CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The snow that fell the other night, while I was making the gingerbread log cabin, didn’t lie.
But as I walk slowly round the edge of the duck pond, heart in my mouth and butterflies in my stomach, I realise it’s drifting down again, just the odd flake here and there, tickling my face.
I gaze up at the night sky to watch it fall, wondering if he’ll be long.
I phoned Rob on his mobile and said I knew he was at a party but I needed his help with something important. If he could meet me by the duck pond, I’d explain everything . . .
I was taking a risk, I knew. He might be enjoying the party too much to leave. He might even have met someone there. But I was buoyed up by what Sylvia had told me and determined to put my plan into action.
The snow is falling faster now, so that as I walk, I’m starting to make footprints. And then I look across the other side of the green and I see a tall figure, hands dug in his coat pockets, walking across the snowy grass towards me.
Rob!
My heart does a funny little flip.
I start walking towards him and the gap between us gets smaller as my heart starts pounding faster in my chest.
He gets within a few feet of me and stops.
‘Hi, Fen. You okay?’ He’s smiling but there’s a wary look to his expression.
I nod. ‘I’m good, thanks. I just need your help with being brave.’
He frowns. ‘Okay,’ he says, drawing out the word questioningly.
‘You see, I need to ask someone something and I’ve never done it before so it’s a bit – well, nerve-racking, really. So I thought if I did a Wonder Woman on the ice over there’ – I nod at the duck pond – ‘I’d feel pretty invincible. I hate slippery surfaces and usually avoid them, but I’ve decided I’m going large tonight.’
His face cracks into a grin. ‘You’re going large?’
I nod. ‘Oh, definitely. I’m totally sick of going small – if that’s even an expression.’
He shakes his head. ‘It’s not. But never mind. You were saying . . . ?’
‘Yes, so if you wouldn’t mind helping me onto the ice? Then your job is done.’
‘Right.’
‘You can leave the rest up to me.’
‘Excellent.’
‘I hope I haven’t dragged you away from a good time,’ I say as we walk towards the icy pond.
He shakes his head. ‘Not really. This is much more festive.’ He glances up at the snow that’s drifting gently down, catching in his dark blonde hair and clumping on his long lashes.
‘Right, here goes. Help me on, please.’
He takes my hand and a funny electric sensation shoots through me, despite the fact that we’re both wearing gloves. Even through a layer of leather (mine) and sheepskin (his) it still feels sexily delicious holding Rob’s hand.
He slides onto the ice with me and I let go of his hand and slither over to the centre, hoping and praying I’m not going to fall flat on my bottom and ruin the moment. Worse, the ice might crack and . . .
But I won’t go there. I’m being brave tonight.
So I stand there, planting my feet in a Wonder Woman position and, raising my arms triumphantly in the air, I shout ‘Power!’ as loudly as I can, up into the wintry night sky.
Then I laugh because it feels really silly but actually very good at the same time.
Rob laughs, too.
I slither back over to him.
‘All prepared?’ he asks. ‘To do your brave thing?’
I swallow, struggling suddenly to meet his lovely blue eyes. ‘I think so.’
‘Are you doing it now?’ He looks suddenly vulnerable.
So quickly I say, ‘Absolutely. I need you here when it happens.’
‘Oh, right.’
I clear my throat and despite being suddenly covered in shyness, I force myself to look deep into his eyes.
‘Rob, will you have dinner with me some time?’
His face breaks into a grin and he starts clapping me. ‘Hey, well done. You did it. A great practice run. So . . . who’s the lucky guy?’
I stare at him for a good few seconds before I realise he’s totally winding me up.
I whack his arm. ‘You, of course.’
He smiles. ‘Well, in that case, yes, Fen, I’d love to have dinner with you.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, really.’
I start laughing with relief and happiness. ‘That’s the first time I’ve ever asked a man out on a date.’
He frowns. ‘Oh.’
‘What?’
‘You didn’t tell me it was a date.’
He looks so solemn my heart lurches. I can’t have got this so wrong, can I?
Then Rob bridges the gap between us and pulls me into his strong arms, and I stare up at him, my heart racing at the feel of his body next to mine, my face inches from his lovely mouth. Which is smiling widely now.
‘Fen, of course I want to go on a date with you. I thought you’d never ask.’
I frown, pretending to be annoyed. ‘I’m not used to being wound up all the time.’
He laughs softly and leans closer to kiss me. A soft brush of his lips against mine. ‘Then I suggest you get used to it pretty quickly. Because it’s going to be happening . . . a lot!’ He growls this last word and my pulse quickens.
‘Yes?’
‘Oh, yes.’
A thrill runs through me. I get the distinct feeling we’re talking about something entirely different now.
‘Well, you’re the one who’s good with his hands.’ I smile pertly, feeling braver, with Rob, than I’ve ever felt before. ‘So let’s hope you follow through on that.’
‘Oh, I will. You’ve got my very firm assurances on that.’
And he pulls me against him, bringing his beautiful mouth down on mine, and as I tangle my hands in his snow-dampened hair, it flits through my mind that if this were the ending of a romance novel, it would be absolutely heart-stoppingly perfect.
But then I forget about love stories altogether and get on with the process of real living – which involves kissing Rob back with more passion than I’ve ever felt in my life, until we’re way too breathless to continue . . .