Page 46 of Never Gonna Happen

He reached out and took her hand, pulling her to her feet. Her legs felt like they’d been put on backwards from too much riding. The journey back was going to hurt, and tomorrow was going to be a lot worse. She should go back to her room in the attic and have a hot bath and good night’s sleep, but she also knew that she wouldn’t be able to resist if Jamie asked her to stay.

‘Will you stay with me tonight?’ he said, as if he could read her mind. He tucked her hair behind her ears and kissed a trail down her neck to her collarbone.

‘Stop that,’ she said breathlessly. ‘Of course I will.’

‘Then let’s get home so I can get you out of these wet clothes.’

Emily laughed, wondering if she’d ever walk normally again.

They guided the horses slowly out of the field on foot, Jamie going first to mark a safe trail through the snow. It was an inch or so deeper than when they’d arrived, but the sky was now clear and the sun was casting long shadows across the fields. Emily quickly pulled out her phone and took a photograph of the shelter behind her, wanting to have a memento that would remind her of one of the most intense hours of her life.

Once they were back on the estate road, she executed a painful mount on to Rupert’s back and once again followed Jamie as Luna carved a path through the powder. She kept her phone out this time, taking pictures of the snow-laden trees and the sun making the fences look like they were coated in white glitter. She took a picture of Jamie’s broad back through Rupert’s ears, then captured his questioning expression as he turned to ask if she was OK. He rolled his eyes, then smiled for another one.

Emily sent the photo to Kelly with a winking emoji, wondering when she’d get the chance to tell her about today, and whether she could possibly do the story justice. She thought about whether she’d ever have the confidence to put the photos on Instagram or Facebook and show her old schoolfriends and colleagues what had become of Emily Wilkinson. Nobody from Emily’s old school had been expected to amount to much, and she’d always felt like one of the few who’d made something of her life. Maybe she hadn’t gone to university and got a top job as a lawyer or a doctor, but she’d embarked on a career and she was making a success of it. Jamie thought she was his equal, and so did Mr Hunter. Right now, that counted for a lot.

Her phone buzzed to announce a message from Kelly, which made her laugh. Fucking hell, he’s definitely Jamie Dornan. You lucky mare.

‘What’s so funny?’ asked Jamie turning around.

‘Kelly thinks you look like Jamie Dornan.’

‘Who’s Jamie Dornan?’

‘He’s an actor from Northern Ireland.’ There was no point mentioning 50 Shades of Grey; it was hardly a film that Jamie would have watched. Also he might ask her to explain the plot, and who wanted to go there?

‘Should I be flattered?’

‘You really should. She says I’m a lucky mare.’

He laughed. ‘Luck didn’t have anything to do with it. I was a goner the minute Luna ate your job offer.’

A warm feeling spread through Emily’s chest, which unexpectedly made her think of Mark. She’d thought she’d been in love with him, but he’d never made her feel like this. She’d assumed the secrecy was to protect her job and his reputation, but now she wondered if it was simply about Emily being the kind of girl a man like him had sex with but didn’t actually date. She’d thought she’d been his equal, but he’d always been her boss, even in bed.

This, though. This was something else.

Chapter Twenty-Four

‘I think we need to agree some ground rules,’ said Emily, taking a bite out of a slice of toast. She was sitting in Jamie’s bed with the duvet tucked under her armpits, alternately eating toast and swigging from a mug of tea.

‘What kind of rules?’ asked Jamie, stealing her toast and taking a bite. Emily savoured the moment of comfortable domesticity and hoped this conversation wouldn’t feel like she was taking things too fast.

‘For this,’ she said, waving the toast between them. ‘Us.’

‘And that requires rules,’ said Jamie, clearly amused. He was already fully dressed, having got up early to see to the horses.

‘Just to separate when I’m at work from when I’m with you.’

‘Right. I’m all ears. Should I take notes?’

Emily pulled a face. ‘Fuck you. Rule number one – definitely no flirting with me during working hours.’

Jamie nodded, pretending to be serious. ‘I wouldn’t dream of it.’

‘And we should be discreet. Everyone’s going to find out eventually, but I’d rather not make it obvious.’

‘Absolutely.’

‘If we spend the night together, it has to be here, not in my room.’