Page 97 of The Duke Who Saved Christmas
“The fact that that advice is two hundred years old and men still think women are complicated.” I made a show of rolling my eyes. “That’s just proof of how long you haven’t been listening to us.”
“So, if I show you a piece of cheese, you’ll be fascinated?”
“Depends on the cheese, honestly. Cheddar is a bit dicey since it’s pretty basic, but if you pull out a bit of Brie, you might just tickle my fancy.”
“Then you should be glad you’re sitting down for this,” he said, opening the fridge. He reached onto the top shelf and pulled something down, slowly turning to reveal a pre-prepared cheese board with at least eight different cheeses on it. “How’s that?”
I cast my gaze over what had to be the fanciest collection of cheese I’d ever seen in my life. “Yeah, honestly, I’m pretty fascinated by that right now. What’s that one?”
“I think it has cranberries in it. Mum likes it.”
“I don’t know how I feel about fruit in my cheese.”
“In my opinion, you’re better off not knowing. It’s gross.” He put the board back in the fridge and swapped it for a bottle of wine.
I pointed at it. “No. Put that back.”
“Why? We’re eating, so why not have a glass?”
“Because absolutely nothing good happens when I drink wine around you.”
Thomas nudged the door shut and smirked. “That depends on your definition of the word ‘good.’ Personally, I enjoyed it the last time you got drunk and kissed me.”
“I think you’re remembering that night wrong. I definitely did not kiss you.”
“Oh, come on, Sylvie.” He put the bottle down on the island and pulled two glasses from a rack. “Either nothing good happens when you drink around me, or you didn’t kiss me. You can’t have it both ways.”
I parted my lips to argue, but I swiftly closed my mouth again.
He was right.
I couldn’t have it both ways.
Bloody hell.
I hated it when he was right.
“On second thought, I’ll take the alcohol.”
“Fine.” He popped the cork out with ease and started pouring. “But I’ve got my eye on you in case you try anything with me.”
“I’m not going to try anything with you! I didn’t even try anything then,” I argued, watching as he moved to get bowls for the soup. “It was an accident, and you know it.”
“I don’t know it. For all I know, you were aiming for my lips.”
“You turned your head at the last minute, you ratbastard.”
“Are you sure? You were quite merry that day. Maybe your memory is impaired,” he said breezily, filling the bowls. “I don’t remember turning my head.”
“I should have just walked home,” I muttered, reaching for my glass and taking a big gulp of the wine.
“Careful,” he said, putting a bowl in front of me. “Drink it too quickly, and who knows where your lips willaccidentallyland.”
“I’m extremely grateful for your hospitality tonight, but don’t think I won’t beat you with the fire poker, Thomas.”
“Thank God you used my name. If you were going to be cocky and call me Your Grace, I might have gotten a bit turned on.”
“Note to self: stoke the fire before beating him,” I muttered, reaching for a piece of bread so I could rip it into two.
