‘Really?’Why had Olivia kept this from me?
His eyes held my gaze. ‘I hope you enjoy my Christmas club sandwich, and I will be nervous as hell as you eat it. Not sure what I will do if you don’t enjoy what I have cooked.’
‘Ben, I am sure it will be wonderful.’
His meal was delicious. It was so good neither of us talked, we just ate. I didn’t feel nervous about not talking and concentrating on enjoying his food. With Sam I always felt like I had to fill empty spaces between conversations.
After we’d both finished, he tidied everything away. Was this guy a heartbreaker? Because from what I had just seen he was thoughtful and considerate. He could have gone to a takeaway and bought us a chow mein or a pizza. Instead, he’d remembered everything Olivia had told him about me and spent the afternoon cooking something which would be meaningful to me.
He smiled. ‘So, what’s the verdict on my Christmas club sandwich?’
‘Ben, it was a taste sensation, and I am very impressed.’
A cute boyish grin spread across his face. He reached into his pocket and brought out his phone. ‘I’m still in touch with Sonia and I hope you don’t mind but I told her I’d finally met you.’
‘Ah, that’s nice. I messaged her on Olivia’s birthday. Is she okay?’
He nodded. ‘She and Ray, you know, Olivia’s dad, are back together.’
I gasped at his news. Olivia’s mum and dad had split up ten years ago. She always used to say that one day she hoped a miracle would happen and they would get back together.
Ben passed me his phone. ‘Read what she said. Losing Olivia brought them back together.’
As I tried to read the texts, tears pricked my eyes. Ben offered me a napkin. Sonia spoke about her love for Ray and how together they would learn to live again without their daughter. She knew Olivia would have wanted them to reunite and she hoped Olivia was looking down on them from heaven. I smiled at Ben once I’d got control of my emotions. ‘Anything Olivia-related and I’m a mess.’
He nodded. ‘Yeah, I know how that feels. Rachel,’ he said, holding my gaze. ‘I know we have the link to Olivia which is great. I want you to know that I am…’ His words faded away as we stared at each other.
‘You’re what?’ I whispered as our heads travelled towards each other.
Our lips were almost touching.
‘I’m very attracted to you,’ he whispered. ‘You were pretty in the photo Olivia sent me but in real life you’re gorgeous. That shorter haircut is so sexy and don’t get me started on those reindeer pyjamas.’
We both smiled.
‘To be honest I’m struggling…’ He paused and reclaimed his serious look. ‘You’re making me want to spend hours cooking delicious things for you. I see you in the kitchen and I must refrain from pulling you close. It is getting harder to…’
‘To stay away?’ I murmured, tilting my head so our lips could meet.
‘Mmmm…’ he murmured. ‘All I want to do is kiss you.’
I closed my eyes and he pressed his soft lips against mine, and we kissed. It was a beautiful and tender kiss until my mind began replaying Sam telling me that he and Chantelle had been seeing each other. I broke away abruptly. My defences rose at lightning speed. I couldn’t allow myself to get hurt again. ‘I’m sorry, Ben. I can’t…’
‘It’s okay,’ he said interrupting me, ‘we’re probably moving at a hundred miles per hour.’ He packed up his stuff. ‘I better get home. Rosie will probably be expecting a bedtime story.’
I tried to catch his attention, but he wouldn’t lift his eyes to mine.
‘I better go, see you around, Rachel.’ He headed towards the door.
Panic set in as he hurried away. ‘Thanks for the lovely food,’ I called out.
He didn’t look back. ‘No worries, good luck with the painting.’
I returned to my painting feeling uncomfortable. It had felt right to pull away, but I now felt like I’d hurt him.
Picking up my phone I facetimed the WhatsApp group I had with Connor and Kate. At the same time, I prayed they were both able to talk.
Connor appeared first. He was grinning and holding aloft a tall flute of fizzy Prosecco. ‘Don’t tell me,’ he chuckled, ‘Grandpa Eric and the dog have gone AWOL again.’
