Page 39 of Entwined in Norway

‘I spoke to Emilie when I got back last night.’

She was desperate to ask why he’d decided to stay longer but it felt too risky. But Erik had no problem sharing his thoughts with her.

‘I don’t want to leave when we’ve only just started.’

‘What have we started?’ She said it carefully, and didn’t meet his eyes in case it put too much meaning into her words.

He closed the dishwasher. ‘Come back to the island with me tonight.’

There was no mistaking what he was asking.

‘You think we’re ready to…’

‘We don’t have to. That’s not what I’m asking. I don’t want to say goodbye to you tonight. Leave here in my kayak and be a fjord away from you again. I want to hold you in my arms. Even if you have PJs on.’

‘Are you going to wear PJs?’

‘No. I sleep naked, but you can wear PJs. I don’t mind. What do you say?’

It was the most outlandish idea she’d ever heard. And the most exciting.

‘Yes.’ She was so certain. Even if it came to nothing because he went back to Canada, she knew she wanted to have the experience of being with a man she found ridiculously attractive. And the fact he seemed to think the same about her was the icing on the cake.

‘Yes?’ He grinned and pulled her into his arms.

‘Maybe someone’s unexpectedly checked out and we can have a bigger bed.’

He shrugged. ‘The bed’s fine. It’s cosy.’

Ida felt like it might verge on too cosy, but she was willing to give it a go for one night because the thought of being wrapped in Erik’s arms for an entire night was all she could think about.

‘Let’s go now while they’re distracted with whatever they’re watching,’ Ida said. ‘Let me grab some clothes for tomorrow.’

She ran upstairs and shoved some clothes, underwear, and basic toiletries in a bag, then put in an oversized t-shirt she could wear in bed. Just in case. It had been a long time since she’d been so excited. She went back downstairs and led Erik to the doorway of the living room.

‘Bye.’

Mats pressed pause and shifted as if he were going to stand up.

‘Don’t get up,’ Ida said quickly. ‘Thanks for dinner. We’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘You’re going back to the island?’

Lotta shoved Mats and said something in a low voice that didn’t carry to where Ida and Erik were standing.

‘Thank you for making me so welcome,’ Erik said, then Ida pulled him away before anything else could be said.

‘No problem! See you tomorrow!’ Mats called as they headed outside.

Ida felt her cheeks redden, knowing that her brother knew exactly what she was about to do. Not that they would necessarily do that tonight, but that’s what Mats would think.

‘That’s going to be awkward when you’re woodworking together tomorrow,’ she said, leading the way back down the steps to the boathouse.

‘Why?’

‘Because he knows we’re sleeping together tonight.’

‘That’s not the kind of stuff we talk about,’ Erik said, his eyebrows raised. ‘You’re a grown woman. I’m sure he’s not shocked that you might have sex.’