Page 3 of A Recipe for Love
‘Exactly.’ He was still staring at her.
‘What are you looking at?’
‘You.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I like looking at you.’
Bella waited for the fizz in her stomach that told her it was time to move on. It wasn’t there. Normally her relationships came with a time limit. Either things ran a natural course, or Bella would find herself looking past the here and now and imagining her next move, which she inevitably pictured happening alone.
Adam moved to her and took her hand in his. ‘You know I really do have to go home on Tuesday, don’t you?’
The day after tomorrow.
‘I can’t take any more time off. Ravi’s already going mental.’
‘I know.’ Bella’s voice cracked as she spoke. ‘I…’
‘What?’
‘I…’ This wasn’t her. She wasn’t a girl who begged.
‘Tell me.’
‘I don’t want you to go.’
And then his arms were around her. ‘I don’t want to go either, but…’
She pulled back, nodding quickly. ‘I understand.’ It was what it was. People moved on. She started to walk back towards the exit.
‘Bella, wait.’
She stopped and turned. Adam wasn’t standing where she’d left him. He was kneeling. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Bella Smith, will you marry me?’
She laughed, because the very notion was insane. People didn’t get engaged after a few weeks. Bella was not the engagement type at all. The whole idea was ridiculous. And also perfect. She laughed again but this time it was a release of pure joy bubbling up through her body.
Adam cleared his throat. ‘You know you haven’t answered yet?’
‘It’s quick.’
He didn’t argue. ‘It is.’
‘I never thought I’d get married.’ Bella paused. ‘What if I’m no good at it?’
‘At being married?’
‘At commitment. At forever. Me getting married would be crazy.’
‘Almost as crazy as me asking,’ he agreed. ‘I don’t act on impulse.’ He looked up at her. ‘But here we are.’
‘Here we are.’ It was madness. ‘Where would we even live?’
‘You could come back to Edinburgh with me.’
Edinburgh. She’d never lived in Scotland. She’d visited a cousin of her nan’s in Glasgow once, but that was it. A whole new adventure started to unfold in front of her.
