‘But this is it, right?’ I said, lacing my fingers through Sam’s and revelling in the sensations that his warm skin touching mine kicked off. ‘There really are no more muddles?’

‘No more muddles,’ everyone chorused but it didn’t escape my notice that it was Sam and Joe who were looking at one another when really, they should only have had eyes for me and Hope.

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

I don’t think that Hope, who was experiencing that heady rush of love all over again, picked up on the fact that the guys hadn’t been as resolute in our ‘no more muddles’ announcement as we had. Unfortunately, there was neither the opportunity to point it out to her, nor the time to spend catching up on the kisses I had missed out on during the last few weeks because the wheels of everyday life were still turning and the minutiae had to be attended to.

No sooner had we got everything settled than our intimate moment was interrupted by Sam’s delivery from a local brewery and Joe announcing that he’d had a text from Charlie who was about to leave the farm to collect him.

‘Let’s all meet tonight then,’ suggested Sam. ‘After closing time, down at the beach by the rockpools.’

We all agreed that was a wonderful idea and having spotted Joe and Hope saying a very tender goodbye, Sam pulled me close to him and rested his hands low on my waist. The action literally made my knees weaken and I had barely a moment to become ensnared in his emerald eyes before he was closing them and lowering his lips to mine.

His kiss was purposeful and full of promise and when I felt the tip of his tongue caress mine, I thought I was going to pass out. I let out a lust-filled gasp, so quiet that only he could hear it, and in consequence his hands held me tighter and he kissed me harder.

My light-headed feeling from earlier had only just settled back down and I knew that if he carried on like this for the duration of my remaining time in Wynmouth, I would be a physical wreck by the time I had to leave.

Instinctively, my hands then reached for his hips and I pulled him right in to me, his breath catching as the gap between us closed.

‘Bloody hell, Tess,’ he murmured, pressing himself close enough to leave me in no doubt that he was enjoying the moment too.

Had we been alone, I’m not sure where we would have ended up, but the sound of Joe clearing his throat restored our decorum and we slowed the moment down.

‘I see you’ve learnt a few new tricks since our assignation behind the huts,’ I whispered.