Page 53 of Before We Were Famous

‘I was hoping to stay for the night if Edgar has no objections,’ she said, almost smartly and reminding me that this was their home and not mine.

‘None at all,’ he said.

Well, bully for you two. Thanks for considering me, I thought. And then I decided to grow a spine.

‘Well that works out perfectly,’ I said, ‘because I wanted to have a night by myself at Wuthering Height and return all the calls and messages from friends about my reviews and catch up with their news. I feel like I’ve neglected everyone,’ I said. ‘You two can have a sibling night together like old times.’ I gave a small laugh like it was the most perfect idea. Edgar looked less than impressed. I offered a consolation prize. ‘Let’s meet for breakfast in the village, shall we?’ I asked him and got a sulky reply. ‘You too, of course, Isabella, if you would like to join us.’

‘Thanks,’ she said, with a smile that bordered on a smirk.

Not long after I was driving down the road to Wuthering Heights in Edgar’s Merc, feeling wonderful. Was I outgrowing Edgar? Was I finally doing what I set out to achieve … be completely independent for the first time in my life? The thought scared me a little and momentarily I wanted to rush back. God, I’m so weak.

Then I thought about Isabella’s question. Edgar plans to marry me – I have to confess that I was a little swept away with the romance and excitement of that thought. So sweet.

But will Heath go through with his marriage to Isabella?

Chapter 29– Put a ring on it

It was dark outside, moody and warm. I opened the curtains and windows that faced the moors. My windows were high enough that no one could climb in or see-through. It was weird being here alone, sitting around in my singlet and matching brief, drinking wine like I had nothing in the world to worry about. The last time I stayed here alone, Heath had just left me after hearing my words to Lockwood. It felt like a hundred years ago, and my mindset was so different tonight. I played my song list, messaged friends and indulgently read my reviews again. They were fuel for confidence going forward. To say I was thrilled was a major understatement.

The buzzer startled me; someone was downstairs.What the …?I had accounted for everyone I knew who could drop in – some of my local friends didn’t know I was home, and the few who did were meeting me for coffee tomorrow afternoon in the village. I bolted to the camera buzzer; Edgar was standing there. I pressed the button.

‘Hey you, come up.’

He must have sprinted the stairs, he was there in seconds. Was he checking up on me? Making sure I didn’t have time to hurry anyone into the cupboard or out the window? I opened the door and he looked at me, his eyebrows raised.

‘Is this how you dress when you are home alone?’ he asked, with a smile.

‘Every time.’

‘I am dropping in unannounced more often,’ he said, with appreciation.

‘Where’s Isabella?’ I asked, looking behind him

‘Not back there,’ he joked and came inside. I closed the door behind him and he pulled me to him.

‘This looks very sexy, I like the minimalist look.’ He held me close and he felt so very good.

‘I missed you,’ he said in a rare show of vulnerability for Edgar.

‘I missed you,’ I told him. And I did. If I was being honest, a glass of wine had me melancholy and I kept thinking of Edgar not far away and that he loved me enough to tell his sister he would marry me. My mother would call that being in love with love, but it did soften my heart and make me feel secure.

He put his hands under my butt and picked me up with a glance to the bedroom down the hall. Edgar had only been here a few times, we normally stayed at Thrushcross Grange where he can work in his home office, but he remembered the way.

‘You can pour me one of those later,’ he said, nodding to my wine glass on the table, as we disappeared down the hall.

He placed me down on the bed and he stripped off. That’s when the speed stopped; we made slow, satisfying love. It was a release and relief for both of us. After all, at face value things were good in our world… his film was a success, I had done my part, and we were strong even if his sister and my ex weren’t.

Later, sated and naked, we turned side on and lay looking at each other. He was a beautiful man. Outside the wind was rising in tone, occasionally it rattled my windows and I felt right at home. He touched my face, pushing a strand of my hair back and then he took my hand, kissed and held it.

‘I’m glad you came over,’ I whispered.

‘So am I.’

‘Is Isabella okay?’ I didn’t care if she was or not, but it was his sister after all and I thought I should make an effort.

‘She will be. I got her to drive me here and told her to seek out a few of her local friends – you know she loves a night out. Let her be a hit at the local pub with her gal pals. So … you are stuck with me here for the rest of the night.’

‘Excellent,’ I said.

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