Page 64 of One Golden Summer

“Can you refresh my memory?” Saffron tapped her temple.

“Here’s the gist. The moment you start being charming, I’m outta here.”

“I will do my absolute best to be nothing but a beast.” Saffron offered the smile that made movie audiences swoon, according to numerous sources.

Kirsty licked her lips.

Saffron continued her smouldering look.

Kirsty cleared her throat.

Saffron boosted her left eyebrow to the perfect angle. It’d taken years in front of the mirror to master it and to make it look effortless. And, Saffron believed deploying it right then would be make or break.

“Fuck.” Kirsty blew out a breath.

“Yes.” Hopefulness whooshed through Saffron.

“This isn’t going to work, is it?”

“What do you mean? I’m having a grand time.” Oddly, even with all the back and forth, Saffron didn’t want to be anywhere else.

Kirsty started to speak, her lips forming the word no, but she stopped, sighing. “Shall we go back to yours?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” Saffron let out a victorious whoop.

“You really can’t control yourself, can you? Everything about you exudes charm.”

“Not sure about that. Most think I’m stuck up, because I hide behind a bitchy veneer. With you, I don’t want to be anyone else but the real me.”

Kirsty’s chest hitched. “Are you okay with ditching the drinks now?”

“I don’t see anything but you.” Since the moment Saffron first laid eyes on Kirsty.

Chapter 21

They swerved a gaggle of teenagers on the way back, both Kirsty and Saffron keeping their heads down and feet moving lest the group spy who Saffron was. Now was not the time to stop and pose for selfies. Not when the air around them was thick with unsaid words and feelings.

Kirsty still wasn’t sure how that sentence had dropped from her lips, but it had. Her heart jumping ahead of her mind.“Shall we go back to yours?” Daring. Kirsty had taken control and rolled the dice. From here on in, it was unchartered territory.

That thought made her heart skip a beat.

Saffron glanced Kirsty’s way as the Beachcomber came into view.

Beside them, the sea shimmered under the burnt orange sunset. But all Kirsty could see were the flash of Saffron’s eyes, a strip of white when she smiled. Even in dim light, her smile had wattage.

Saffron took Kirsty’s hand as they climbed the stairs to her veranda and front door. Still no words had been spoken.

Every muscle Kirsty possessed contracted at the thought of what might happen next. Had they been building up to this moment since the day they met? Perhaps.

Saffron managed her front door far better than the one in the bar, pulling Kirsty through with no ceremony. She walked straight through to the open-plan living space with purpose, snapping on the lights.

Kirsty blinked, glancing around. There had been changes since she was last here. A new painting. A fresh rug. Some flowers in a vase. Stylish patterned cushions. It even smelled more lived-in, like Saffron had settled.

“Have you been shopping? It feels different in here. More like someone actually lives here full-time.”

Saffron turned, draping all nearly six feet of her against her kitchen island.

Damn, she was sexy.