Page 116 of Desperate Lies
A permissive heat floods me, and my body softens. “Okay.”
He holds me, swaying me to some imaginary song as the rain comes down around us, splattering against the concrete andchurning the surface of the Thames. We might as well be the only two people in the whole world, and I press myself against him, allowing myself to relax.
“I missed you,” I whisper.
He squeezes me tighter. “I love you.” I freeze and look up at him, finding him staring back.
“Can you repeat that, please?” I ask.
The sweetest smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “I love you. I’m in love with you. There is no woman in the entire world who even comes close. I’ve thought of you every single day since you left. I’ve waited my whole life to meet someone like you, and I don’t care that you’re younger or my daughter’s best friend.” He halts his monologue, continuing to sway gently with me in his arms as we resume our ‘dance’ without music. “I care about that a bit, but seeing as Lizzie gave me her blessing—”
“She did?”
“She did. She was upset at first, but then she told me I looked so dreadful that she was worried I was terminally ill, and attributed it to you leaving and breaking my heart. Apparently, me being with you is better than me dying, so now she’s invested in both my health and our relationship.”
“You don’t lookthatbad,” I say through laughter. “I still think you’re the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen.”
“Does that mean I’m in with a chance here?”
“Well, I am dancing in the rain with you. I don’t do that with just anyone.”
He swipes his thumb across my cheek, and I don’t know whether he’s wiping away tears or rain. “You know what being older than you does mean?”
“Significantly older,” I add, which makes him smile.
“Yes, significantly older. It means I have enough life experience to know that what I feel for you, and the connectionwe have, is very unusual. I’d be a fool to let you slip away again. I’d ask you to marry me if I thought you’d say yes.”
Tears swell immediately. I blink. “That’s a bit intense.”
He smirks. “I have a history of falling extremely hard for women who are good in bed.”
A crackle of laughter breaks free. “Thanks, I think.”
The teasing expression on his face vanishes. “I think you’re incredible. Amazing. I’ve watched your progress for months. At first, I tried not to look because seeing your videos was—” He breaks off, frowning. “Upsetting. But then, after I saw you outside Brooks, I couldn’t stop. I watched everything you produced. Every podcast, every video, every interview. Every single piece of content, I devoured. I am completely obsessed with you, I have been for months, and I meant what I said in there.” He nods back at the concrete building behind us. “You are priceless, and I could never afford you, but if you want me, I’m all yours. Completely. For as long as you want.”
“Forever?”
“Forever is a long time,” he says, his eyes sparkling. “EvenIdon’t know what that feels like.”
I giggle, gripping the front of his shirt and tugging on it. “Please say yes, because I love you too. So much. I haven’t stopped thinking about you either. It’s driving me mad. I’m completely obsessed.Completely,” I emphasise, unable to stop myself now I’ve started. “I still touch myself and think of you every night—”
He kisses the smile from my mouth, and I slip into the warmth of his tongue and the feel of his arms around me. I’ve wanted this for so long, I can hardly believe it’s happening.
The sound of cheering and whooping crashes into my awareness, and it must register with Rafe at the same time because we pull apart and look to the balcony above, where Julian, Henry, Lizzie, Charlie, Seb, and Erica are all leaning over.None of them have umbrellas, and all of them are getting wet, but no one seems to care.
Lizzie mimes putting her fingers down her throat and vomiting, and Charlie knocks her elbow, scowling at her. She grins and throws her arms around his neck. Erica raises my special edition book that I left on the stage so I can see it’s safe, and Seb whips it from her and tucks it inside his jacket to keep it dry. Julian pounds at the air over his head with his good arm, and Henry shakes a bottle of champagne—God knows where he got it—opens it, and sprays it everywhere. They squeal, and Erica covers her hair with her hands, Seb quickly sheltering her from the ejaculating froth of champagne.
“We have an audience,” Rafe mutters. “Should we give them a show?”
“I mean, sure. Don’t come on my face or anything like that, but—”
His deep chuckle vibrates through his chest and into mine as he holds me tight and dips me backwards, kissing me like we’re in a Hollywood Golden Era movie. Up above, the yells and hollers of encouragement only grow louder.
“Get a room!” Julian yells.
Rafe laughs. “Shall we?”
I kiss him again. “Yes, please.”
