Underlined twice.
And ticked.
I look up at him, bewildered, and see that he is beaming. I look down at the list again and then back at him. Does this mean what I think it means? Sometimes I can be a bit slow on the uptake – and sometimes I can jump to the wrong conclusions. (I guess I’m in good company there.) I can hardly bear to allow myself to believe that this might mean what I so want it to mean. Maybe it’s some kind of joke.
‘Is this a joke? Does this mean …’
I don’t get the chance to finish my sentence. Paul is pulling me into his arms – God, it feels so good – and murmuring something in my ear. I decide to allow myself to believe that this is really happening. He’s right here, holding me. I’m holding him back and this time I’m not letting go for anything.
‘Glad to see you’ve finally got your priorities right, Stella,’ he says in a voice I’ve never heard before: husky and full of bad intentions. Then his lips meet mine and he kisses me with so much passion I can hardly breathe. He pulls away just long enough to say, ‘By the way, just so you know, I love you too.’
Time stands still again as we stand, wrapped around each other, kissing and laughing and making promises and plans. But mostly kissing. Making up for lost time, I like to think. There is a lot of time to be made up – about twenty years I reckon. And Paul seems as eager to get started on it as I am.
Just before I melt away completely, I fix him with a steely glare. ‘You’ve still got to work your way up to the top of the list, you know.’
He pulls away just far enough to look deep into my eyes. ‘You mean, try to be even more useful than a fridge-freezer that makes ice?’
Exactly.
CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT
American double-door ice-maker fridge-freezer
Kenwood food mixer
Cath Kidston Kitchenalia
Furniture! (Sofa, dining table, chairs, beds, wardrobes …) √
Clothes: see sub-list √
TV – whatever √
Lipsy – computer, Playstation, iPod, clothes…
Carpets for entire house √
New bathroom suite and towels √
Tiling – bathroom and kitchen √
Bed linen x 4 – Marks & Spencer √
Paul Smart √
THE END
Acknowledgements
First, I’d like to say a great big thank you to Jez, for his unfailing support at every stage of the process of writing and publishing this book. Without him Can’t Live Without would never have been written. Thanks to all my family for their support, especially my mum and my sister for their encouragement and belief in me, and thanks to Chris Howard for the excellent cover design. I’d also like to thank everyone who has been involved in the editing and production of this novel, including (in no particular order) Jude White, Hilary Johnson, Ella Andrews, and all my wonderful ‘Beta readers’: Emma, Bev, Dawn, Rosanne, Kristy, Marina, Vikki, Audrey, and Christine - I was amazed and touched that you all took the time to support me with such fantastic feedback.
Find out more about my books and writing at www.joannephillips.co.uk
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Acknowledgements