Page 26 of The Day After Christmas
‘Well… be careful,’ said James, his voice catching in his throat.
‘I always am,’ she whispered.
‘No, you’re not,’ he said, and laughed.
There was a pause. Felicity’s eyes were beginning to close when he spoke again, softly into her ear.
‘Felicity…?’
‘What?’
‘Do you ever…?’
‘What?’
‘Have you ever thought…?’
Felicity lifted her face to look at him. ‘Spit it out then, Penguin Man.’
He swallowed and she could see the muscle in his jaw clench. Sexy as the movement was, her heart gave a little lurch of anxiety.
‘Have you ever thought about getting married?’ he said carefully.
Felicity gave a little squeal which she tried – and failed – to cover with a cough.
‘Sorry, just got something caught in my throat there,’ she said, buying herself some time, pulse thumping. ‘What did you just say?’
‘You heard me.’
‘James Cowley. Are you proposing to me right now?’
James shook his head frantically. A little too vigorously in Felicity’s opinion.
‘No, no, nothing like that. I just wondered…’
‘I mean,’ Felicity cut in, ‘you could at least have hesitated for a second or two.’
‘Sorry, I’m panicking,’ said James.
Felicity’s heart gave a little jump in her chest. ‘It’s not like I haven’t thought about it.’
‘You have?’ James’s eyes grew wide.
‘Yes, of course I have. But after everything that’s happened, I’m a little frightened at the thought of it. I’ll be honest, I definitely wouldn’t want to rush into anything.’
‘Oh no, no, of course not.’ Felicity could feel James’s heart pounding in his chest.
‘And,’ she went on, ‘I definitely wouldn’t want the whole big wedding thing. Not just because of Bex and Adam, but regardless of that…’
James looked down at her, eyes fond. ‘Because it’s not really you?’ he said, gently.
‘It’s not really me,’ said Felicity, with a nod.
‘Hmmm, I thought as much. I mean, not that I’ve thought about it much.’ Now it was James’s turn to get flustered.
‘Are you… blushing?’
‘I don’t blush. Manly men like me definitely don’t blush.’
