Page 65 of A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft

‘It isn’t. I’m glad I spent the evening with you. It’s actually the best evening I’ve had for a long time which is quite a turnaround given what happened on the terrace, but I completely understand why you’d only want friendship. I was the one who said I had no expectations and I meant it. It’s not your fault I desperately want to kiss you.’

Her brow knitted slightly. ‘Do you?’

‘God, yes! But I’m not going to throw myself at you so don’t panic.’

She cocked her head to one side, a smile playing on her lips. ‘Does it have to be a choice – friendship or passion?’

‘In my experience, yes. And it’s usually friendship.’

‘Can’t it be both? Phil and I started off as friends and that became so much more and it was an amazing relationshipbecause we had friendshipandpassion. Yes, it ended and we reverted to being friends, but it only ended because we got together so young, before we knew who we were and what we really wanted out of life. We could have emerged from the other side battle scarred and resentful. Instead, we chose to let go and preserve the friendship. But those years where we had the friendshipandthe passion were perfect and it’s my dream to find that again with someone else.’

Could that someone else be me?The words were in my head, but I couldn’t seem to spit them out.

‘I’m older now,’ Poppy said. ‘Hopefully wiser too and I know what I want.’

‘What’s that?’ I asked, my heart pounding as she moved a little closer, her leg pressing against mine.

‘You.’

She ran her fingers into my hair and pressed her lips against mine in the most incredible gentle kiss which left me wanting more.

‘I’m still nervous,’ she whispered, her eyes searching mine.

‘Me too, but we both know what that means.’

I cupped her face and lowered my lips to hers, melting into a deeply passionate kiss which had my heart pounding. I’d wanted to do that all night. Heck, I’d wanted to do it when I saw her in the garden centre, and it was better than anything I’d imagined.

25

POPPY

I opened my eyes and experienced a moment of discombobulation from waking up somewhere unfamiliar. As my eyes rested on my dress draped over the dressing table chair, I smiled as the memories from last night flooded back to me. What a night! As our kisses intensified, Joel had taken my hand and led me back to his room. I loved the way he’d paused by the door, emphasising that this was about privacy and comfort and there was still no pressure or expectation. Maybe not from him but I was expecting great things after the way he kissed, taking my breath away.

I’m not sure how far we’d have taken things if his phone hadn’t rung. He’d already told me he’d need to keep it switched on in case there was a problem with Imogen and I’d said I was the same because of Dad but, as soon as he told me it was Fizz calling, I knew our evening was over. As disappointing as that was, it made me like him even more that he was always there for his daughter.

As he spoke to Fizz in hushed tones, I rolled myself off the bed, adjusting my dress back into place. Sure enough, as Islipped my feet back into Fizz’s sandals, I caught the end of the conversation.

‘Tell her I’ll be there in five minutes.’ He disconnected and turned to me with a sigh. ‘I’m so sorry. Imogen’s crying. She feels sick.’

‘Probably from all the excitement,’ I said. ‘I just need to track down my bag and I’ll be gone.’

‘I think you dropped it by the door.’ He retrieved it for me and a wave of heat passed through me as I recalled tossing it there the moment we tumbled into his room, locked in a kiss.

His arm slipped round my waist as I took the bag from him and he pulled me closer, kissing me tenderly.

‘I don’t want to say goodbye,’ he murmured.

‘Then don’t. Saysee you later.’

‘When do you go home?’

‘First thing on Monday. I wish I could stay longer but I’ve got a client meeting on Tuesday and I really need to see my dad.’

‘Do you have any plans for tomorrow night?’

‘Just packing.’

‘Can I come to the farmhouse? I could cook for you if you like. I’m pretty useful in the kitchen.’

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