Page 46 of Christmas at the Little Cornish Bakery
Lola darted out of the kitchen and hurried along to the seafront.
She’d go to the pub, she’d haul Tristan outside and tell him how she felt.
Hell, she’d even pull the plug on the pub jukebox and spill it all with everyone listening.
Now the truth had bubbled up there was no squashing it back down.
She wanted to shout it to the world. Pulling her coat tighter around her, Lola ran along the harbour wall, only briefly cursing the fact she’d not stopped to pull her gloves on, when she ran smack bang into something tall and solid.
‘Woah! Slow down!’
Large hands closed around her arms, holding her firmly in place.
Looking up, Lola’s eyes met with Tristan’s, as they both paused, the anticipation ignited like fireworks in her belly.
Straightening up, he stepped back and let her go.
Untethered, Lola tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and pressed her lips together.
She took in everything about Tristan, the way the night stars twinkled in his eyes, the bit of hair that flopped over his forehead that she always itched to push back.
The smile that was tugging at his lips. The way he looked at her as if she was the most precious, most beautiful thing on earth.
It stilled her, centred her. The moment was so perfect Lola wanted to freeze it, encase in a snow globe so she could always tip it up and let the magic rain down upon the memory.
As they studied each other, time slowed right down, like the world was waiting with bated breath to see what they did next.
‘What’s got you running along the seafront at this time of night?’ Tristan asked, amused, as if he already knew and was testing her. ‘I thought you’d be all tucked up at home.’
‘You,’ she said before she could change her mind. ‘You’ve got me running along the seafront at this time of night.’
‘Me?’ He feigned puzzlement as a smile spread across his face. As he stepped closer, he cupped Lola’s face in his hand. ‘Why me?’
Lola leaned into his touch, absorbed the comfort of it as the words fizzed like sherbet on her tongue. ‘Because .?.?.’ She paused and even though she was almost on tiptoes with anticipation she couldn’t resist asking, ‘Why are you running along the seafront at this time of night?’
Tristan laughed then grew serious. ‘Because of you.’
Lola stepped forward, sliding her hand up his arm until it came to rest on his shoulder.
Anchoring herself to him, she slipped it around his neck, pulling him in close, stroking the short strands of hair at the nape of his neck.
‘Me? Why me?’ Lola echoed, bracing herself, all her nerves tingling as she waited to hear what she hoped to.
Tristan took her other hand, linked his fingers through hers. ‘Because, Lola, I’m in love with you, I’ve been in love with you from the moment I first saw you. That’s why. I couldn’t sit there with Anna any longer. I told her straight. I love you, Lola.’
Lola swallowed back the words. Time stopped.
Tristan loved her. Hearing it was better than she’d expected.
They were more than just the cherry on the top of the cake, they were a whole box of sprinkles and a dusting of glitter.
She squeezed his hand back whilst planning on never, ever letting go.
‘Well, that’s quite handy,’ she began, ‘because the thing is, Tristan, I’ve realised I’m in love with you, too. ’
A grin broke across his face and he let out a whoop of joy, before pulling her to him. ‘Does this mean we don’t have to take it slowly, or keep it from everyone anymore, because frankly, I’ve been struggling so much.’
‘No, I don’t think we should keep it to ourselves any longer,’ she said, ‘after all, romance is the extra sparkle on the Christmas cake.’
A smile broke out across his face before he closed the gap between them and kissed her, his lips lingering on hers like an invitation until she kissed him back. It was brandy and tinsel, fireworks and stardust all rolled into one. For Lola, it was absolutely perfect.