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It was even more of a buzz when he settled on exactly the flavour she would have chosen.

‘It has to be this,’ he mused, picking one up and holding it so the lamplight caught the shimmering glaze of its icing. ‘Classic, classy, sweet. It isn’t giving much away, but I sense a surprise or two inside.’

‘A lady never tells,’ she replied sagely, allowing him to break off a chunk of the teapot-shaped cookie and touch it to her mouth.

Now he was eagerly awaiting her look of ecstasy. So she opted for the tease of a poker face as she delicately chewed.

‘Oh, come on,’ he said with mock frustration. ‘Don’t you love it? Did I get it wrong?’

She finished eating and smiled, touching a finger to his disappointed nose. ‘On the contrary. You were on the money. That was my Christmas-tea-infused cookie mixture, with hints of candied fruit and sweet brioche. It’s divine. But I don’t want you getting big-headed about your impeccable taste.’

‘I do have impeccable taste,’ he whispered softly, before moving in to kiss her, the hint of Christmas tea still on her lips.

Chapter 41

When Noémi was ready to come down from Shay’s earth-shattering kiss, it was almost her usual bedtime. She toyed with the idea of inviting him up, but there was something special about savouring every page of him rather than skipping to the steamy part – however delectable that might be.

Anyway, Shay would be leaving soon enough. She hadn’t even planned to kiss him, when her heart was meant to be safely under lock and key. If she jumped into bed without considering things, she’d soon be falling hard. Then it would be even more gut-wrenching when he inevitably packed and moved on.

But even though she was on the verge of yawning, she didn’t want him to go just yet.

‘Can I stay awhile?’ he asked, dipping his chin so he was looking at her adorably through his eyelashes. He nudged her playfully. ‘To read. I don’t give it all away on a blind date. I promised I’d cosy in and read, and all I’ve done is kiss you till your lips are raw and cadge your festive cookies. And as restless as my legs usually are, I was enjoying the feel of my feet in fluffy socks against yours, like something from a Christmas movie.’

‘To read,’ she confirmed happily, allowing him to snuggle them both back under the reindeer blanket, toes side by side on the footstool.

Noémi nestled into his shoulder, and he put an arm around her. Before she knew it, she was lost in a story. She wasn’t sure how long had passed when Shay woke her with a gentle clearing of his throat. Her paperback had fallen onto the sofa beside him, and in her sleepiness, her head had slid down his chest and was now dangerously close to his lap.

‘Oh!’ She sat up quickly. As warm and strangely inviting as it had been, she wasn’t a cat. ‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to …’ Nuzzle your groin? Her hands flew to her hot face.

‘No bother.’ He grinned. ‘One of the many dangers of reading, perhaps. Like falling desperately in love in the Cotswolds.’

She blinked a few times. ‘Pardon?’

‘It’s what’s happening in my book,’ he said innocently, holding it up. ‘I’ve been reading, as promised. I can’t be dragging you around on real-life adventures without keeping my end of the bargain.’

‘Of course.’ She definitely wasn’t disappointed that he was talking about fiction. Was she?

‘I’ll leave you to get to bed, or whatever you wildly bookish people do after dark. And thank you for encouraging me to slow down and read tonight. I haven’t done that since the book club I was in at uni.’

‘You were in a book club?’ She tilted her head, trying to imagine it.

‘Well, it was more about comic books and pizza. But still. I think I lost something when I stopped being able to vanish between the pages. I’m grateful you’re helping me rediscover that.’

The kiss they shared on the doorstep was nearly enough to get her hauling him back inside. But she sensed his fidgety feet were ready to move – and she guessed that was how it would always be if they decided to carry on this unnamed thing. Just a temporary pitstop before he was on his restless way. Could she deal with that?

When Noémi got up to her flat, she suddenly felt wide awake. She tried reading a chapter but couldn’t settle. She thought about messaging Daniel, but it was late. And what she really wanted was to gush about her feelings without someone telling her to embrace the horizontal hula. It was the kind of conversation best enjoyed with someone you’d never meet. Her chats with Fantasy Man were now platonic, since they’d both confided they’d found someone they liked. It was nice to have someone unbiased to talk to.

Book Girl:

How’s it going with the new person you met? I hope everything is still great for you. Tell me your news.

Talking of news …

I’ve been spending more time with that neighbour. We kissed!!!!!!!!!! (I feel like SUCH a teenage girl, getting swoony about a smooch or two. But WOW.) (Also, I’m generally against overuse of exclamation marks.) BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those kisses. ALL the exclamation marks. I’ve never ever felt anything like that before.

Though what if I’m falling for him? He’s made it clear he’s not staying. And I can’t see me following him into the sunset. I’ve no clue if he’d even want me to.

It all feels so risky, putting my feelings on the line. A few more of those soul-shattering kisses and my heart will be gone with the wind.