Page 64 of Sunny Skies and Summer Kisses

Gabe paused, his chest heaving with a sigh. He mustered up a smile. ‘Erm, no, you won’t know them, and they’re not in my line of work; they don’t like the whole being in the limelight thing.’

‘Oh.’ Tina took a moment. ‘So am I right in assuming “My Rose-Shaped Heart” is about this person you are, or were, in love with?’

‘Jeez, Tina, you certainly know how to ask them, don’t you?’ he said with a good-natured laugh. ‘But if you don’t mind, all I’m going to say is I’m not in a relationship at the moment, and leave it at that. I’ve got no one waiting at home who loves me. And yes, I’m no stranger to unrequited love, though, to be honest, I don’t think any of us is.’

A chorus of, ‘Ahh,’ filled the studio, followed by a voice shouting, ‘We love you, Gabe!’

‘Thank you. I love you all too.’ He laughed again, though his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

‘Oh, poor Gabe. I think he looks sad,’ said Lily.

Anoushka gulped, shuffling uncomfortably in her seat, aware of Kitty and her dad exchanging a look as an air of awkwardness descended in the living room at Oak Tree Farm.

‘Well, hopefully there’ll soon be someone waiting for you at home and you’ll be able to write more of your gorgeous love songs,’ Tina said, picking up on his unspoken message of not wanting to share any further. More cheering from the audience followed.

‘That’d be nice,’ Gabe gave a half-hearted smile.

Anoushka felt a twinge of guilt, not liking herself for the hurt she’d caused him. Her reasons suddenly seemed flimsy.

‘Oh, Gabe, I wish we could continue this conversation but I’ve got the director in my ear telling me we need to show a clip of the video of your new single. So without further ado, here it is, everyone. It’s what you’ve all been dying to see; here’s the first glimpse of “My Rose-Shaped Heart” by the fabulous Gabe Dublin.’

‘Ey up, Noushka, here we go, lass,’ said her dad, rubbing his hands together, grinning.

‘Oh my God, Noushka, you’re going to be famous,’ said Lily, bouncing up and down on her seat.

‘I sincerely hope not.’ Anoushka wished the ground would open up and swallow her as the video started to play. She’d never felt more uncomfortable in her life. Why hadn’t she stuck with her decision to watch this on catch-up?

‘Oh, lovey, just look at you up on that screen,’ said Kitty proudly.

‘Oh, no!’ It was the first time Anoushka had seen it. She cringed and clapped her hand over her eyes, peering through her fingers. ‘Oh, jeez!’ As if the close-up of her face wasn’t embarrassing enough, she hadn’t realised just how much the cameraman had zoomed in, lingering as she looked directly down the lens, her plump lips slightly parted, her eyes bright, gazing back shyly, the barely-there breeze lifting tendrils of golden hair. It had even picked out the smattering of freckles that covered her sun-kissed skin.

In the next moment her heart froze as right there in front of her, for all the world to see – andworse, her parents, not to mention all of Lytell Stangdale, including Kristy and Brogan – was her sharing a passionate kiss with Gabe Dublin. She’d been hoping with all her might they wouldn’t play that part. Anoushka shrank into her seat as she recalled the feelings that had surged through her that day, her face glowing scarlet. There was no getting away from the on-screen chemistry that was exploding between them. And there was no getting away from how urgently she was kissing him back. She heard her dad give an embarrassed cough. Why, oh why, had she agreed to appear in it? She was never going to live it down.

The video over, Tina turned back to Gabe as the audience erupted into applause. ‘Wow! That was some kiss, Gabe. So convincing, anyone would think she was your real girlfriend. Maybe you should ask the young actress there out on a date, she certainly seems to like you.’

Reluctantly, Gabe pulled his eyes away from the screen. ‘Yeah, maybe I should.’

‘Well, thank you for joining us tonight…’ Tina’s voice faded into the background as the family turned to face Anoushka.

‘Noushka,’ Lily turned to face her stepsister, her eyes sparkling, ‘I think you’re the girl Gabe’s talking about when he says he’s only been in love once. And I think he’s still in love with you. And you know what else? I think you love him too.’

‘You’ve got it completely wrong, Lils.’ Anoushka was trembling. If her younger sister thought that, then other people would too. Damon sprang to mind, sending an icy ripple over her skin.

‘Oh, sweetheart, that video was just beautiful,’ Kitty said, resting her hand on her chest.

‘Aye, it was, you were fantastic, Noushka.’ Ollie looked across at his daughter. ‘But poor old Gabe and his unrequited love he says the song’s about. I can remember feeling the same about your mum here, thinking I’d never get the chance to be with her. Gave me the most awful ache in my heart. I knew I’d never be able to love anyone as much as I loved her.’

Kitty rested her head on her husband’s shoulder and he pressed his lips against her short crop of curls. ‘I’d had a crush on your dad for ages and it was when he kissed me I knew we were meant to be together, we just took the long way round and got us some gorgeous kids on the way.’

‘Bleurgh!’ said Lily, miming throwing up. ‘Will you two quit with the puke-worthy stuff?’

‘There’s nowt puke-worthy about falling in love, Lils. As you’ll find out when you get yourself a boyfriend.’ Ollie laughed, throwing a rolled-up paper napkin at her.

‘Arghh!’ she said as it bounced off her nose. ‘I’m never getting a boyfriend. Boys are so stupid and smelly.’ She scooped up the balled napkin and hurled it back, but aimed badly and it landed on Mabel who was curled up by Ollie’s feet. The little cocker spaniel jumped up, giving a startled bark, making everyone but Anoushka giggle.

She was only vaguely aware of the conversation going on around her, too churned up to speak, emotions charging around her body. There wasn’t a cat in hell’s chance she could wriggle out of the chemistry she’d just witnessed on the screen, of the feelings she very clearly had for Gabe and he for her. And it had been captured on film for all to see.Oh, bugger!A feeling of dread landed heavily in her stomach at the prospect of facing Brogan and Kristy. How on earth was she going to explain this to them? And, more worryingly, how was she going to face Gabe?

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