Page 73 of Sunny Skies and Summer Kisses

‘You don’t say.’ Gabe grinned, turning his attention to Bob. He wrinkled his nose. ‘Oh, man, there’s nothing like the smell of wet Labrador, is there? And, Bob, you may be a grand wee fella, but you smell like a pile of rotting cabbage. I think we need to get you dried off before you start steaming.’

Bob wagged his tail, his eyes shining happily as if he’d just been told some wonderful news, making Gabe and Anoushka laugh.

45

After being given a brisk rub over with a towel, Bob settled down in front of the newly-lit wood-burner, his ears twitching as the storm raged overhead.

Anoushka had swapped her soggy clothes for her light cotton pyjamas and a snuggly dressing gown she’d found hanging on the hook behind her bedroom door. As she headed into the living room, towel-drying her hair, she found Gabe in the kitchen, making a fresh pot of tea. Her stomach performed a somersault at the sight of him. His damp hair was ruffled and he was wearing nothing but a pair of pyjama bottoms that sat low on his hips. He looked unbelievably sexy. She couldn’t stop her eyes from roving over his broad shoulders, sliding onto the smattering of dark hair on his chest, making their way down to his taut abs. She padded over to him in her bare feet, her eyes settling on his left upper arm. She reached out, her fingers hovering over the array of bruises, a reminder of his accident. Her heart leapt; God, he’d been lucky.

Before she had chance to think, his lips were on hers, kissing her hard, his fingers knotted in her hair. Lightening lit up the room followed by a deafening crash of thunder, so loud Anoushka felt it vibrate in her chest. Bob yelped and shot up, scooting over to them.

‘It’s okay, fella. You’re safe in here with us,’ said Gabe, getting down to Bob’s level and smoothing his head reassuringly.

‘Sounds like the storm’s right overhead. I’ll close the curtains and put some music on,’ said Anoushka, her insides still molten from Gabe’s kiss. She was just reaching for the curtain at the bi-fold doors when the lights went out, plunging them into darkness.

‘Bugger,’ said Gabe.

* * *

An hour later,the storm had all-but burnt itself out, leaving the air fresh and the sky clear. Anoushka was curled up on the sofa beside Gabe. She’d remembered seeing a collection of candles and tealights in one of the cupboards and had used the torch on her mobile to seek them out. Now, the room was filled with their delicious scent and a gentle, flickering glow.

Gabe yawned and went to stretch, his breath catching in his throat. Bob opened his eyes from his place curled up in front of the wood-burner.

‘You okay?’ Anoushka sat up to look at Gabe, seeing the pain in his eyes.

‘Mmm-hmm.’ He nodded. ‘I just forget that it hurts if I do too much with my left arm; that took the brunt of the impact.’

‘You’re lucky you didn’t break anything,’ she said.

‘Ah, tough as oul boots, me.’ He gave her his lopsided grin that made her heart flutter then pulled her back into a hug. She rested her head on his shoulder and he dropped a kiss on it. ‘So, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking recently.’

‘Oh?’

‘Yeah, I’ve been thinking about the future, about you and me, about where I see my career going.’ He wrapped a strand of her flaxen hair around his finger.

Anoushka felt ripple of nerves in her stomach. She’d deliberately avoided thinking about how Gabe’s career would impact on their relationship. But since she’d fallen hard for him, she’d found herself trying to quell the turmoil it instilled in her.

‘I’ve realised my heart isn’t in singing anymore, and, man, itdefinitelyisn’t in touring, it just doesn’t give me that buzz; I’m weary of it. It’s been creeping up on me gradually and now the feeling’s got so strong, I just can’t ignore it.’

A candle guttered, its light flickering around the room.

‘Oh.’ Anoushka hadn’t expected this.

‘The part I love the most, what gives me the biggest kick, is song writing. I’ve always loved that; scribbled down lyrics ever since I was a wee boy. Then, there’s being up here in North Yorkshire, on the moors. I love it here; I feel more settled than I have anywhere else. And then there’s you.’ He tilted her head up to him, kissing her gently on the lips. ‘I don’t want to be anywhere else but here, with you.’

Anoushka pulled back, hoping to read his expression, her mind playing catch-up with his words. ‘You don’t?’

‘I don’t.’ His eyes locked on hers.

She sat up straight, feeling utterly torn. It was one thing not to want to be in the limelight herself but she couldn’t expect the same of Gabe; it wouldn’t be right.

‘Please don’t tell me you’re thinking this way because of me, because of what I’ve said about being in the public eye, and you being away for long stretches of time.’ Concern filled her eyes.

He gently brushed her face with his thumb, looking at her tenderly. ‘It’s not as black and white as that, Noushka. Being here with you means more to me than all of that.’

‘But… I mean… you can’t give up your career because of me. You’re so successful; it’s been your dream, what you’ve worked so hard for. There’s no way I’d expect you to do that.’

‘I’ve achieved everything I set out to do as far as my career is concerned – and I don’t mean that in a conceited way – but the bigger picture has always been very different.’

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