Page 64 of A Cosy Christmas with the Village Vet

‘Are you calling me strange?’

Her face fell for a second and she glanced up at him. ‘No, that’s not what I mean… oh,’ she said with a giggle. ‘What I’m trying to say is that I’ve never done anything like that before. I suppose I’m quite reserved where that sort of thing’s concerned really. In fact,’ she hesitated, ‘you’re the first man I’ve been near since Archie.’

Nick sat, his mind processing what she’d just shared. ‘Wow. So it really was a big step for you, that day.’ He rubbed his hand over his chin. ‘I’ll let you into a secret, I’m not in the habit of jumping into bed with “strange” women. I prefer to have some sort of connection before I sleep with anyone.’ He lowered his head, looking into her eyes. ‘I felt a connection with you, and if I’m not mistaken, I think you felt one too.’

His conversation with his brother barged into his mind. How could he go on to say that she’d made him feel something he’d never felt before without sounding cheesy? That he was sure beyond doubt that fate had put them together. The answer was, he probably couldn’t. So instead, he said, ‘I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about you, and then there you were at the surgery. I couldn’t believe it.’

‘You were thinking about me?’ she asked, her eyes meeting his.

He nodded. ‘Couldn’t get you out of my mind. Still can’t.’

‘But…’

He reached out, touching her cheek, her skin soft against his fingers. ‘No buts, Brogan.’ Glancing down at her lips he inched closer, his pulse racing. She closed her eyes, their lips almost touching…

39

BROGAN

The sound of a phone ringing made them both freeze. Brogan’s eyes pinged open. Nick released a groan of frustration. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ He pushed his fingers into his hair, making his fringe stick up.

‘I’d best check that in case it’s Bert.’ She pulled an apologetic face as she reached for her mobile, her heart still galloping like the clappers.

‘Yeah, course, you’re right.’

It was Jimby who apologised for phoning on a Saturday evening but told her he was ringing round all the members of the Village Committee notifying them of a meeting to discuss the plans for Christmas Day. ‘It’s on Tuesday at half-seven at our Kitty’s. It’d be great if you could let Nick know too.’

He went on to tell her about the response they’d had from the notes she and Nick had pushed through the letter boxes in Lytell Stangdale but Brogan was finding it difficult to concentrate, her mind full of the almost kiss with Nick.

When the call was over, she placed her mobile on the table. How easy would it be to pick up where they left off? she wondered. Not that she’d have the nerve to make the first move. She turned to see Nick looking at her, that same look in his eyes. Her stomach performed a somersault.

In the next moment, his mouth was on hers, kissing her, softly at first before becoming more urgent.Oh my days!It felt so good. All the feelings she remembered from that day at the wedding came flooding back in all their glory. What had possessed her to creep back to her room?

Nick was the first to pull away. Breathless, he pushed her hair off her face and looked deep into her eyes. ‘Brogan Hopwood, do you have any idea what you do to me? It’s been the longest week of my life, being this close to you and not being able to do that. It’s just about driven me half crazy.’

‘I didn’t know you felt that way. I thought you’d tell everyone I was an easy conquest and jumped into bed with you after only knowing you two minutes.’ How had she got it so wrong? Probably because she was so out of practice, she told herself.

He tipped his head back, looking right into her eyes. ‘What? Why would I do that? I’m not in the habit of talking about my “conquests”, as you call them, to my mates. And besides, with you it was different. It certainly never felt “easy”, it felt right. Which is why I was so gutted when I woke up to find you gone.’

‘Is that your explanation for hanging on to my knickers for so long? Are you sure you’re not just some weirdo with a knicker-stealing fetish?’

Nick threw his head back and let out a roar of laughter. ‘Looks like I’ve been rumbled. I confess, I have a whole suitcase full of them.’ He raised his hands in mock surrender.

‘Ah, explains why I was getting low,’ she said with a giggle.

‘Listen,’ he said, his face suddenly serious. ‘I got the feeling you were reluctant to talk about what happened that day at the wedding, which is why I’ve held back; I didn’t want to push you. But when I saw you that first day at the surgery, well, I don’t remember ever feeling so overjoyed. I realised pretty quickly when I met you at the wedding that I wanted to get to know you.’

‘Well, you certainly achieved that.’ Brogan shot him a playful look, making him grin.

‘I don’t mean likethat– though I’m not denying, it was pretty special. What I do mean is, I wanted to get to know you as a person – though I’d be lying if I said getting to know you in the other way didn’t cross my mind before we actually, well, you know? And then when we got talking and I felt that incredible connection, I made up my mind there and then to see if you’d let me take you out on a date. I knew in here that you were special.’ He patted his chest. ‘Knew I didn’t want you to slip through my fingers.’

Her whole body thrummed with happiness. It had been a long time since a man had said anything remotely romantic to her and she had to admit, it took some getting used to. But this? Wow! Did Nick really feel that way about her? And if he did, was she ready to dip her toe in the dating pool? The thought triggered a flutter of nerves in her stomach. She was aware that what had happened with Archie had made her wary. Their breakup had been so unexpected; she really hadn’t seen it coming, which is why she found it hard to trust her feelings. But something about Nick told her she should just go with her gut, which is exactly what she’d done at the wedding. And exactly what she decided to do now.

‘I felt that connection too; I’ve never felt anything so strong. But it was easier to ignore it than face rejection. I couldn’t have stood it if the feelings I had for you weren’t reciprocated. It felt safer not to risk it.’

‘If only you knew.’ He pressed his forehead against hers before brushing a gentle kiss over her lips.

‘Mmm. I’m getting a pretty good idea.’

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