Page 59 of Brighter Together

“But it did cross my mind as well,” she stops me with a grin.

“At least we’re honest,” I chuckle.

Her smile turns wicked. “So yes. Maybe we test that too.”

My mouth goes dry.

The teasing is fun, but this bit matters too much to assume.

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

I keep my eyes on hers.

Ella seems to understand because her expression softens.

“I want this, Tommy.”

The certainty in her voice settles something in me.

“And if it turns out we’re a disaster?”

“Then we admit it, go back to Fellside and figure out how to work together without making everyone else suffer.”

“You make that sound easy.”

“It probably won’t be.”

That makes me trust the plan more. She isn’t pretending there are no risks and neither am I.

I reach for her hand and thread my fingers through hers.

“There is one thing we need to agree on. Your job stays completely separate from this. Whatever happens between us, it doesn’t affect your job at Greenview Manor Hotel,” I say. I need her to know that.

“I know, Tommy,” she nods. “It’s just two days for now.”

“So we do our jobs.”

“Yes.”

“We don’t make promises about anything beyond Manchester.”

“Yes.”

“We see what happens when we stop fighting this.”

Her fingers tighten around mine. “Yes.”

I grin.

“That does sound like research.”

“Exactly.”

“Very scientific.”

“I’m nothing if not dedicated.”