A snippet of LIM which is out on the 1st November!!

“You just can’t help yourself, can you?” I stood. “By the way, you sound a lot like a jealous little boy right now.”

He shrugged. “If that’s what you think.”

“Take me back, please.”

“Fine.” He stood too and dusted off his jeans. He threw one last look at the beautiful lake and then turned to walk back in the direction we’d come from. Before we left the clearing, though, he stretched across to a rose bush and plucked one of the stems.

“For you,” he said, handing it to me.

“This doesn’t make up for your rudeness, you know,” I said, but my heart was warming anyway. I took it and breathed in the fresh scent.

“I’m not giving it to you to say sorry. I’m giving it to you because it reminds me of you.”

“And why is that?” I asked, trying not to get excited at his words. There were worse things to be told you resembled.

“Because roses are beautiful and vulnerable, but behind that soft exterior, there are sharp, dangerous thorns.” He stepped even closer. “And I, Zara Smart, fully intend to discover those thorns of yours.”