Kiss Me: You & Me Series, #1

By Cindi Page

The festive family table always has room for one more, and she's sitting next to him. She has no idea who he is.

 

TV fame has Leo Taylor longing for quiet family time this Christmas. The only role he wants to play is being the fun uncle.

 

Kat, new to the country, is looking to start a new chapter in her life.

 

Leo and Kat are not on the market for love, but can the mistletoe work its magic this Christmas?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cindi Page
• Release date: Oct 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223521440

Cindi Page

Cindi Page is a contemporary romance writer. She also dabbles in melancholic short stories because she is fascinated by the brittle beauty of sadness.  Born in the shadow of Table Mountain in Cape Town, she has Africa in her bones and South African wine in her veins.  A Piece of My Heart was her debut novel (2016). The sequel, Full Circle was released early 2018.

Book preview

ONE

Leo

I’m staring at the luminous green juice in my bottle: Swamp Juice. Ugh. It’s been two weeks of strict liquid lunches of Swamp, Sunshine, and The Pink One smoothies with lean, white protein and steamed broccoli for dinner. I dare not leave the house until premiere night in case I gravitate towards a drive-through and consume my body weight in greasy burgers, fries, and milkshakes.

My phone pings. I open the group chat channel I have with my brothers called BFTSM (Brothers From The Same Mother).

ADAM: Evie says to come anytime on Friday. After lunch?

ROBBY: (thumbs up)

LEO: Can I bring anything?

ADAM: Negative. Evie has the whole Christmas Eve menu planned down to the T.

LEO: Can’t wait (licking lips).

ROBBY: Tired of your Shrek juice? (Sick face/ laughing)

LEO: FO

ADAM: When’s the big night L?

LEO: Tomorrow.

ROBBY: Our brother, the star of Farthington. Why couldn’t you get a part in a Marvel movie? That would have been cool. Now I’m forced to watch you in a top hat and tails!

LEO: If you think that will be the worst part of it to watch, I’ve got a surprise for you.

ROBBY: Please tell me there’s no (aubergine) (peach)…

LEO: (flames)

ADAM: I’ll be leaving the room to make tea at that part… Before I forget, got two more coming on Fri. Old pal from my Afghan days +1. Long story.

LEO: (thumbs up)

ROBBY: (thumbs up)

ADAM: You’ll be great, L

.

ROBBY: How many scenes are you shirtless in? Need to mentally prepare… Wait, who’s your date for the premiere?

LEO: None of your business.

ROBBY: So, no one?

LEO: Stick to your video games, okay?

I close the chat and throw my mobile across the kitchen counter. Does it bother me I don’t have a date for the premiere of the highly anticipated Season 2 of Farthington? Nope. Not at all. Not one little bit. I really could have had a date, but since the last woman I asked out tipped off the press and then sold photographs of us on our date to one of the trashiest gossip magazines in England, I’m happier in my own company for now.

I rake my fingers through my hair with more intensity than needed. Robby’s teasing still echoes in my head. He can be such an arse, but he’s my baby brother, and we’ve been best friends since the day Mum brought him home from the hospital and let me hold him.

It’s been a year since Mum and Dad sat Rob and I down and told us their story. How they fell pregnant when Mum was barely sixteen. Their parents forced them to give the baby up for adoption. They had lost hope that he would come looking for them, but then thirty years later, Adam found them. When Adam got reunited with our family, I gained a big brother, and the three of us have been slowly getting to know each other.

Remembering some of those awkward first get-togethers makes me smile now. We’ve come a long way and now I can’t imagine a world without my big brother, his wife Evie, and my sweet niece, Stella. Around them, I can let my guard down and just let it all hang out without fear of judgement.

It was Evie’s subtle prodding that got Adam to suggest that we three spend Christmas Eve together before the old folk join us for lunch the next day.

I squeeze my eyes tight and drink my greens. Damn, I’m looking forward to Christmas lunch.

Katja

Kat!

I hear my English name before I glimpse Divya’s bangled arms wave over her head like an airport traffic controller signalling an incoming plane. I smile when I see her shoulder her way to the front of the crowd, ignoring the looks of annoyance and disapproval of those nudged out of her way.

You’re here! She’s on her tiptoes, pulling me into a hug, and it honestly feels like I have landed. That this temporary stopover in the UK is just what I need before I sign on the dotted line for a very cushy contract job in Dubai.

Just in time for Christmas! I laugh.

Divya pulls out a selfie stick from her oversized on-trend handbag. She clips on her mobile phone within seconds. I look around and see a couple of eyerolls in our direction.

I shake