‘You didn’t have to do that.’
He grins. ‘It’s a celebration. We survived our first bed share together.’
‘Yes, we did.’
‘You didn’t have to use that rolling pin on me either.’
He places my cup on the table and raises his cup in a toast-like manner. ‘Here’s to us and many more nights of you and I bed-sharing.’
I smile and take a sip.
‘It feels good to wake up at a reasonable hour and not be plagued with worries about the night before,’ he says.
‘Do you worry a lot?’
He scratches his stubble-coated jaw. ‘I have been worrying about what you think of me and all my chaos.’
‘I feel like things might be different now.’
Lenny comes into the kitchen and meows at Oliver. Reaching down, he scoops up my cat, who is purring loudly. I watch Lenny brush his head against Oliver’s chin. ‘Life in this flat is going to be different – isn’t it, little fella?’
The sight of my little cat giving him a lot of feline love makes my heart melt for the first time.
Oliver lifts his gaze to me. ‘Did I mention that I’m coming to the bookshop today?’
‘What?’
He nods. ‘Miranda’s been begging me to visit Once Upon a Spine.’
Inwardly, I groan. I will have to spend my time at work with Miranda, who will be in a state of emotional hysteria. With Oliver in the bookshop, she’ll be chaotic, hormonal, and loud.
‘Wow – you look over the moon at hearing I’m coming to the bookshop,’ he says, casting me a bewildered look.
‘It’s not you, it’s Miranda.’
He smiles before taking a sip of his coffee. ‘I’m sure she’ll be okay.’
‘You don’t know what it’s like to work with Miranda.’
25
When I arrive, Miranda is twirling around the romance section. Thankfully, the shop has not yet opened. ‘Morning, Nelly,’ she coos, stopping by the display table and stroking the spines of Oliver’s latest book. ‘He’s coming in today.’
‘I know.’
She dances over to the counter where I’m standing. Today, she’s dressed in a green vest and trousers, both adorned with a bold tropical plant print.
‘How’s life living with Oliver James?’
‘Okay.’
Her pencilled eyebrows rocket up her forehead. ‘Okay? Nelly, you are living with publishing’s hottest romance author, and you say he’s… okay.’
‘What do you want me to say?’
She leans in closer. ‘Have you seen him fresh from the shower yet? Maybe with a tiny towel wrapped around his waist?’
‘Miranda!’ I exclaim.
