He laughed. ‘Nadia made enough for the whole town; you don’t need to worry.’
She was about to say she’d go and get one, a cup of tea too to warm herself up. But she didn’t want to leave his side.
‘I thought of something else I can do,’ he said, facing her. ‘In case I never get back to full duties.’
‘Really?’
‘I could study to become a fire investigator. I’ve looked into courses and I think it’s something that wouldn’t bore me to tears. A job like that would involve working out the origins of a fire – whether it was arson, how it could’ve been prevented perhaps. It would keep me closer to the action than anything else.’
‘That sounds great.’ And it was good to hear him so positive. She wanted to reach for his hand again but felt suddenlynervous. Their friendship had lasted for years, she valued it too much to risk it, but the things he’d told her on the tree drive that morning had her realise he was as worried about being able to make this work as she was.
He looked up into the skies as the snow fell over them, its white flakes scattered in his hair the same way they were likely in hers. ‘I could stand out here forever in this.’
‘I couldn’t; it’s way too cold.’
‘What about if I refuse to come in until you say yes to going out with me for dinner?’ It was a Gio-like remark full of intent but at the same time, she knew his feelings ran as deep as hers.
‘Then I’d say that’s very childish.’ She grinned. ‘Are you sure you want this? I meant it when I said I’m not looking for a fling. If things don’t work then that’s one thing, but I want to go into this with eyes open and I want you to as well. If you’re not up for trying to make this work, if we’ll go on a few dates and you’ll get bored, then please tell me now.’
‘Bess, I?—’
‘I mean it, Gio. Don’t string me along.’ She blinked away a snowflake that landed on her lashes. ‘I’m not up for that. If I’m honest, I’ve liked you for a lot longer than I realised. In the shared house, I thought it was a crush, but when we danced at the wedding and I suggested you come here, it wasn’t only because of our friendship.’ She gulped. ‘Did you feel anything for me when we danced together?’
‘I—’
‘Do you think you’re capable of giving us a shot?’
She didn’t get another word out because with his hands either side of her face, he didn’t waste any time pressing his lips against hers, tentatively at first, and then giving it his all.
When he pulled back, her face still in his hands, he said, ‘If you let me get a word in, I’d tell you that I’m all in with this; Idon’t want it to be a fling. I’ve wanted you since the day you moved into the shared house when I helped you pick up the contents of the cardboard box which gave way because you’d packed too much in it.’
‘I’m not the best at packing.’ She loved feeling his hands against her cheeks, the closeness of his face to hers, the feeling that this might just be the start of something wonderful.
‘No, you’re not. You’re terrible.’
She laughed and then shivered despite her layers.
He opened up his jacket and pulled her against his body, wrapping it around her too.
‘So, dinner,’ he said, a statement this time, not a question. ‘Tonight, somewhere with a view.’
‘Okay.’
He hugged her tightly and whispered into her hair. ‘I knew you’d see sense eventually.’
‘Oh you did, did you?’
‘We were predestined to happen. Friends first – good friends – but the universe always had something else in mind for us. I think you and I were written in the stars.’
She looked up at him. ‘That sounds a bit deep for you. And a bit cheesy.’
He laughed softly. ‘I told you before, not working has given me a lot of time to think.’ His hands tangled in her hair and he looked into her eyes. ‘I’ve wanted to ask you out for ages. Never mind everything else I’ve wanted to do.’
‘I’ve wanted it for a long time too.’
He kissed her again and they only pulled apart when they heard the beep of the pick-up truck as it passed them with another load, this time Hudson leaning out of the window with a cheeky comment.
‘About time!’ Hudson called over with a wave.
