The Trouble with Love Read Online Free Page B

there.”
    Keeping the blanket wrapped firmly round herself, Polly moved along the tideline in a dream, picking up dry pieces of wood for kindling. She’d done the same for the campfire in the secret cove only two hours earlier. It felt like a lifetime ago. All she wanted to do was snuggle back into Sam’s arms. He was smart, funny, cared about things, and he was completely gorgeous. And she thought that maybe he liked her back, and felt the same connection that she did. It was too much to take in.
    They built a fire close to the sweep of the rocks, shielded from prying eyes. Soon they had the driftwood spitting salty blue-green flames. The sun’s final rays spilled across the sea like liquid gold, or a path to somewhere magical, far away over the horizon. Polly let the warmth wash over her. When Sam’s arm came round her again, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
    â€œThis will probably sound weird,” he said apologetically, “but I feel as if I’ve known you for ages.”
    â€œIt’s my mermaid powers,” she said, snuggling closer. “We do it to all the guys we push off boats.”
    Sam rested his head against her forehead, then took her hand and rubbed it gently with his thumb.
    He’s going to kiss me , she thought ecstatically. This drumming in her heart had none of the uncertainty she had felt with Liam only a few hours earlier.
    Her brain skimmed from Liam to Ollie. Dismayed, she shook her head to dislodge the thought. For once, why couldn’t she turn off her brain and be in the moment?

SIX
    â€œWhat are you thinking?” Sam murmured, his eyes questioning.
    I’m thinking of you , Polly told herself. Everything about Sam, the fire and the sunset and the beach, was utterly perfect. Even their dunk in the freezing sea had an air of romance about it. She wouldn’t let herself ruin the magic.
    â€œI was thinking,” she said, gazing into his warm hazel eyes, “of doing this.”
    She leaned towards him and kissed him on the lips. There was a flash of delight on his face, and then he gathered her into him and kissed her back.
    His hands held her face so gently, and his lips were soft and searching. She felt as though she were melting against him. He tasted of salt and the smoke of the fire, and as their kiss deepened she found herself winding her hands around his neck and pulling him closer. He tugged softly at her bottom lip with his teeth, exploring her mouth as intently as she was exploring his. Pleasure shot through her like fire. How could she ever have thought of kissing Liam? This was the perfect first kiss that she’d been waiting for.
    â€œPolly!”
    Polly opened her eyes, feeling a little dazed. Her name was on the wind. Someone was shouting for her. Someone that sounded like Lila.
    â€œKiss me again,” Sam whispered, pulling her back towards him. The feeling of his mouth on hers was indescribably wonderful—
    â€œ Polly! ”
    Polly came back to reality with a jolt. It was Lila, and she sounded worried.
    A second voice joined in. “POLLY! Where are you?”
    Ollie had joined the hunt. Any moment now, he and Lila would come round the top of the rocks by the clock tower and see her with Sam.
    Polly’s first coherent thought was clear. Stop them before they see us. It was an odd thought, she knew. But she wanted Sam for herself. The spell would be broken if too many people knew about it. She knew that as surely as she knew anything. It was their moment, hers and Sam’s, and nobody else’s.
    â€œI’ll be right back,” she promised, trailing her fingers through Sam’s short dark hair. Shrugging off the blanket, she got quickly to her feet. “Don’t go away.”
    She broke into a run up the beach, right to the top of the rocks. Then she veered right past the clock tower and down to the stretch of sand on the other side. There she stopped to catch her breath,