Page 59 of Meet Me Under the Mistletoe
“I’m a city lad through and through,” said Charles.
“You’re a money man through and through,” said Ameerah. “If your most lucrative deals were being brokered in the Outer Hebrides, then you’d be calling yourself a country guy.”
“Did somebody say my name?” asked Guy drowsily.
“You make it sound like Charles is only driven by money,” said Jenna.
“I don’t think it’s the money that drives him, Jen, I think it’s the exhilaration of winning.”
“Ameerah’s right,” said Charles. “It’s never really been about the money, per se. It’s the thrill of chasing down and sealing the deal.”
“Only someone with money has the luxury of saying it’s not about the money,” said Isaac.
Nory’s shoulders stiffened.
“Somebody needs to get Guy back to his wife. He’s gone to sleep on my shoulder,” said Ameerah.
“Not me,” said Nory, and the others chuckled knowingly. She felt Isaac turn to look at her, but she didn’t meet his gaze.
“I think we should probably all head back,” said Jeremy. “Before we get frostbite.”
They began to shift—stiffly—from their sitting positions, keeping their blankets wrapped around their shoulders.
The empty bottles, glasses, and croquet set had been stacked in a wheelbarrow, which Charles began to push toward the gate in the wall. Jeremy and Pippa each had an arm around Guy, holding him up. When they reached the point where Isaac would leave them to go back to his cottage, the others called their weary goodbyes, leaving Nory and Isaac alone on the path.
“Thank you for allowing yourself to be dragged into our weird traditions,” said Nory.
“I had a good time,” said Isaac, and then added, “I had a good time because you were there.”
Nory’s heart began to pick up speed. Was he going to kiss her properly this time and to hell with Thom? She wanted him to kiss her, but also, she hadn’t brushed her teeth when she’d gotten up, and her tongue felt kind of furry from all the Advocaat. But if he made to kiss her, she definitely wasn’t going to say no.
“I’d better go,” said Isaac. “And you need to catch up with your friends so you don’t get lost in the dark.”
“Yes,” said Nory, deflated. “Well, good night then. Or good morning.”
Isaac smiled. “Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Nory nodded and tried to return his smile, but she knew it was halfhearted.Maybe he’ll see me tomorrow?He couldn’t even commit to seeing her.
Her disappointment must have been palpable, because Isaac moved in closer to her then.
“It’s not that I don’t want to kiss you,” he said, letting the rest of his words hang in the air unspoken.
“I understand,” she said, fixing her eyes on the ground.
Isaac touched her chin, tilting her head so that she was looking at him. He gently traced her jawline with his fingers and her breath hitched. He brushed her lips with the pad of his indexfinger and then closed his eyes, breathing deeply. Her skin tingled from his touch. Her desire for him was almost painful. He bent his head to hers so that their foreheads were pressed together, sliding one arm around her waist and pulling her body against his. With his free hand he twisted her hair and gently pulled her head back so that her throat was exposed. She gasped as the cold air hit her skin and then again as Isaac’s warm mouth found the sensitive skin on her neck. She pressed herself to him.
A call rang out.
“Nory! Where are you?”
It was Ameerah’s voice, some way off in the deep black night.
The spell was broken. Isaac released her.
“You’d better go,” he said, his voice husky.
Ameerah’s figure came into view, appearing out of the shadows like a specter.
