He frowned. ‘I’ve just had a really selfish thought that I’m not sure I can share with you.’
Skye forgot her hands were wet and turned to face him, suspecting she might have had the same thought. ‘You wish Lindy and Gareth weren’t coming back quite so early, am I right?’
He nodded slowly. ‘You are. Is that really selfish of me?’
‘No. To be honest I was thinking the same thing. So if you’re being selfish then so am I.’
Joe sighed. After a moment’s thoughtful silence he said, ‘I’m just not ready to go home and live with my mum again, or…’
Willing him to say something about her, Skye said, ‘Or, what?’
Joe stood and walked over to her. Skye’s breath caught in her throat and she wondered whether he was about to kiss her. Her excitement petered away when he took her wrists in his hands and gently moved them over the basin. ‘You’re dripping all over the floor.’
Cringing inwardly, Skye hoped he hadn’t seen the look of longing that she was sure had been on her face. ‘Ooh, sorry about that.’
‘No worries.’ He went to the utility room so Skye finished the washing-up, realising for the first time that the tops of her feet were wet from the drips. What a dope she was. She really needed to focus more on what she was doing.
Seconds later, Joe returned with the mop. ‘Can you move over for a moment?’
She did as he asked, drying her hands on the nearby towel. ‘Thanks. I should be the one doing that though.’
He mopped the area where her feet had been. ‘I don’t see why.’
‘Because I was the one to make the mess.’ She laughed, picking up the first plate to dry it.
Joe stopped and looked at her. His face was inches from hers and Skye could almost hear her breath, the air between them had become so still.
She wanted to kiss him so badly. She was deciding whether to when his face moved closer to hers and their lips connected.
Joe must have rested the mop against something to free his hands, because immediately after that he had one arm around her back and the other took the plate she had forgotten she was holding from her hands. She was only vaguely aware of him placing it on the draining board next to them as his lips pressed against hers once again.
Loving being in his arms, Skye gave in to her instincts and slipped her arms around his neck, making the most of being alone with him in the house and free to kiss him.
A few seconds later, their kiss over, Joe leant slightly back from her, staring at her with such intensity that Skye wondered if it were possible his feelings might mirror her own. She really hoped they were.
‘I know we both feel guilty about wanting this…’ he hesitated ‘…whatever this is between us, to last as long as possible. And I know you have your concerns about my work and also that this current situation will soon going to be over when the Torels return, and we’ll go our separate ways, but I’m not ready for that to happen. I know it’s wrong, but I can’t help myself.’
‘Neither can I,’ she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper as she stared at his perfect lips, missing them being against her own. Not wishing to waste a second longer of the short time they still had to be together, Skye pulled him down slightly until her lips pressed against his again, happy when he reacted exactly how she had hoped he would and kissed her.
37
JOE
All Joe knew was that he didn’t want this moment to end. He and Skye might have lives to get back to but right now he wished that wasn’t the case. Everything about her was perfect. From the way she kissed, to how her green eyes sparkled every time she laughed at something funny, her love for the animals and well, just everything about her. If only she didn’t worry so much about how he earned his living, or even if she lived here and wasn’t going back to Edinburgh when this was all over.
He reminded himself that she did have a family here now and would more than likely be travelling over to spend more time with them, getting to know each of them. It wasn’t perfect, but it was something, he supposed. And, he realised, there was nothing to stop him going to visit her. But would that be enough? He doubted it would be for him.
Joe felt a nudge against his thigh and glancing down, saw Spud pushing his head against him. Reluctantly he moved back from Skye and peered at the dog. ‘What’s the matter, boy?’
Derek sidled up to Skye’s leg and pushed against her, his eyes gazing up at her as if he was trying to tell her something.
‘Something’s wrong,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘His tail is down and Derek’s tail only does that when he’s unhappy, or worried.’
Joe bent to stroke him. ‘What’s wrong, little guy?’ he asked, cuddling Derek whose tail rose, he was relieved to notice.
Skye gasped. ‘We forgot to feed the dogs,’ she said guiltily. She looked at the kitchen wall clock. ‘It’s an hour and a half after their usual breakfast time. Oh, you poor boys,’ she said, stroking them both before looking at Joe again.
Unable to help himself, he gave her a quick peck on her lips. ‘This means that we’re also late to feed the other animals.’ He bent to stroke Spud and then Derek who was now wagging his tail, letting it tap noisily against the cupboard door where their food was stored. ‘Clever chap.’ Joe laughed. ‘All right, we get the message. I’ll feed you right this minute.’
