Page 142 of In at the Deep End
She huffed. “Fine. You haven’t. But why would I say it otherwise?”
Matt dragged his gaze away from Owen’s house and back to the screen. “I need to get this finished.”
“I know.” She rested a hand on the back of his chair. “But you’re still not working.”
The doorbell rang, and she left him to answer it.
Matt stared at the blinking cursor.
Damn it. She isn’t wrong.
He caught the murmur of voices in the hallway. Then one of them laughed.
That’s Owen.
His pulse kicked, and for one ridiculous, hopeful second, every promise he’d made himself dissolved.
Don’t.
A moment later Mum reappeared. “You have a visitor.”
Matt turned.
His mum had already disappeared, leaving Owen leaning against the doorway, smiling as though nothing in the world had changed.
“I’ve come to kidnap you.”
Matt blinked. “What?”
“Well, not now. Tomorrow morning, early.” Owen’s eyes twinkled. “I’ve decided your dissertation is bad for your health.”
“I don’t have much more to do on it,” he protested.
“And it will still be there Monday morning.”
Matt stared at him. “Monday?”
“I’m taking you somewhere. And we’re staying there Saturday night, back here late Sunday.”
Matt gaped. “But staying where?”
“The Isle of Wight. I’ve already called Callum. I’ve booked us on an early ferry over there. On the bike. We’ll pick it up from Cyn’s first thing.” Owen cocked his head. “You remember that pub Callum mentioned? The Sleepy Dormouse Inn? We’re staying there.”
He frowned. “You’re already booked it?”
Owen seemed puzzled. “Of course.”
“But… you hadn’t even asked me at that point.”
He smirked. “And are you going to say no?”
“Well, no, but—”
“There’s no point going over there for just one day. This way, we get the whole day, we have dinner, stay the night, have a great breakfast, do it all over again the next day, then come home Sunday night.” He grinned. “As for why I booked it… I know exactly what happens if you don’t book in August. And while it’ll only be the first of the month, it’s also the Chale Show, so it’ll be busy.” Owen’s eyes sparkled. “I wasn’t leaving that to chance.”
He made it all sound so reasonable.
And it’ll be just the two of us.
