Читать книгу The Office Christmas Party: A fun, feel good Christmas cracker of a romance! - Aimee Duffy - Страница 8

By Friday she was desperate to get out of the house. Between spending the days trying to meet Mick the Dick’s impossible deadlines and the nights with a quiet, unresponsive Rose, she just wanted to forget about her troubles and let her hair down with a bunch of strangers who didn’t expect anything from her.

It also had something to do with the fact that, deep down, she was still reeling from her victory on Monday night. Finally, she’d gotten her payback on Mr Perfect and it had been a doozy. She’d also managed to get guest lists and names from the previous events to try to figure out who he was, and the only name that kept recurring was ‘Dean’. It was a common enough name, but the surname was always different. So she wasn’t exactly sure.

No doubt this guy, whoever he was, had a lot more experience crashing parties than she did. She just couldn’t understand why he’d bother. If he could afford all those tailor-made suits surely he could fork out for drinks at a bar if he just wanted to pick up women.

Still, she wasn’t going to spend any more energy on him. As far as she was concerned, they were even. If he happened to show up tonight, she’d ignore him and get on with enjoying herself.

All good in theory, but when she did see him, his silk burgundy shirt and black suit combo was hard to ignore. It seemed to work to highlight the colour of his skin and his dark, melting eyes, to the point she was getting annoyed with herself for ogling.

After all, she’d worked all hours planning this party, from the reindeer ice sculptures set in the window archways, to the band. She’d even sourced the gourmet chef and approved the finger hors d’oeuvres being served, and she planned to take full advantage of every last inch of it. She’d started the evening by stuffing her bag with enough grub to see her through the weekend, making sure to take the least odorous items.

Despite the worry that he was going to try something to ruin her night, the guy just mingled with both men and women, striking up the longest conversation with a short, overweight and balding man whose face was so red and sweaty, she worried he had an ulcer churning under his spare tires.

And she really needed to pay attention to what the girl next to her was blabbering on about, not to what Mr Perfect was doing.

‘So that’s how I got into advertising. What about you?’ the girl asked.

Er, what did she just say? Right. Why we’re here. ‘I love temping, it’s a great way to try new things but I don’t really want to get into advertising …’ That would just be too hard a conversation to carry, even with a girl who looked no older than an intern.

‘But aren’t you worried? I mean, people usually pick what they want to do in their twenties, they don’t wait until they’re old.’

She was in her bloody twenties! There were still two whole years before she hit the big three-oh. ‘I still am.’

The intern got all apologetic then, but Natalie didn’t want to hear it. She left the table to go mingle with someone else, snatching a flute of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter and downing half the glass in one motion.

She was stopped in her tracks by the short, sweaty man she’d been worried about earlier.

‘Let’s dance, sweet thing,’ he said, snatching away her much needed alcohol and taking one of her hands in his sweaty, chubby palm.

‘No thank you,’ she said.

‘You are a feisty one, aren’t you,’ he said, ignoring Natalie and hauling her along to where the band was playing a mix of Christmas and chart songs.

She tried to tug free again. ‘I said I don’t want to dance.’

He just pulled her so close, she could smell a mix of meat and beer on his breath, and feel the perspiration on his shirt soak into her lacy, white dress. That was the last straw. This dress was couture and had cost her more than she paid in rent. Her temper simmered. ‘What’s wrong with you? I said I didn’t want to dance.’

His hands slipped down and cupped her bum, then squeezed hard. ‘Dean’s right, you’ve got a tight little arse. If you don’t want to dance, follow me to the men’s room and I’ll take care of you, sweet thing.’

Natalie fisted her hand and was ready to lamp this guy a good one, ulcer or not, but then what he said sank in. ‘What exactly did Dean say?’

The man’s face turned puce. ‘Er, well, not much, just that you were good with your tongue and wanted … well … sex so bad you’d do anyone.’

She clenched her teeth together and wrestled out of his hold.

‘Sweet thing, I can show you a good time. We could even get a room,’ he called, but she’d already spun around and headed for the bar.

Dean – if that was even his name – wasn’t even being discreet about his amusement. She heard his bellow over the music, and her temper reached critical level. She didn’t look at him, didn’t have to. She knew exactly where he was in the room.

‘Hi, I’m Rick.’

An older man with skin like leather pushed into the bar next to her. She glared at him, having a horrible feeling what was going to come out of his mouth next. ‘I don’t have time to chat, Rick.’ Turning to the bartender, she said, ‘A bottle of merlot, please. And a glass.’ Making an exception, she put a bottle of red wine on her credit card – champagne just wasn’t going to cut it this time.

While she got served, Rick got handsy, sliding his arm around her hips. ‘Come on, love. We can get a room. There’s a Travel Lodge not too far from here.’

She snatched his hand before it reached her bum, then spied the gold band on his wedding finger, so held it up to his face. ‘I am not interested, you scuzzy bastard.’

At least he looked abashed before sliding off the ring and pocketing it. ‘How about now? I’ll just be a dirty bastard.’

The waiter brought her the much-needed Merlot. Natalie filled a glass, quickly drained it, then poured another. ‘Let me guess, Dean told you I’m the office slut.’

‘Not in so many words,’ Rick said. ‘Don’t be offended, I can—’

‘If you say anything that insinuates you can give me great sex I will smash this bottle over your head then stab you in the balls with the shards. Now get lost.’

He took her less than subtle hint, grumbling ‘bitch’ as he went. Natalie grabbed her wine and the glass, then made as if to go find an empty table. That’s when she spotted Dean, grinning a victorious grin that was going to be short-lived.

He made his second mistake of that evening and approached her, still laughing.

‘Don’t declare a war if you can’t handle one little battle,’ he said.

Oh, she could handle the battles, and she was going to win the war too. When he was close enough, she pretended to stumble, guessing his reflex reaction would be to catch her.

She was right.

He was conned.

Her glass ‘accidentally’ slipped, pouring the contents down his silk, burgundy shirt. There was no way that’s coming out ever.

He let her go, then frowned down at the damage. Sweat on her favourite dress deserved some payback in her book. Not to mention telling all the old, sleazy bastards that she was easy.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she lied. ‘I hope that comes out. You should probably rinse your shirt before it stains.’

His eyes narrowed at her. ‘You’ve just changed the game.’

Natalie glared back. ‘I told you, I don’t play games. I just get even, and now we are.’

He smirked. ‘We’re not even close, Nicole.’

‘Then bring it on, Dean.’

With that she left the party with the bottle of wine and her hearty plunder. There was no point hanging round getting hit on by a bunch of horned up ancients who probably had pockets filled with little blue pills.

And even though her night had been cut short, the anticipation of how he’d retaliate together with her second victory of the week left her on a bit of a high.

***

Nobody was up when she got in, so she took off her shoes, pulled out her phone, and started googling all the variations of Dean’s name she’d read. After all, it was true what they said. You had to know your enemy if you had a hope of beating them.

But nothing came up that she recognised, not as her Dean anyway.

Rose’s bedroom door opened and to her surprise, Tom came out and headed straight towards her. He usually grunted a hello and went to the bathroom or something, but he clearly had other plans tonight.

‘Good, I’ve been waiting for you to get home,’ he said, sounding relieved.

Natalie couldn’t keep the surprise out of her tone. ‘You were? Why?’

He sat on the chair across from her before answering. ‘I’m worried about Rose. I know you love her as much as I do, and I just wanted to know if she’s said anything about having cold feet to you, or has she changed her mind about me? I know we haven’t always gotten on, but something’s tearing her apart and if I’m the reason, I promise I’ll back off. I’d do anything to keep from hurting her.’

Natalie didn’t think she’d heard Tom say more than two sentences before, and she’d certainly never seen him looking so vulnerable. She remembered what Rose said, about Tom having been hurt and that it wasn’t him driving the distance in their friendship, but that it was Rose’s choice so she wouldn’t worry him.

Then later, Rose’s revelation about having done something awful and worrying she’d hurt Tom too.

‘She hasn’t said anything like that to me, but you’re always here, so …’ Nat shrugged, then as his expression crumpled, she backtracked. ‘I don’t think it’s you, she told me she loves you so much.’

He seemed to relax a little. ‘Thank God. I don’t know how I could go back to a life without her.’

‘I’ll try to talk to her, but I’m not sure when. I mean …’ She didn’t really want to point out the fact that he was there all day, every day, but how did he expect her to get any alone time with Rose when he never left?

‘You never get the chance with me here, right? I know, and I’m sorry about that too. I don’t know how much Rose told you about me, but I have, well, let’s just say I’m not as trusting as I’d like to be.’ He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. ‘Why don’t you take her out tomorrow, either to a bar or one of your parties? I don’t want to stop her from living her life, or having friends and enjoying herself. Maybe spending all this time with me is suffocating her.’

Natalie was stunned. She’d thought of Tom as her adversary for a while and figured he was a bit of a controlling bastard too. But now it was obvious he didn’t want to be, and she decided to start giving him the benefit of the doubt.

‘Okay, we can go for dinner and a few drinks. Nothing too wild,’ she said, now she knew he’d worry.

‘Thanks, Nat,’ he said, getting up. ‘I hope we can start getting on better, for Rose’s sake if nothing else.’

‘Me too’, she said and really meant it. Which was not something she’d ever have expected to be saying to Tom. Scrap the week, this was turning out to be a month of firsts.

***

This was going to be nothing if not a shitty way to spend his Saturday night, Dean thought, as he took his place at the table in the restaurant. It’s not that the food was bad. In fact, it was one of the best à la carte restaurants in the city. And just happened to be his brother’s fiancée’s favourite place to eat.

What made it shitty was who he was spending it with. Not that he knew Alana’s parents, they seemed nice enough. But directly across from him were his parents, and they’d yet to even acknowledge him.

Luckily Jeffrey was so dumbstruck that Alana had agreed to marry him, he’d forgotten about their argument, even if Dean hadn’t. But he still forced out the appropriate congratulations, even when he wanted to shake some sense into his brother, and warn Alana that if she broke Jeffrey’s heart he’d do everything in his power to make her regret it.

And he might have, if the Wicked Witch hadn’t flown in on her broom for the evening, dragging his dad along with her.

The first poison dart came as soon as the starters were served, and it was the first time she acknowledged his presence.

‘I see your girlfriend couldn’t make it tonight, Dean.’ His mother’s disparaging gaze didn’t fit with the sweet, doting mother act she was working for the in-laws’ benefit.

He was about to tell his mother he’d had two separate women this month, but had gotten bored of their skill in the bedroom already (not that it was true, he just wanted to wipe the smug look off her face and humiliate her for a change), when he caught Jeffrey throwing him a warning glance. Dean couldn’t screw up his brother’s night and not just because his parent’ would never let him hear the end of it. He hadn’t exactly been a supportive sibling lately. Even if he thought Jeffrey was making a colossal mistake, he should be there for him no matter what.

‘I’m not seeing anyone at the moment,’ he said instead.

His mother tutted, and shook her head with a pained expression. Turning to Alana’s parents, she explained her disappointing eldest son. ‘Ten years ago, he was engaged to be married. I thought by this point we’d be surrounded by grandchildren. But Dean just can’t keep a woman. Luckily Jeffrey’s loyal. We’re so proud of him.’

Dean fisted his hands reflexively, then pulled them under the table. He couldn’t believe the witch was making it sound like he’d been unfaithful, when he’d been anything but.

Jeffrey jumped in before Dean could erupt. ‘Mum, Dean’s so busy with our business he doesn’t have time to date. He’s creating an updated version of our hospitality program, and we’ve already lined up thousands of buyers.’

But their mother just shook her head. It was their father who spoke. ‘You were forever on that computer as a boy. Now you’re a man, son. You need to get out of that office and find yourself a nice wife like your brother. You’re not getting any younger.’

Great, now he was an ancient computer nerd. But he wasn’t going to argue, he just nodded. Thankfully the conversation turned from his unacceptable (to his parents, anyway) love life to the wedding, and while dates in July and centrepiece ideas were bounced around, he zoned out and unlocked his mobile.

First he hooked up to the booking system to find the next party Nicole Porter was listed to attend, and found it easily enough – a hotel just off Trafalgar Square the following night – then added himself to the guest list.

After all, he wasn’t going to let her just get away with ruining his shirt – not that he cared about the clothes. This was a battle of wit and about the only thing keeping him occupied enough so all this wedding stuff wouldn’t drag him back to a place in his head he didn’t want to be.

And she wasn’t just a worthy rival, she was sexy too. With a smart mouth, sexy body and quick wit, she was his ideal fling – exciting, sassy and definitely nothing that would feel repetitive. What made it all the sweeter was that she didn’t seem to feel anything for him other than disdain, though he was sure he’d caught an occasional spark of lust in her eyes. There would be no risk of feelings getting involved, and more importantly, hearts being broken.

No matter what she said, they were playing a game. A sparring, lust-fuelled one. And when the time came, they were both coming out of it winners.

***

‘I really wish I didn’t have that second margarita,’ Natalie said, as she bounced up and down on the seat of the taxi. ‘I’m bursting for the loo.’

Rose smiled for what seemed like the first time that week. ‘You should have gone before we left.’

Hindsight was a funny thing, though not at this moment when she had a bladder full to bursting.

‘Finally!’ As soon as the taxi stopped, she flung a twenty at the driver and scrambled out. The restaurant was the kind of place where they seated you, but Natalie couldn’t wait for that. She was heading straight for the bathroom.

They passed the window and headed for the door, but Rose pulled her back. Natalie crossed her legs, but it didn’t help. ‘Come on, Rose. I’m going to wet the pavement.’

Rose’s expression was blank. ‘I think we should go to that sushi bar around the corner.’

‘The one three streets away? Are you kidding? I’m on the verge of peeing myself.’

Calmly, Rose said, ‘You told me it was my choice tonight.’

Natalie switched to hopping from one foot and the other. ‘You chose here, remember?’

Her friend shot a nervous glance at the door, then refocused on Natalie. ‘I changed my mind.’

She was so desperate, she could cry. ‘Please, Rose. Don’t do this to me.’

‘Look, just go to the loo in there. They’re busy tonight.’ Her friend glanced through the window, then quickly stepped away from it. ‘They won’t even notice you.’

Usually, Natalie wouldn’t dare in case the pee police were watching, but she was too far gone to argue.

‘Fine,’ she mumbled and snuck in.

Thankfully nobody was paying attention to her, but the problem was, she didn’t know the restaurant at all and finding the bathroom was not as easy a task as she thought. She tried to look like she knew what she was doing, like she was supposed to be there, but desperation got the best of her and she grabbed a waiter’s arm, almost knocking over the three steaks he was expertly holding.

‘Bathroom?’ she pleaded.

And the second he nodded to the far corner she was off, trying not to knock over tables as she went. But as she neared, a familiar face exited the men’s room, blocking her way to the ladies’ one. ‘No, please no.’

Dean chuckled, and she had to resist the urge to hop from leg to leg.

‘That’s some way to speak to a guy you told everyone was riddled with crabs and then poured a gallon of wine over,’ he said with a smirk. ‘Are you legitimately here tonight or just in for a freebie?’

Natalie gritted her teeth. She’d have argued with him all night, but … ‘I don’t have time for this. I’m about three seconds from ruining your shoes too, so if you don’t mind, step out of the effing way.’

With a laugh he shifted to let her pass, even though she was fully prepared to shove him out of the way. When she’d regained her composure, she hoped desperately that he’d left, or was on a date. Then he couldn’t pester her anymore and she’d be able to sneak out without the lecture that accompanied peeing in a restaurant you’ve not ordered in.

No such luck.

He was leaning against a wooden archway when she emerged. ‘I think the whole restaurant heard you, there. Everyone thought a race horse had snuck into the bathroom.’

‘Har, har.’ But her cheeks burned as she stalked by him.

‘Lighten up, Nicole. This isn’t the battlefield. I was teasing.’

‘My name is not Nicole,’ she said, whirling on him. ‘And I doubt yours is Dean, either.’

He smiled. ‘It is. I don’t suppose you’d tell me yours?’

Who knew with his always slightly smug, amused expression? She couldn’t tell if he was sincere or if this was another one of those games he kept banging on about. She shook her head. ‘I need to go.’

He frowned. ‘You’re not staying?’

‘Why, so you can tell some other sleazy bastards to feel me up because I’m easy? I don’t think so.’

Just then, another man approached them and he looked remarkably like Dean. His features were similar, but the other one was younger, and looked worried, not like a smug bastard.

When he spoke, it was sincere. ‘I’m really sorry, Miss. Whatever my brother did to you, I can honestly say you can do better. But listen, it’s my engagement dinner tonight, and I don’t want him to cause a scene in front of the future in-laws.’

His smile was sincere too, especially when he glanced towards a table with a beautiful brunette and two older couples.

Then he elbowed his brother in the ribs. ‘For fuck’s sake, Dean. Tell her you’re sorry.’

Dean just smirked at her in an I-told-you-so way. She turned to the younger, nicer version and said, ‘Congratulations to the both of you. And don’t worry, there won’t be any trouble. I’ve never slept with your brother, he only wishes. Enjoy your meal!’

She didn’t look at Dean, just accepted his brother’s gratitude and strolled out of the restaurant with her head held high. She had no idea who won that round, but like Dean said, this was not the battlefield – just an unwelcome coincidence. There would be plenty time to get her own back.

‘What took you so long?’ Rose asked. She was fully submerged in the shadows.

‘Who or what are you hiding from?’ Natalie asked. She didn’t really want to go into all that stuff with Dean. ‘And what’s wrong with eating here?’

Not that she wanted to when he was there, never mind with his family, but it was weird for Rose to change her mind at the last minute.

‘I was hoping for somewhere quieter so we can talk.’

Natalie wasn’t going to argue with that even if she didn’t believe it. She wanted to get away from here as fast as Rose seemed to.

***

‘There really is a first time for everything,’ his brother said as Dean watched his little thief storm out of the restaurant.

Dean was too distracted to ask what his brother was on about – distracted by the way her black, skinny jeans moulded her arse and clung to her surprisingly long legs. But Jeffrey was never deterred by silence.

‘The one woman in London who would probably rather poke her left eye out than sleep with you and I got to shake her hand.’ His brother laughed.

‘It’s early days, and I’m fairly sure she’d rather sleep with me than dismember herself.’ Though in the mood she was in, he could see why Jeffrey might think otherwise.

Jeffrey shook his head. ‘You never knew when to call it quits.’

‘I prefer to think of it as rising to face the challenge,’ he disagreed, following his brother back to the table. And Nicole, or whoever she was, definitely presented a challenge. But it was much more than that.

‘She might beat you down a notch or ten. So I say, go for it.’

‘Knob,’ Dean said, smiling. As they got closer to the table, he whispered, ‘You’re just jealous because you can’t chase sexy blondes anymore.’

His fiancée was in earshot before his brother could reply and Dean wanted to rub in the fact that he’d gotten the last word for once, but decided to enjoy the win silently. Everyone had already dug into the main course that had just been served and didn’t notice the acidic look his mother threw them as they slipped back into their seats.

She struck up a conversation about polo next, and he started on his steak, making sure to stuff his mouth before she asked how he had managed to be such a disappointment at that too. Anyway, he knew his father would answer for him.

It’s all that meddling around with the computer, softened the boy up. We should never have bought it for him.

Thankfully not even his mother seemed interested in what he was up to anymore so he concentrated on his dinner instead. Or at least tried to. Jeffrey didn’t have the best table manners when it came to spaghetti – why he picked that dish on the night the parents met was beyond Dean – but he was more distracted by Alana, occasionally wiping the sauce from his brother’s chin with a napkin, eyes shining and lips curving in a way that said like nothing but how completely and utterly in love she was with him.

Putting the twinge in his chest down to indigestion, he refocused on his steak.

Dean’s mobile vibrated, distracting him from things he’d rather not think about. He pulled it out of his pocket and checked the screen.

Fancy coming over?

xxxxxxx

Mandy. Until a week ago, he’d have taken her up on the offer but his head wasn’t in it tonight. Maybe not ever again. She’d started to sign off with more kisses than was necessary and he suspected these infrequent hook ups were starting to mean more for her.

And if he was honest, he’d had more fun sparring with his ‘Nicole’ for ten minutes than he’d ever had in the hours he’d spent at Mandy’s.

He replied, deciding it was time to finish things with her. He never wanted to lead someone on, knowing exactly how crap it felt.

Sorry, Mandy. I think it’s time we call it quits.

Her reply took all of three seconds.

Okay, baby. You know where I am if you change your mind.

xoxoxoxoxo

He doubted he would. There was just no thrill anymore when it came to dating the way he had been. Dean blamed Jeffrey and this whole idiotic marriage thing. It was stirring up a lot of shit inside and making him come to realizations he’d been happy enough to ignore before now.

***

The little Japanese sushi bar never failed to disappoint, and when they’d had their fill the place had quietened to the point they almost had privacy as they sipped their complementary sakes.

‘So, now we’re pretty much alone, spill,’ Natalie said.

Rose got so pale even her lips turned white.

‘Rose, come on. Whatever you did isn’t half as bad as you think it is. You’re so kind-hearted. You’d feel awful about the tiniest thing. I mean, it’s not like you did something stupid, like went back to a guy’s house because you were drunk and—’

‘You did what?’ Rose asked, the colour burning back into her cheeks.

Oops, she forgot she hadn’t told Rose about Steven yet. ‘I had a one-night stand last week. It’s nothing to worry about. He was cool.’

Rose narrowed her eyes. ‘Nat, he could have hurt you. In fact, wait. You said last week? Was that the night you didn’t come home by any chance?’

Busted.

‘Yeah, that’s the one. But I really was in the storage unit, you know, after I snuck out.’ And after giving another guy a floor show. She still couldn’t get the hot sauce smell off her lovely clutch.

‘Nat, you’re spiralling.’ Rose took her hands. ‘Why?’

Natalie shook her head. ‘Nope, you can take that worried look and flip it on yourself. Tonight’s about you, and I want to know what’s going on. Is it …’

She took a deep breath, then chickened out of what she wanted to ask, and went with something else. ‘Is it Tom? Are you having second thoughts?’

Rose studied her face for a minute. ‘If I tell you the truth, will you tell me what you were going to ask me?’

Frick, there really was no way to get anything past Rose. ‘Deal.’

‘Okay.’ Rose necked her saki then gestured to the waiter for another. ‘I’m not worried about Tom. I think he’ll be an amazing husband, a brilliant dad. The thing is, I’ve been engaged before.’

Natalie blinked, it was all she could do.

‘Don’t hate me for not telling you. It was ten years ago. And I didn’t want you to think I was a heartless cow,’ Rose said, looking down at her hands.

‘Enough of that, I don’t think anything of the sort.’ She slid the rest of her sake over the table. It looked like Rose needed it more.

‘I don’t want to go into the details, but it ended because of me. I left him without an explanation or anything.’ A tear broke free from her eye and slid down her cheek. Rose didn’t even seem to notice as she picked up the drink and downed it.

And the reason her friend had been so down became clear. ‘You don’t want to do the same thing to Tom.’ When Rose nodded, she went on, ‘Then tell me why you left the other guy. I mean, you had to have a good reason.’

Rose’s eyes welled to the point Natalie thought she’d break down in the middle of the restaurant. ‘I just couldn’t see a future with him, not when I looked past the puppy love and took off the rose-tinted glasses. We were opposites in every way. I was ready, even at eighteen, to settle down, start a business and one day have a ton of kids.’

‘He didn’t want that?’ Natalie prompted.

Rose shrugged. ‘We never really spoke about it. I was leaving after the summer to go to college here in the city, and he just spent all his time fiddling with his computer. He had all these ideas about designing games and don’t get me wrong, he was brilliant at it. In fact, I used to go over to his when I was a kid and play them too. He just lacked the ambition to do anything with it and at the end of the day, I couldn’t face supporting him when I wanted to start up a business of my own. So I left.’

Natalie could see it, her friend at eighteen with her future already mapped out. She was so level-headed. Someone who didn’t know what to do with their life would have been a poor match.

‘But why do you feel you might end up doing that to Tom? He’s a banker and does pretty well for himself. In fact, he has a great income, a fancy rental in Chelsea and a 2016 Bentley. I’d say he’s pretty ambitious, and it’s obvious you really love him, so what’s worrying you?’

The waiter approached with another round of drinks, but Rose didn’t down this one. ‘Even without the money, even without the ambition, I’d still love him more than anything. We just click, you know? And I wonder, did I feel that way back then, or was it just puppy love? If I could walk away from one fiancé, will I walk away from this one?’

Natalie wasn’t exactly qualified in relationships, and her experience added up to a handful of one-nighters, two six-month relationships in high school and the occasional fling since she came to London, so she wasn’t the person to go to for advice. But Rose’s predicament seemed so obvious.

‘I think you need to let go of the past and all your guilt so you can move forward with Tom. If you truly believe it is meant to be, then it will work out. You can’t hurt him, hon. You care too much.’

Rose sniffled. ‘What would I do without you?’

Natalie grinned. ‘You’d be lost. So, a Christmas wedding, eh? Do you think Tom would consider moving it to Boxing Day?’

‘For my maid of honour? He’d better. Or there won’t be a wedding at all.’ She chuckled.

Natalie’s throat got all thick, and she grabbed at it, like she could stop the emotion from bubbling up and spilling over. She felt like she was somehow closer to Rose knowing her friend wasn’t perfect, and also relieved at not having to worry about being a misery at the wedding.

‘Are you sure you don’t want me to help? I mean, it can’t be easy finding somewhere, even for a small party, this close to the day. And I’ve done loads of last-minute weddings. I could call in a favour somewhere, maybe at the Savoy? I’m friendly with their events manager.’ At first she’d dreaded having to help, but now things had cleared up with Tom, she wanted to do whatever she could.

‘Nope,’ Rose said, shaking her head at the same time. ‘All you have to do is go to the dress fitting when it’s ready. Tom and I will do the rest. We were just going to have the ceremony at the registry office then have a meal with Tom’s friends and family after. I’ve even invited the girls from the shop and their families, but all in all there won’t even be thirty people. Even if you bring a date.’

There was no way she’d take a date. Even spending Christmas day watching the scariest horror films, she could never hide the puffy eyes from all the crying. She’d look a mess on Boxing day. She always did. ‘There’s more chance of me swimming the channel than that.’

Rose frowned. ‘Would you prefer if we moved the wedding to spring, maybe? I don’t want you to feel like you have to do this if you don’t feel up for it.’

Natalie shook her head. ‘I’m not going to be the reason you delay your wedding. Anyway, it’s meant to snow this year – how romantic will that be for the photos? I usually put it all away by the 26th anyway.’

If you could call wrestling with her guilt and grief until she felt halfway normal, putting it all away.

‘I wish you didn’t have to.’

‘Me too,’ Natalie said, then sighed. ‘Anyway, let’s talk about less morbid things, okay?’

‘Okay then. What were you going to say before?’ Rose asked, startling her.

Great. They’d gone from discussing Natalie’s unresolved issues with her mother’s death and Christmas, to talking about her insecurities. Well, she supposed it was now or never. The sooner she knew the answer, she supposed the sooner she could be proactive about the situation. ‘I was worried that the reason you were so down was because you were engaged, wanting to live with your fiancé and were too nice to ask me to move out, even though you wanted me to.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous, Nat. Of course, I want you to stay!’

Rose looked horrified she’d even suggested otherwise.

‘It’s going to be different when you’re married though. I don’t want to be a third wheel and you and Tom have a life to start living. I’m going to have to go at some point.’ She just wished she’d had a chance to start up her own business first. Now it looked like her savings were going to go on security deposits and be frittered away paying the surplus in rent. God, and furniture. She’d have to start from scratch since everything in the flat belonged to Rose. Unless she could work up the courage to use her mum’s things. But that was too depressing a thought.

As if reading her mind, Rose said, ‘You can stay in the flat as long as you like and keep our stuff. I think when we do move in on our own, it’ll be to Toms place anyway. And Tom has plenty at his house. I’d just take some of my utensils. I could even find you a roommate if you’re worried about paying my parents the rent on your own.’

‘Thanks. The idea of moving so soon is scary. And don’t worry, I’ll deal with the rent.’ She was determined to stand on her own two feet, and that meant demanding a wage rise from Mick the Dick. If she could work up the courage for that, then maybe, just maybe, she’d be brave enough to face sorting out her mother’s things.

***

Dean slipped away to pay the bill after his mother threw him a pointed look. Tapping the company credit card against the bar, he waited for the bill to be tallied and thought again about the interlude with his little thief.

The way she’d said his name, layered with feigned disgust made him smile. He was going to make it his mission to find out hers.

Jeffrey appeared next to him. ‘Listen, I’m sorry about last week. That was a shitty thing for me to say.’

Dean shrugged. ‘I wasn’t exactly acting like the best brother either.’

His brother laughed. ‘Nah, you were acting like an arse.’

With a grin, he replied. ‘Always.’ He knew by the way his brother clapped him on the back that the fight was over.

‘So who was the cute little blonde that wouldn’t go near you with a ten -oot barge pole?’ Jeffrey asked.

Where to start with that one? ‘Not sure what her name is. We’ve crashed a few of the same parties and as far as I can tell, she goes by the name Nicole.’

Jeffrey raised an eyebrow. ‘It looked like she wanted to rip your throat out with her nails, after she kicked you in the balls.’

He chuckled. ‘Yeah, she probably did.’

Then his brother got serious, studying him with a look Dean had never seen before. ‘You like her.’

‘She’s sexy and I want her, but that’s all there is to it.’ Christ, where did all this attentiveness come from? His brother looked like he was examining a specimen in a petri dish – Dean being the object of his scrutiny.

Jeffrey grinned. ‘You’re a shitty liar, my brother. But I’m not going to say any more about it. Well, maybe one thing.’