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My heart.
The poor little heart that’s still hurting under the happiness of my new world…
Fucking hell, I don’t want to get hurt again.
Keep it calm, I repeat in my head. Keep it fucking calm.
But I can’t.
The moment the cab pulls up at the entrance of the Mulberry, and I see Josh there, under the golden glow of the archway, I know I’m done for. He’s the gorgeous guy I remember from the Christmas party, in a tailored dark purple suit that matches the purple streak in his hair, complemented with a thin black tie. My mind hasn’t glorified him out of proportion while I’ve been away. Not at all. My memories are all real. He’s simply gorgeous.
And the guy of my dreams is holding flowers. A massive bouquet of them.
I’m a jittery wreck as I get out of the cab and pay the driver.
Josh is over to me in seconds, presenting the bouquet to me like a divine prince. Roses and lilies. Deep red and pale white.
“Oh my God, they’re beautiful. Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, and very worth it.”
His grin is so charming it lights up my world. His cheekbones seem sculpted from marble, and his green eyes are magnetic, and his lips are the perfection of symmetry. When his gaze locks on mine, it’s one of those classic lingering stares that speaks more than words, both of us smiling, with so much unsaid.
Until I suck in a breath and break the spell. My words run riot – spilling straight out of me.
“I’m so nervous, honestly. I’ve been crapping myself about this. I must have checked my makeup a billion times before I left tonight.” I pause for a second. “I mean on messenger it’s easy, isn’t it? You just type what you like and it’s kinda out there in the ether.” I gesture over to the side. “But here, for real, with you in front of me. Yeah. Um…” I laugh as I cover my mouth, then fan my hand as though I’m hot, and take a breath. And he watches me. Transfixed. His eyes still locked on mine. He grins as I carry on talking, and I feel myself relaxing. My words slowing down, just a little.
“Meeting you at Christmas was amazing,” I say. “And not just because I’d seen your, um, dick pic profile, which is mega hot. But seeing you here again, it’s different. Just me and you. And thanks for that, for the date. It’s so nice to bring me here, to this place.” I look up at the entrance, with a wow at the lights, and I’m flying high with him here in front of me. Josh. Weston. The man I’ve been fantasising over for weeks.
My heart is singing when he slips his hand around the back of my neck and pulls me close. His perfect lips land on mine and I’m done for. I’m surprised I don’t drop the bouquet on the floor when I wrap my arms around his shoulders, kissing him back.
This isn’t like our first kiss, under the mistletoe in the Christmas spirit, drunk on champagne, though. This is slower. Softer. Much more… meaningful. Fuck, what a stupid word for date one.
We’re both grinning as we pull apart. I check my lipstick by pressing my lips to the back of my hand.
“Is it smudged?” I ask him.
He laughs as he shakes his head. “No, no, but do my lips match my suit now?”
“No. Not yet, anyway. Good first attempt, though.”
“I’ll have to do better next time,” he says with a wink, and I take his hand with a fresh round of flutters as he leads me to the door.
Josh really has gone all out on this date. The Mulberry looks even more impressive on the inside than it does on the outside. The huge crystal chandeliers have me wide eyed. Not only that, but we’re seated on the upper floor of the restaurant, on a table fit for royalty. The ambient glow of the lamps around us is divine, and the view of the indoor fountain down below is to die for.
“Would you like me to store these in water for you, madam?” the waiter offers, holding his hand out for my bouquet.
“Yes, please. That would be amazing, thank you.”
“And what can I get you to drink?”
“A white wine, please. Whichever you recommend,” I say. “Thank you.”
“Same,” Josh says. “And make that a bottle, please.”
“Of course, sir.”
I hold back on what I’m about to say next, realising it would be another damn amazing. I realise just how much I say the word amazing. Everything is amazing. Everything. I look over at Josh, sitting opposite me, amazing. I look at the people around us, all suited and dressed to the max, amazing. The room is amazing. The ambience is amazing. Even the fucking napkin on my lap is amazing.
