The Accidental Countess (The Aristocrat Diaries 3)

“Ugh.”

A gust of wind rattled through the trees that towered above us, and almost as if the gust had sent a signal to the clouds, the heavens opened, pummelling us with heavy, cold rain.

Eva squealed as we were pelted with the cold drops, and I spied a path that run off the main one. I put both Jack and Lucy’s leads in one hand and grabbed Eva’s, tugging her after me.

“What are you—”

“The trees are thicker here,” I called back over the rain.

She had little choice but to follow me. The floor of the forest crunched and crumbled beneath our feet, and there was a rush of noise as birds took flight above us.

The tree canopy thickened, and the pine trees provided us some much-needed cover. It wasn’t perfect by any means—rain still trickled through, but as long as it came down as torrentially as it was, it was far better than running along the open path.

“What about Addy and Oly?”

“I think they’ll have made it just in time,” I replied, glancing as Baxter as he shook himself dry, sending water everywhere, including all over Eva.

She shot him a glare. “Are you sure? Why couldn’t we start running?”

“Because you’d be even wetter now if you did. The path opens up to a clear sky just around the corner.”

“Oh.”

I laughed and leaned against the tree. “I’ve walked this path a thousand times. I could do it without the markers. Trust me, even if they didn’t hit the shelter, they’d have cleared the open area and been covered by the trees.”

Eva grunted and looked out. “We’re not exactly staying dry here, Matthew.”

“No, but this won’t last long. It’s just a quick shower.”

“A quick shower? I’ve seen thunderstorms with less rain than this.”

“Give it a minute or two and it’ll be fine, I promise.”

Eva sighed and leaned against the trunk next to me. “So, lesson learnt. Always check the forecast of the place you’re going to.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her. “Hey, it wasn’t like I checked, either.”

“Well, to be fair, I did tell you it would be dry.” She shrugged.

I transferred the leads to my other hand—not that Jack and Lucy were bothered in the slightest about our little detour and break—and wrapped my arm around Eva’s shoulders. I pulled her into my side and rubbed her upper arm to get some warmth moving around her body.

She blew out a long breath and looked up, although I doubted that she could see anything other than green. The sound of the rain pounding against the ground and the trees was soothing, and I slowly exhaled.

“I thought you said it’d stop soon,” Eva muttered after a few minutes.

“I’m not a meteorologist.” I laughed, squeezing her.

She pulled her phone out and tapped on the screen, pausing only to wipe away a couple of raindrops that fell on it. “I just told Addy we’re fine and waiting this rain out. I said to stay under the shelter and wait for us.”

“Good. Hopefully it’ll ease soon, or we will have to make a run for it.” I looked down at the dogs who were all utterly unbothered by the rain. Baxter was lying down, snuffling through the woodland debris on the floor. Lucy was happily resting against the tree, and Jack was sitting and panting, staring out at the rain.

“I don’t think I can run in wellies.”

“It’ll be good practice, then. It always rains, so you’ll have to get used to it.”

She snorted. “Great. Why couldn’t you be the Earl of Crete or something? Somewhere nice and hot?”

“Because I’m not sure the Greek people would take too kindly to an aristocratic system when they disposed of their monarchy,” I replied, amused.

“That’s a good point. If we make millions from the hotels, can we buy a holiday house?”

“Evangeline Bennett, are you thinking of the future?”

“Yes. I’m thinking that when we get divorced, I can claim for fifty percent of that holiday home.”

I burst out laughing. “Ah, but now I know your evil plan, I’ll resist any purchase.”

“Damn it. I had to open my big mouth.”

“Don’t worry. I might just forget. I can’t say I’d be against a place in the sun.” I looked up, then down at her. “There’s not much here, after all.”

She smiled up at me. Her mascara was smudged into little dark patches under her eyes thanks to the rain, and there was a dark, watery trail down one of her cheeks where a droplet had run it loose. Damp hair was stuck to her forehead and the sides of her face, and her grey hoodie had patches of black thanks to how wet it was.

She was a mess.

She was a beautiful, beautiful mess.

Before I knew what I was doing, I dipped my head and pressed my lips against hers. She tasted like rainwater and cherries, and her lips were soft and full.