“Thank you. Enjoy your Christmas!”
She held onto the vertical railing on the side of the door with one hand while she looked out over the platform, searching for Rob. After missing her original train from Scotland, she’d had to catch a later one, and she was a full four hours later than anyone expected. Rob had been going to pick her up from the earlier train, but she had no idea if anyone had come to meet this one.
Not seeing her brother in the crowds waiting on the platform, Evelyn moved down to the last step above the platform. Just before stepping off the train, she looked up again and her breath caught in her throat. A little flutter of butterflies stirred in her belly as a rush of excitement went through her.
Miles was making his way through the throng, standing a full head over those around him. He was dressed in his RAF blues with a spotted blue silk neckerchief tied carelessly around his throat, looking rakishly elegant despite being in uniform. He caught sight of her just as she looked up and a smile curved his full lips.
“Ahem!”
Evelyn started as a woman cleared her throat behind her. Murmuring an apology over her shoulder, she stepped off the train quickly and moved towards Miles.
“Hallo!” he greeted her, reaching for her suitcase. “You finally made it!”
“At last!” she agreed with a laugh, looking up into his sparkling green eyes. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Where’s Robbie?”
“I offered to come collect you,” he said, turning to walk beside her. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not! It’s lovely to see you. When did you arrive?”
“Rob and I drove up from London and got here just in time for lunch.” He glanced down at her. “We all thought you were getting in earlier. When you weren’t on the train, Rob decided you’d missed it. Did you?”
Evelyn laughed sheepishly. “Yes, I’m afraid so. I got caught up with work and had to wait for the next one. I thought I’d never get here.”
“Never mind. You’re here now.”
His voice rolled over her warmly and Evelyn felt a rush of warmth go through her as she realized that this was what she’d been looking forward to all week. It wasn’t spending Christmas with her family, although she was happy to do that as well, but it was the anticipation of seeing the sparkling green eyes that had haunted her for two months. And the reality was far better than she’d expected.
They walked out of the station and a blast of icy wind greeted them. Evelyn gasped and tucked her arm through his, leaning closer to him with a shiver.
“Please tell me you have a car here,” she said, hunching her shoulders.
“I have a car here,” he replied promptly, steering her to the parking area to the right. “And it has a heater.”
“Thank goodness!”
He looked down at her and pulled her closer as another shiver went through her.
“Perhaps next time you’ll remember your coat,” he said with a grin.
She shot him a disgruntled look. “You’re not wearing one,” she pointed out.
“I’m not the one shivering with cold.”
“I did bring it, actually, but it’s in my case. It was unbearably warm on the train. Tell me, am I the last one to arrive?”
“I’m afraid so. Your mother was starting to fret that you weren’t coming.” Miles grinned. “Your brother didn’t help matters when he offered the theory that your train had derailed.”
“He didn’t!”
“He did. Don’t worry. Mr. Buckley managed to convince her that you weren’t laying in a ditch somewhere.”
“Bill and Marguerite are there too? Oh wonderful! It’s just like...” Evelyn’s voice trailed off suddenly and Miles looked at her.
“Like what?”
She shrugged and shook her head. “I was going to say it’s just like last year, but of course it’s not,” she said. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to coming home and Dad not being here.”
He squeezed her arm gently. “Perhaps not, but it will get easier,” he said softly. “Or so I’m told.”
“I do hope so.” Evelyn raised her eyebrows as they approached a low, green two-seater Jaguar SS100. “Is this yours?”
“Yes.”
“It’s beautiful!”
“Do you like it?” He opened the passenger door for her. “That’s right. I forgot you said you like fast cars.”
She laughed and got in, twinkling up at him. “And reckless pilots.”
He grinned and winked. “That I didn’t forget.”
He closed the door and walked around the back to set her case in the small luggage boot. When he got behind the wheel, Evelyn smiled at him.
“I’m glad you came to fetch me.”
He looked at her. “Because I drive a fast sports car?”
“Because I really didn’t fancy walking all the way home.”
Miles laughed and the engine started with a low growl. Evelyn rubbed her hands together in the dark briskly, a smile playing with her lips. She’d forgotten how easy it was to banter with him, and how comfortable it felt to do so. It was as if they’d known each other all their lives, rather than just a few months. It was so strange, this connection that they seemed to have with each other. It was like nothing she’d ever felt before, but she wasn’t about to question it.
She relaxed in the expensive leather seat as he reversed out of the parking spot and pulled out of the lot. His broad shoulders seemed to fill the car, making it seem much smaller inside. Leather mixed with the musky smell of him and she felt the tension flow out of her.
“And how have you been, Assistant Section Officer?” Miles asked after a moment of silence.
“I’m doing much better now that I’m here,” she answered, turning her head on the seat to look at his profile in the moonlight. Heat was pouring out of the vents now and her shivering had stopped. In its place was languid contentment. “How are you faring up in the great blue?”
“Piece of cake,” was the flippant answer, drawing a smile from her.
“No more
