Page 105 of Winter With You

‘That could definitely be worse so that’s OK.’

He took her hands again and she felt not just the weight of his hold but suddenly so much more.

‘How about… I think you’re the most compelling person I’ve ever met and if there’s a chance you might want to spend more time with me, somewhere, somehow, then I would really love that.’

The gates of her heart were opening; she could feel it, slowly at first and then faster, matching the pace of her pulse as she looked back at him.

‘Luca,’ Gabriella said, tone etched with emotion.

‘Yeah?’

‘I love that truth.’

‘You do?’ he asked hopefully.

‘Yes, I do. So, can I tell you a truth?’ she asked, letting herself slide until the toe pick of her skate nudged his.

‘Anything.’

She held his gaze. ‘I want you to kiss me.’

He was looking into her eyes and she knew no one had ever looked at her like that in her entire life. He didn’t just want her physically – sexually – although she could already feel that fizzing sensation beginning in her gut, Luca valued her for who she was and for who she had been too scared to be. And, as his mouth met hers and she wrapped her arms around his neck, lifting herself into him until her skates were almost off the ground, she knew that she wanted much more than a New York minute with him.

‘So,’ he breathed, when she had been so thoroughly kissed a couple had applauded as they skated past. ‘What did you want to tell me? About your sister?’

She smiled. ‘It can wait. I actually think I need to have a conversation with someone else first.’

‘Yeah?’ he asked. ‘With Phoebe?’

‘No,’ she said, shaking her head and holding onto his hand again. ‘With Lulu.’

64

THE ROYCE HOTEL, MANHATTAN

Gabriella set the burger down on the table of the balcony patio and pulled up a chair. She had lit the heater and ten minutes before had cleared the light snowfall off the table and chair. They had collected Mr Darcy from Eric and the dog and Phoebe were now sleeping, or at least in her bed resting. Gabriella, meanwhile, was waiting for this conversation she knew she had to have before she looked at her phone or her laptop or had to face Cheyenne over her publicist’s temporary imprisonment at the bookstore. She sat down, wrapping the duvet from the master bedroom around her coat-clad body, looked to the stars and waited…

Nothing.

She let a few minutes tick by and then she opened her eyes again and stared at the Loulou burger getting cold. She grabbed the bun with both hands and sunk her teeth into it, taking the utmost pleasure in all the ingredients the healthy diet pages of her book would have frowned upon. And then, finally…

You haven’t tried to hear me for a little while, Ella-Bella.

Gabriella wiped her mouth with her hand. ‘I know, Lulu, but things here have been a bit crazy.’ She put the burger down again.

Like me.

‘No, not like you.’

You do think I was crazy though, don’t you?

‘Not in a bad way.’

In a good way?

‘In a very-complicated-and-largely-misunderstood-by-most kind of way.’

Thank you, Ella-Bella.