by Nikki Logan
Like for ever.
She tore her mouth free as his words soaked through her clouded, joyous mind. ‘Our living room?’
‘You don’t imagine I’m going to waste a moment of those thirty dates on public transport, do you? I want you with me, close to me, twenty-four-seven. I want to fall asleep with you wrapped around me and I want to wake up to you still there. I want to eat fish and chips with you on the carpet looking over London, and I want to watch you spending a whole week building up to a big night out.’
The scars on her heart flexed and loosened up.
‘We’ve not even been on a date yet. I might not be that easy.’
‘You slept with me before our other first date, if I recall. That’s how easy you were.’
‘I was impatient. And maybe a little bit drunk.’
‘I pledge to keep you that way always. Move in with me, Iz? Straight away.’
‘I’m supposed to be going to my parents’ next week. I can’t let them down. They’ve been so generous. So forgiving.’
‘I’ll come with you. I figure I owe them as much of an explanation as you.’
‘And the girls… They both want to kill you.’
‘I’ll stand and take my hits like a man. Even from Alex.’
Pfff. ‘Who do you think fronted me the grand to fly to Australia?’ she said. ‘Alex considers himself a stakeholder in our relationship. He’ll be thrilled you’re back.’
Hot lips found hers again.
‘And what happens if I say no in thirty days’ time?’ she breathed. ‘I won’t have a room to go back to.’
‘You’re not going to say no. We’re meant to be together. But if you don’t want the ring, then, I’ll move out and you can stay in the Vauxhall apartment until something else comes up. You have my word.’
She snorted against the tears. ‘You have way too much money, Harry Mitchell Broadmore.’
‘And I’ll love watching you try not to spend it, Isadora Broadmore.’ He presented her with the otter-pus again. ‘So what do you say? Want to give it a try?’
She took it, found herself utterly unable to let go of it at all, and her pinkie snagged the ring out into the evening light. ‘I don’t think an otter-pus should be trusted with something this important,’ she murmured, staring at the simple, sparkling beauty of it. Wanting—desperately—to feel it on her finger.
‘I guess a few more weeks in my pocket won’t hurt it.’
Izzy shied away from his questing fingers, holding on to the ring. ‘Or…I could wear it. See how I feel about it.’
‘You don’t think an engagement ring is going to draw unhelpful attention?’
‘I’ll wear it on my right hand—’ and only occasionally swap it to her left ‘—no one will notice it amongst my other jewellery.’
Except that she never wore rings. And Poppy and Tori were totally going to notice.
‘Here, let me.’
Harry twisted sideways and took her right hand, then slid it on next to the pinkie finger that had just fished it out of the otter-pus’s belly.
‘Isadora Dean,’ he said, his beautiful blue eyes locked on hers. ‘Will you think about being my wife, approximately thirty days from now?’
Maybe neither of them was going to say it aloud but there was no question.
Harry was proposing…and Izzy was saying yes.
She smiled. ‘I’ll get back to you.’
‘Good enough.’
And, for what followed, Izzy was grateful that this little pocket park was as quiet as it was. And that the shadows were lengthening. Harry kissed her as if they were alone in his massive bed.
‘I should get back and start packing, then,’ she gasped, finally lifting her head.
Harry grimaced, pulling her to her feet and smoothing down her mismatched outfit. ‘They’re not going to be happy I’m stealing you away,’ he said.
‘Poppy and Tori are going to be bridesmaids. All will be forgiven.’
The one thing she could count on was her friends backing her choices one hundred per cent. No matter what.
‘Especially when I fly them out to Australia for our second ceremony.’
Her eyebrows shot up. ‘We’re having two weddings?’
‘A modest Izzy-appropriate one here, and a lavish heir-appropriate one back home. You can meet my sisters.’
‘I’d really like that,’ she murmured, curling the fingers of her right hand through his. His eyes fell to where they joined and lingered.
‘Does it feel like you imagined?’
‘Just like it. A perfect fit.’
That ring belonged on her finger, and her fingers belonged threaded through his.
They strolled back towards the fire station, taking their time, remembering how it felt to brush against each other. How the sparks still flew whenever they touched. How much they’d missed it.
‘One last thing, Harry.’ Izzy smiled up at him.
‘What, beautiful?’
‘I may be bringing a few things with me,’ she mused. ‘How big is your boxroom?’
* * * * *
If you loved this book,
make sure you catch the rest
of the incredible
THE FLAT IN NOTTING HILL
miniseries!
THE MORNING AFTER
THE NIGHT BEFORE
by Nikki Logan
SLEEPING WITH THE SOLDIER
by Charlotte Phillips,
YOUR BED OR MINE?
by Joss Wood
ENEMIES WITH BENEFITS
by Louisa George
ISBN-13: 9781460380581
The Morning After the Night Before
Copyright © 2015 by Nikki Logan
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Nikki Logan for her contribution to The Flat in Notting Hill series.
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