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Amrita sighed happily as Jamie drew his fingers gently through her hair, carefully starting to untangle some of the knots he’d spent the last few hours helping her create. ‘I think I could happily stay here all day.’

‘Tempting.’ Amrita smiled against his chest. ‘But at some point, food and fresh air might be a good idea.’

‘We can order in. And open the window. Now I’ve got you here, I’m not letting you leave.’

‘Oh really? So, I’m what? Your captive here in your bed?’

‘That might have come out a bit wrong…’

‘Do you think?’

‘I just meant that now we’ve finally got here⁠—’

‘Finally? I thought you weren’t in a rush? Happy to take things slowly…’ She couldn’t resist teasing him – she loved the way his eyes darkened to stormy-grey when he got flustered.

He groaned, burying his face in her hair for a moment before turning to meet her mischievous smile. ‘Slowly, yes, and I thought I’d done pretty well with it… but if you want me to show you what slowly can really look like, then just say the word.’

‘For future reference – out of curiosity and nothing more – what might that word be?’

His eyes darkened and flashed at the same time, making her stomach tighten in that delicious way.

‘How about please?’

‘Yeah.’ She thrilled in the way his eyes dropped to her lips when she licked them. ‘Please could work.’

* * *

‘This is so pretty!’ Amrita exclaimed, taking in the pale pink petals as they walked up the drive towards the battered and far-past-its-best inn that was shedding paint more quickly than the cherry trees were shedding their blossom. She tightened her hand on Jamie’s arm. ‘Thank you for inviting me.’

‘You’re more than welcome.’ He smiled at her, thinking how ridiculously lucky he felt.

‘What?’

‘What, what?’

‘That look… What?’

‘What look?’ He chuckled as a branch trembled gently in a non-existent breeze and dropped a couple of pale pink petals onto her hair.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him for a few seconds before smiling. ‘Almost a bit… disbelieving?’

‘Maybe I am, a little.’ He smiled and leaned towards her. ‘Three weeks ago we were struggling to find time for a quick breakfast together and talking mostly through texts and hurried calls in between work and family commitments…’

‘You mean my cousin’s wedding.’

‘Yes, but it was amazing. And I’m still so glad you invited me. But from barely seeing you to being in your bed for the last three nights⁠—’

‘Jamie!’

He chuckled, knowing she wasn’t really upset. ‘But you have to admit that from struggling to find time together to last weekend and now spending a lazy Saturday strolling among cherry blossoms at an event Hudsbury hasn’t held in years… It’s a pretty big difference.’

‘A good one, I hope?’ She stepped closer to him, her face tilted towards him and her lips parted in the perfect, glossy invitation that he wasn’t even going to try resisting.

‘Glad to see you two figured it out!’

Amrita blushed as she pulled back from the sweeter-than-sweet kiss. ‘Good afternoon, Sylvie.’

‘Ah, don’t mind me. I certainly don’t mind seeing you happy. And for such a pretty event. I’ll see you in there, when you’ve finished what you’re doing.’