‘There’s no rush. Why don’t we have a few days here first, just the two of us?’ A few days in bed, his eyes were saying.
‘Sounds great!’
‘Come home with me,’ Will said, taking her hand. ‘Pack your bags and come to stay at my place. We can go back in a couple of days.’
‘Okay. But I’m seriously in need of some kip first.’ Already exhausted, the wine was making her even droopier and she could hardly keep her eyes open.
‘You can kip at my house.’ Will’s index finger dug into her palm, sending shivers up her spine.
‘I don’t know…’
‘Don’t you trust me to keep my hands off you?’
‘I’m just not sureI’dbe able to keep my hands offyou.’
Will gave a low growl. ‘You shouldn’t say things like that to me in a crowded restaurant,’ he said, leaning in to kiss her, his lips clinging to hers as if they wanted never to let go.
Kate didn’t want to let go either. Maybe she wasn’t so tired after all, she thought, her senses pinging to life as the kiss deepened.
Finally Will pulled away. ‘Okay, have it your way,’ he said huskily. ‘You go home and sleep and come over to my place later. I’ll cook.’
‘You’ll cook?’
‘Don’t look so surprised. I had lessons from this fantastic chef I know.’
* * *
After another protracted snogging session outside her building, Kate didn’t fancy her chances of getting any sleep, so she was amazed to wake up just after six o’clock and discover she had slept for almost four hours. She felt marvellous, still dizzy with happiness as the events of the past few hours flooded back to her.
She had always scoffed at those magazine articles that told you how to spend several hours – sometimes even days – getting ready for a date. Now, as she skipped to the bathroom armed with enough products to stock a small branch of Boots, she knew where they were coming from.
‘I see you didn’t manage to wipe that smile off your face,’ Freddie said, when she finally emerged into the living room.
‘Can’t be done,’ she said gaily. ‘Not if I spent a whole week in the bathroom.’
‘You almost did – I had to go next door to pee. I’d hate to see what you’d be like if you were going to the Oscars.’
‘This is better than the Oscars,’ Kate said blissfully. ‘I know my name’s in the envelope.’
By the time she rolled up in a taxi at Will’s, she felt as buffed up and glamorous as a Hollywood starlet strutting the red carpet.
‘Hi!’ Will opened the door, barefoot, wearing jeans and a black T-shirt, looking heart-stoppingly beautiful and gratifyingly excited to see her. He seemed a lot brighter than he had earlier, his black eye only adding to his sexiness, giving him an edgy, rakish air.
‘Wow, you look amazing.’ His eyes devoured her hungrily, and he smelt divine as he bent to kiss her.
‘Thanks,’ she said shyly, moving past him into the large hall. Her heart was pounding already. ‘So do you.’
She removed her jacket and he came up behind her, taking it from her.
‘I can’t believe you’re here,’ he said, stroking the back of his hand down her bare arm.
Kate shivered excitedly. ‘I’ve been here before,’ she said shakily, ‘loads of times.’
‘Not like this,’ Will said, dropping a kiss on her neck.
‘No, not like this,’ Kate gasped as he nuzzled her collar bone and shoulder. His arms came around her and he pulled her into him, lifting her hair to trail kisses along the nape of her neck and up to her ear. Moaning low in his throat, he turned her in his arms, and their lips met, his mouth opening against hers.
‘So, did you cook?’ she asked breathlessly, rather hoping the answer would be no.
