Free Falling for Mr. December by Kate Hardy Page B

above. I’d love the chance to see that for myself and photograph it.’ She looked straight at him. ‘How about you? What’s on your list?’
    â€˜Most of the places I want to see are in the middle of political turmoil right now,’ he said, ‘so it’s not sensible to travel there. But on the doable list, I’d love to see the whales and polar bears in Canada. And see the Northern Lights.’
    â€˜Book the trip,’ she said immediately.
    Yeah. Except he wanted to share it with someone. ‘When work isn’t quite so busy,’ he said, knowing that it was a feeble excuse.
    â€˜Being busy at work is fine,’ she said softly. ‘But it’s important to remember to take time to play as well. To give yourself a chance to refill the well.’
    Clearly his expression said that he thought that was totally flaky, because she grinned. ‘I just believe in living life to the full. Work hard and play hard.’
    He persuaded her to let him buy her coffee and cake in the gallery’s café. When they’d finished, he said, ‘May I see you home?’
    â€˜Thank you, Nick, but I’m an adult. I’m perfectly capable of getting myself home.’
    There was a slight edge to her voice that surprised him. He’d thought they’d had a good time together. Clearly it was time to back off. ‘Sorry. I was brought up to be a bit old-fashioned.’
    â€˜Courtesy—yes, I can understand that. Sorry for biting your head off.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Let’s just say in the past my family’s tried to wrap me up in cotton wool, and that drives me crazy.’ There was a flash of panic in her eyes, gone so fast that Nick thought he might’ve imagined it. And then Sammy added, ‘I guess it comes from being the baby of the family.’
    Nick was the baby of the family, and nobody had wrapped him in cotton wool. When his mother’s affair had come to light, his sister Mandy had been away at university and Nick had been left alone with his father—who’d been too hurt and angry to put a filter over his words. Edward Kennedy had said an awful lot of bitter, unhappy things that the teenaged Nick could’ve done without hearing.
    He shook himself. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on that. ‘A photographer who’s actually tried free running and dreams of going to the edge of space is the last person who’d want to be wrapped in cotton wool,’ he said.
    She looked relieved that he actually understood her. And then she looked him in the eye. ‘We could always go for the compromise.’
    â€˜What’s that?’
    â€˜Walk me to the Tube station?’ she suggested.
    â€˜Works for me,’ he said.
    And he was pleased that this time she was the one to tangle her fingers with his as they walked.
    At the entrance to the Tube station, he turned to her. ‘I’ve had a really nice day. Thank you.’ He bent his head, intending to kiss her politely on the cheek—but somehow his lips ended up brushing against hers. Once, twice. Clinging. Exploring the softness of her mouth, the sweetness.
    And it made him feel as if an electric shock had run through him.
    When he pulled back, he could see the shock and surprise in her own eyes, so clearly it had affected her in the same way.
    â€˜Nick. I...’ The words dried up and she shook her head helplessly.
    â€˜Yeah. Me, too,’ he said softly. And, because he could see just the faintest bit of panic on her face, he backed off. ‘See you later.’ Even though he had the strongest feeling that he might not. And he didn’t look back once as he headed on the half-hour walk back to his flat.
    * * *
    Sammy really hadn’t expected that kiss. She didn’t think Nick had intended to kiss her like that, either. He’d probably been aiming for her cheek—just as she’d been doing. Except then they’d both turned