CHAPTER FIVE
‘I’m begging you. Not more left-over turkey!’ pleads Rob with an agonised look.
He’s sprawled next to me on the floor of his living room, watching a movie. Grabbing a cushion off the sofa, he buries his head in it – presumably trying to block out the evil thought of my Spicy Turkey Fritters.
‘Hey, don’t knock my fritters till you’ve tried them!’
Reaching for another cushion, I start swiping him over the head with it. He gives a fake cry of outrage and launches himself on top of me. Our eyes meet, both of us laughing, and I’m struck again by the colour of his; they’re an amazing blue-green with flecks of amber.
And then suddenly, the laughing stops and we’re kissing.
We’ve done quite a bit of kissing since we first got together three days ago, although we’ve been keeping things light-hearted and just having fun. I’m feeling so relaxed just chilling with Rob, enjoying these few precious days of festive holiday time. But the sexual tension between us is building all the time and I sense it could explode at any moment into a full-on relationship.
I slide my hands into his dark blonde hair, loving the firmness of his mouth on mine and the feel of his gloriously muscled body against me.
Feeling yourself falling crazily in love is the most heady and glorious feeling in the world. I know this mainly because I’ve read about it in all the romance books I’ve devoured, ever since the age of twelve when I fell in ‘crush’ for the very first time.
Occasionally, I have to pinch myself that I’m with Rob. It all seems like a dream. And yet it feels absolutely right at the same time. I guess the fact it all happened at Christmas makes it even more romantic.
Christmas Eve certainly seems like a dream. I think I’d known deep down for a while that Rob was much better suited to me than slippery egotist Ethan, and I was on a bit of a high after Sylvia broke the news that Rob had liked me for a while.
Now, three days after I plucked up the courage to ask him for dinner, it feels as if my instinct was spot on.
We laugh all the time and I feel like the best version of me when I’m with Rob. I’m funnier, wiser and possibly prettier, too, although that last one is obviously only in the eye of the beholder. Rob pays me little compliments all the time.
The few times Ethan complimented me, it was done in a rather staged, cliched way – quite appropriate, really, since he’s the leading light in the local amateur dramatic group. He would stare soulfully into my eyes, making me feel really special and desired.
It was only later I realised that for Ethan, love is just a game. He’s abandoned his poor wife, Alicia, even though she’s pregnant with their baby and he owes her money. Goodness knows what other heartache he’s caused women through the years.
‘Right, you,’ says Rob a little while later, getting to his feet and hauling me to mine. ‘I’m taking you out for food.’
‘Just so you can avoid my fritters?’ I stumble against him and stay there, smiling up at him, my hands creeping around his back.
‘I’m sure I’d be passionate about your fritters.’ He attempts a smouldering look but a grin breaks through. ‘But you’re going to win that regional bake-off heat next week, remember? And you did say you needed to practise. So after I’ve taken you for the best pasta in Sunnybrook, you’re going home to Brambleberry Manor to get baking, okay?’
‘Yes, boss.’ I salute him with a grin, knowing he’s right. Rob is proving to be the most heavenly distraction – but I do need to get serious about my baking if I don’t want to make an idiot of myself on the day.
Ellie entered me into the competition at national magazine Bake! and I actually made it through to the regional heat. At first, the idea of going there alone and competing against people I’d never met made me feel nauseous just thinking about it. But somehow, with Rob’s help, I’ve grown braver lately. And on Christmas Day, after the miracle that was Dad’s surprise home-coming from the hospital, I decided life was too short to keep avoiding the things that were exciting yet terrifying all at once. It was time I stopped hiding away from life and became a fully-paid-up member of the ‘Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway’ brigade.
So the day after Boxing Day, I phoned Bake! and managed to get a message through to the person organising the event, saying I would love to take part.
The local heat, at a venue in Guildford, is taking place a week today. And there’s just one thing getting in the way of me baking non-stop until then.
My new boyfriend.
‘We could always just stay here instead of going out to eat,’ I murmur, curling myself against him and sliding my hands into his hair.
I’m finding Rob Slater so very addictive . . .
He bends and kisses me thoroughly then he pulls back, smiling down at me. ‘You need to eat, Fen, and I’m starving. Then you need to get in that kitchen and bake your socks off. Because you can do this.’
‘Do you really think so?’ I look at him dubiously. ‘I might be rubbish compared to everyone else there.’
He shakes his head firmly. ‘I’ve got one word for you. Well, three, actually. Madeira Christmas cake.’ He kisses his fingertips into the air. ‘Total perfection. You’re going to be brilliant, Fen.’
I stare at him with mixed feelings.
I love that Rob rates my baking so highly. But I know he’s just biased.
Yes, the customers at The Little Duck Pond Café seem to like my moist chocolate cake and my sultana scones. At least, I assume they do because they keep coming back for more. But that doesn’t mean I’m good enough to bake in a national competition! What if I go along and can’t even get the oven to work, and make a complete and utter arse of myself in the process?
Rob grins down at me. ‘Where’s Wonder Woman got to?’
I throw a power pose in response, raising my arms in the air and shouting, ‘Yesss!’ in a strangely deep voice, almost knocking his eye out.
‘Better.’ He gives a wicked grin. ‘I like the forceful Fern. It’s quite a turn-on.’
‘Oh, really?’ Walking my fingers up his chest, I give him what I hope is an alluring smile. Alluring enough to make him change his plans and stay here instead.
He laughs. ‘Come on, you temptress. Get your coat on.’
‘Oh. Okay.’ I feel a little stab of disappointment as I head for Rob’s downstairs loo to freshen my lipstick. I’d been hoping today might be the day we take our relationship to the next level. But maybe Rob isn’t feeling it as strongly as I am.
Still, we’ve got all the time in the world, so there’s no great rush, is there?
And there’s one thing I do know for sure.
Every time I catch sight of Rob Slater’s gorgeous smile, I fall for him just a little bit more . . .