Page 127 of Kiss Me at Christmas
“Cheers,” said Billy, shrugging.
“It never ceases to amaze me how one so taciturn in real life can be so unreserved on the page.”
Billy shrugged again and said dryly, “I’m an enigma.”
Harriet bobbed her head down to hide her giggle.
“I thought I’d find you here,” said James, moseying his way along the seats to reach her.
“It’s too quiet in my office.”
“Is that code for you don’t want to miss anything that’s going on down here?” he asked. He bent to kiss her before shifting some of her papers to the free seat on the other side of her and sitting down.
She smiled. “You seem to have the measure of me.”
“Intimately.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
“I still have a few secrets,” she said archly.
“Which I’m sure I’ll wheedle out of you once you move in with me.” He grinned.
“Er, you mean when you move in with me,” she countered.
“My flat is bigger.”
“My flat is more conveniently situated and infinitely cozier.”
“Hey, I like my flat.”
“I like your flat too, but I like mine more.”
“You are unconscionably stubborn.”
Variations on this discussion had been ongoing since February and went round in a complete circle, neither of them budging an inch.
Harriet laughed.
“I guess we’ve both been set in our own ways for too long.”
“Perhaps we need to employ an intermediate phase to ease our transition from stubborn independence to—”
Harriet held up a finger to interject. “If you’re going to say ‘dependence’ you can stop right there. I will never be dependent on anyone.”
“If you’ll allow me to finish,” he said, a knowing smile tugging his mouth. “I was going to say to ease our transition from stubborn independence to mutual independence.”
She narrowed her eyes and chewed the inside of her cheek, wondering if this was a trap.
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“Let’s become neighbors.”
“You’re bananas.” She burst out laughing, earning herself a disapproving glare from Gideon.
“I’m serious.” James shifted to face her, taking one of her hands in his. “Let’s wait for two neighboring cottages or two flats in the same building to come up for rent and…see what happens. We get to be close and have our own space.”
Harriet considered. It did seem like a good idea. “Neighbors with benefits,” she said, chewing the tip of her pen.
“Exactly.”
