Page 61 of Never Date a Celebrity

Amy looked up at her, surprise written all over her face. “You want me to stay?”

“Yes. If you want to stay.” Imogen swallowed. This was a step, a bloody big one, and Imogen was terrified. But she was also happy. And if Amy walked out that door right now, Imogen knew that she wouldn’t be happy at all. “I can take you back to the hotel when you’re ready to go.”

“Yeah?” A slow smile started to spread across Amy’s face. She pulled Imogen closer and looked up at her, green eyes shining with hope. “And, um, what if the storm’s too bad for me to go back tonight?”

Imogen swallowed again. “Then you’ll have to stay here with me, and I’ll take you back in the morning.”

Amy’s smile grew wider. “So, we’re going to continue this? You and me? And not as friends?”

Imogen closed her eyes and took a breath. “Yes, I accept your proposal to date in secret.” She looked at Amy then and smiled. “Because that’s the most romantic statement anyone’s ever uttered,” she added dryly. Imogen doubted anyone was going to write any romance novels about it. But for her, it was a lifeline. A way forward. A compromise between her wants and her fears.

Amy threw her arms around her. “To me, it’s the most romantic statement in the world.” When she pulled back from the hug, she cupped her hand behind Imogen’s neck and pressed their foreheads together. “I can’t wait to date you all over again. Just you and me.” Then Amy caught Imogen’s mouth in another kiss, this one soft and tender, with every emotion poured into it. Happiness. Relief. Promise. Maybe even something else with four letters Imogen wasn’t quite ready to face yet—but she could see it happening. The falling. It was there, hovering between them. Maybe it had always been there, a driving force behind everything that got them to this point.

If Imogen was worried that she was doing the wrong thing, Amy’s kiss told her otherwise. Because nothing else that Imogen had experienced in her lifetime had ever felt as good as when Amy’s lips connected with hers. She sank right into it, letting the kiss consume her, and allowing all of her doubts, and anxieties, and everything else to disappear right out of her mind.

Every touch felt different now. Freer. Easier. Like now that they’d chosen this—chosen each other—they were finally on the same page with no secrets, with no pretence. Just two women who liked each other and had agreed to let this thing between them happen. It was liberating.

“So, person I’m officially dating,” Amy said once they pulled apart. She laced their fingers together again. “What do we do now? Are you hungry?”

Imogen laughed. “Seriously? Food? After all of that, that’s what you’re thinking about right now?”

“What?” Amy said, laughing too. “My toasted sandwich is right over there looking at me. It’s too good not to finish.”

Who was this woman? Imogen shook her head affectionately. “Alright. If you’d rather eat than kiss me. Let’s eat.”

Amy gasped. “That is not true. I already let all your kissing interrupt my eating. Happily.” She slowly dragged Imogen back over to the breakfast bar and turned. “Besides, I’m going to eat this and then I’m going to kiss you all night. That okay?”

Imogen let out a theatrical sigh. “Fine, if you insist.”

She grinned at the pretend look of shock on Amy’s face.

They both took their seats and ate their cold dinner, lit only by candlelight. If the problem with the electric was widespread, the repair people probably wouldn’t make it all the way out to Ballyluck to fix theirs until tomorrow. By the sounds of things, the wind hadn’t calmed down much, which wouldn’t speed up the process either.

Once they had finished eating, Imogen quickly rinsed their plates in the sink while Amy filled their drinks and carried the glasses into the living room. Imogen lifted the two candles from the table and joined her there as soon as she was done. She turned her body to face Amy on the sofa.

“I’ve never seen any of your films. You know that, right?” Imogen had been thinking about it while she was in the kitchen and apparently her brain had decided to blurt it right out. She had been toying with the idea of watching one when she had been sad and missing Amy. But she had managed to resist. She much preferred the woman over the fantasy.

Amy looked amused. “I’d guessed—all things considered.”

“Does that not bother you?”

“Why would it bother me? I already told you, I like that you don’t know that side of me. It makes me feel like a regular person.” Amy held up a finger. “I also hate saying those words about myself because I am a regular person.”

“You just have a not-so-regular job,” Imogen said.

That seemed to resonate with Amy. “Exactly. A lot of people find it intimidating. Either that, or they find it way too intriguing. I love that you don’t.”

“Well, I love that you don’t act like a total diva,” Imogen said teasingly.

“Oh yeah? How do you know?”

Imogen made a pfft sound. “Please. A diva would never have been out walking in all that rain tonight.”

“I’ll agree with you there,” Amy replied. She raised an eyebrow. “What else do you like about me?”

“A lot of things. Let me see.” Imogen shuffled a bit closer. “I like your sense of adventure, and your willingness to explore. I like how you make every situation fun and enjoyable. I like how you appreciate the little things in life—a cute cow, a pretty view, a great jam.” All things that Imogen appreciated too. “I like how easy everything feels when we’re together.” Okay, these were starting to get more serious. But it was true, and Amy seemed absorbed in what Imogen was saying, so she kept going. “I like how when you want something, you really go for it. Case in point—me. I like how you always ask about my day and are truly invested in the answer. I like that you’re driven and successful, even if I don’t love your chosen career.” They were still great qualities that Imogen valued in a person. “I like your smile. That dimple on your right cheek. Your amazing green eyes. Your silky, soft hair.” Imogen teased it with her finger. “I like that you smell like a perfect summer’s day. Like a mixture of flowers, fresh fruit, and coconut. I like that your lips are, without a doubt, the softest in the universe.” Imogen leaned in closer. “I like how they feel against mine. Oh, and I really like your bum.”

Amy snapped out of her daze. “My bum?”