Page 41 of Could It Be Magic?
After a few more seconds, Nick moved back from her, clearing his throat. ‘If we’re going to get to the ball on time, we should probably get going.’
Thea nodded and settled back into the seat. She wondered, having literally just said she wanted to take things slowly, if she’d just put her foot on the accelerator of their relationship with a kiss like that. But it had felt right. As Nick drove the short distance to Cherry Tree Court, she tried to stop thinking so hard. Tonight was meant to be fun, and that kiss had definitely been fun.
35
The exterior of Cherry Tree Court loomed up at them as Nick drove up the wide, sweeping approach. On either side of the long driveway, as they got within twenty metres of the house, flaming garden torches lined the boundaries of the frost-bejewelled lawn, and the house itself was a hive of activity. Cars were parked all around the broad, circular sweep of the immediate area in front of the house, and Nick raised a hand of acknowledgement to the steward in a yellow hi-vis jacket who directed him to a space.
‘I remember standing out here doing that job when I was a teenager,’ Nick said, grinning briefly at Thea before he carefully reversed into the parking space. ‘Froze my backside off for two hours and then snuck into the kitchen and guzzled about a gallon of the mulled wine.’ He laughed. ‘Can’t quite remember much after that, but I do remember waking up on Jamie’s bedroom floor with the worst hangover I’d ever had.’
Thea giggled. ‘Annabelle told me about that – she was so pissed off because she and Jamie had a date that Sunday afternoon and neither of you were in any state to string a sentence together.’
‘True.’ Nick turned off the engine. ‘And I suppose you’ve never had the hangover from hell and had to cancel something?’ His tone was teasing.
‘Oh, quite a few times before I had the kids,’ Thea replied. ‘But being a parent tends to put paid to all of that, for a few years at least.’
‘Well, I hope tonight you feel you can have a few glasses if you want to, since I’m more than happy to be the designated driver.’ Thea’s heart sped up as Nick’s gaze, now a little more serious, met hers. ‘I’ll make sure you get home all right.’
‘I know you will,’ Thea said softly. After the kiss in the car, the atmosphere felt as though it was crackling between them, and Thea’s thoughts were already heading towards the end of the evening, and the inviting darkness of a secluded corner of Cherry Tree Court…
‘Ready then?’ The click of Nick opening the car door brought Thea back to reality. She clambered out of the passenger side before he had the chance to come around and open the door for her and took his arm when he appeared by her side.
‘As I’ll ever be. But I’m holding you responsible for keeping me upright in these heels!’
‘Challenge accepted.’ Nick’s eyes shone in the light emanating from the interior of Cherry Tree Court. ‘But only if you stay off the mulled wine. Given the long traditions of the Midwinter’s Eve Ball, it wouldn’t surprise me if it was still made to the same recipe that floored me all those years ago!’
‘Ah, but you always were a lightweight!’ Thea teased. ‘I remember that party at Ben Marsden’s gaff where you had one can of Fosters and were convinced you could dance the Macarena on top of his mum’s glass coffee table. It’s a wonder you didn’t fall straight through.’
‘Oh God,’ Nick groaned. ‘I’d forgotten about that.’ He paused and gently brought Thea around to face him. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘the fact that we’ve got a lot of shared history feels a bit like a blessing and a curse. I love that we grew up together, and that we’ve got so many of the same friends, but also, it feels a bit… weird, too.’
‘Weird how?’ Thea was perplexed. ‘Us being friends was supposed to make things easier, not harder!’
‘Well.’ Nick looked squarely at her and Thea’s heart gave a little skip. ‘It’s kind of like we’ve known each other for so long, and there are so many memories and moments from the past, that I suppose I’m worried there’ll be nothing for us to discover about each other because we already know it all.’ He shook his head. ‘Is that just really daft?’
Thea smiled and raised her hand to Nick’s face. Gently, she brought her lips to his, and kissed him, the warmth of his mouth in delicious contrast to the evening frost which was setting in all around them.
‘Does this feel boring?’ she said as they drew breath between kisses. ‘Or like we already know how to do it?’ Increasing the pressure of her lips on his, she felt a low-down tingle of excitement as he responded to her, wrapping an arm around her and drawing her nearer. ‘Because we can stop if you’re about to fall asleep!’
Nick groaned into the kiss, and Thea could tell from the way his body had hardened against her that bored was the last emotion he felt. They held the moment for a few seconds longer, until, breathing more heavily, Thea carefully disentangled herself from Nick’s arms.
‘Well,’ she said, raising a trembling hand to a stray lock of hair that had broken loose from the bun maker Cora had used to tie most of her brownish blonde locks up, ‘I hope that’s gone some way to proving my point, and putting your mind at rest.’
‘Something tells me you’re not a great fan of being proved wrong,’ Nick teased as he buttoned up his dinner jacket. ‘But if that’s the way you’d like to do it, then that’s fine with me!’
Thea slipped an arm through Nick’s again, trying to make sure she didn’t trip on the gravelled driveway. ‘Duly noted. And if you, er, need another, “reminder” at any point this evening, just let me know. I’m more than happy to refresh your memory!’
They hurried to the front door, which was manned by another steward in a hi-vis vest. Nick quickly produced his invitation from the inside pocket of his dinner jacket, and in a short time they were walking through the elegant, walnut-panelled entrance hall, heading towards the dining room that looked out onto the extensive grounds at the back of the house.
‘It’s been quite a while since I’ve been here.’ Thea glanced up at the huge chandelier that adorned the sweeping inner hallway, lighting the path up the carved wooden staircase that wound its way graciously up to the first floor. Portraits, some bought from the Treloar family of Roseford Hall, who had a historic connection to the place, and some that had been sourced by the company who now managed the building, lined the walls of the landing, nodding to the history of the place but in pleasing contrast to the more modern fitted carpets and décor that co-existed within the house. The two styles were a reminder that Cherry Tree Court was a thriving venue as well as having a long, auspicious local history.
‘Well,’ Nick said as they reached the doors to the dining room. ‘I hope you’re ready for some festive small talk and the joys of hospitality mass catering!’
‘Oh, you sell it so well!’ Thea replied, laughing. ‘I almost wonder why I bothered getting so dressed up.’
‘I’m glad you did.’ Nick looked her straight in the eye. ‘If I forget to say it later, thank you for coming with me tonight. I’m so glad to have you by my side.’
Thea felt an inner glow of pleasure, and she moved a little closer to Nick before they made their way into the dining room. ‘Thank you for inviting me,’ she said. ‘And I promise, no more references to the past tonight. Let’s make some new memories that are just for us.’
Seeing Nick’s smiling face made Thea’s inner glow even brighter, and she couldn’t wait to spend the evening getting to know him better.
