Page 14 of The Night Before Christmas
‘You’re not kidding.’
A pause.
‘Surely you of all people didn’t go to an actualChristmasparty?’
Don’t say it was just your mates, don’t say it was just your mates.
‘Oh, no, it was just a couple of mates.’
Damn.
‘And a tiny bit of Prosecco, you say?’
‘Well… maybe a couple of glasses.’
‘Sure. And the rest. Well, I hope you behaved yourself anyway.’
‘I can neither confirm nor deny.’
‘You forget I’ve already seen what you’re like to party with.’
‘So you have. Great fun. The life and soul, that’s me.’
‘Of course. Like a tiny Christmas elf.’
Felicity snort-laughed before she could stop herself and her hands flew to her face in horror.
‘Oh God. Pretend you didn’t just hear that, please.’
‘Hear what?’ He gave her a flash of that grin and her insides did a little flip. Felicity smiled up at him gratefully. ‘I’d like to come back sometime. See how they’re doing. Is that okay?’
Be cool.
‘Of course.’
‘Great. I’m heading to a party on New Year’s Eve but I was thinking I could drop in for a bit on the way over. Are you working? It’d be sometime in the afternoon, most likely.’
Another party?
‘Oh right. Yeah, I’ll be here… Quite the socialite, aren’t you? Which poor animal’s likeness will you be ripping off this time, pray tell?’
His blue eyes crinkled. ‘I don’t think it’s that kind of party. Mind you, if I remember rightly it’s black tie, so I might end up looking like a penguin anyway. Probably should find the invite,now you mention it.’ James’ brow wrinkled ever so slightly as he began patting down his coat.
She waited a moment, trying to picture him in black tie and then deciding that was a dangerous train of thought. As the silence extended between them, she found herself wondering if he might even invite her. Attempted to project the words into his mind through telepathy. Tried to summon the courage to ask if he was going alone.
But it was James who spoke in the end, breaking the tension abruptly. ‘Must have left it at home. Dammit. Anyway, see you on New Year’s.’
‘See you.’
And with that he turned and headed out of the door.
Dammit indeed.
She watched him go, taking long decisive strides.He was just so… broad.
He didn’t turn or wave. As he disappeared from view, she felt a pang of disappointment.
‘He came back.’ Andrea had sidled up behind her in the doorway.
