He kissed her, his mouth warm and gentle, and she kissed him back, knowing immediately that they hadn’t lost what they’d had, that it was still there somewhere, buried under the weight of real life and the demands of parenthood. Soft notes of jazz floated past them, and she felt a rush of excitement and also relief because finally she felt everything was going to be okay. They were going to be okay. They could fix this. They could—

She gasped as he swung her up into his arms. “I should take the duck out of the oven—”

“Forget the duck. It will be okay.” His mouth was on hers as he carried her out of the kitchen, this time remembering to bend as he went through the door into the hallway.

He carried her up the stairs and into their bedroom, which she’d lit with candles and more tiny lights in preparation for what she’d hoped would be a romantic ending to their evening.

This wasn’t exactly the way she’d planned it, but she was happy to go with it. It was a while since they’d done anything spontaneous.

He lowered her onto the bed, still kissing her, and she tugged at his shirt.

“I need you naked.”

He trailed kisses from her jaw to her neck and lower.

“I’ve forgotten how to have sex without keeping one ear open for Holly in case she walks into the room.”

She gasped as he tugged at the neckline of her dress, seeking access. “I’m sure it’s something that we can relearn. I’ve missed this. I’ve missed you.”

“Me, too.” He shifted lower, easing her dress down, and she was writhing under him, urging him to hurry, just hurry, when there was an ominous rumble followed by a shower of plaster and dust.

Seb swore and covered her body with his, cradling her against him until the white flakes stopped falling. “Are you okay?”

“I... Yes. What happened?”

“The damn ceiling fell in, or at least part of it did. All that rain, I guess. Must be a leak up in the attic somewhere. This place is going to be the death of us. Or the death of our finances. Better move, in case the whole thing comes down and buries us.” He shook off the larger chunks, then rolled away from her and tugged her off the bed onto the floor. “Unbelievable.”

She brushed dust and flakes of plaster from her hair and her shoulders, then glanced up at the plaster hanging from the ceiling. “Yes.” She’d worked so hard to make everything perfect, and now it was ruined. Even tonight, when it mattered most, the cottage had let her down.

They sat for a moment, saying nothing.

What was there to say? He was right. The place was going to be the death of them. Literally.

She removed a piece of plaster that was clinging to her legs and finally looked at Seb. His dark hair was streaked with white dust, and his shoulders were shaking. For a moment she thought he was crying, and then she saw he was laughing. Laughing so hard he couldn’t speak.