Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 126850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
I grimaced. “Will you be all right here by yourself?”
“Of course I will be. I have to work every day anyway, and Mum was saying she wanted to see me. I think Dad is fishing with his friends at the weekend, so I might go over there for the weekend and spend some time with her.”
“Don’t forget to set the house alarm this time.”
“Oh, I forget one time and I’ll never live it down.”
“You know how I feel about the alarm.”
Amber got off the bed with a shake of her head. “Yes, yes, I know. I’ll remember. What time is your flight tomorrow?”
“Eight. I’m leaving about five a.m. to make sure I have enough time to do everything.”
She pouted and held out her arms. “So, you’ll be gone before I wake up?”
“I promise to text you whenever I get anywhere. To the airport, on the plane, to Scotland, and to Will’s grandparents.” I hugged her.
“You better.” She squeezed me tightly. “Okay, have a shower and go to sleep or you’ll miss your alarm and your flight.”
“Yes, Mum,” I replied, releasing her.
“Don’t take that tone with me.”
“Get out of my room.” I laughed, pulling my towels off the warm radiator.
Amber raised her hand over her shoulder and stuck her middle finger up at me, but she left me to go for my shower.
I took my towels through to my ensuite and started the shower. I used the time in the hot water to pay extra attention to myself—moisturising, an extra shampoo, and yes, I shaved my legs.
And, uh, other parts.
A girl could dream, all right?
Besides, I didn’t know how big William’s grandparents’ house was. Perhaps a night-time frolic was on the cards. If it was, I wanted to make sure I was prepared.
Huh. I was going to have to pack more underwear, just in case.
Wait.
What if we had to share a room?
I hadn’t asked him that.
Oh, shit.
I finished my shower and wrapped my body and hair in towels, then rushed out to my room. The colder air was a stark contrast to the steamy warmth of the bathroom, and my entire body shivered as goosebumps popped up across my wet skin.
Goddamn it.
I hadn’t shut my bedroom door. No wonder it was cold in here.
I pushed it shut, adjusted my towel, and picked up my phone to text William.
ME: Uh, what are the sleeping arrangements at your grandparents’ place??
I stared at my phone as I bobbed on the balls of my feet to warm up.
WILLIAM: As far as I know, we have our own rooms.
ME: As far as you know???? YOU’RE LITERALLY THERE.
WILLIAM: Lol but they’re asleep. They’re old, Grace.
ME: Omg.
WILLIAM: You’re acting like sharing a bed with me would be hell on earth.
Me? Sharing a bed with that hot piece of arse? Hell on Earth?
Pretty much, yeah.
ME: I’ve never shared a bed with a stranger before. Forgive me.
WILLIAM: I’m not a stranger. Not a total one, anyway.
ME: Oh, God. I did not think this through.
WILLIAM: Relax. What time does your flight land?
I quickly checked my email for my flight itinerary and told him.
WILLIAM: Okay. They might not be here when I leave to get you, so we’ll find out when we get there.
ME: This involves more anxiety than I signed up for.
WILLIAM: What? Being a plus one for a practical stranger in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people was your limit?
ME: Little over it, to be honest.
WILLIAM: Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.
ME: That’s what someone says when it’s not fine.
WILLIAM: You really don’t have to come, you know. You can have a family emergency.
ME: No. I can’t subject you to the horror of an arranged date and subsequent marriage you clearly won’t be able to refuse.
WILLIAM: You have such faith in me.
ME: I have no faith in you. I barely know you.
WILLIAM: That’s fair.
I snorted.
God, I really didn’t. I barely knew him. This whole situation was utterly bonkers.
I was going to be a plus one for a practical stranger, and there was a very real possibility I’d have to share a bed with him.
What was I thinking?
I wasn’t. I wasn’t thinking. That was the only explanation for this whole thing. I’d lost my damn mind.
And given that I still wasn’t even thinking about not going, my mind wasn’t returning anytime soon.
***
It was fucking freezing.
I’d thought it the second I’d walked off the plane, I’d thought it as I’d shuffled through the airport to baggage claim, and I thought it as I hauled my suitcase off the conveyor belt and headed towards the exit doors.
It. Was. Freezing.
I wasn’t sure I’d packed enough for how cold it was. It was also snowy, and at least I’d thought ahead and worn my leather boots that could hack the snow and inevitable yucky grey slush that came with it.
I’d be screwed if I’d gone for comfort with my Ugg boots. They’d be soaked in seconds.