Cooper’s head snaps up and he bolts towards the door.
My heart stutters, then beats a rhythm wild enough to make me rub a hand over my chest. Sadie calls my name, and I pick my phone up from where I’ve dropped it on the sofa. “Hang on a sec, Sadie. Someone’s just pulled up outside.”
“Who?”
“I’ll call you back.” I hang up on her protests, but if it’s who I think it is, who I fuckinghopeit is, then I don’t want an audience.
I’m almost at the front door when someone knocks. My heart leaps to my fucking throat and I’m so nervous I have to take a moment to justbreathe.
It might not even be him.
It is though, I cansenseit.
My hand shakes as I reach for the door and yank it open.
Charlie stands there, bag at his feet, looking as nervous as I feel. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
That’s all we manage before Cooper barrels past me to greet Charlie like he’s been gone years instead of a couple of weeks. I lean against the doorjamb, smiling like an idiot as Charlie crouches down and Cooper jumps all over him, tail wagging so hard and fast I have to move out of the way to avoid whiplash.
I’m thoroughly jealous of my dog by the time Cooper decides he’s fussed over Charlie enough and trots back inside. I have two seconds to admire him as he stands again before nerves kick back in. It’s also bitterly cold and I shiver as the wind picks up, andJesus Christ, where are my manners? “Fuck, sorry. Come in.” I hurriedly step back and usher him inside, shutting the door behind him.
He glances up at the ceiling, frowning, and it takes me a second to figure out why. “I took it down because of Cooper, remember?”
“Oh, yeah.” He bites his lip, and I wonder if he’s remembering all the times we kissed under mistletoe.
I take a step closer, leaving barely an inch between us. “Do we need it?” His gaze drops to my mouth and my belly tightens with anticipation.
“No.” He drops his bag on the floor and we both move at once.
I push him against the wall as his arms wrap around me, and we kiss for what feels like the first time in fucking forever. Pressed together from chest to thigh, I’m not sure we could get any closer while still fully clothed. It’s fast and frantic and so utterly perfect I could cry.
I’ve missed this.
Missedhimso fucking much.
And I didn’t know if I’d ever get to have it again.
I’m also aware that we should probably talk before we go any further, but no part of me wants to let him go long enough to do that.
In the end, it’s Charlie who finds the strength to pull back. “Yes,” he whispers, hands sliding up to hold my jaw in a gentle grip. “Yes, I want you. Yes, I want to give this,us, a shot.”
I had some wonderful Christmas presents this year, but his words are better than all of them put together.
Late or not, I don’t care.
“You’re sure?” Maybe it’s me who needs convincing, because I can’t quite believe this is happening.
“So fucking sure.” He kisses me again and I feel it in every little moan, every stroke of his tongue against mine, and I have to stop for a second as I’m smiling too much. I rest my forehead against his instead and take a moment to let this sink in.
“I don’t know how this is gonna work,” he whispers. “With you being here and me back in Bristol.”
“We’ll make it work. As long as you want it enough?”
“I do.” His smile matches mine. “I really fucking do.”
My phone rings, interrupting our moment, and I know who it is without having to look. I’m amazed she waited so long to call back.
