Page 66

Not that she could bring herself to regret any time spent with Sophie.

“I’d better get going,” Sophie said, sitting up. She leaned to drop a kiss on Tilly’s forehead.

Tilly pulled her down, kissing her properly before letting her go again.

She watched as Sophie pulled on her clothes, first her underwear, then her jeans, and looked around for her top.

She hated watching her go. But if everything went to plan, then after this weekend, all this could be hers. She could watch Sophie dress every morning if she wanted to.

The thought caught in her chest, spreading warmth through her whole body.

The idea of her and Sophie actually being together, living together, building a life together.

Sophie tripped over a container of rice and then snorted a laugh. “Sorry about that. It’s a bit cramped in here. Let me clean it up.”

“Leave it,” Tilly said. “Let’s move in together.”

“What?” Sophie stopped and looked at her.

Tilly flushed but stuck to her guns. “Let’s move in together. After you’ve told your family, once everything’s out in the open. Let’s get a place together.”

Before she knew what was happening, Sophie was back in her arms, littering her face with kisses.

“Okay, okay,” said Tilly, fending her off. “You have to go. You’re going to be late.”

But she was secretly pleased that Sophie was as enthusiastic about the idea as she was.

THE WEATHER HAD turned even chillier over the last week or so and it was firmly the beginnings of winter. There was no snow yet, but it couldn’t be far away. Tilly could smell the sharp bite of coldness in the air as she walked to the police station.

“Morning,” Max said as she got in.

“How long have you been here?” she asked in surprise.

“I like an early start,” he said. “I needed to catch up on some paperwork. Besides, it’s nice to have a bit of quiet in the morning sometimes.”

Tilly grinned. “The kids giving you hell?”

“I love them to death,” he said. “But I don’t know where I got two such chatterboxes from. Mila agreed to deal with them this morning and she’s going to get a lie in tomorrow when I take them to school.”

“Seems very fair,” Tilly said, thinking how nice it must be to have someone to take half the responsibility from you at times. She smiled to herself. She did have someone. Or almost.

“You’re looking in a good mood,” Max said. “Let me guess, Sophie Farmer?”

Tilly hesitated, then nodded.

“Glad to see that someone’s happy,” was all he said before turning back to his paperwork.

It was on the tip of Tilly’s tongue to say something, perhaps to ask if Max would like to talk, or to say that she’d noticed therewas stress in the house, or something. But she was rescued by the front door opening.

“Hello,” she said, turning around to see Len Dodds. “What can we do for you this morning?”

Len came to the desk. “It’s about… the same thing as before.”

Tilly sighed. “I know, but there’s nothing we can do about cars using the road behind your house, Len.”

“I know that,” he said. “And I know that you needed proof that something was going on.” He reached into his pocket. “So I got proof.” He laid a USB stick on the wooden counter between them.

Chapter Twenty Seven