Page 50 of A Little Light

“Oh, that’s okay. Come in.” Andi stepped aside, smiling when Rachel brushed past her.

She stopped and offered Andi a kiss on the cheek, lingering at her scent. “Hi.”

Rachel felt Andi smiling as she turned her head and kissed Rachel’s cheek in return. “It’s good to see you.” She guided Rachel through to the kitchen, pulling a chair out at the dining table.

“These are for you,” Rachel said, holding out the flowers and wine. “I wasn’t sure what to bring.”

Andi reached for the flowers, smiling. Andi’s smile was the one thing Rachel adored. Though she was sure she could add to that list eventually. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”

“It’s not too much, is it?” Rachel hoped Andi would disagree, but she had to prepare herself to be taken down a notch if necessary.

“Not at all. Really. Now, sit down, and I’ll pour the wine.”

Rachel took a seat—her feet aching from her new heels—and watched Andi move around the kitchen. She set two glasses down as she turned back to Rachel. Rachel could only admire Andi in her sweats and hoodie, her hair pulled back and off her face. “Busy day?”

“Not really. I met Sally for coffee at midday, and then I came home and finished unpacking my life.”

Rachel’s eyes scanned the kitchen. “Yeah, it looks less…empty in here now. I like it.”

“It was time. The boxes weren’t going to unpack themselves.”

Rachel relaxed, crossing her legs. “No, and it’s a shame they don’t unpack themselves. It would save us a lot of time. I don’t know about you, but I’m terrible at deciding where to put things in a new house.”

Andi held up her hands. “Also guilty of that.”

“By the way, whatever you’re cooking smells really good.”

“I hope you’re hungry. I couldn’t decide what you’d like, so I went for braised beef in red wine sauce.”

Rachel’s stomach tumbled at the thought. It also explained why Andi was dressed down and looking far more comfortable than Rachel. She’d planned ahead with the idea of being stuffed in mind. “Sounds perfect. I’m beginning to wish I’d gone home first to change.”

Andi turned her back and gave her attention to the stove. She lifted the lid on the casserole dish as she removed it from the oven, those scents only overpowering Rachel’s senses this time. “I have something you can borrow if you’d rather slouch when we’ve eaten.”

“Usually, I’d decline, but I think I may have to take you up on the offer.”

“Let me put dinner out, and I’ll grab you some clothes once we’ve finished. Then…maybe we can open the wine you brought?”

Rachel watched Andi from across the kitchen, her pulse picking up ever so slightly. “I’d really like that.”

Andi locked eyes on Rachel, lowering the spoon in her hand to the casserole dish. “Thank you for coming over. I know it was short notice, so I really appreciate it.”

“I was surprised to hear from you.” Rachel cast her gaze on the hem of her dress as she toyed with it. “I wasn’t sure how you’d feel today, and I didn’t want to push.”

“How I’m feeling today? I’m feeling great.”

Surprised, Rachel’s eyes lifted back to Andi’s. “Yeah?”

“I told you I wouldn’t put myself or anyone else in a position if I wasn’t ready.”

“No, I know. But sometimes people say those things hoping it’ll change the outcome. In your case, it worked. I just didn’t know you really meant it.”

Andi approached Rachel empty-handed and stopped in front of her. She leaned down and cradled Rachel’s chin, smiling into a kiss. God, she tasted good. Better than last night. When she drew back, she stroked a thumb against Rachel’s cheek. “One thing you should know about me is that I say what I mean. If I wasn’t ready, I wouldn’t have kissed you.”

“O-okay.” Rachel swallowed when Andi continued to stare into her soul. “Good to know.”

“Dinner?”

Rachel nodded slowly as Andi turned her back. She watched on, grinning as her eyes landed on Andi’s arse, any remaining tension leaving her body. “Dinner. Yes.”

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