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I’d begun to feel a little scaredup and explained the only risk I’d be in on the long walk back was standing in sheep poop

Then she’s added probably

But I’ these dark, lonely lanes There no paths and so few streetlights As I glance gratefully over at Cooper, I feel a little sorry for hiuy, too He must be so uncoin buhtened my bra straps Thankfully, I can see the outlines of the castle looainst the sky

“I’ve never been on this road before”

“It’s a shortcut Do you want to be dropped at the cottages or the front?”

“Do you knohere the kitchen is?”

“Aye, I used to work for the local fruit and veg shop It’s where I made the deliveries”

The tyres crackle against gravel as Cooper pulls into the courtyard, the whole place lighting up

“Security lights,” I ht lights aren’t h the alcoholic iced teas have made me drunk, but only from the feet up

“Hang on,” Cooper calls, unfolding himself from his tiny car as I stumble “You haven’t been drinkin’ zombies, have you?”

“Zombies?” I look up He must be at least six-two, and in pretty cute, if you’re into the man-bun and skinny jeans look

“Aye She made me one or five last weekend” He liftshi me at the waist Seriously, I’m not that drunk but we’re already on the move “Last time, I walked out of the pub like the livin’ dead Woke the nextlike it, too”

“Well, it was Long Island Iced Teas pour moi That’s French for—”

“Bringing houests”

At the sound of Alexander’s voice, a series of pleasurable explosions begin to bounce around my insides When I lift my head, the outline of his body fills the door