“Hello, Alice.” She lifted Cujo out of thecar and plonked him on the ground. “Are you coming on the picnic with us?”
The woman flapped like a mother hen.“Goodness, no! Not with my dodgy hips, and it’s quite a hike.”
“A hike?”
Grayson strode over to the steps, pickedup the wicker basket and then returned to stand beside her, hisgiant frame toweringover her. “It’s not that far. Twenty minutes, half an hour, tops. Iwanted to take you somewhere special. It’ll be worth it, Ipromise.”
Now he had her intrigued.
“I’ve packed sausage rolls and hamsandwiches made with homemade bread, and Scotch eggs and a whole, roasted chicken…”Alice slapped her palms to her rosy cheeks. “Oh my, you’re not avegetarian, are you? I didn’t think… we’re kind of big meat-eatersaround here.”
Jamie laughed. “No, I’m not. It soundsdelicious. You’ve gone to so much trouble.”
“It’s no trouble, dear.”
Grayson’s daughter came running out of themanor. “Jamie, you’re here!” Luna made a beeline straight to herand wrapped her arms around her waist.
Although a little surprised by the child’saffection, it didn’t take her more than a second to return thehug. “Hi, Luna. How areyou?”
“Okay, thanks. I can’t believe you’re bestfriends with Willow from YouTube. Can you tell her I said thanksfor the eyeshadow palette? It’s awesome!”
“Of course I will.” Willow mentioned she’dgiven Grayson the palette—she’d be so pleased Luna liked it. “Have you used ityet?”
Cujo pawed at Luna’s ankles. She broke fromtheir hug and picked him up, fussed over him. “No, Dad won’t letme. He says I’m too young for makeup. He won’t let me come on thepicnic with you either.”
Jamie looked to Grayson. She wouldn’t mind if Luna came alongtoo, and was about to say as much, but judging by his sternexpression, she didn’t voice her thoughts.
“We’ve been over this,” Grayson told hisdaughter. “I’d like to spend a couple of hours withJamie, on my own. If shehasn’t had enough of me by then, we’ll come back to the manor andmaybe you can play with Cujo later.” He turned to Jamie. “If that’sokay with you?”
“I don’t see why not.”
“You have some studying to do first,” Alicesaid to Luna. “Yourtutor is due in fifteen minutes.”
Luna ruffled Cujo’s ears and put him down.“Okay, studies first, then we can play later, can’t we, Cujo?”
Grayson raised an eyebrow, as thoughsurprised she’d agreed so easily. “Good, all settled then.” Hepecked Luna’s forehead.“Be good, little pup.”
She smiled sweetly. “I will. Bye, Jamie, seeyou soon,” she said, skipping back into the manor.
“Shall we go?” Grayson asked.
Jamie nodded. “Bye, Alice, and thanks againfor the picnic.”
She followed Grayson as he pickedup the huge hamper andheaded towards a thicket to the side of Beckett Hall.
Jamie had to do a little run now and then tokeep up with him; the joys of having short legs.
Grayson noticed and slowed his pace to matchhers.
He led her into the woods and upan incline, takingnarrow tracks that weaved between mature oaks and elms. The sunshone through the canopy of leaves, making dappled patterns oflight on the ground. Every so often, the sun disappeared behind thegathering clouds.
“Careful,” said Grayson. “It gets steeper here, and slippery too,especially after it’s rained.”
Jamie navigated around exposed tree rootscovered in moss.
Grayson appeared to be ultra-attentive toeverything around him, like he was at one with nature. Not tomention his concern forher warmed her in all the right places.
“I wouldn’t have minded if Luna came too,”she told him.
“You wouldn’t? I guess I’m not used tosomeone wanting to spend time with Luna. Imogen never—” He stoppedtalking.
Probably just as well, but she had toask. “How isImogen?” Theshe-devil.
“Me and my big mouth. Imogen is history. I’msorry you had to meet her the other day.”
“Me too.”
They continued up the hill, silent for afew minutes, but there was nothing awkward about it. Jamie enjoyedthe sound of the birdschirping and the odd rustle from a woodland animal.
Her dog kept disappearing behind them. “Cujo,where are you?” she called. “I don’t know what’s the matter withhim, he usually stays close by.”
Two seconds later, her dog appeared, nosecovered in mud.
A slate-grey cloud swept over the sun,darkening the forest and bringing with it a chill to the air. Jamieshivered.
Grayson looked to the sky. “Damnit, Ithought the rain would hold off for a couple of hours. Gray’s Point is just up ahead,but we could go back if you want?”
“No, if we’re nearly there, it seems daft toturn back now.”
“Good, because I’m starving.” He grinnedand led her through the trees to a small clearing on top of thehill. He put the picnicbasket down.
Cujo sniffed around by the edge of theclearing.
Jamie took in the stunning view acrossfields and hills, crisscrossed with colours of ochre and green,noting the ominous clouds that swept across the sky. The roof ofBeckett Hall peekedabove the trees far below. She zipped up her hoodie against thechilly breeze and chuckled.
Grayson laid a blanket on the tufty grass.“What’s so funny?”
“This top.”
“You look great to me.” He sat down andopened the hamper before arranging two plates, cutlery, plastic glasses, and amountain of food on the blanket.
She sat beside him. “I’m wearing a red hoodieand I’m alone in the woods with a big, bad wolf.”
He stopped what he was doing and fixed herwith an intense gaze, his eyes flashing with mischief and danger. “Is that how you seeme—the big, bad wolf?”
Mesmerised, she gazed back, only nowrealising she wasn’t wearing her spelled necklace to protectherself if he decided to morph into his wolf before her. Yet, as heinched closer, his Hulk-like frame dwarfing hers, instead of fear her body reactedwith something akin to excitement, and the tingling in her bellyhinted at arousal too. Was it normal to be turned on by his animalside?
She licked her lips. “I’m beginning tothink you’re not like that at all.”
“Was that almost a compliment? I’m honoured.”He grinned and her belly did a backflip.
“The picnic was a great idea,” she toldhim, trying to focus on anything but his full, well-defined lips.She yearned to know if they were as soft as they looked. “This spot is beautiful,Grayson.”
“I’m
