Page 72

“Fuuuuck…” I groan and crush my lips to hers.

She tries to say something, but I’m too busy kissing her, and instead she lifts her arms around my neck, and I wrap mine around her waist, and we stand there for a long moment, locked together, unmindful of the cars passing until one of them beeps at us.

We break apart, laughing. “Who was that?” Vix asks.

“Ollie,” I say wryly. “I’ll never hear the end of that.”

She giggles. “I’m sorry I tempted you to kiss me. But maybe we should just accept that, for now, we’re enjoying it, and stop worrying about it.” She slides her hand into mine shyly.

“Yeah,” I reply. “That sounds good.”

It’s not good. It’s bad, very bad. Kissing her whenever I feel like is only going to make things harder. I feel like a diabetic who’s walked into a chocolate shop. I love the taste so much that I can’t stop myself tasting everything, even though I know it’s bad for me.

I stifle a groan. Now I’m thinking about tasting her.

There really is no hope for me.

Chapter Nineteen

Vix

The rest of the day flies by. Shortly after we return to the bookshop, Leo and Mitch disappear upstairs to get started on painting the flat.

I want to spend Christmas with Dad this year, as it’s our first year without Mum, so although I’m aware Mitch is on a time limit, I don’t personally feel there’s a rush to decorate the flat. I’m still a bit worried that the bank is going to turn me down for the loan. Because of this, I don’t want him tailoring the flat to me too much, so he’s promised to use neutral colours, and to wait until the loan has gone through before he starts personalizing the place for me.

I still have loads of boxes to get through downstairs, but I now have lots of piles around the room where we’ve sorted the books into various subjects, and I feel I’m beginning to make headway at last. I get through a few more boxes, stop for lunch and pick up some rolls from Emma, take them up to the boys upstairs with a coffee each, then continue sorting while I munch on my chicken roll.

I need to start thinking about the book sale. It needs to be Saturday, I think, because a cruise ship is calling in at the Bay of Islands, and that means there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors to the island. The fact that it’s close to Christmas means that many of the books will be perfect for fun stocking fillers.

Some are in better condition than others. I decide that in each section, I’m going to have two bargain boxes, one with ten-dollar books, and one with five-dollar books, plus I’ll also have a dollar box at the front of the shop with old, damaged, or just really weird books that I don’t think will sell for a higher price.

By the end of the day, I’ve finally opened and sorted the last box. I’ve worked hard, and I’m tired, but I’m relieved that the biggest job is done.

The boys come down at five, both wearing overalls which are covered in paint, and with paint in their hair.

“You know it’s supposed to go on the wall, right?” I say.

Leo chuckles. “I’m off. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He waves and heads out.

“You look like it’s been snowing,” Millie says, coming up to Mitch.

“It’s cold up there,” he says, and holds out his paint-covered hands. “Come here and give me a kiss.”

She squeals and runs away, and he chases her for a minute before giving up and saying, “You’re too fast for me.”

He comes over to me then. “Your mother’s not a sprinter though…” He lifts his hands, glances at Millie to make sure she’s not looking, then holds them over my boobs.

I laugh. “Stop it.” I push his hands away.

He chuckles and turns them over to look at them. “The paint’s all dried. I’m going to need to soak in the bath when we get back.” He lifts his blue eyes to me. “Want to get in with me?” he murmurs.

I think about sliding beneath the warm water, our legs tangling, bubbles sparkling in the candlelight. Romance hasn’t been a part of my life for oh-so-long…

“I wish,” I say softly.

He tips his head to the side, obviously seeing the yearning in my eyes, and gives me a tender look, but he just says, “Hmm…”

“Can we go home now?” Millie asks, sliding her hand into mine.