Rory (Coded for Love 1)

He put his hand around her waist and moved close against her. “I want nothing more than to be with you right now, believe me.”

Her heart tripped, both relief and happiness creating a heady rush inside her.

“I owe this to George. I need to get it right.” He rested a kiss against her forehead.

“I want to help you.”

“You are helping me, knowing you’re there waiting for me, my girl, is everything.”

Her eyelids fluttered down as she savored his words, his touch, his proximity.

“Be patient. Let me get this sorted.”

“I understand, really I do. You won’t forget me?”

One corner of his mouth quirked. He took her hand in his, drew it to his mouth and kissed her palm “I promise.”

A shiver ran through her entire body. “I promise too.”

She took his other hand, drew his palm to her mouth and kissed it.

He stared deep into her eyes, and she felt close to him, the closest ever. They were being frank, open and honest, and the mutual pull was heavy with longing and potential. Something between them shifted in that moment. Silently, a mutual bond had been forged. Understanding. Trust.

He looked her in the eye. “If it hadn’t been for George, I never would’ve understood this thing between us. I never would’ve let it happen.”

Sky’s hand went to her mouth. Tears gathered and she didn’t want to cry right then. She wanted to be strong for him.

“I needed some time to think. It made sense to take care of his pets.”

Sky swallowed down her emotions. “Will you have to find them new homes?”

“I guess so.” He glanced away.

The frown on his forehead worried her. “Are you okay?”

“Just concerned about Kate, George’s daughter. I hope her flight wasn’t delayed. She was due to land a couple of hours ago. She’s coming straight here from Heathrow airport.” He stood silently for a moment. “Never thought I’d be organizing a funeral,” he added.

“It’s been tough on you.”

He nodded. “I only knew him a year, but he was more of a dad to me than…”

She reached out, clutched his upper arm through his suit jacket.

He nodded. “George left instructions for a big wake afterwards. He’d banked the funds for a do upstairs in his local pub. Will you come?”

“I can’t I’ve got to turn up for my shift. They gave me this morning but I’ve had too much time off. I’m really sorry, Rory.”

“Don’t be. I don’t want to go, to be honest with you. I’ll turn up for half an hour or so, make sure Kate is okay, and then head home.”

“Do you want me to come over after my shift?”

He studied her closely for a moment then looked away. “There’s a lot of legal stuff Kate has to deal with in the next few days, I said I’d be there for her, help her find her way with it all. I’m going to be busy for a while yet.”

“Okay.”

While they waited outside the church she held onto his hand and she tried to comfort him. He kept hold of her until he left her side her to greet George’s daughter.

Sky watched as they shook hands and spoke. Rory seemed to be reassuring her, arrangements perhaps. The woman dabbed her eyes with a tissue and nodded gratefully. Rory stayed with her. Sky looked over at him. He was her lover, this handsome man in his smart dark suit, who looked so capable, so steadfast.