Reckless Runaway at the Racecourse (20 page)

     ‘How about Booboo Bear? Or Sweetie Puff?’

‘How about,’ he said with dry emphasis, ‘you let me get on with this before my morning suit suffers permanent damage from the grass stains?’

     Fliss zipped her lips shut and waited patiently.

     Luke’s eyes took on the earnest look that she most loved. For the third time in a week, he asked the question that had always terrified Fliss more than any other.

     ‘Will you marry me, Felicity Merrick?’

     A dozen snappy retorts sprang to her mind but Fliss didn’t say any of them. Because for the first time in her life she had realised that her mother was right. When you met the one, you just knew.

     She didn’t have to be afraid any more. She had Luke, always. Now and for ever.

     Fliss fell to her knees in front of Luke, eyes bright with tears. ‘Yes. Yes, Luke Caldecott, I’ll marry you.’

     He slid the sparkling diamond ring onto her finger but Fliss barely noticed it before she flung herself against his chest, tumbling them both onto the muddy grass.

     ‘So much for my suit.’ Luke didn’t sound especially bothered. He held out a hand to Fliss and helped her to her feet.

     ‘So much for my dress.’ Fliss looked gloomily at the mud and grass stains. ‘I’ve no idea where my hat’s got to, either.’

     Luke retrieved it from under his car and surveyed the wreckage. ‘I’m not sure it’s worth taking home.’

     ‘Oh, dear. Maybe I shouldn’t have spent all my savings on it after all.’

     ‘Fliss?’ Luke’s voice was deceptively casual.

     She shrugged. ‘It seemed like a good idea at the time.’

     ‘All your savings?’ he asked, in resigned tones.

     ‘Well, I’ve got about twenty quid in my purse. Should I put it on a horse?’

     ‘No!’

     Fliss favoured him with her naughtiest smile. ‘In that case, I suppose I’ll just have to find a rich man to keep me in the style I’d like to become accustomed to.’

     Luke opened the passenger door and waited for Fliss to get in.

     ‘You could just find a job.’

     ‘Actually, I was going to tell you about that.’

     He switched the ignition on. ‘Yes?’

     ‘I won’t be staying on as your secretary. I’ve applied for that vet nursing course in Huntingdon.’

     Luke turned to her, his face lit up with a wide smile. ‘That’s wonderful.’

     ‘Charlie thinks so. He’s offered me a work placement at his surgery.’

     ‘Fliss,’ Luke said sternly.

     ‘Yes?’ she replied as innocently as she could manage.

     ‘When did you decide to come back home?’

     She squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. ‘Does it really matter?’

     He gave her a look that told her it did.

     ‘You were busy with the Derby preparations,’ she offered. ‘I didn’t want to be a distraction.’

     ‘Monday?’ he guessed.

     ‘Something like that.’ Fliss didn’t quite dare to meet Luke’s eye.

     ‘Sunday?’ he queried, in mounting outrage.

     ‘Maybe.’

     ‘I’ve been in agony without you all week and you just let me suffer?’ he thundered.

     ‘I had to go shopping,’ Fliss protested. ‘I needed new shoes!’

     Luke turned the car off, undid his seat belt and took Fliss firmly in his arms. ‘Next time,’ he told her fiercely, ‘the shoes can wait.’

     ‘Next time?’

     ‘Next time you get spooked and run away.’

     She shrugged. ‘Next time, you could try coming to find me.’

     Luke frowned. ‘Did you want me to?’

     ‘I hoped you might at least phone.’

     ‘I thought about it.’

     ‘Were you really in agony?’

     ‘Not nearly as much agony as you’ll be in if you don’t kiss me now.’

     Fliss decided this was one time she wasn’t going to put his threat to the test. She wound her arms around Luke’s neck and pulled him close.

     ‘I think I’ve done enough running away for now,’ she murmured between kisses. ‘Take me home instead.’

     ‘My pleasure.’