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With her gloves on, she pushed her hands into her pockets. She’d walk across to the cottage. That was all she could do. That way, she wouldn’t be here when Mack left the reception and returned to his car. And she wouldn’t turn into an icicle whilst she waited for him to leave. It was the perfect cover.
As she began to walk across the courtyard, she heard the bell above the door tinkle again and the gentle click of the door being shut. Great, she’d messed around too long putting on her gloves and trying to work out what to do.
Taking a deep breath, she kept her eyes focused in front of her. She just needed to pretend she hadn’t heard him behind her, avoid the temptation to turn around and instead keep heading towards the cottage.
‘Poppy, hold up. Please?’
She held her breath, her eyes still focused ahead, putting one foot in front of the other. If she carried on he’d think she hadn’t heard him.
‘Poppy!’
His voice was louder now. He was closer.
Leave me alone, Mack, please.
He must have realised what she was doing. Why wasn’t he letting her escape the awkwardness of the situation? She needed some time. Just a few days.
Poppy, hear me out. Give me a couple of minutes, please.’
She felt his hand on her shoulder, his touch gentle through her coat.
She had no choice but to face him now. Stopping still and plastering a smile on her face, she turned around. ‘Sorry, I didn’t realise you were behind me.’
Mack nodded, and then looked at the ground, avoiding eye contact.
‘What did you want?’ Why had he chased after her if all he wanted to do was to stare at the ground and not speak?
‘I… I just wanted to apologise.’ He looked at her, their eyes meeting. ‘I’m sorry things have turned out the way they have between us.’
She let her smile slip. ‘You don’t need to apologise. I told you I understand. You’ve got a lot on your plate. You’re in a complicated stage of your life. I’m in a complicated patch of my life. I have nothing to offer you.’
‘No, it’s not that. You have so much to offer. More than you’ll ever know.’ He took her hands in his. ‘You’re an amazing person, Poppy. Kind, thoughtful, funny, I could go on. Don’t ever think you’ve got nothing to offer anyone. You have everything to offer.’
Blowing a snowflake away from her mouth, Poppy looked down at their hands. Their fingers were entwined. His grasp was gentle but firm. She took a deep breath.
‘Maybe it’s just bad timing,’ she said.
Mack nodded slowly before frowning. ‘Maybe it doesn’t have to be.’
‘What do you mean?’ She could feel the warmth of his hands through the fabric of her gloves.
‘Maybe we’re the only ones really getting in the way.’
‘I still don’t understand what you’re trying to say.’ She looked him in the eye.
‘I guess I’m trying to say: what if the only reason I’m pushing you away is because it’s what I think is the right thing to do. What if I don’t have to?’
‘You’re making no sense.’
‘I know. I know what I want to say but…’ Glancing away, Mack sighed before taking his hands from hers and stepping closer. Cupping her chin with the hook of his forefinger, he mumbled, ‘May I?’
Nodding, Poppy stood still. If he was about to kiss her, she was going to wait for him to make the first move. She didn’t want to be rebuffed or doubt who had kissed who again. As he leaned in, she could feel Mack’s breath on her lips and then the warmth of his skin as he kissed her.
Closing her eyes, she placed her hand on his neck and drew him towards her, kissing him back.
When the kiss was finished – and what a kiss it was! – Mack took her hands again and grinned. ‘Can we just throw caution to the wind and see where it takes us? Will you forgive me for getting cold feet?’
Laughing, Poppy nodded. ‘Yes, and yes. I don’t blame you. We can keep it between us if you like? We can tell Spencer and Gus we’re just friends until we think they’re ready?’
