Chapter 19 #2
‘By miles.’ Wilma clinks her cup against Lettie’s. ‘The atmosphere, the food, and the host was rather excellent too, don’t you think, Dolly?’
Reece is glowing. He’s magnetic, and I can barely take my eyes off him for long enough to give them an answer.
‘I’m already looking forward to next week!’ Madge says, like it’s already set in stone that we’ll be doing this again.
‘What’ll we do if it rains?’ Wilma asks.
‘One of those big tents, like in the baking show.’ Lettie sips her tea, sounding like she’s already thought it over. ‘Our very own Bake-Off tent. Everyone can fit underneath it and stay warm and dry.’
I don’t ask how she expects us to have some giant marquee tent ready and waiting, or how much such a thing is likely to cost, and just appreciate the comment for what it is – they’ve enjoyed this so much that they even want to come in the rain.
As the evening winds down and people begin to gather their belongings and start leaving, I realise I can’t remember the last time I felt this happy. Really, truly uncomplicatedly happy, with no caveats or dark clouds on the horizon.
I watch Reece being congratulated by groups of quiz veterans who stop to thank him on their way off, and it makes something settle into place in my soul.
This is what we were meant to do. The Marzipan Campervan and what’s left of the pub have combined to create something that makes everyone’s lives a little brighter, including ours.
‘We did it.’ Reece finally makes his way over to me and drops an arm around my shoulders as we wave goodbye to the last of the villagers, after fending off enquiries about whether they can book tables in advance for next week.
‘We did it,’ I confirm, trying not to think about the scattered chairs and empty plates that aren’t going to clear themselves up. ‘You were amazing. Like you were born to have a microphone and a quiz master’s handbook in your hands.’
‘Thank you. It was nice to feel like I was doing something right for the village, and to do something that I actually had a handle on. I’m constantly out of my depth with the renovations, pootling from one disaster to the next, but that felt like exactly what I should be doing…
and exactly who I should be doing it with.
It’s the first time I’ve felt like me in years, and that’s because of you. ’
He turns to face me and my arms automatically slide over his shoulders and reach up to brush his hair back.
Some of the waves have escaped the product holding them and are curling forwards, and as I go to do it again, something changes in his expression.
The adrenaline from the night is flowing through both of us, and as I look up into his bright eyes, it seems to morph into something different.
His tongue touches his lower lip, and it makes my pulse quicken.
I tilt my face towards him and he steps closer, backing me gently against the side of the campervan.
The metal is still warm from the day’s sun, and I can feel the heat of it through my dress as he braces one hand against the van beside my head and the other comes up to cup my face, and his eyes ask a silent question.
When he kisses me, it’s nothing like the gentle, tentative kisses we’ve shared before.
This is heated and confident and full of all the joy and triumph of the evening.
His lips are warm and demanding, and when my hands fist in his shirt and pull him closer in response, he makes a low sound in his throat that sends heat shooting through me.
I’m dimly aware that we’re still in the car park where anyone could see, and that Campervan has become involved in this unexpected threesome, but I don’t think I could stay upright without her at my back.
With Reece’s body pressed against mine and his mouth moving against my mouth like he’s been starving for this, nothing else seems to matter.
‘Do you have any idea how long I’ve been wanting to do that?’ he breathes against my lips when we pull back for air.
‘Probably about as long as I have?’
The look that crosses his face makes my knees go weak, and he kisses me again, deeper this time, one hand tangled in my hair while the other settles on my waist, his thumb tracing small circles that make me shiver despite the warm evening air.
My fingers claw into his shoulders as I gasp against his mouth, his leg pressing between mine, and the space between us feels alight with everything we’ve been building towards, and it’s intoxicating in the sexiest way possible.
When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing so hard that I’m not sure I’ll ever catch my breath again. His forehead drops to rest against mine, his chest heaving like he’s just run a marathon, and it gives me a little shiver of pleasure that I have had that effect on him.
‘That was…’ I start, then trail off, unable to find any words to accurately describe that kiss.
‘Overdue,’ he says with a smile that’s both soft and sizzling.
‘Very overdue.’
We both giggle and the next kiss is just a peck, followed by a groan. ‘We’re going to have to move, aren’t we?’ He pushes himself upright and I have to peel myself off Campervan where I’ve melted against her yellow side.
Reece doesn’t let go of my hand as he surveys the chaos that needs clearing up. ‘That looks like something that can wait until morning. Right now, I want to put my pyjamas on and collapse on your sofa for the evening. And maybe do that again… Any objections?’
‘None whatsoever. But only if you’ve got a pair of very bright trousers to put on.’
He laughs and pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly and rocking us both from side to side, and I exhale and let my head lean against his chest, and let everything go.
I breathe out all the uncertainty and worry and betrayal that came before, and embrace whatever it is that comes next with this gorgeous man.
Darkness is starting to fall, and the strings of solar lights that I’ve strung between the van and the tree burst into life, creating a warm, magical glow around the car park. This feeling is all I’ve ever wanted, and I think this might be the most perfect moment of my life.