Briony smirked at that, followed by Bridget, and Lucy couldn’t help but join in. In moments, all the women in the car were sniggering while Will, shaking his head, blew out a breath of frustration, and Bradley conceded with raised hands and said, “Okay, okay I get it.”
The cousins got out of the car and as Lucy opened her door, Will set a hand on her arm. “Lucy, wait for sec?” Two car doors slammed, and Lucy watched as the cousins made their way to the front door. When they were inside, he continued. “I just wanted to talk to you before we went back inside to the craziness.”
Lucy gulped. Somehow, she knew that this conversation would be a turning point for her and Will. Either they’d keep their distance for the next few days, making polite conversation until it was time leave, or …
Or, what?
Or this could be the very moment that brought them together.
“Do you happen to know what time it is in Melbourne?” The question caught her off guard. She’d been expecting something a little more romantic, more heartfelt than a lesson in time zones.
“Uh, well, this time of year Melbourne’s eleven hours ahead of London and London is seven hours ahead of Colorado, so—” she glanced at the clock on the dash and did a quick calculation in her head “—it’s 1:00pm in Melbourne.”
“Okay.”
“And you’re asking because …”
“I’m calling Jules.”
“Oh, right.” This conversation was not, in any way whatsoever, going how Lucy had imagined.
“She had no right to give you a hard time and I want to see what’s up with her.” His face bore the mark of frustration and perhaps a little anger. Lucy was used to mediating between Chloe and Jules, but this was new territory for her, and she couldn’t help thinking that it was somehow her fault.
“Will? I don’t really think it’s …” She frowned.
He turned towards her and he must have seen the concern on her face, because his expression softened. “Hey, it’s okay, Lucy. Jules and I are close, and most of the time we get along, but this time, she’s stepped over the line.”
Lucy nodded, the weight of the situation resting heavily on her heart. She liked Will—she hadn’t felt like this in a long time, if ever—but Jules was one of the most important people in her life. If being with Will would jeopardise her relationship with Jules, then she’d choose Jules, no questions asked.
“Hey,” he said quietly. She caught the quick flick of his tongue to wet his lips as he leant towards her and their lips met.
His kiss was tentative at first, his full lips moving against hers softly, slowly. Another flick of his tongue, but this time she felt it against hers. She tilted her head as the kiss deepened, then pressed her hand to his chest, not to push him away, but to steady herself as the shivers rushed the length of her body.
Her fingers curled, encasing a handful of his coat as she leant back against the seat, pulling Will with her, the weight of him feeling both thrilling and familiar, like a perfect fit.
He broke the kiss, breathless, and looked at her from mere inches away. “Lucy …” he said. “Oh, god, I want you so much …” He pushed himself upright as he finished his thought, “… but not like this, not here.”
Lucy’s senses returned and for a fleeting second, she saw the scene inside the car as though she was standing outside it looking in. Will was right. No matter what they were feeling, they should absolutely not do anything more in the front seat of a four-wheel-drive parked in the driveway of the family’s cabin.
She took a deep breath. “Quite right,” she said, her hands lifting to her cheeks and feeling how warm they were. She must look like a beetroot.
“But Lucy?”
“Mmm-hmm.” She glanced at him, still trying to catch her breath.
“I don’t want to wait much longer.”
“Oh, yes … right. I see …” For goodness’ sake, why did she have to be so bloody English sometimes. She mentally slapped herself while Will chuckled at her with a mischievous look on his face.
“Ready to go in?” Will asked. “I don’t want everyone to think we’ve been, uh …” It seemed it was Will’s turn to be embarrassed and a laugh burst out of Lucy. She pressed her lips together to stifle a snigger.
“Yeah, yeah,” said Will, shaking his head and readjusting his trousers. “Come on, let’s go.” He shoved his gloves on roughly and Lucy slipped her hands into hers for the short walk up to the house. She knew exactly how cold it was out there.
When she climbed out of the car and met up with Will, he reached out for her hand and she didn’t hesitate before taking it. Glove-to-glove was hardly the most romantic thing in the world, but it felt lovely regardless.
Inside, the cabin was alive with activity. There were some delicious smells and a lot of clatter coming from the kitchen, and male voices coming from the front room talked over a crooning Michael Bublé. Lucy could hear the cousins upstairs and a shower running. She sighed. A shower seemed like the perfect way to wash away the less enjoyable parts of the day—Christmas Day. Her white Christmas.
It had been far from perfect, but was she actually disappointed? She pulled off her gloves and touched her fingertips to her lips, remembering the feel of Will’s lips against hers.
“Everything okay?” Of course, he’d seen her do that. He must have thought she was the type of woman who read romance novels and watched those silly Hallmark films. Well, she did watch those, but only at Christmastime.
“Yes, sorry, a little lost in thought.”
“I could see that,” he teased. He shrugged out of his coat and hung it on a hook by the door, while she unwrapped her scarf. “Here,” he prompted, returning to her and
