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‘What’s the point?’ Sienna asked, looking at the dirty pavement. ‘I can’t be around you without being rude to you one minute and kissing your face off the next. I’ve told so many lies. You don’t need any of that.’

Robin paused. ‘I might.’

Sienna’s head snapped up. ‘Well, you shouldn’t! I’m everything I’ve ever tried to warn people about.’

‘I’m a mess too,’ Robin pointed out. ‘Look at my behaviour. I’ve been way crazier than you.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

‘We’re both a mess. Which is what I tell people to be. “Jump into the mess of feelings, everyone! Lead with your heart.” And I couldn’t even handle it,’ Robin pointed out. It was true. All of this had shaken up everything she believed about love. The love she’d been waiting for. The love that had melted her brain when it finally arrived and brought out neuroses she didn’t even know were there.

‘You thought I couldn’t care about you,’ Sienna said. ‘And why wouldn’t you? I’ve only ever been mean to you.’

‘Most of the time, I liked it,’ Robin admitted.

Sienna tutted. ‘Stop trying to make me feel better.’

‘Oh. You think this is pity?’ Robin asked with a grin.

Sienna was shocked into a laugh. ‘Oh.’

‘Yeah.’ Robin paused and took a tiny step towards Sienna. ‘You know, I’m starting to think we might be perfect for each other.’

Sienna’s eyes widened. ‘That’s crazy.’

‘Probably,’ Robin said, bridging the remaining step between them, dropping her jacket.

‘Why did you just drop your jacket?’ Sienna asked fearfully.

‘I need both hands,’ Robin said plainly. ‘To hold you while I kiss you.’

Before Sienna could formulate another self-deprecating defence, Robin reached out, cupped Sienna’s cold, wet face in both of her hands, and pulled her into a kiss.

Sienna didn’t try to fight this one. Her hands flew up, her fingers digging desperately into Robin’s waist, pulling her flush against her chest. The moment was desperate and warm, a sudden contrast of soft lips against the bite of the icy air. As Sienna’s mouth parted beneath hers with a soft, helpless gasp, Robin tasted her gently. In that breathless, aching second, every lingering argument vanished into the certainty of how badly they both needed this.

When Robin finally broke the kiss sometime later, she didn’t pull away. She kept her hands cupped firmly against Sienna’s jawline, her thumbs gently tracing her cheekbones.

Robin swallowed hard, her blue eyes searching Sienna’s face with terrifying hope. ‘Do you…’ she whispered, her voice trembling in the quiet space between them. ‘Do you love me, Vance?’

Sienna’s dark eyes didn’t flicker. She tightened her grip on Robin’s waist.

‘Yes,’ Sienna breathed. ‘I do.’

‘Well, I love you too,’ Robin admitted with a shaky laugh. ‘So, what have you got to say about that?’

Sienna’s eyes brimmed with happy tears. ‘For once?’ she said with a shake of her head. ‘Nothing.’

Sixty

Sienna hauled Robin into the hallway of her flat by her jacket, kissing her again, messily, greedily. They’d been at it since the side street, then all through the cab ride.

As they moved backwards, unable to break away for the time needed to make it safely to the bedroom, Sienna pushed Robin back too hard. Robin’s hip hit an umbrella stand, sending it rocking against the wall before it settled with a loud rattle. Sienna was forced to pause. ‘Sorry. Did that hurt?’

‘Did what hurt?’ Robin said, moving back in and down to her neck.

From the dark lounge, a sharp screech cut through the hall.

‘Forty for an eighth,’ a voice squawked. ‘Forty for an eighth. Cash only, mate.’