Page 33 (1/2)

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘WHERE ARE WE GOING?’ Fliss cried as he clasped her hand, holding her tightly as he weaved his way through the crowds, the ain to their left as they were jostled and bumped by revellers

Holding on as though he never wanted to let her go, Ash h she was initially reluctant, Fliss discovered the further they got fro the conversation—and her past—behind

The only ti popcorn He halted abruptly but, instead of buying a cone of hot buttered puffs, he asked for a s of kernels

‘What are they for?’ she asked curiously

Dropping them inside his shirt pocket, he patted the outside, his expression giving nothing away

‘Secret’

And then, before she had a chance to say anything htly in his, and resumed their determined pace By the time he pulled them both left into a side street that was decidedly less packed than the otten her earlier unease and felt a renewed sense of adventure She marvelled at the effect How easy Ash made it for her

‘According to our server, there’s a path up the hillside here which offers a view out over the town Apparently it’s orth a look’

‘I never even heard you ask’

He shot her an indulgent smile which lifted her spirits even further

‘That’s because you were too entranced by the floats So, are you up for it?’

She glanced up at the cobbled path, infrequent lanterns offering pinpoints of light, lending it an almost romantic air

‘Sure, why not?’

As they headed along the narrowing streets, she couldn’t suppress the rush of pleasure that, even though they were no longer pushing through crowds, he still enveloped her hand in his as though he wasn’t ready to let her go