melody had dealt with and was still going through, he couldn’t expect her to be as open to falling in love as he seemed to be.
‘I’ve got us a bottle of champagne?’ he said, holding it up. ‘I thought we could toast each other and talk about what happens next.’
