Suki turned on her heel and led the way outside again. Early autumn storms had raged for the past few weeks, but for now the sun was shining. She leaned back against the stones of the church and felt their warmth seep into her. Connor came outside and shut the door.

‘So you’re a gypsy,’ she said.

‘Romany,’ said Connor. ‘And so are you.’

‘Tell me some gypsy words then. Mom never did.’

‘My dad used to tell me them all the time. And my mum always chewed his arse over it.’ Connor sighed and leaned back against the church wall beside her, trawling his memory for the words. ‘Jotter? That’s a monkey. My dad used to call me that. Gorgis are house-dwellers. Tan’s a stopping place. Jeal is kin. Yoggers are guns. A tan-tan buggo is someone of mixed race. And the sun is Phoebe.’

Suki flashed him a smile. ‘You ever eat a hedgehog baked in clay? I hear tell gypsies do that.’

‘God, no. You know, I wasn’t a boxer, but I always wanted to be like my dad in his ways. I looked up to him. I wanted to be kushto and tacho, like him.’

‘Kushto and tacho? What’s that mean?’

‘Good. And true.’

Suki was silent for a moment, thinking of Josh. When she spoke again, her voice was lower, more serious. ‘Connor?’

‘Hm?’ He was very close to her, breathing in her scent, which smelled delicious, listening to her voice, which was as warm and smooth as maple syrup, and thinking that she was absolutely fucking fabulous. If she went back to New York again anytime soon, then he was going to keel over and die.

‘You can kiss me, if you want,’ she said.

Connor turned his shoulder to the wall so that he was facing her, staring into her eyes from inches away.

‘If I want?’ He smiled, and put his mouth on hers and kissed her long and slow. When he came up for air, he let out a quivering sigh, rested his brow against hers. ‘I’ve wanted to do that for so long.’

‘Then why the hell didn’t you?’ demanded Suki breathlessly, slipping her arms around his neck, her fingers smoothing through his hair.

‘You seemed afraid of me. Maybe you had good reason.’

‘I was afraid of you. You’re very fierce. In a sexy sort of way.’

‘And you’re fucking beautiful,’ said Connor, kissing her again, deeply, relishing the feel of her in his arms.

‘Let’s not talk about old stuff any more,’ he said when he stopped kissing her. ‘Let’s just be happy we’re here, like this. Why don’t you stay for a while? Let me show you the sights?’

‘OK,’ said Suki with a smile.

Really, there was nowhere else she would rather be.

Right now, she never wanted to leave.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

AUTHOR’S NOTE