Page 22 of Promises & Petals in Nettleford-on-the-Wold
‘Because I feel the same about you.’ His voice came out a whisper.
Blinking, Hannah slowly wiped the potato from her finger onto the paper in her lap. ‘What did you say?’
‘I feel the same. I have feelings for you too.’
‘You did?’ Hannah widened her eyes.
‘I still do.’ Josh shifted position on the sofa, a gap forming between their knees. ‘But if it was just the drink talking, or the events of that day and the time running up to it, then I understand and I won’t say another word about it. It can lie in the past, permanently buried in our memories.’
‘And if I had meant it? What then?’ she wiped her palms, now clammy, down the leg of her jeans. Was this really happening?Or was she dreaming? Was her mind playing a cruel trick on her?
Josh tucked his forefinger beneath her chin and gently tilted her head, so she was looking straight into his deep green eyes. ‘Then I’d have to ask you if you want this as much as I do.’ He looked pointedly at her lips.
Stunned into silence, she nodded. She did. She wanted it. She’d been waiting for this for decades now, hoping for something that she was so sure would never happen. Closing her eyes, she leaned forward until she felt his warm lips against hers and then, suddenly, she knew she wasn’t dreaming. She was actually kissing Josh Morgan. Or more accurately, he was kissing her. She felt his touch as he placed his hand on the nape of her neck. After what felt like hours but was likely seconds, she felt him pull away from her. Opening her eyes, she brought her finger to her lips. ‘You didn’t go back to London...’
‘Because of you. As soon as you’d voiced your feelings, everything seemed to make sense. I could suddenly see what had been in front of me all along.’
‘You did? But then I left... why didn’t you tell me? Why did you let me leave?’ She didn’t understand. If he’d felt the same way, then why on earth had he not told her? Stopped her from leaving? Been honest?
‘Because I was in a relationship, albeit on a break, and we all know how those end, but I couldn’t tell you how I felt. I’m not that person. I had to finish things off properly with Tasha before I could...’ He waved his hand between them both.
‘So you just let me leave thinking I had just completely embarrassed myself? And then you turn up here to fix my roof and not say anything to me?’ She shook her head. She wanted to believe what he was telling her; she really did, but could she?
‘In my defence, I didn’t know you’d be travelling for four years, and you left pretty much immediately after you’d told me how you felt.’
Hannah shifted position on the sofa, bringing her leg up beneath her. That was true. She did literally run from the conversations he’d had with him, even if it had been to order a taxi to the closest B&B before slinking back the next morning to get her caravan. But four years? He’d let her think she ruined the easy friendship between them for four whole years? ‘Why didn’t you ring? Talk to me? And surely you must have dated people in that time. You wouldn’t have waited for me.’
Josh rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Would you have picked up? And, no, I waited.’
Hannah shook her head. ‘Okay, fair point, but... why now?’
Enveloping her hands in his, Josh fixed his eyes on hers and gave a small half-smile. ‘I didn’t want Freddie getting in there first.’
She let out a laugh. ‘What now?’
Josh shrugged. ‘We see where this takes us.’
Hannah sighed. Sophie. However much she wanted this, and if she believed him, then he wanted this too, they couldn’t. She looked down at their hands. She could feel the calluses on his skin against hers, the strength, the warmth. She tightened her grasp on him as she whispered, ‘What about Sophie?’
Josh frowned, creases forming between his eyes. ‘What about her?’
A million different scenarios raced through her mind - Sophie demanding she couldn’t date her brother, Sophie crying that she’d let her down, Sophie begging Josh to put a stop to things - none of them good. ‘She won’t want this.’
‘Why not? Surely she’d want us both to be happy.’
Hannah bit down on her bottom lip. Sophie would want her to be happy; she’d want him to be happy too, but she’d made itclear time and time again that her brother was off limits. ‘Not like this. Growing up, she hated the idea of anyone she was friends with dating you.’
Lifting his hand, Josh ran the pad of his thumb along the edge of her jawline. ‘We’re not in school now. I’m certain she’ll only be happy for us.’
‘I don’t know.’ Hannah shrugged. It was possible. ‘Do you mind if I’m the one to tell her?’
‘If that’s what you want.’ leaning forward, Josh touched his lips to hers again.
She closed her eyes, trying to push the million thoughts whirring through her mind away and instead to enjoy the moment. He’d waited for her. He felt the same about her as she did about him.
Chapter Sixteen
Hannah paused in front of Sophie’s cottage, her finger poised to ring the doorbell. After spending a sleepless night tossing and turning, Hannah had been grateful when Josh had turned up at the crack of dawn complete with a strong, sugary takeout coffee and bacon sandwich, but she just hadn’t been able to enjoy his company, she hadn’t been able to push past the worry of how Sophie would react and now she was here standing in front of her cottage, she wasn’t quite sure she was ready to break the news. What if she upset her? Or worse, what if Sophie didn’t want to speak to her again?
