Page 119 of The Duke Who Saved Christmas
“I’m trying to delude myself into thinking you’re flirting with me, all right?”
“Thomas.” I stepped in closer to him and looked up at him. “Do you think I have a habit of holding hands with just anyone?”
His blue eyes met mine, and with a tiny twitch of his lips, he said, “I think I’d be disappointed if you considered me as ‘just anyone,’ Sylvie.”
“As if you could ever be just anyone.”
“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“The person who gave me a scar on my precious face could never bejustanyonein my eyes.”
He sighed. “There it is.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I leant against his side. At some point during our conversation, we’d escaped the hustle and bustle of the high street and arrived in the car park. After putting our haul of presents in the boot of his car, Thomas once again took my hand with a tight grip and tugged me in the direction of the green where some food and drinks stalls were set up slightly away from the hubbub of the main square.
I beat him to paying for two mulled wines and grinned at my win. I was pretty sure he’d let me get it after all my prior protestations over him buying me food before, but a win was a win.
“Are you feeling better now?” Thomas asked as we sat down on a bench slightly away from the main area. “You’ve been half out of it since we left the pub.”
“Ah.” I stared into the hot cup of wine, watching as the steam furled out into the cold air almost aggressively. “Yes. I’ve just been thinking, that’s all.”
“About Hazel and the wedding?”
I shook my head. “To be honest, I’m not that upset about all that. It’s just Hazel being Hazel and doing what she always does. I’ve been through this enough times to know she’ll come around and apologise for being unreasonable.”
“That doesn’t mean you should put up with it. What was it this time?”
“Ah… She wanted to change the wedding favours because she saw something on Pinterest, and I told her to shove that idea up her arse,” I replied. “Then our aunt had a hissy fit because she’s on a table in the back. She’s already pissed that Hazel didn’t invite our cousin, so she’s just being a bitch in demanding that Hazel change the seating plan.”
“Let me guess—you told Hazel where to shove that, too?”
“Yes, but I suggested somewhere other than her arse, given that hole is probably already full with all her other idiotic ideas from the last few weeks.”
Thomas coughed, and I quickly saved his wine from being spilt as he thumped his fist against his chest. “Jesus Christ, Sylvie.”
I bit my lower lip, fighting a smile. “Sorry.”
“Are you trying to kill me?” he grumbled, taking the cup back once he’d calmed down. “Some thanks that is.”
I leant back on the bench, laughing quietly. “How dramatic of you. Of course, I’m grateful for you. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but you might have saved me more than once.”
“I’m amazed you could find it within you to admit it at all.” He grinned, looking at me out of the corner of his eye. “You usually go out of your way to point out how much youdon’tlike me, after all.”
“I don’t… dislike you,” I said, somewhat lamely. “Surely that’s obvious.”
He said nothing.
I guess it wasn’t obvious.
I huffed out a breath and gazed out in front of me. “If you must know,you’rethe reason I’ve been all kinds of spaced out tonight.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE – SYLVIE
Thomas flinched. “Me?”
“Yes, you.” I glanced at him. “Why are you so shocked? You’re the one who’s been all touchy-feely and flirty with me. Isn’t it natural that I’d think about you under those circumstances?”
He coughed into his hand. “I didn’t think about it like that. You make it sound as though I’m going out of my way to seduce you.”
