I laugh because we both know Icanget down.
“Oh no! Whatever will I do?” I cry. “Help! Help! A gorgeous giant has captured me!”
“Gorgeous?” Addy asks.
“Yes. You’re ruggedly handsome.” I put my hands on his cheeks. “It’s the combination of your beard and your dreamy blue eyes.” I sigh for effect.
“Do you still want rescuing?”
I tap my finger against my lips. “Hmm, maybe not. It depends on what you’re going to do with me now you’ve captured me.”
He threads his fingers together over my lower back. “What do you want me to do?”
His question catches me off guard, and I suck in a breath. I lean my forehead against his. “Can we stick to kissing and cuddling for now?”
“Anything you want.”
“But what about whatyouwant, Addy? I’m well aware that you move much faster with women than I’ve ever done.”
“Exactly, withwomen.” He strokes my back. “Which means we’ve got as much experience with guys as each other.”
“You mean none?”
He chuckles. “I think we’re getting some good practice at kissing.”
“True.” I pat his chest. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you avoided my question. What doyouwant?”
“I’m good with taking things slowly. I don’t want to rush anything either.”
“Okay. As long as you’re sure…”
“I am.” He kisses me softly.
“You should probably help me down so I can make dinner.”
“I’ll cook.”
I raise my eyebrows in surprise.
“You’ve been at work all day. I’ll cook.”
He lifts me down from the counter and sets me back on my feet. It’s fun being with someone who can pick me up with ease, and for the first time, I don’t find myself cursing how short I am. He cups my face in his hands and leans down to give me another, longer kiss.
Once he’s let me go, I wander over to the sofa and flop onto it. I’m glad Addy is cooking because I’m tired. Sunday isn’t the most chaotic day of the week at A Spot of Tea, but it was pretty busy. I didn’t take a break so I could try out the pink champagne cupcakes. If I waited for a truly quiet day, I’d never get any experimental baking done. Besides, it was worth it to seethatlook on Addy’s face.
I curl up on the sofa, lying on my side so I can watch him in the kitchen. He’s far more entertaining than the TV, not to mention gorgeous. I’m still noticing new things about him, as if kissing him also gave me new eyes or something. He’s wearing black jeans that hug his arse, and his shirt stretches across his back whenever he reaches for anything, revealing his muscles and love handles.
Addy cooks pasta. He makes the sauce out of beef mince and a jar of stir-in tomato sauce. I tend to make all my sauces from scratch, but that’s because I love cooking. It’s my hobby and my whole life since I opened the cafe. I really should see if A Spot of Tea is making enough money to hire someone else to help with the baking. Maybe then I could take more than one day off a week or perhaps even take a whole week off.
Addy quizzes me further over my day while we eat the pasta. It’s tasty, if simple. Then he devours another cupcake. We wash up together and wind up on the sofa, watching TV. There’s nothing new in that. It’s not even unusual for me to curl up against him or for him to stroke my hair absently. But itfeelsdifferent, like his tender touches and the way I press against him is exciting and new. Like itmeansso much more than it did yesterday or the day before. Tomorrow, it’ll probably mean even more. The next day, even more.
I smile and snuggle closer to Addy. He keeps running his fingers through my hair. As his other hand comes to rest over mine, I realise I don’t want to be anywhere else. Addy is my guardian tree. I adore everything about him, and I have a feeling I’m going to end up falling in love with him all over again.
Chapter9
Adrian
My alarm goes off before first light on Thursday morning. Normally, I slip out without Fitz even knowing, but that’s harder to do when I’m sharing a bed with him. Although my alarm doesn’t fully wake him, it does drag him out of deep sleep into semi-wakefulness.
