Page 28 of Christmas at the Little Cornish Bakery
Closing the door behind her, Lola’s hands flew to her lips as if to cram all the happiness that was bubbling up back in.
Tristan had kissed her!
Not only that, he’d been wanting to kiss her for a long time. And what a kiss it had been! Lola swooned at the memory of his lips on hers, the way she’d melted against him.
Happy dancing into the kitchen, Lola removed her scarf and gloves, scattering her outer layers along the hallway as she replayed the moment in her mind.
The sweetly seductive way he’d leaned in, the fact that he’d been waiting for the moment to come.
It had been the perfect end of a first date kiss, full of gentle intent.
There had been all sorts of passionate clinches in Lola’s life, but nothing had ever felt quite as good, or as right, as being kissed by Tristan.
She had the distinct feeling that she had been kissed in the way she had always meant to be.
Lola poured a glass of water and concentrated on drinking it in an attempt to calm herself down before heading upstairs to bed, knowing full well she was unlikely to get any sleep that night whilst still buzzing from the date.
As she got ready for bed, she relived all her favourite moments.
The cake had quite possibly been the most adorable thing anyone had ever done for her, and also, exceptionally brave.
Ten out of ten to Tristan. Licking her lips, Lola imagined she could still taste the sweetness of the pineapple, the smokiness of the whisky. It had been utterly perfect.
Makeup removed, her hair smelling slightly of the bonfire and the salty sea, Lola sat on her bed going back over the stories they had shared, snippets of each other lives ready to be woven together.
They had spent the best part of the year sharing morning pleasantries over tea and toast, checking in on each other as they found their feet in a new home and became firm friends.
Lola may have had huge reservations about crossing the friendship barrier but tonight had left her in no doubt that it had totally been worth the risk.
Lola mused about how both she and Ruby had come to Polcarrow and found love.
Love? Lola flushed at the thought – was it too early?
They had known each other all year, they were friends but something had always been burning beneath the surface, but love, it felt too soon, like a gift that needed to stay wrapped up just a little longer.
She picked up her grandmother’s diary, ran her fingers over the cover, but did not open it.
She didn’t want the sadness of Ruby parting with Charlie to seep into her own evening.
She gave the book a kiss brimming with gratitude that her grandmother had led her here, to Polcarrow, to a place she could put down roots.
Could those roots now include Tristan? The starlight had tipped them over the friendship edge and although her brain issued a warning that they needed to proceed with caution, her heart was drumming a full speed ahead tattoo.
Tonight, it had come together, the whole package had been delivered bundled up against the cold.
It was like Lola’s birthday and Christmas had been rolled into one and arrived early.
No more wavering, no more worrying about ruining the friendship, she knew this was exactly what she wanted.
With a wistful smile Lola thought back over all her previous relationships.
They had started with a bang, with what she believed was a burst of love at first sight.
Burning fast and bright, these romances had been peppered with arguments and accusations, tears and tantrums. Lola cringed as she recalled that what she had believed were passionate affairs had, in fact, been immature connections, full of desperation and distrust. Lola recalled the one time Ruby had met Jared.
She hadn’t liked him; she’d made this clear and now Lola wondered why on earth she hadn’t paid her grandmother’s advice any heed.
Lola knew Ruby would approve of Tristan, she’d have seen all along that he was a good man, the sort of person you’d want at your side whilst you traversed through life.
Lola reached for her tarot cards and began to shuffle them, more out of habit and comfort than wanting an answer.
Did she want the future revealed in a spread of cards?
She paused. Or did she want to see it play out like a surprise?
Lola restacked the cards. She didn’t need to know anything yet, she wanted to just enjoy it, the possibility of the future fizzing on her tongue like sherbet.
She tingled with it, the idea of new love, and the twinkling joy of discovering that Tristan felt the same.
Polcarrow liked to gossip but Lola wanted to keep everything between herself and Tristan while it was fragile and new, and enjoy it just for what it was – friendship blooming into something more.