Page 132 of The Twelve Dates of Christmas
Matt was shakily extricating himself from his stock behind the counter.
“Are you all right?” Kate asked.
For a moment Matt couldn’t speak. His hands shook as he ran them through his hair.
“All right?” Kate asked again.
Matt nodded.
“Yeah,” he said. Though he sounded uncertain. “Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you.”
“All part of the service,” said Kate.
She didn’t know what else to say. She hadn’t given a thought to what would happen after she got the bird away from Matt. She hadn’t really thought at all.
Outside the crowd was beginning to thin. The birds—though a good many had made a successful bid for freedom—were being rounded up and put back into the undamaged crates, while John did a quick fix on the others outside his shop.
With the help of Andy’s timbers the truck was backed off the snowy green and pointed in the direction of the manor. Andy offered to let the driver follow him up there, to prevent further mishaps.
Kate and Matt, meanwhile, stood awkwardly opposite each other.
“I mean it,” said Matt. “Thank you.” He added, “You know me and birds.”
Kate did knowhim and birds. Matt had had a pathological fear of birds ever since he’d accidentally disturbed a magpie’s nest as a kid and been pecked so ferociously, he’d fallen out of the tree. He still had one of the battle scars from the magpie’s beak on his forehead; it shone silvery pink when he was stressed or angry. It shone silvery pink now.
Matt took a step forward and Kate froze.
“Kate,” he said. “About Sarah....”
“I don’t want to get involved,” Kate broke in. “I wish you both all the best. I really do.”
Kate turned to leave, but Matt came up behind her and turned her back to face him.
“Don’t go,” he said.
“What?” said Kate.
“I don’t mean now,” he said. “Of course you can go now, you know, you can go out of the café. I mean...”
He held Kate gently by the arms.
“I mean, don’t leave Blexford,” he said.
Kate didn’t know what to say. Her heart clamored in her chest. If anyone could entreat her to stay, it was him. And it would be the easiest thing in the world to stay and be near him and be like they were. Great friends. But Kate would always be wanting. Always longing. Her heart always breaking a little every time she saw Matt share a tender moment with Sarah. Always secretly wishing they werehermoments.
She went to pull away, but he tightened his grip on her arms.
“Please stay,” he said.
She looked up at him; the lights on the tree behind her picked out flecks of amber in his brown eyes, framed by long sandy lashes. Her eyes wandered over the freckles that dotted his cheeks and eyelids.
Matt leaned toward her and she didn’t stop him. Their lips met. Soft and tentative, so familiar yet uncharted, like a promise waiting for fulfillment. Kate’s skin tingled. Her stomach thrilled. A carousel of memories flickered behind her closed eyelids. Longing. Such painful longing. Matt pulled her into a close embrace and Kate melted into him. She wanted to be here so badly. She wanted more than anything for this to be what he wanted too.
The truck outside backfired and Kate was brought abruptly to her senses. She pushed Matt away.
“I can’t,” she said. “I can’t do this. What about Sarah?”
She couldn’t be theotherwoman, not twice in one week.
