Page 69 of The Village Inn of Secret Dream

Only the lights in the hallway remained as they made their way across the floor and away from the bar.

‘Are you nervous about tomorrow night?’ she asked, as they headed upstairs to the apartment.

‘Not especially,’ he told her.

‘Glad someone’s not,’ she said, turning to look at him as she reached the top floor.

‘There’s no need to be nervous,’ he told her with a smile. ‘We’ve got a top-class chef, the staff are trained and we have an exceptional menu.’

She was still worried about the pressure on Brad’s friends who had been employed as waiting staff. Neither Cassie nor Aaron had experience in serving customers, let alone with Andre’s fancy meals.

‘At least the building work is finally finished,’ she said, more to reassure herself than Pete.

The scaffolding had finally come down and what a transformation! Belle hadn’t quite been able to believe her eyes as she had stared at the building that afternoon. The fresh coat of paint had made the outside gleam again. The white walls showed off the shiny black window frames and flower boxes. No more peeling paint or wonky roof tiles.

She had sent a photo to her aunt and uncle who were now heading across the Pacific Ocean. They had sent back their own shocked reaction to the difference to the place they had called home for so long.

Belle yawned. ‘I need to get an early night. I think tomorrow’s going to be a busy one.’

They reached the doorway to his bedroom first, the master bedroom. She glanced in it, half expecting to see Aunty Angie’s brightly coloured clothes strewn across the bed. But it was pretty empty apart from the guitar case in the corner.

Belle gave a start. ‘I never noticed that before,’ she said, looking across the room to where the guitar case was propped up against the far corner. ‘Do you still play?’

‘No.’

In his voice, there was real pain and she spun around to look up at him. There was pain now in his eyes as well and she wished she could take it away from him.

‘I can remember you playing with your dad on the veranda of the shop,’ she said softly.

But her words only seemed to make him more upset and he shook his head. ‘That’s a long time ago now,’ he said, his tone almost harsh.

‘Surely it would be a good thing to replicate those happy memories,’ she told him, reaching out to squeeze his hand.

But Pete merely shook his head in reply.

‘Did you ever talk to anyone about that letter you found?’ she asked.

‘I wouldn’t even know how to start a conversation like that,’ he said, looking back at her.

‘Then perhaps it might help to have a friend with you,’ she told him, with a soft smile.

She went to let go of his hand, but suddenly he was holding hers with his instead.

‘Is that all we are?’ he asked. ‘Just friends?’

She had been planning to say goodnight and walk away, but suddenly her feet wouldn’t move. Pete was watching her, his eyes dark in the unlit room.

The air suddenly shifted. It was heavy and she found herself catching her breath.

She opened her mouth to say something, but she couldn’t find the words.

Pete’s gaze lowered to her lips and when he raised his eyes back up, they were filled with desire.

They came together instantly in an embrace, stepping forward to wrap themselves around each other.

His lips came crashing down onto hers and for a moment, there was nothing but Pete and his kiss.

She moaned against his mouth at the feel of his lips on hers. She had dreamed about this ever since that day three years ago. Had wanted this for so long, maybe even longer than that.