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‘I’m just going to phone Mum to check on Maisie, then I’ll be right over.’

‘Okay.’ Frankie slung on her coat then made her way out the door.

CHAPTER 62

FRANKIE

The cold air was bracing after the heat of the pub and Frankie pulled her coat tightly around her as she walked over the village green toward the bandstand. The snow had started again, with little flurries clouding in the night air. There was no one out and the village green was empty, with the bandstand in darkness.

Frankie was just a few feet away when the structure was suddenly illuminated by dozens of fairy lights being switched on.

Jay stood in the middle, holding a bottle of Prosecco. Beside him was a little table with a blue-and-white cool bag sitting on top alongside a couple of glasses.

‘Your nonno made us some stuffed focaccias. And there’s some Struffoli.’ He lifted up a bowl of the sweet little dough balls dipped in honey.

Frankie slowly walked up the stairs taking in the sight.

Jay pointed behind him. ‘I’ve got us a furry rug to snuggle under. It’s a posh one of Rocco’s, so we’d better not drop any of the Struffoli on it. It was either that or one that Toffee likes to sleep on at home. I thought Rocco’s would be nicer.’

Jay gave her a faltering smile. ‘I can’t promise the night will be clear enough to see stars, but I downloaded an app on my phone which has a map of all the constellations and planets and where they are when we put the phone up, so we can guess what it’ll look like.’

‘But…’ Frankie looked behind her, wondering where everyone else was.

‘Oh, no one else is coming. It’s just us.’

‘Oh.’ She’d been played.

‘I know it’s twelve years late but I hope you’ll stay,’ Jay said, sounding nervous. ‘Shit, I had this whole speech in my head and…’ He trailed off with a helpless shrug and ran a hand through his hair. Frankie noticed his hands shook slightly.

‘That was a great gig,’ Frankie said honestly as she walked up to him.

‘That was my favourite-ever performance,’ he said huskily, his blue eyes studying hers intently, ‘because you were there.’

Frankie felt her heart galloping wildly in her chest.

‘I loved the song. It was beautiful.’

‘I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to play it. I thought, if you turned up that was a good sign, if you smiled at me, even better. Then Valentina subtly gave me a thumbs-up.’

‘Valentina, subtle? There’s a first.’ Frankie laughed, feeling giddy. ‘I love the mixtape.’

‘Your Merry Christmix tape.’ He looked at her expectantly. ‘I was worried it was cheesy?’

‘Oh it is. It’s cheesier than a fondue. But, it’s also perfect.’

Frankie moved closer to him and they were barely centimetres apart. She rested a hand on his chest. ‘A week ago, you asked if I thought now was our time.’

She could feel his heart hammering through his wool coat. The tempo matched her own.

‘And?’ he asked, his voice ragged with emotion.

‘I think now is very much our time,’ she whispered, before her lips met his.

They kissed; slowly, luxuriously, taking their time and immersing themselves in the sensations. The heat of desire flooded Frankie’s body as the coldness of the night became an irrelevance.

After a few moments, Jay groaned and reluctantly pulled away.

‘I did not think this through. As romantic and twinkly as it all is, it’s hardly private.’