Page 49 of Somewhere Only We Know

‘A chicken who’s attached to her fingers, thanks very much.’

While the mother was gobbling down the food Jackson had brought, we checked over the puppies in turn. I didn’t fully understand what we were checking for, but he seemed to know what he was doing, and I enjoyed giving them all a cuddle.

‘So what happens next?’ I asked.

I heard his breath catch. ‘Um, we can walk back along the beach, maybe go for a drink, if you like?’

‘I meant when you leave Bali. What happens to the dog and the puppies?’

‘Oh, right.’ He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘I don’t know the answer to that. I’m taking it day by day, doing what I can for her and her little family while I’m here. Hopefully things will work out, which is pretty much my philosophy on life.’

‘That’s your master plan for your future?’ I teased.

‘What’s wrong with that? I’m gonna surf, dive, live by the beach forever.’ He tipped over the old can that served as the dog’s bowl and topped it up with fresh water from the bag. ‘Okay, girl, take care of those babies.’

‘You must have rich parents to support you, in that case,’ I said, replacing the puppy I was holding and getting to my feet.

Jackson pointed the torch back the way we’d come, and we picked our way through the undergrowth.

‘Not at all. I’ll get a job, pay my way. Work to live and it won’t even feel like work because I’ll be living the dream. One day I might even open my own surf school, who knows.’

Our arms were touching, his skin sending tiny electric shocks along mine.

‘Ha! So you do have a plan,’ I pointed out.

‘The only plan I have is to please myself. No responsibilities.’

He smelled of heat and sunscreen and boy, and I felt a gathering of desire in the pit of my stomach. ‘Except a grumpy dog and six puppies.’

‘Except them.’ His eyes glinted with mischief, making my heart speed up.

‘So … no girlfriend?’ I asked coyly.

‘Nope. You?’ He shook his head, not looking at me.

‘I don’t do boyfriends.’ I stopped walking.

‘You don’t?’ He raised his eyebrows.

I met his gaze brazenly and smiled. ‘I do boys, though, in case you wanted to kiss me.’

He drew me in close and gave me the best kiss of my life.

‘I knew it,’ I said, laughing, reaching my arms around his neck to do it again.

It was only my first day. I had a hunch that I was in for an awesome four weeks.

Chapter 15

Nepal

I was back in the Ganesh Guest House in Kathmandu, sitting on one of three beds in my hotel room, on the phone to Kat with Brontë’s journal in my lap.

Every time I looked at it, I had a creeping sense of unease that I wasn’t fulfilling my promise to complete the rest of her trip. But I felt differently about her itinerary now. I knew I’d enjoy turning each page, reading her words, tracing my finger over her drawings. I’d feel connected to her wherever I was, as long as I had the notebook.

‘It is the right move,’ I said to Kat. ‘The time away from home has been cathartic, it’s made me realise that I’m a homebird, I like my creature comforts.’

‘Wise choice,’ said my sister with discernible relief. ‘And there’s plenty of time until you go back to work. Maybe if Andy doesn’t mind, you and I could take a little trip somewhere. A week in Spain maybe, get a bit of winter sun?’