I glance around, just to check Gabe isn’t hiding away in a corner, out to trap another girl. ‘It’s not changed, has it?’ I can’t believe such a short time has passed since I first crept into this bar, wondering what Gabe would be like, nervous about a date with somebody who wasn’t Robbie. It seems like a lifetime ago in some ways though. ‘I got an Uber this time though, I didn’t risk walking in these heels!’
‘I ordered prosecco, is that okay?’
‘Noah.’ I need to break the ice, this is all too formal. Not us. ‘Sorry about—’
We both speak at the same time. Both stop.
‘That ki—’
It happens again. He leans forward, rests his finger lightly against my lips.
‘Normally I’d say ladies first,’ I raise an eyebrow, ‘but I need to get this off my chest. I’m sorry about that kiss, at your mum’s party.’
‘It was fine, nice, I liked it.’ I was going to say the same. Well, roughly.
‘You liked it? Damning me with faint praise. It was sensational!’
‘Okay, it was sensational.’ I climb up on the stool, feeling more comfortable. ‘Though not as good as the one on the bench, fuelled by Southern chicken wraps!’
‘True.’ His voice is gentle. ‘But I’m sorry I launched at you like that, I’d just been waiting so long, and you looked as desperate as me, and I guess I misread …’
‘Desperate? Moi? What are you suggesting?’ His perplexed look makes me laugh. I take a sip of my drink, make him wait. ‘Misread my arse. Noah, I was, as Bea would say rather inelegantly, totally gagging for it. But, with Dad, and you, and Laurie and … well, sorry I had a meltdown.’
‘I don’t blame you. I got it wrong, I totally lost control.’ He frowns. ‘It caught me out. I don’t do that!’
‘Kiss?’
‘Lose control. Ever. It was flaming scary if you must know, that’s why I bolted the moment you gave me an excuse. I needed to work.’
‘Work?’
‘It helps me think, you know, designing stuff, tweaking, refining. It kind of releases the other part of my brain, or something.’ He pulls a bit of an ‘eek, what am I talking about’ face. ‘I sat in the office and made something. What did you do?’
I hope he’s not expecting some kind of romantic equivalent. ‘I talked to Mum about living a dirty life, and taking control, and then I shook my booty. Well, we all did, we cleared the dancefloor!’
‘You?’
‘Shake, shake, shake your booty, KC and the Sunshine Band. You’ll have to get used to Mum’s music taste if you’re going to date her daughter! Though I think she’s more into Bob Marley at the moment.’
‘Was it better than Tina Turner?’
‘Nowhere near,’ I say, blushing.
He chuckles. ‘She was right.’
‘Who was?’
‘Tina! You are simply the best.’
‘My God, you are smooth.’
‘I’m being sincere, can’t you tell? Have I told you yet you look beautiful?’
‘Not yet.’
He twirls a strand of my hair in his fingers. It sends a tingle to my scalp. A shiver down my spine.
‘You look amazing, Rosie. You’re gorgeous.’ He smiles, breaking the moment that might have turned into a kiss. Damn.
‘Even with the paint.’ He grins. ‘Good enough to kiss, but I’m trying not to lose control.’
‘Selfish.’
‘Not yet. I want this date to be a good one, you deserve a good one.’ He leans in then, and drops the sweetest kiss on my lips, then draws back again. ‘You have no idea how hard this is.’ He groans. ‘Pity me!’
I laugh. Put my hands on his knees, let my thumbs drift over his inner thigh. ‘Were you really desperate at the party?’
‘This far,’ he gestures with thumb and finger, ‘from dragging you off and stripping you naked.’
‘Do you still want to do that?’
He nods.
Suddenly it hits me that I am not afraid of sleeping with another man. I am not worried about how I will cope with a penis I have not met before, or whether I will do things wrong. Noah will make sure it is right.
‘Well maybe we should then?’
He chuckles. ‘You’re totally out to ruin my plan, aren’t you?’
‘Plans are made to be changed, or something like that.’
‘True.’
‘Needs must!’
‘Oh my God you are such a turn on, stop teasing, I’m going to have to hold a cushion over my crotch!’
I snigger. I can’t help it.
So we pay the bill, and call a taxi.
***
‘Surprise!’
This is not how I expected our arrival at Noah’s place to pan out. I had visions of clothes strewn up the stairs, of passionate kisses,