Читать книгу Mills & Boon Christmas Delights Collection - Джанис Мейнард, Rebecca Winters - Страница 24

Chapter Fifteen

Unlike many of my clients, Michael didn’t actually have acres of clothing. Once he’d scooted around the house and gathered up various items that had never made it back to the wardrobe, there was certainly more than I’d seen on my first visit, but it still wasn’t as intimidating a pile as many I’d seen. Going through everything, choosing what to keep, didn’t take that long either. Michael was actually getting pretty good at this now. He’d even started tossing out the shapeless T-shirts he was invariably dressed in, as well as the worn out shirts. When he hesitated on one particular shirt, it was clear that there was something bothering him.

‘What is it?’ I asked, as I sat on the floor, folding T-shirts for the keep pile, Pilot’s head resting on my thigh.

‘Nothing.’ He hung the shirt up but his hand hovered before moving on to the next.

‘Come on. There’s obviously something. You’ve been flying through the rest of the stuff.’

‘Nothing. It’s stupid. Really.’

‘I’m sure it’s not,’ I replied. ‘Tell me.’ I tugged on his jeans leg for emphasis and he glanced down at me.

‘Should you be sitting on the floor?’

‘Pardon?’

‘I just…you always look so nice when you come here and then you go scrambling up into cupboards or plop yourself down on the floor. Shouldn’t you be in jeans or joggers or something?’

‘I’ve never met a cupboard I couldn’t tackle however I’m dressed and I prefer this for work. Now, stop changing the subject.’

He tipped his head. ‘Huh. You caught that, then?’

‘I did. And I’m still waiting. What’s the story behind the shirt?’

Michael flipped the sleeve of the shirt. ‘It’s the one I wore on my wedding day.’

Oh.

‘But I shouldn’t throw out a perfectly good shirt just because of that, should I? I mean, I could wear it any time.

‘You could, you’re right. The question is, will you and more to the point, do you want to?’

‘I do like it.’

‘Well, maybe you can give it a new association. Put it on when you’re doing something nice, going somewhere special. But if you’re always, in the back of your mind, going to associate it with something that no longer makes you happy, then it’s like we talked about with the curtains – it’s that first feeling you get when you see something. It has to be a good one, not ambiguous and certainly not bad.’

I tipped up onto my knees and Michael automatically put his hand down to help me up. Pilot whined.

‘She can’t act as your pillow all day, you lazy mutt.’

Pilot let out a resigned sigh and slid into a seated position by the door.

‘I can see he’s regretting moving out of the kennels. Poor, hard done by dog.’

I grinned, shaking my head.

‘I can’t tell you how happy I am you decided to take him.’

Looking down at me, Michael laughed. ‘You don’t need to. You’re practically bouncing up and down. Are you always this happy when a dog gets rehomed?’

‘No. I mean, yes! Yes, of course I’m thrilled! It’s just that some dogs really get to you. The moment I saw him, I fell for him.’

‘So basically you got me to take him just so you could come round and cuddle him?’

‘No,’ I laughed, batting his arm, ‘he was perfect for you. And you know it. Otherwise you wouldn’t have taken him, no matter what I thought.’

He gave me a look.

‘It’s all right. I’m not offended!’

‘Really. A woman who doesn’t go into a huff if I don’t agree with her?’

‘I can’t promise that every time, but on this occasion…’

Michael nodded. ‘Then I will take that.’ He turned, took the shirt off the rail and put it on the donate pile.

‘Sure?’ I asked.

‘Absolutely.’ He bent and gave his new companion a tickle. ‘New start for everyone.’

‘OK, then let’s get this stuff put away.’

Michael checked his watch. ‘Don’t you have to be getting ready?’

‘Oh no, I’ve got ages…’ He put his wrist in front of my face. ‘What?’ I said, grabbing his arm. ‘How did that happen?’

‘Time flies when you’re having fun.’

‘Oh gosh! Are you sure you don’t mind me getting changed here? I can do it at the station, it’s no problem.’

‘I think that might cause a stir.’

‘In the loos. Obviously.’ I pulled a face at him.

He took my hand and led me out into the hall before bowing before a door, waving an arm. ‘The guest bathroom awaits, m’lady.’

‘You’ve gone from grumpy to bonkers.’

‘Normally I’m a little of both.’

‘Well, that’s better than a lot of the former.’

‘Point taken. Now go and do what you do or you’ll be late for Colin.’

Opening my mouth to correct him, I caught the twinkle. I narrowed my eyes at him and he quirked an eyebrow at me, before I closed the door, trying to stop the smile that desperately wanted to play on my lips.

Smoothing down my dress, I gave a last check in the bathroom mirror. I couldn’t get over the feeling that it would be odd to take a shower in Michael’s house, despite the fact that he’d sweetly left everything I might need laid out, just in case, so I’d had a quick wash instead and then set about redoing my make-up and unpinned my hair. Brushing it out, I hooked one side behind my ear and told myself that would have to do. The shoes I’d worn over were a good match to the dress which had saved me lugging another pair around after Calum’s short notice arrangements.

I left the bathroom and headed to the stairs, stopping as the sound of music caught my attention. If my many hours of listening to Classic FM had taught me anything, it was Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, one of my favourite pieces. Sliding my hand along the banister, I slowly descended the stairs, knowing by now which creaked and which didn’t. The sound got louder as I moved towards the living room. Quietly I stepped through the half-open doorway.

Michael’s hands moved assuredly over the keys, his long fingers covering the chords easily and naturally. There was no music in front of him and his head was bent in concentration, his brow slightly furrowed. The light from the lamp to his side cast a shadow over his face, accentuating the high cheekbones and strong jawline, now ragged with overgrown stubble. To the side of the piano stool, Pilot laid contentedly, head on his paws, eyelids drooping as his master soothed him to sleep.

I felt my breathing grow shallow, afraid to make the slightest noise and shatter the scene in front of me. The fact that Michael was playing after so long of not doing so made me feel joyous. It was moments like this that made me love my job even more. I was helping. But I felt instinctively, in this instance, there was something more. Something I couldn’t name or even entirely recognise. But I knew it was different. And I wasn’t sure what that meant. Or if it even meant anything at all.

‘Oh no! Please don’t stop,’ I said, as Michael looked up, his hands stilling over the keys as he saw me in the doorway.

He shook his head, his half-smile almost bashful. ‘Bit rusty.’

‘No! No, really! It was wonderful. Honestly. That’s one of my favourite pieces.’

‘You play?’ he asked, closing the lid on the instrument as he stood.

‘Oh goodness, no. Sadly not.’ No point telling him that more than anything I’d wanted lessons as a child but that wish, like a whole bunch of others, never came true. ‘But I love to listen to it, especially “live” as it were.’ I immediately felt silly for doing the bunny ears and shoved my hands behind my back.

‘Well, Pilot’s not howling the place down so that’s something.’

‘I think he found it relaxing.’ I pointed to where the dog had now flopped onto his side and was gently snoring.

As we left the room the dog pulled himself up and padded sleepily behind us, just in case he missed something. As we got to the bottom of the stairs, I realised Michael was looking at me a little funny.

‘Oh no. What? What is it?’ I ran my hand over my hair and checked for runs in my stockings.

‘Nothing! Nothing’s wrong. You just look…wow…really nice. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with your hair down before.’

‘No, it’s not really practical for work but I can’t bear to cut it.’

‘You definitely shouldn’t.’

I smiled. ‘Thanks.’ I slipped my arms into my coat as Michael held it out for me. ‘Calum thinks it’d be less hassle if I cut it,’ I said, lifting my hair from the collar so that it wasn’t tucked in. ‘But I refused.’ I looked up through my lashes at Michael. ‘So you see, I don’t always just jump when he says so.’

‘Like I said before, he’s an idiot.’ He handed me the wrap I’d been using as a scarf. ‘Admittedly he’s a lucky idiot but an idiot all the same.’

‘Oh shush you,’ I said, not wanting to argue again tonight and accepting that, mixed in there among the boyfriend insults, was a compliment. ‘I have to go.’

‘We’re walking you to the station.’

‘No, it’s freezing out there. Stay here in the warm.’

‘Yes, because I can see that you’re dressed for arctic conditions in that dress.’

‘I have a coat on!’

‘You should have three more layers at least and a bobble hat,’ Michael replied, pulling on his boots.

‘Hat hair wasn’t exactly the look I was going for.’

‘It’s a much underrated look, I’ve always thought. And you’ve no choice on the company. Come Pilot.’ Michael clipped the lead on the dog, shrugged into his own coat and opened the door for me.

As we walked along to the station, I secretly began to think that Michael might have been right about the extra layers. A harsh north wind had been building all day and the clear sky had turned into a clear night, which probably meant that somewhere through all the light pollution, millions of stars were glinting, hung in an inky sky. It also meant that I was freezing my butt off.

‘Wishing you had those extra layers now, aren’t you?’ Michael read my thoughts.

‘What makes you think that?’

‘I can hear your teeth chattering.’

I bit down and locked my jaws together.

Michael put an arm out and squished me against him, protecting me from the wind and immediately making me feel more cosy.

‘Better?’

‘Yes. Thank you.’

‘No problem.’

We arrived at the entrance where a small group of carol singers had braved the weather and were cheerily belting out a chorus. Michael let his arm drop away and I immediately missed the warmth he’d provided. My teeth began chattering again almost instantly.

‘Go on. Get down into the Tube and warm up. And try not to freeze the other end. Get a taxi if you need to.’

‘And you say I fuss,’ I teased.

He tilted his head, the fleecy beany he wore pulled down to his eyebrows.

‘Can you begin to imagine the grief I would get from Janey if you turned up somewhere tomorrow morning frozen solid like an ice pop.’

I gave an eyebrow rise of acceptance.

‘Bye Pilot. See you in a couple of days.’

‘Last big push, eh?’ Michael said, his face showing a hint of concern.

‘One of them. Not long to go now but I’m confident we’ll get there in time for everything to be just perfect for you all.’ I gave his forearm a gentle shake. ‘Really, it’s going to be finished in time. Stop worrying. Now, thanks for the company but you need to get that dog back into the warm.’

‘All you care about is the dog. You’re a hard woman Katie Stone.’

I shrugged, half smiling.

He glanced at the entrance then back at me. ‘I suppose it’s pointless me asking you to stand him up.’

I shook my head a little sadly. ‘Please let’s not do this again tonight? We’ve managed to move past yesterday’s…moment and had a really good day. I don’t want to argue with you any more Michael. Please?’

He nodded, his eyes still fixed on a point behind me. I waited for a moment and the intense green gaze moved and found my face.

‘I’d better go.’

He nodded, then leaning forward, he kissed me on the cheek.

‘You look really beautiful Katie.’

A smile flickered on my lips as I tilted my face up and met his eyes. He held the look a moment then stepped back, calling the dog and set off at a jog back towards the house. I watched their retreating figures, the touch of Michael’s lips on my cheek still clear in my memory and warm on my face. Giving myself a mental shake, I turned and began walking through the concourse, heading for the escalator down to the trains. Clearly I’d missed Calum’s touch more than I thought if a simple, innocent kiss on the cheek from Michael O’Farrell could have me feeling like my insides were made of melting chocolate.

***

‘So how was the trip? Did you get to see much outside the office?’ I asked, as I finished the last mouthful of delicious cheesecake and laid the dessert spoon to the side of my dish.

Calum had been talking about work for most of the dinner and I was happy to listen. Although it might have been nice if he’d asked how things had been going for me too once or twice.

‘Oh. Yeah. Well, no, not much.’

‘That’s a shame. It looks like you got a bit of tan though, so you must have done a bit of bunking off,’ I teased.

He chuckled. ‘So long as you don’t tell the boss. There was a pool at the hotel so I grabbed a couple of swims when I could.’

‘Why not?’

‘Exactly. That’s what I thought.’ His eyes drifted over my face and his hand, under the table, drifted over my thigh. ‘God I missed you.’

I dropped my gaze and smiled. It didn’t matter what Janey or Michael or Bernice thought: He did care.

‘I missed you too.’ Which was true. In the times that I hadn’t had back-to-back appointments or been up to my elbows in kennel detritus. ‘In fact, I was thinking that maybe I could take a few extra days off at Christmas and we could go – ’

‘I can’t Kate. I’m sorry.’

I sat back, confused. ‘You don’t even know what I was going to say.’

He let out a sigh. ‘You were going to ask to spend some more time together over Christmas.’

‘It’d be nice if you didn’t make that sound quite so distasteful to you! And frankly, I shouldn’t have to be “asking”! Most normal couples would automatically assign some time together over Christmas, because they actually want to be together.’

‘Kate, don’t do this. Not tonight.’

My anger began to bubble. ‘Frankly I’d have liked to have said something before now but I’ve hardly bloody seen you and you’re not exactly what anyone would call chatty on the phone.’

‘I’m busy!’

‘Everyone’s busy!’ I said, my teeth gritted in an attempt to keep my voice low. ‘All I want is some time with my boyfriend! Is that really too much to ask?’ Much to my disgust, my voice broke on the last words and Calum’s face immediately softened. He reached for my hand.

‘Kate, please don’t be upset. I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s been crazy lately and I’ve neglected us far more than I should have. Look, I’ll work something out and we’ll definitely have a few days away together, like you said. OK?’

I nodded and took a deep breath. I hated rows like this. I’d witnessed too many and, although Janey was right in that I didn’t take any crap from people in my work, I still always did my best to avoid confrontation when I could. Apart from with her brother, but he really was a case unto himself. And luckily, it seemed that we had managed to get past that stage now anyway. Mostly.

‘So, what about you? Things going well at work? You said you had a new client who was proving a bit difficult. Did you move him to Bernice in the end?’

I took a sip of red wine and shook my head. ‘No I couldn’t. He wanted to continue with me.’

‘Did he now?’ Calum said, leaning back and picking up his own glass.

‘It’s nothing like that. He’s just quite…private and didn’t want to go through everything again with someone else. Janey had recommended me to him so he just wanted to stick with me.’

‘Ah, the delightful Janey.’

I gave him a look. ‘Yes. She is delightful.’ The tone in my voice warned him not to push that way.

‘It’d be easier if she liked me a little more.’

‘She does like you. She likes everyone.’

This time it was Calum that gave me the look and we both knew I was being diplomatic. Also known as fibbing a little.

‘Once things settle a bit with your work and we get to see each other a little more, she’ll come round. I promise.’

Calum said nothing.

The waiter drifted past, stopping momentarily to top up our glasses from the wine bottle sat on our table. He then left the bill on the side of the table and glided away. Beside us, a table of eight began singing happy birthday and I looked round to see several waiters accompanying a large cake being wheeled on a dessert trolley. I smiled at the family gathering as photos began being taken, the flashes illuminating the area in bursts. Glancing back at Calum to share the enjoyment, his head was down, brow furrowed as he studied the bill. I was about to look away again when I noticed something.

‘What the hell is that?’ I asked, my voice raised to compete with the singing opposite. Which of course finished just as I spoke, resulting in my question being heard by far more people than just the one I’d directed it at.

Calum’s face darkened.

‘Keep your voice down, for God’s sake!’

My eyes widened. ‘I beg your pardon?’

‘You heard me! What the hell’s got into you, drawing attention to us like that?’

I felt the blood rise in my face. ‘It wasn’t intentional! And right now I don’t actually care. I want an answer to my question?’ I grabbed his left hand and pointed to the distinct tan line on his third finger. ‘Why the hell does it look like you’ve been wearing a wedding ring?’

Calum pulled his hand out of mine, both of us aware that the birthday party was now far more interested in our discussion than in the cake in front of them.

‘Because I have.’

‘Oh God. I’m going to be sick.’ I gripped the edge of the table.

‘Wait.’ He stopped me. ‘It’s not what you think.’

I held up my hands, palms upward, silently asking him what the hell else it could be.

‘Come on. Let’s go to the hotel and talk about it there.’

I shook my head. ‘No. I want to talk about it now.’

‘Kate please. You’re – ’

‘Now Calum.’ My voice was calm and back to its normal level. But even I could hear the steeliness in the tone.

‘Fine. It’s kind of silly really.’ He gave a laugh. I didn’t join him. He cleared his throat and continued. ‘The company I was working with, they’re really family-orientated and they like all the people they deal with to be “on the same page”, as they say. I heard another company lost a contract with them because the guy mentioned something about him and his girlfriend living together. I didn’t want to lose the contract so I bought a cheap ring just to wear whilst I was out there. Once things go through, it’ll all pass to a different part of the company and I won’t be dealing with it any more.’ He looked at his hand, the telltale sign barely noticeable in the candlelight. ‘I guess I must have forgotten to take it off on one of my swims.’

I sat watching him, wanting to believe him.

‘Honestly babe, that’s all it is. You know. Playing the game. You know how traditional people can be out in places like Alabama.’

He reached for my hand and I pulled it back away from him.

‘Babe come on, I – ’

‘Alabama?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Not Arizona?’

‘What?’

‘You told me the firm you were visiting was in Arizona. Not Alabama.’

‘I don’t think I did. You must just be remembering wrong. Like you said, you’ve been crazy busy too lately.’

‘I’m not remembering it wrong Calum. I know what you told me.’

‘Fine. Then I guess I said the wrong state. It’s not a crime. You’re making a big deal out of nothing.’

‘Am I?’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘Why don’t we go to your house tonight, instead of the hotel?’

He picked up the napkin off his lap and put it on the table. ‘I’ve told you that’s not possible. It’s still being worked on.’

‘I don’t mind. I’d like to see it.’

‘I don’t want to drive out there tonight, besides we’ve both been drinking.’

‘I’ll pay for a taxi.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. It’d cost a fortune.’

‘It’d be worth it to see this amazing house.’

‘What’s got into you?’

‘Me?’

‘Yes!

‘Nothing. I think the fact that I’d actually like to see where my boyfriend lives after six months of dating is pretty damn normal! In fact, I’m wondering if me letting it go this long is something I’m going to regret.’

‘Of course it’s not. Kate I told you. It’ll be done soon and we – ’

‘Are you married?’

‘What?’ Calum asked. ‘Of course not!’

But I saw it. That moment of hesitation. That flicker.

I dropped my head, my eyes focused on my hands as I held them on my lap, the knuckles white as I twisted the linen napkin between my fingers.

‘How could you?’ I whispered. ‘After everything I told you about my parents?’

There was a pause. He knew he was caught. ‘Kate. I’m sorry. I never meant…’ He stopped as I lifted my head, my eyes dry, gaze boring into him.

‘Where were you really? These past few weeks? On holiday with your wife?’

He nodded. ‘Mexico.’

‘Do you have children?’

The hesitation again.

‘Shit,’ I whispered, my throat feeling tight and raw as I swallowed.

Downing the rest of my wine in one go, I pushed my chair back. ‘I need to go,’ I said, throwing the twisted napkin on the table.

‘Kate. Wait.’

I unhooked my bag from the back of the chair and stood. As I turned to grab my coat, the woman sat across from me caught my eye. A look passed between us and she momentarily dropped her gaze to the table before catching mine again. Abso-bloody-lutely.

‘Do you mind if I borrow this?’ I asked her.

‘Be my guest.’

‘What the fuck?’ Calum spluttered as red wine dripped down his face. ‘Do you know how much this shirt cost?’

I leaned towards him. ‘You know what? I don’t give a shit because whatever the price, it’s far less than your lying has cost me!’

‘Oh come on Kate! You can’t tell me that you didn’t have your suspicions? It’s not my fault if you decided to blind yourself to them and just saw what you wanted!’

I stared at him, open-mouthed, my brain whirling.

‘The fact that you even think that shows how little you really know me.’

He looked me up and down, his eyes lingering. ‘I wouldn’t say that.’

And with that I flung what was left of his own red wine on top of the already spreading stain on his previously pristine white shirt.

Turning my back on Calum, I faced the other table, just as a waiter hurried up beside us.

‘Please could you replace this lady’s drink,’ I instructed him, opening my bag to reach for my purse. Her hand reached out and rested on my arm. I looked up.

‘That one’s on me love.’ She winked and patted my arm.

I have to say that, ordinarily, I’d have been mortified at someone overhearing such a personal conversation, but bearing in mind my mortification levels were already off the scale by this point, it didn’t really seem to matter all that much right now.

I nodded and briefly laid my own hand on top of hers before stepping back and walking out of the restaurant, head high with not one glance back.