Page 30 of Kiss Me at Christmas
Harriet’s hackles rose. Evaline cut James off with one raised hand.
“All taken care of. Your partners at the law firm were very supportive of what we are trying to achieve here andwere only too happy to give you the coverage you need. I will expect detailed weekly reports, and it might be handy if you keep a journal of the day-to-day to ensure that nothing slips your mind. I know how you like to jot down ideas.” She grimaced like an angry Yorkshire terrier.
“Evaline, I really must protest in the strongest terms—”
“It is done, Mr. Knight.” She turned her attention back to Harriet. “Do sign the contract, Ms. Smith, time is ticking on for all of us.”
Harriet finished reading the new contract and signed it. She handed it back to James, but Evaline took it instead, saying, “Thank you. You may both go now, and I look forward to seeing the Winter family theater brought back to its former glory one last time.”
Harriet marveled at how she had managed to make what was essentially a posturing project to snare buyers with a side order of blackmail sound like the fulfillment of a dear old lady’s final wish. She supposed that was how Evaline would be spinning it for the media too, drumming up interest and creating a buzz that would make her crappy old theater seem like a ripe investment.
Evaline pushed a button on the side panel of the car and said, “Austin, would you mind seeing our guests out?”
The driver opened first Harriet’s door and then James’s and ushered them both reverently out into the school car park. James clutched his briefcase to his chest with an expression of disbelief as the limo reversed slowly out of the space and pulled out onto the road and away.
Harriet watched the limo disappear around a corner. “I probably shouldn’t, but I feel so much better now that Evaline has screwed you over too.” She didn’t need to look at James to know that he was glowering.
“I don’t know anything about the theater,” he mumbled. She wasn’t sure if he was talking to her or not.
“Neither do I, really. I’ve read a lot of plays, but I’ve never produced one. Still, before we worry about that, we’ve got to clean the place up.”
“We? I didn’t make any mess. I won’t be cleaning anything. I don’t understand how this has happened.” He gazed along the road where the car had been, looking genuinely flabbergasted.
“Perhaps Ms. Winter felt like you needed to find some Christmas spirit?”
“I have plenty of Christmas spirit, thank you very much!” he snapped.
He was still looking down the street as though the limo might return for him any moment with Evaline leaning out of the window cacklingGotcha!
“This is ridiculous. Unbelievable. Incomprehensible…” he continued to mutter.
“Outrageous?” she offered, tapping her chin. “Ludicrous?” When he glared at her in response, she added, “Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you were seeking synonyms.”
He straightened his jacket. “You cannot begin to conceive how disruptive this little venture of yours will be to my life.” James’s voice was so peppery it got right up Harriet’s nose.
“My little venture?You’re not the only person who’s been thrown into this, you know. It’s going to disrupt my life too.”
James sniffed and turned away from her.
“Oh, of course! Your life is so much more important than mine.”
He whipped back round. “Don’t put words into my mouth. I wasn’t casting aspersions on your life. I have nothing more to say to you.”
“Clearly you reserve your charm for picking up women in bars.”
He had the audacity to look offended at this. “Are you accusing me of being a player?”
“If the oxblood brogue fits,” said Harriet, making a show of glancing distastefully down at his shoes, even though she secretly liked them very much.
The wind had picked up and flurried snowflakes in their direction. Students hurried past them, off to find food in their lunch hour. James looked down at his feet.
“What have you got against my shoes?”
“It’s not your shoes that are the problem,” Harriet replied in her most condescending voice.
James shook his head. “Let’s start again, shall we? Would you like to grab a coff—”
“No thank you!” she said, cutting him off.That mercurial nonsense might work with your usual conquests, but not with me, pal! Be a jerk or be a gentleman, pick a personality and stick to it.
