“I’m actually okay with that,” Andy said. “Your excuses were terrible, I was starting to struggle to go along with them.”
“And I want to take you on dates,” I added, feeling bold.
“Kit, we go on like three dates a week,” Andy pointed out.
“That’s different,” I defended. “We’ve been going as friends. I want to take you out as my boyfriend. I want… I want…”
“People to see?” Andy asked.
“Yes!” I said, louder than I meant to.
Andy grinned at me, laughter dancing in his warm eyes.
I cleared my throat, pretending to myself that I wasn’t blushing furiously. “Umm. I mean. If that’s… if you don’t mind…”
“Being seen with you?” Andy raised an eyebrow.
“Well. Yes,” I said. “Obviously I understand if you don’t, umm…”
I trailed off as Andy’s fingers stroked my jaw, gently turning me to face him.
His mouth still tasted of toothpaste when he kissed me, clean and tingly, but warm and soft and becoming increasingly familiar.
“I want,” Andy began. “To be seen with you. I want all those people who stare at you to know I’m taking you home. Okay?”
“Oh, well. Umm. Good,” I stuttered, the tips of my ears burning like a yule log at the thought.
I didn’t believe people stared, but Ididwant Andy to want me. It was hard to know what being his boyfriend might look like once we were home, but I was looking forward to finding out.
“Any other demands?” Andy asked, laughter in his voice.
“No demands,” I said, taking Andy’s hand. “Just a request that you let me spoil you. A little. For my own selfish pleasure.”
I raised his hand to my lips and kissed the knuckles, giving him my very best puppy eyes.
“Maybe a little,” Andy allowed. “I reserve the right to be awkward about it.”
“My darling, if you weren’t awkward I wouldn’t like you half as much.”
“My darling?” Andy raised an eyebrow.
“Not my darling?” I asked, allowing myself the slightest pout.
“No, I like it,” Andy said. “It’ll just take some getting used to.”
“Ah, well, luckily, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to get used to it.” I smiled at him, kissing his hand again and then letting it drop. “Now, did you want to take the car, or, umm, the train today?”
“I’m not making Stanley drive us all the way into London at Christmas,” Andy said, firm.
He liked Stanley. Just as well, since Stanley was a permanent household fixture.
“No, you know, I never liked asking him to do things like that once I was old enough to understand that it was his job,” I confessed. “Although I do think he’s happy enough with us. Besides, you liked the train.”
“I did, but I missed most of the countryside. I’d like to see it.”
“Train it is, then. I’ll arrange for us to leave shortly after breakfast.” I leaned over to kiss Andy’s cheek, humming at the scent and feel of his freshly-shaven skin.
“I don’t get a kiss on the mouth?” Andy asked.
“Not if you want to eat your breakfast before it goes cold.”
