Page 28 of One Week With You
So that’s what he’d been doing when he arrived and scared me half to death. He’d orchestrated a surprise forme. “Rafe, I’m – I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything. I wanted you to have it. You can’t have Christmas without a tree, right?”
“No, I suppose not.” I smiled at my feet, weirdly shy all of sudden, overwhelmed by everything and unable to put it into words. “Thank you. This means a lot to me.”
I drifted closer, a little hesitant at first, and placed a soft kiss to his cheek, squeezing his forearm, solid beneath the sleeve of his cream Aran sweater.If he only knew what that sweater does to me.He smelled clean, freshly showered, and was so handsome it hurt. When I pulled away, Rafe’s eyes were closed and only the shift in the air had them snapping open.
“You’re welcome,” he said gruffly. “I’d do anything for you.”
Something flipped in my chest, and I clutched at my stomach as if it could settle the light, floaty sensation lingering inside.
Our gazes held and I blinked up at him, unsure what to say. How could I respond to such a declaration? And why was he telling me this now?
Rafe broke the connection first, clearing his throat and looking around the room. “Unfortunately, I don’t have any decorations. My parents weren’t known for keeping that kind of stuff here.”
I frowned, remembering the box I’d seen when I opened every cupboard the day I arrived. I wasn’t particularly nosy by nature but… it was Rafe. I couldn’t help myself.
“What?” he said, sensing my hesitance.
“Um, don’t hate me, but I saw a box of decorations in one of the wardrobes upstairs. I’m sorry, I wasn’t snooping. Well, I was, but not for secrets or anything. Curiosity?” I winced at the ramble and hid my face behind one hand. “I’m so sorry, I’m terrible.”
Rafe laughed. “It’s fine. I don’t have anything to hide. I’m surprised there’s anything here though. I would’ve thought they chucked everything years ago.”
“You might be right. I didn’t look inside the box. I’m not that nosy.”
“A little bit nosy then?”
“Sometimes. Stop looking at me like that, I’m human. Sue me!”
His wicked grin morphed into a laugh that lit up my insides.
“You haven’t looked out the window yet, have you?” he asked, and I startled at the rapid change in conversation.
“No,” I said slowly, then raced to the window above the sink. “Oh my god.”
“Told you I never lose.”
I rolled my eyes, too distracted to form a reply, too delighted by the blanket of white covering everything. Usually this view was lush green fields but now there was no real distinction between that and the sky.
I had snow. I had a Christmas tree. And now I had Rafe, if only for a little while.
“Have you eaten yet?” I asked brightly. Nothing was going to damper my mood today. “How does scrambled eggs on toast sound?”
“It depends. Is this you offering?”
“For the man who bought me a tree? I’ll throw in lunch and dinner too.”
“So generous,” he said with a grin. “How can I refuse?”
“Well, don’t celebrate yet,” I warned. “My cooking skills are a little rusty.”
I grabbed everything I needed from the fridge and dumped it all on the counter while I searched for the pans. My standard method for cooking had always been whatever was quickest and easiest, given I was always squashed for time. So I hadn’t cooked anything using the stove yet, more than happy to slip into my usual pattern of something on toast or whatever I could throw in the microwave. But it was different now there was more than one person to cook for.
It felt… nice.
“Bottom drawer under the hob,” Rafe said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. “Are you thinking about changing careers?”
“Huh?” I looked over my shoulder to find him peering at my notepad and all the scribbles I’d made about my future. “Oh. I don’t know. Maybe.”
