Page 124 of The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery

‘Which book was it?’ she says, casting her eye along the shelf. She can’t imagine what he’d want up here. It’s where she’s stuck a few random titles that didn’t belong anywhere else.

‘Any book’ll do,’ he says. ‘I just thought I’d give you another chance to enact your librarian fantasy.’

‘You rotter,’ she says, but she’s smiling. She scans the titles on the spines. ‘Aha! This one is perfect!’

She smiles as she hands Fifty Sheds of Grey to him. He looks at the title, laughs, then places it on a nearby table.

Louise takes a step or two down, then pauses at the broken one. Jack looks up at her. ‘Need some help?’

She puts her hands on his shoulders and he puts his hands on her waist, and lifts her down effortlessly.

Her feet are on the floor now, but he doesn’t remove his hands from her waist, nor she from his shoulders. ‘You know, last time you did that, I had another little fantasy about you snogging me.’

‘That can be arranged,’ he says. ‘But just so I get it right, was it full-on tongues from the start or slow and lingering?’

She moves one of her hands to the back of his head, pulling his face towards her. ‘Just get on with it,’ she murmurs softly, as his lips touch hers.

He opts for slow and lingering, but as his tongue explores inside her mouth, the kiss becomes more urgent. Louise presses her body up against him, enjoying his warmth, his strength. She can feel that he wants her, and she wants him too.

When their lips finally part and they catch their breath, she nestles into him, her face buried in his chest. ‘I had this other little fantasy…’ she begins then stops herself.

‘Another fantasy? Tell me more. I’m all ears.’

Louise feels suddenly shy. She can’t quite believe she’s about to admit that ever since she met him, she’s been imagining sexy little encounters with him, scenes that are straight out of the romance novels that she used to edit. Keeping her face hidden against his jumper, she says, ‘You know the sort of thing. In the kitchen. You lifting me onto the worktop, me wrapping my legs around your waist.’

‘Interesting,’ he says. ‘Pulling your knickers down? Or pushing them to one side?’

‘I er… I’m not sure about the exact details. Just us having sex with me on the worktop and you standing up. All fast and frenzied and can’t get enough of each other. You know, like in films.’

‘Come on, then.’ He takes her hand, and leads her into the kitchen. As soon as they’re through the door, he turns to face her, pulling her towards him so they’re facing each other like two salsa dancers on the dance floor. His lips are almost on hers, so close that she feels his breath in her mouth. Then he begins to turn, moving her backwards until her arse reaches the edge of the worktop. With one deft move, he hoists her up. She wraps her legs around him, clamping onto him.

With one hand behind her head, Jack grasps her hair, pulling her head back and kissing her again. It’s fast and frenzied, as she requested. With the other hand, he clasps her left breast for a moment. Louise gasps. Then he drops his hand to her skirt, pushing it up and out of the way. Louise feels his fingers on the elastic of her knickers, knows he is about to pull them down.

She turns her face, breaking the kiss. ‘Stop. Stop.’

He lets go of her. Takes a step back. ‘You okay?’

‘Yeah, it’s just… The reality is not as good as the fantasy.’

‘Oh.’ He looks crestfallen. ‘Did I do something wrong?’

‘No, it’s just… The stainless steel…’ She shakes her head. ‘It’s cold. And not that comfortable. And someone might walk in – I don’t think I locked the shop. And then I can’t stop thinking about my hygiene certificate. I got the highest rating. It doesn’t seem right to have sex on the worktop.’

Jack laughs. ‘Your hygiene rating? I’ve got my hand up your skirt and you’re worried about your hygiene rating?’

‘I know. Sorry.’

He holds his hands up. ‘That’s okay. I’m relieved, to be honest.’

‘You are? Didn’t you want to—’

‘Oh yeah, I want to,’ he says quickly. ‘It’s just that shagging on a kitchen worktop isn’t really my style. Not romantic enough. I don’t suppose you’ve got any other fantasies, have you?’

‘There’s always… no, we couldn’t.’

‘Go on. Tell me.’

‘How about the Love Shack? There are fur throws. Fairy lights. Maddie’s heart-shaped cushions.’