Page 98 of Snowed In with You

Lucy leaned in to hug him. ‘Thank you for everything tonight, J. And for the lift. You’re the best.’

‘Yeah, I know,’ he said. ‘Just remember me when you’re a superstar WAG. Tell French Exit I want a family ticket to the BRITs.’

‘I will move heaven and earth to make that happen, just to show how much I appreciate you.’

‘Oh, let’s not pretend any of this is about me. Bugger off and message me tomorrow.’

‘I will,’ she said, giving him a final squeeze. ‘Love you.’ She reluctantly let go, relishing how safe he made her feel. Everything outside this car was entirely unknown, and for a moment she was scared to leave.

‘He’s waiting,’ said Jonno gently. ‘Your whole future is waiting. Go and get it.’

‘Yeah,’ said Lucy taking a deep breath. She grabbed her bag and climbed out of the car, hoping Nate didn’t notice how nervous she was.

‘Hey,’ said Nate, standing up to greet her. The air was warm and still, a sultry July night in the city. Rain was forecast for tomorrow, but Lucy wouldn’t have cared if her flat had been washed away in her absence. She only had eyes for Nate.

‘Hello,’ she replied. ‘How did you get here so quickly?’

‘I’ve got a faster car than you,’ said Nate with a shrug. ‘With a driver who was waiting outside the venue.’

‘Get you, Mr Bigshot Celebrity,’ said Lucy playfully. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Sasha told me you’d left the party.’

‘Yeah, I’m sorry,’ said Lucy. ‘I really needed to let Jonno get back. Unlike me, he has family commitments.’

‘It’s fine,’ said Nate softly. ‘I understand.’

Lucy raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to say what he’d come here to say.

‘I just couldn’t wait until tomorrow. It felt too long.’

God, he’s adorable, thought Lucy. ‘Really?

‘And also I lost you for a long time, and I didn’t want to risk losing you again. Is that cheesy?’

‘Yes,’ laughed Lucy. ‘It’s a giant fondue of a chat-up line, but I’ll allow it.’

‘Thank God for that,’ said Nate. ‘Can I come in? I don’t actually have a flat in Bristol any more.’

‘What would you have done if I wasn’t here? Jonno offered me a sofa at his.’

‘I’ve got his address from Sasha too.’ He tapped his forehead with his finger. ‘Covering all bases, see.’

‘I need a shower,’ said Lucy, very conscious that she’d been wearing the same clothes for eighteen hours and her face was tight and blotchy from all the crying earlier. ‘And I’ve got no food in.’

‘I also need a shower,’ said Nate. ‘And I’m not hungry.’

‘Fine, then we’ll both have a shower and not eat.’

‘Is it three-minute-showers only?’ asked Nate, giving her a challenging look. ‘Or can we stay in there a bit longer?’

The intent behind ‘we’ made her shiver, and she fought the urge to drag him upstairs immediately and rip his clothes off. But there was no hurry, and there was a part of her that wanted to draw out the romance of this moment for as long as possible.

She dropped her bag on the step and sat down, waiting for him to join her. Their thighs were close enough to touch, and as he put his arm around her shoulders and she let her head fall on his shoulder, it felt like they were back in Zermatt. The feel and smell of him, the anticipation of his naked body against hers. They’d be having that moment again soon, but in the decadence of her bed rather than two deflating airbeds. Nate would be the first person who’d slipped between her luxury sheets since Kristoff, and hopefully the last. She shivered, then turned and held his piercing gaze for a moment.

‘I can’t give you a definite answer yet about coming on tour,’ she whispered, the words feeling thick in her mouth. ‘I’m pretty sure it’s a yes, but everything is happening a bit fast.’

Nate smiled and took her hand, his long fingers weaving between hers. ‘Things have snowballed again, sorry. I know it’s a big decision to make when we’ve literally spent three days together in total.’