Page 52 of Meet Me Under the Mistletoe
Nory looked at herself in the mirror. Ameerah had done a good job, her usually beach-tousled hair had been transformed into smooth loose curls that bounced about her shoulders.
“Thanks, Ameerah, you’re a star.”
“I know.” Ameerah grinned and blew a kiss to Nory’s reflection in the mirror before leaving to ready herself for dinner.
Her dresses hung side by side in the wardrobe, and Nory bit her lip as she flicked through them, wondering which one would make her bottom look smaller and allow her to eat comfortably, while looking just the right amount of desirable. Isaac hadn’t seen her dressed up—she wasn’t counting the time she’d spent with a ripped dress in a wheelbarrow—and she wanted to impress him. She decided she would channel her inner Jessica Rabbit and wear the teal velvet. She shimmied into it and took a selfie in the full-length mirror, which she sent to Andrew. He messaged back immediately:
Gorgeous! Love the hair. Is that Ameerah’s work?
Thanks Yes, she is a woman of many talents. How is my shop?
Your shop is fine, sales are up. Had to re-stock the window.
Nory’s stomach squeezed as she wondered which of her beloved vintage Christmas titles had left home. She hoped they’d be loved.
Excellent!Nory messaged back, trying to be brave.And how are things at home? How’s Mugwort?
Mugwort is the least high-maintenance of my guests But Matilda is loving the attention from AmericanGrandma. Tomorrow my parents are coming for dinner, so I am expecting granny one-upmanship in the extreme!
Cripes! Will your dad intervene?
Absolutely not. He will watch it all with glee over the rim of his brandy glass.
Nory liked Andrew’s dad. He was a quiet man, who came into the shop often to make use of the comfortable chairs and read while his granddaughter napped peacefully on his chest. Andrew’s mum was not unlike her own, always busy and fiercely loving of her children. She most certainly wasn’t going to like having competition from Seb’s mum.
I’ll expect updates, Nory messaged.
If it all kicks off, I’ll be driving to the castle to tell you about it in person!
Ha ha. So, I may have met someone and tonight might be kind of a date, but Thom’s forbidden him to get involved with me.
Her phone rang instantly.
“What?” Andrew’s voice trilled out of the phone. “You didn’t think to tell me this part first?”
“I’m telling you now. Anyway, it might be nothing. I don’t know.”
“I must say, I’m impressed, this is quick work even for you!”
“Rude!”
“Tell me all about him.”
“He’s the gardener...”
“Oh, Lady Chatterley! I do say!”
“I knew you’d say that.”
“And?”
“Weirdly I remember him from when I was at school. He was my brother’s mate. And we used to have this kind of feud thing going on. Anyway, he moved away and then he came back, and now I’m back and he’s coming to dinner tonight at the castle.”
“And why exactly has Thomas forbidden him to date you?”
“I really don’t know. I’ve been too angry to call him. Maybe he thinks I’m not good enough for his friend, or he just wants to be an arsehole. This is his way of asserting his big-brother dominance.”
“Perhaps it’s you he’s looking out for?”
