Page 142 of Someone Like You

He shifts closer, our thighs now pressed together.

‘And I want someone who understands that to make a dream come true, you have to work hard at it – not have it handed to you, like…’

His voice fades away, but I can tell he’s referring to Julia.

‘Anyway,’ he continues, ‘I know I really can’t talk as I’m about to work for my aunt?—’

‘Hey, youearnedthat. You’ve worked extremely hard to become the baker you are –you’rean artist, Raff. You’re talented, yes, but talent means nothing if you don’t apply yourself to develop and hone it.’

‘And that right there…’ He gazes deep into my eyes, his eyes creased at the corners and glossing with tears. ‘I want to be with someone who knows precisely what to get me for Christmas – a gift that tells me they see me, they believe in me, they can imagine my future and that it’s brighter than I could ever,everhave dreamt.’

I gulp, not trusting my voice and transfixed by those beautiful green eyes.

He lifts his hand and lightly trails his fingertips down my cheek. If this isn’t a scene right out of a Hallmark movie…

‘I’m sorry it took me so long to see it – and I promise ithadoccurred to me before you kissed me on the dance floor last night – right after we ran into your ex, as a matter of fact – but never mind all that…’

He shakes his head, then meets my eyes again, drawing in a slow breath. ‘It’s you I want, Gabs. I want you.’

He wants me. Raff wantsme.

My breath hitches. This feels like one of those surreal scenes in a movie where the camera tracks out while the focus zooms in.

‘And just to backtrack a few moments…’ he says, his mouth quirking. ‘You mentioned you recently had a similar realisation?’

‘I kept trying to talk myself out of it,’ I say, finally finding my voice. ‘I told myself that you were with Julia now and I needed to see how that played out. At least that’s the advice I got from Freya.’

There’s a flicker of something in his eyes – shock? – then it turns to something harder – irritation maybe. ‘She is quite the little puppet master, isn’t she?’

‘Please don’t be mad at Freya. She only wanted you to be happy –wantsyou to be happy.’

‘Right. Only, it’s a lot to process right now.’

‘I get it. You have no idea how many times I wanted to tell you and?—’

He leans close, stopping my words with a kiss.

It begins softly, his lips pressed against mine in a ‘shh’ of a kiss, and before I can draw back, his lips capture mine possessively. I succumb, melting into him, drowning in sensations.

With my free hand, I grasp the back of his neck and our mouths move together, hungry, curious, excited, yet with an undercurrent of familiarity. He tastes of vanilla and cinnamon and nutmeg, of the dry toastiness of the Champagne. His hand finds the nape of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair as the kiss deepens, the tip of his tongue sending an electrical current coursing through me, heating me up from the inside out.

I can’t say how much time passes. Or at what point the kiss slows. Or who draws back first. But eventually, we pause, our lips almost touching, and when I open my eyes, he’s regarding me with wonder.

He leans his forehead against mine, and our eyes lock as our breaths mingle in the air between us.

This is Raff – the funny, affable, thoughtful guy, my closest friend and ally, my champion, myperson. And I’m overcome with how much I love him – all of him, who he is and who he will be. Who we will be together.

I sigh contentedly.

‘Gabs?’ he says, his voice raspy.

‘Mmm?’

‘Can we go back now? My bum is frozen to this wall.’

‘You dork. Way to ruin the moment.’

He grins, drawing me in for a quick kiss. ‘I love it when you call me that. It’s so sexy.’

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