LITMIR.BIZ

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of us was just keeping upright and in one piece.

      We entered the station and flashed our Oyster cards on the reader before heading down into the depths to catch a train into the centre. The crowds squashed and yanked us apart. I’d spent over four years in London now, honing my skills in this area, but unless you were built like a functional brick outbuilding, like my companion, there were still times when it was hard not to get scooped up and hustled along a few feet in the wrong direction. When this happened for the second time, Michael reached over and grabbed my hand, pulling me back in the right direction. I expected him to let go, but he didn’t.

      ‘If you get swept off again, it’s possible it’ll put a serious delay in me getting food. So, if you don’t mind, I’ll keep hold of you for a while.’

      I didn’t mind at all.

      ‘I knew this was all about the food.’

      He grinned, the sound of the train entering the station and the swell of people limiting the ability for further conversation. Tumbling out at Bond Street, Michael’s hand still firmly wrapped around my own, I stopped to the side of the pavement, momentarily watching the snow as it floated gently down. A shove in the back brought me out of my reverie and I saw the look in Michael’s eyes at the guy who’d done it. I tugged on his hand.

      He looked down. ‘Please tell me I was never that much of a dick,’ he asked.

      ‘I’ve no idea. I never saw you in this particular scenario.’

      He gave me a patient look. ‘You know that doesn’t reassure me a whole lot.’

      ‘OK. How about this? I’m sure you weren’t. Is that better?’

      ‘Funnily enough, not terribly convincing.’

      ‘Oh well. I can’t help you then.’

      Michael slanted an amused look my way as we arrived at Selfridges. He held the door, and we headed up to the Aubaine Bistro.

      ***

      ‘That was utterly delicious,’ I said, putting my cutlery to the side of my plate. Michael had already finished. Big surprise.

      ‘I can’t believe you’ve never been here.’

      ‘Just never got around to it, I guess. But I’m glad I have now. Although, it might have been a mistake.’

      ‘Mistake?’

      ‘Don’t look so worried! I mean that in a good way. I didn’t know what I was missing before. Now I do.’

      He nodded, a soft smile on his face. ‘I can understand that.’

      I smiled back.

      ‘Can I ask you something?’

      ‘Of course,’ I said, finishing off my apple and pear juice. Again, totally delicious.

      ‘On the stairs, earlier…’

       Uh oh.

      ‘I…just wondered if you were OK. You looked pretty serious. And I’d gone and blabbed something stupid about romantic gestures and here you are, having just broken up with…him. I didn’t mean to upset you. I sometimes have a habit of saying the wrong thing. As you witnessed with Lily and the whole divorce thing the other week.’

      Automatically my hand reached for his. ‘You weren’t to know that she was super sensitive about that sort of stuff right now. It was clear how horrible you felt about it. God knows everyone can see how much you adore those children and that the last thing you would do is upset them!’

      ‘I don’t want to upset you either.’

      ‘You didn’t. Don’t worry.’

      He turned his hand so that mine now lay in his. ‘Well, I know you weren’t just thinking about home décor. You have your little happy face on when you do that.’

      Laughter bubbled out. ‘Excuse me? My “little happy face”?’

      ‘Yeah. Don’t be defensive. It’s cute.’

      ‘I am not “cute”.’

      ‘What’s wrong with cute?’

      God, he had the most beautiful smile when he really let it happen. Like he was doing now.

      The waiter brought over the bill and put it down. I moved to take it but Michael was quicker.

      ‘Answer the question.’ He slipped his hand away and rummaged in his jacket for his wallet. He pulled out some notes, put them with the bill and we got up to leave. I let my scarf hang down as I drew my coat around me. Michael picked up the ends of it and gently put one over each of my shoulders. ‘Still waiting.’

      ‘I just think it’s a little inappropriate of you.’

      His eyes bulged for a moment and then he caught the tease in mine. ‘Inappropriate, huh?’

      ‘Entirely.’

      ‘Good. Add it to my list of faults.’

      ‘Already done.’

      ‘How wonderfully efficient of you.’

      ‘I don’t like to disappoint.’

      He gave me a look that was hard to read but the twinkle in his eye gave me a clue. I threw him a mock snooty look back.

      ‘As I said, entirely inappropriate. Now, get that wallet back out. You’re going to need it.’

       Chapter Twenty-One

      Several hours later we returned to the house, each of us laden like a mountain mule with Christmas decorations and various items for the house itself, including a clutch of goodies to make the master bedroom into the retreat it should be. We also had a list of items being delivered tomorrow, including decorative cushions for nearly every room, another couple of throws, plus a few scented candles for the bathrooms which, although gorgeous, had weighed a bloody tonne so we’d opted to test the courier’s muscles on those rather than ours.

      ‘What about the tree?’

      ‘Emmet promised he’d saved me a good one for you. When do you want to get it?’

      Michael looked at the clock in the hall. ‘Is now any good? Or do you have to be somewhere?’

      ‘No, I booked out the whole day for you today.’

      A smile spread on his face. ‘Great.’

      ***

      Emmet, my contact, had been true to his word, picking out a huge, gorgeously thick pine that let out its delicious scent as Michael manoeuvred it into the back of the pickup.

      ‘This brings back memories.’ I could hear the smile in his voice, even though he was mostly hidden by the tree.

      ‘Good ones by the sounds of it.’

      ‘Very good ones. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed all the little things like this.’ He came around the tree and gave it another shake to make sure it was secured.

      ‘Despite your initial worries, I think you’re looking forward to hosting Christmas now, aren’t you?’

      He stopped beside me. ‘I really am. We try and get together pretty often but Christmas was the one time everyone ensured they were there…until I met Angeline, of course.’

      I felt his mood change a little. ‘But before? Tell me about your Christmases.’

      He moved and I felt him relax again. ‘They’re full of noise, but in a good way. Lots of laughter, banter, catching up. We eat way too much, play board games, have crossword puzzle races with boys against girls, and there’s probably the odd glass of booze or two.’ I could see him grinning at the last part.

      ‘Just

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