Page 97 of You Float My Boat

My hand rested back on his cheek, ‘It’s going to take a lot more than Bitters hitting on me to drag my attention away from you.’

‘Thank you,’ he smiled softly.

‘I’m serious, Charlie. My feelings for you aren’t new.’

‘What do you mean?’

This time it was my turn to look away, but I’d said it now and I couldn’t back out.

‘Violet, what do you mean?’

‘It’s only ever been you.’

‘Been me what?’ he asked, still so confused, and for a genius he really wasn’t that quick. Maybe his genius only spread to things like physics.

‘I’ve had a crush on you since I was fourteen. Since the first time Hugo brought you home during half-term.’

He wasn’t very good at hiding the shock. I don’t think I saw him blink for ten seconds.

I craned up to kiss his cheek. ‘So when I say it’ll take more than Bitters putting his arm around me, and my brother banning anyone from asking me on a date, I mean it.’

‘Violet …’

The way he said my name … reverential, like he was trying it on for size and found it to be the perfect fit. I’d never loved being called Violet more than I did right in this moment.

‘I didn’t know …’

‘I’m a good actress,’ I shrugged.

This time when he kissed me there was a tenderness present. He was slow, taking his time to discover me, his tongue sliding against mine with no urgency. My bones had barely solidified from the previous kiss, but here they were melting all over again.

I wasn’t ready for him to ease away, his mouth leaving mine with a soft pop and a chuckle which had my heart skipping.

‘Christ, Violet. How have I been so thick? Be patient with me, please.’

‘Hey,’ I laughed. ‘Patience is my middle name.’

Dropping his lips, they barely brushed against mine before he let out a groan. Not the good kind.

‘We need to figure out what to do with Brooks.’

‘Tomorrow,’ I replied, bringing his mouth back to mine.

We had more important things to do right now.

16. Charlie:

(Just call me Mary Berry)

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I could totally winThe Great British Bake Off.

Peering through the glass on the oven, the cupcakes were rising nicely. There was still another ten minutes on the timer, but I reckoned they’d be done before that. Any longer and the chocolate in the centre wouldn’t stay gooey.

And they needed to be gooey. Perfect, fluffy, gooey.

Yeah, I could totally win. These cupcakes would be my showstopper.

I opened the cupboard under the sink and got to work on cleaning up the kitchen. Since I was young, Dad had drilled it into me that a kitchen should be cleaned on the go. It was a cardinal rule in all his kitchens, and I’d witnessed more than once what happened when it wasn’t followed. I tried to run the kitchen in this place with the same regimental style, but it hadn’t worked.

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