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‘It had been a while actually but that doesn’t make it any less hot.’ Paige laughed as Melanie’s eyebrows shot up over her glasses. ‘Why is that so surprising?’
‘Cos you’re you.’ Melanie waved her hand up and down. ‘You’re a hot badass. I just assumed you’d been very busy.’
Paige smiled. ‘No, sorry. Why? Had it been a while for you?’
‘Oh, I don’t think we need to go into all of that,’ Melanie said. Now it was her turn to look outside.
Paige placed her hand gently on Melanie’s thigh. ‘Was it Laura?’
Melanie sighed. ‘Yes.’
Paige waited, not so much patiently but she waited, hoping Melanie would share, but not wanting to push. Too much.
‘I . . . we . . . It got complicated. I can’t say it ended well. But at least once it ended me and Louisa could crack on with our business plans. Eventually.’
‘So, she was the reason you didn’t do it sooner?’
Paige watched as Melanie took a deep breath, seemingly preparing herself.
‘In a nutshell, it was your classic girl meets girl. Girls start a relationship. One of them believes it’s love. The other is maybe a narcissist. Until three years later only one of them is still standing and thriving, the other no longer knows what’s real and what’s manipulation. One of them is now engaged to one of the friends she swore nothing was going on with. The other has a business that is being sabotaged and probably some trust issues.’ Melanie let out a little laugh and shrugged her shoulders as if it was nothing. ‘It was why I wasn’t jumping for joy when you all offered to help with the big opening. My initial assumption was that you all thought I wasn’t good enough. That I needed help, else I would fail on my own. I’m sorry about that. I’m usually good at catching those moments but I guess I’m not completely there yet.’
Paige didn’t know what to say. She could hear the pain in Melanie’s voice and wanted to take it all for her. She wanted to remove every last shred of doubt and hurt, every single painful memory and paint over them all with new ones. At that moment she saw what their future could look like together. A hundred precious occasions. A thousand cherished memories. A million magical moments.
‘I’m sorry you had to go through that.’ And she was sorry. ‘But I’m glad you’re here now.’
‘What about you? I can’t imagine you have a bad relationship in your past?’ Melanie asked.
‘No, not really. I erm, don’t tend to have them.’ Paige winced, knowing she needed to be honest, but also that it didn’t show her in the best light.
‘None at all? That’s a red flag. You know that, right?’ Melanie said with a small smile.
‘It might be to some but’ — Paige leaned closer — ‘I actually just think I’ve been waiting for the right one.’
Melanie burst out laughing. ‘Paige! That was nowhere near as smooth as you thought it was.’
Paige pulled back but kept eye contact. ‘I know, but I meant it. I think I might be worth taking a risk on.’ The images of their possible futures together continued to flash through her mind.
‘What are you saying?’ Melanie asked, soft and low.
Paige still had her hand on Melanie’s thigh, but with her other she stroked Melanie’s jaw. But truthfully Paige didn’t know what to say. She wanted to profess that she was all in. That their future together could be gorgeous. But she also knew Melanie was overwhelmed, and possibly still shaky after seeing Laura the other day. That her to-do list had put Paige on the do not touch list.
In the end Paige didn’t have to say or do anything. Melanie was the one that rushed forward, her kiss hungry. Her hands wound around Paige’s neck holding her close. Barely able to breathe, Paige tried to tell her everything with that kiss.
Chapter Thirty-One
Melanie
Melanie woke up and immediately realised she was sore in the best possible way. Paige’s arm was still tight around her middle, holding her close. Melanie smiled, never guessing Paige was a big spoon kind of person.
A kiss to her neck, alerted Melanie to Paige being awake. Melanie really needed to check what time it was; she couldn’t be late for work when she was the one opening up.
‘I set an alarm on my phone. It’s just gone nine o’clock. I’ll make us some breakfast and then you can get showered and go to work, OK?’ Paige whispered in her ear.
Firstly, Melanie couldn’t believe that she’d finally managed to sleep. Then again, several orgasms given and received will tire a girl out. Second, she couldn’t believe Paige was such a big cuddler. And finally, that Paige had offered to get out of their warm cosy bed and make breakfast. Melanie hadn’t been looked after like this before. Wait, not their bed. Just the bed they’d both slept in. It was Paige’s bed, not theirs. Melanie frowned, her brain a complete jumble this morning. She clearly needed caffeine.
Paige kissed her cheek. ‘Don’t worry if you fall back to sleep, I’ll come and wake you up again.’ Paige’s hand was moving up and down Melanie’s thigh, circling her hip and Melanie knew she had a very intentional way of waking her back up again.
‘Your glasses are on the side, throw anything of mine on you like.’
