Lingerie Wars (Invertary 1)

“Mmm,” he said with a wicked smile. “I may never get over it either.”

Rainne stopped walking.

“Oh my goodness, you thought it was sexy.”

“I’m a man, Rainbow, and I’m not dead.”

“You’re a boy.”

He lowered his head and looked up through those thick lashes of his.

“Are you challenging my manhood, Rainbow Benson?”

She stifled a giggle.

“I wouldn’t dare.”

“Good.” He turned back towards the water as he grabbed her hand and pulled her along. “With that sorted, we can fish.”

They crossed the road, jumped the low wall and headed to the spot where he’d found her crying a few weeks earlier. She’d come to think of it as “their spot”, which she knew was beyond corny, but couldn’t help herself. He brought out her inner teenager.

“Why are we fishing again? Why can’t we do something else?”

He squeezed her hand while he placed his free hand over his heart.

“You wound me. First I’m not a man, now you don’t want to learn to cast a line. Seriously, why don’t you insult the size of my...” He grinned mischievously at her. “...Feet, while you’re at it.”

“Because I haven’t seen the size of your, ahem, feet, so I can’t pass judgment.”

He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her towards him.

“I’m not ashamed to tell you that I have great feet. Big, useful, sexy feet.”

Rainne felt colour pop on her cheeks.

“Good to know,” she mumbled.

Alastair chuckled before hugging her close. He always seemed to smell like a Christmas candle. She took a deep breath and swooned. The best smell in the world.

“Why is it you can grow up surrounded by so many free-talking people and blush when I even hint at sex?”

“Genetic failure?” she mumbled against his green Arran jumper.

His laughter vibrated right through her body.

“The fish are waiting, Rainbow. I have it on good authority that they want to be caught by a beautiful amateur today.”

“So now you talk to fish.” He

smiled as he set up the rods he’d left on the beach earlier. “Why are we doing this now, Alastair? It’s going to be dark soon, and cold.”

She tugged her velvet jacket tight around herself at the thought.

“Fish bite better at twilight.”

“Is that true?”

He grinned.