Page 72 of The Twelve Dates of Christmas
Matt looked sheepish.
“I was going to bring it to yours to butter you up so you’d help me, but you were already here.”
Kate shook her head. It was game over. Carla was right. She was a sucker.
“Don’t skimp on the booze,” said Kate.
Matt smiled and went out to the café to get the coffee machine going.
By the time Matt returned with two very boozy Irish coffees, Kate had discarded her arctic weather attire and had already made a start on the first batch of pastry. Matt followed suit and when the disks of sweet pastry were laid in the fridge to rest, the jacket potatoes were hot and ready for their chili topping.
They pulled up two stools and sat opposite each other at the stainless-steel worktop. Bing Crosby was dreaming of a white Christmas through the speakers and the caffeine-alcohol combination had restored Kate’s energy.
“What the hell is that?” Matt stopped midmouthful and pointed at Kate’s neck.
Kate laughed.
“Oh, that,” she said, touching her hand to her throat. “I caught it in my date’s zipper.”
“What?” Matt’s fork clanged on the side of his plate. “Geez, Kate. Slow it down a bit, you met him like two hours ago.”
“His jacket zipper!” said Kate. And she told Matt what had happened.
“It looks like a love bite,” he said. Unconvinced.
“Well, it isn’t,” said Kate.
“Bit of an elaborate story, isn’t it?” said Matt.
“That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen,” said Kate. “It isn’t a love bite.”
“It looks like a love bite,” he said again. He’d stopped eating.
“Even if it were a love bite, which it isn’t, it would be none of your business,” said Kate. “If every man I meet wants to suck on my neck, it would have nothing to do with you at all!”
Matt looked taken aback and then abashed.
“Sorry,” he said. “You’re absolutely right. I suppose I just feel protective toward you. I can’t seem to get out of the habit.”
“Well, that’s very sweet,” said Kate. “But I don’t need protecting.” And then as an aside she added, “And I don’t need to be judged by you or anyone else about how I conduct my love life.”
“I know,” said Matt. “Sorry. Sometimes the words come out before I can edit them.”
“Apology accepted,” said Kate.
“So, what is this Phil-zipper like then?” asked Matt.
“He surfs and snowboards and owns three businesses and he was a perfect gentleman,” said Kate.
“Apart from the hickey,” said Matt.
Kate narrowed her eyes and threw a kidney bean at his face.
“What about the other one?” he asked.
“Richard?” said Kate. “He was lovely. It was a really good date.” Kate felt her mind wander to Richard’s warm embrace. “Really good,” she murmured.
“Euuuhch,” said Matt. “You’ve gone all doe-eyed. I wish I hadn’t asked. Which one’s your favorite?”
