Page 120 of Not That Impossible

“That I promise,” he said, and kissed me. “Where was I?”

“Embarrassed about me mooning after you.”

“Yeah. Let me rephrase that.”

“You don’t have to. I get it. I’ve got it for a long time, trust me. No grown adult wants a teenager lusting after them.”

“No, they don’t. Let me get through this, okay? I’m a coward, and it’s taken me a long time to get the balls to say all this to you. I know you thought you were in love with me back then, but you weren’t. You were eighteen.”

I glared at him.

“Okay, maybe you were in love with me, I can’t tell you your feelings. But I was in love with Verity. I married her, and I fully intended to spend the rest of my life with her.”

“You really are shit at this,” I said. “Please, tell me more about your happily ever after with the perfect woman.”

“We kind of dropped the ball on theever afterpart of that,” he said.

“Do you still love her?”

“God, no. She’s one of my best mates, but we were terrible at being married. I love you.”

“Good, because—wait, what?What? WHAT?”

“Can you not shout? I’m right here.”

“Youloveme?”

“Jasper. Zip it. For three more minutes. Let me finish.”

I was vibrating with the need to grab him by the shoulders, shake him and yellWHAT?again. “Sure.”

“I think I’ve loved you for a long time now. It’s impossible not to. Anyone who knows you has to love you. I’ve beeninlove with you since I moved back to Chipping Fairford a year ago.”

“A year? Sorry. Carry on.”

“Yes, a year. We sold the house, I moved back here and rented for a bit. Bought this place a few months ago. You didn’t notice me around more?” He sounded wistful.

I snorted. “Of course I did. I always notice you.”

“Yeah. Beats me why, but yeah.” He reached up and traced a gentle fingertip along my cheekbone, under my eye. “You always look at me the same way.”

I couldn’t maintain eye contact. “Needy,” I said flatly.

“Mm. Which you know I like.” He leaned up and nipped my mouth sharply. “But also…I don’t know.” He gave a disbelieving laugh. “You see me and you light up.”

“Because I love you.“

He caught his breath.

“You know I do, Liam.”

“Yeah,” he said, sounding shattered. He stroked my cheek, then trailed his fingers along my jaw and down the side of my neck. I shivered. “You light up for me. I don’t think you understand what a big deal that is, do you?” He continued to gently stroke my throat.

I managed not to purr, but I couldn’t stop myself from arching into his touch.

“You are an enthusiastic, optimistic, kind and beautiful man,” he said.

I squirmed.

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