‘Wow. A guy who tastes of cherry and chocolate. Must be a dream combination.’

He laughed. ‘I aim to please.’ His tone softened. ‘Sometimes. Except when I hurt someone. I’m sorry. If I could turn back the clock—’

‘Don’t carry on. You’d do the same again. I wouldn’t expect any different. Don’t spoil the now.’

His eyes widened a little. She still had the power to surprise him. She was in control. ‘So, there is a now,’ he murmured.

Oh yes. She wanted the now so much. Her body told her how much, that was obvious, but she wanted to be with him again, hold him and be held by him. Skin on skin, the way they had way back. And yes, Gabe coming back had made her life harder. Falling in love with him again had made it ten times more difficult, but right now, she didn’t care. Like the festival, regrets could wait until tomorrow. Except it already was tomorrow and already too late to go back.

She stood up and lifted his hand in hers. ‘If you want there to be.’ Then she kissed him again.

Taking her cue, he took her hand and led her out of the lounge and upstairs. Her legs were like jelly, and she was trembling but wildly excited. ‘Please don’t say you’ve chosen the bedroom in that turret?’ she asked when they reached the landing.

‘Is it a deal breaker?’

‘Might be.’

‘Shit.’ Gabe grimaced and pointed to the door in the curved stone wall at the end of the landing. They both laughed at their youthful fantasies but with every step, Sam knew that this was real and serious grown-up stuff, only she didn’t want to grow up.

Sam rolled her eyes. ‘Remember when we used to joke about who lived here and that once you entered, you could never leave.’

They reached the bedroom door. ‘I think you’re confusing it with Hotel California,’ said Gabe.

‘Don’t tell me you have a four-poster in there?’ she asked.

Gabe pushed open the door, and let her go inside first.

Sam groaned. ‘You do have a four-poster, and with tapestries too. Oh Gabe, that’s so cheesy.’

‘Like I said. It’s not mine.’ He sat on the bed and pulled her between his legs. Still giggling at the outrageous cheesiness of the bed and the outrageousness that she was even here at all. ‘So, is it a deal breaker?’ he asked.

Sam sighed. She could hold out no longer. She pushed him back onto the cover and gave him her answer.

Chapter Thirty-Two

At six a.m. on the morning of the festival, Gabe blinked awake and turned over, expecting to feel Sam’s warmth next to him but the sheets were cold and the bed empty.

He threw off the duvet. ‘Sam?’