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“What are you doing?” she asked.

“As I said, I’m done. I’m taking the afternoon off.Kate is diverting any calls through to someone else.”

“Can you even do that?”Kitty asked, taking a last drink of her water.

It was a good question. In fact, he’d never taken an afternoon off before. The only time he’d ever missed a job, or taken time off, was when Phil died.

“I can,” he said.

Josh walked around to open the door for Kitty. At first, she hesitated in the passenger seat before clambering onto the grass. Wendy bolted and disappeared into the cowslips without a second glance.

“Well, what are we doing here?” she asked.

“This is a secret spot of mine,” he said, gesturing behind him, down the bank.“And now you know about it. I’ll have to kill you.” He giggled at her look of surprise, retrieving a four-pack of cold soda from the fridge.In the shade of the trees, the heat was already more tolerable.

“You hungry yet?” he asked.

Kitty shook her head.

“Well, I’m starving.” He smiled, then grabbed a paper bag from the fridge along with the cans. He locked the car and followed Wendy into the bushes, beckoning Kitty to join him.

33

KITTY

After leavingthe truck behind at the bridge, they headed downhill through the thick greenery. A gentle gurgle of water kissed her ears, and the bracken and grasses scratched and caressed her legs in equal measure.

“Watch your step,” Josh said, reaching out for her hand.

She took it, enjoying the effortless way her palm slipped into his. When he’d touched her hand in the car, she hadn’t noticed how smooth his skin was, considering what he did for a living. She’d been more shocked by his action. Now, thoughts of his soft hands on her, running all over her, invaded her brain and her mouth dried.

Moments later, they emerged from the greenery onto a sandy riverbank under the shade of a vast willow tree. Banks of blackberry bushes and wildflowers stood around them.Kitty stopped in her tracks.

“Holy crap! It’s beautiful. I feel like I’ve been here before, though.”

Josh smiled, his eyes glowing. “Isn’t it? And yes, you have.”

As if realising he was still holding her hand, he loosened his grip and let itgo. Moving towards the water, they sat on the sand under the shade of the willow tree, its branches weaving lazily in the warm breeze.The boughs creaked as they swung, and the sun picked through the canopy to bathe their bodies in dappled light.

Settled on the bank, they both took off their boots, and Kitty wiggled her toes in delight, a sigh escaping her lips. Even the hot air was luxurious compared to the thick socks and rubber encasing her feet all day. Josh cracked open two cans of soda, and Kitty took one, drinking it in a series of long, greedy gulps.

No sooner had she finished it when a lump of searing pain hit her chest, doubling her over into her knees. Panic set in, and a cold sweat broke out on her back. She’d drunk the soda so fast, and now an enormous burp, brewing deep inside, threatened to explode.

What the hell could she do? She didn’t want Josh to hear her burping like Barney from the Simpsons, but there was no way she could hold it in. If she did, the air might rush through her body and come out the other end. She’d never burped or farted in front of someone she’d fancied before. She’d never got close enough to anyone to letthatfinal wall down.

Praying to the soda gods for mercy, Kitty sat back up, her cheeks puffing out like a hamster after a good meal.

“Are you okay?” asked Josh, looking concerned and scanning her face. “You look very red.”

Kitty’s eyes widened, and she pointed at the can, then clutched at her chest.

Josh’s mouth dropped, and he looked at her, realisation glinting in his eyes. “Burp,” he said, a smile twitching on his lips. “Before you explode. I don’t want to be responsible for bits of you being splattered along the riverbank.”

Kitty shook her head, desperate to stand up and run, but the pain was so intense she couldn’t move. She daredn’t answer him either, knowing that if she did, a terrifying force would rip out of her body, shattering any illusions that she was an attractive woman.

“Kitty! You look like you’re about to die. You can't fight nature. I won’t look.” he said.

Kitty shook her head again, her breath and her resolve running out fast.