Page 120 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

She just hoped she would make it in time.

*

Jack had spent a miserable, quiet day at home. He normally enjoyed solitude but not that day. He missed his friends at Willow Tree Hall. He missed everything.

But he missed Lily most of all.

He had told her that he loved her. And she hadn’t said a word in reply.

Perhaps he shouldn’t have said anything, but just once in his life he had wanted to be open and honest with her.

And look how well that turned out, he thought, staring out across the darkness to where the river was reflecting the moon up above.

If only he had his motorbike. Then he could have driven off and never looked back. Gone to Europe. Gone anywhere. If only…

He stopped pacing and cocked his ear towards a familiar sound. It couldn’t be. It just sounded the same, that was all.

But he couldn’t stop himself from walking away from the balcony and across the floor of his lounge. He flung open the front door just as a motorbike came into view, roaring up to the driveway.

He found himself watching Lily,hisLily, driving his motorbike. She braked hard and almost went over the handlebars, causing him to clutch the front door in alarm that she might hurt herself.

He couldn’t believe that she was here and that she had driven his motorbike.

What on earth was so important that it couldn’t wait?

*

Lily’s hand was shaking as she switched off the engine. She had made it!

Then she quickly realised that there was light streaming from the house in front of her. Jack was standing in the doorway, framed by the light behind him.

In a rush to speak to him, she quickly clambered off the motorbike and walked towards him.

She was only vaguely aware of the bike falling over behind her, as she had forgotten to put up the stand.

She walked up to him before crashing to a halt in front of him.

Jack was still standing in the doorway, watching her with a look of disbelief on his face.

He glanced over her shoulder to where his bike was lying on the tarmac before coming to stare back at her.

‘You drove my bike all the way here?’ he said.

She nodded. ‘Well, you know me. Wild Lily Harper and all that.’

She took a step forward towards him. Towards handsome, funny, sexy Jack. He was so close she could smell his spicy aftershave.

But he took a step backwards from her and shook his head. ‘I told you how I felt,’ he said in a flat tone of voice.

‘I know,’ Lily told him. ‘And it was wrong of me not to say anything. I was scared, you see. Scared of being hurt. Scared of telling you how I really felt. But you’ve taught me not to be scared any more. I know that I hurt you, and for that I’m truly sorry. But please just let me be with you. On whatever terms you want.’ She took a quick glance at the barren interior of his house. ‘I’ll even be your interior designer, if you’ll have me.’

She gave him a small smile but he was still watching her silently.

‘I made a mistake,’ Lily carried on. ‘A big, stupid mistake. Because I love you. I’ve always loved you and always will.’

Had she really just said that? The shock in his eyes told her that she had.

‘I love you, Jack Carter.’