Page 89 of The Twelve Dates of Christmas
“Which entrance?” Evelyn asked. “I can’t see you.”
It was hard to hear above the noise. Kate could make out a deep muffled voice near Evelyn; Patrick, she thought.
“I’m trying to find out!” Evelyn answered the voice. “Stop fussing!”
“The fruit and veg market entrance,” said Kate.
“Oh, dash it all,” said Evelyn. “Darling, we’re at the flower market entrance. It’s just across the way, you can’t miss it.”
More mumbling, quite grumpy mumbling from what Kate could make out.
“No, we will not go and meet her,” said Evelyn to Grumpy. “I don’t want to lose my place in the queue... She is perfectly capable of making it over here by herself... Oh, for heaven’s sake, all right! Kate darling, stay where you are, the cavalry’s coming!”
Evelyn hung up and Kate stood to the side of the haphazard queue and waited for Patrick to come and find her. Five minutes later the cavalry arrived.
Kate did a double take. Matt rubbed his hand through his messy hair when he spotted her. He looked serious. The collar and bottom of a checked shirt poked out from underneath his navy-blue fisherman’s jumper, and his jeans were tucked into his old work boots.
Matt had a way of making scruffy look handsome; Kate always thought of his style as landscape-gardener-chic. He never really had to try. Clothes just sort of hung well on him, as if they were glad to be there. It was very annoying.
Kate’s heart leaped at the sight of him, despite herself. She told herself she was just pleased to see a friendly face after her disastrous date, but the ache of longing in her chest was becoming harder to ignore.
“Hello,” said Kate. “What are you doing here?”
“Are you all right?” Matt asked without preamble. “What happened?”
“I’m fine,” said Kate. “Where’s Patrick?”
“You didn’t answer my question,” said Matt.
“You didn’t answer mine,” said Kate.
“I swear to God, Kate, you drive me nuts,” said Matt.
“Fair enough,” said Kate. “Where’s Patrick?”
“He twisted his knee on the ice, he can’t drive,” said Matt. “Anything could have happened, Kate. Anything!”
“No, it couldn’t,” said Kate. “I was in a restaurant.”
“Yeah, but after that,” said Matt.
“There was never going to be anafter that,” Kate assured him. “I had no intention of going anywhere other than to dinner. And I wish I hadn’t bothered with that. The only consolation is that they’ve got one less arsehole on their books now.”
“You don’t know these people,” said Matt. “They could beanyone.”
“That could be said for any new person you meet,” said Kate. “Everyone could beanyone, before you get to know them and ascertain that they’re not.”
Matt ran his hand through his hair again. It stood up on end like he’d plugged himself in.
“Well, I think you’re putting yourself in unnecessary danger,” said Matt.
“Well,Ithink this is by far the safest way I’ve ever dated,” said Kate. “Organized dates with reps on standby throughout; it’s hardly picking strangers up in seedy bars,” she went on.
“I don’t like it,” said Matt.
“Then don’t join.”
“What if you meet another arsehole?” Matt pressed.
