Читать книгу Mills & Boon Christmas Delights Collection - Джанис Мейнард, Rebecca Winters - Страница 28

Chapter Nineteen

I dozed on and off but couldn’t sleep properly so after a while I got up and perched myself on the window ledge, surveying the neighbourhood as it turned white under the snow, and fairy lights began twinkling in the gloom of the afternoon. The door opened and Janey popped her head in.

‘Oh, you’re awake. I was just going to ask if you wanted anything.’

I opened my mouth.

‘Apart from to go home. If you’re all right tomorrow morning, Mikey’s said he’ll run you home. Until then, I’m keeping an eye on you.’

‘Janey I hope you don’t think I don’t appreciate everything, because I really do.’

She came and sat next to me on the wide windowsill. ‘I know you do. And you know, sometimes it’s OK to actually let people take care of you.’

I must have looked a little unconvinced because Janey took my hand. ‘It’s not showing weakness Katie. I know you didn’t have the choice growing up and it was all up to you – ’

‘Mum tried her best.’ Although I would get frustrated with Mum sometimes, my automatic reaction was still defence.

Janey didn’t take offence. ‘I’m sure she did. I’m just saying that, due to circumstances, things were different for you than they are for a lot of kids. You didn’t have anyone to turn to. You were the support when, really, it should have been the other way around. But it doesn’t have to be that way for ever.’

‘I’m not sure about that.’

‘Why do you say that?’

I leant my head against the window, watching the snow pile up in a drift against Janey’s back fence.

‘If I’m going to end up with people like Calum, then maybe I am just best on my own.’

‘So you’re going to write off all men as potential Calums?’ She gave me the same look I’d seen her give Lily a few weeks ago when she’d claimed to have had no idea where Janey’s new lipstick was. Unfortunately, the fact that, at that moment, Lily looked like a clown who’d put his make-up on whilst three sheets to the wind, and that the lipstick colour was remarkably similar to her mother’s new ‘Va-Va-Voom Red’ rather gave her away. Janey’s look categorically told Lily then, and me now, that what we were saying was rubbish.

‘No. But even you have to admit I’m not so good at this whole picking the right man lark.’

‘You have to let people in Katie. Some of the others might have been OK if you’d not kept them at arm’s length.’

‘When I finally took that advice, it still turned into a disaster.’

Janey sighed. ‘Admittedly, that wasn’t ideal. But that doesn’t mean the next man you open up to is going to be another Calum.’

‘Bearing in mind the second man I told about everything was your brother, and I was yelling at him when I did, then whilst I agree, he’s definitely not another Calum, it wasn’t exactly a warm and fuzzy moment either.’

‘Yeah, he did call to see if you’d come to us that night. He mentioned that you’d had a bit of a heated moment. I told him not to worry. Obviously I knew you were on edge about the Calum thing but I couldn’t tell Mikey that.’

I gave her a little smile.

‘OK. I couldn’t tell him about it at that point. It sort of slipped out later. I’m pregnant, you have to make allowances.’

I laughed. ‘You’re going to have to think of a new excuse once the baby comes, you know that, don’t you?’

‘Oh no, I’ve got a while with the “baby brain” excuse yet. Don’t worry.’ She grinned. ‘I am sorry about letting that slip with Mikey though. I honestly didn’t mean to. It just came out.’

‘It’s all right. I…sort of wanted him to know. We’d been getting on OK and then suddenly I was dodging questions. It felt like we’d taken a step backwards. But the circumstances…’

‘He understands now. But you mustn’t assume everyone will automatically think the worst of you.’

‘No. I know that now…’

‘It looks like there’s a “but” coming.’

Janey knew me too well.

‘But perhaps there’s a reason. Perhaps I’m just not made for all this.’ I waved my hand, encompassing Janey’s life. ‘Maybe the whole family home, husband, kids thing just isn’t meant for – ’

I stopped as my hand waving reached the half-open door and I saw Michael, hand raised, about to knock. An expression I couldn’t name fleeted across his face.

‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. The kids want to go outside, and Patrick sent me up for their snowsuits.’

Janey turned to me.

‘What you just said? Total bloody rubbish. You witnessed a bad marriage and had a crappy childhood.’

‘Janey.’ I tried to stop her, flicking my eyes to Michael.

She waved her hand, dismissing my reservation. ‘But we both know that all that only makes you want to prove that that’s not always what it’s all about. I also know that you’ll do just that.’

I screwed my face up a little, not wanting to disbelieve her, but not entirely able to swallow it all either. I knew she was right about the first part. Honestly? I did want it all. But whether I could actually achieve it, the thing she was so sure of, was another matter.

‘Right,’ she said, patting my hands and turning to her brother. ‘I’ll get the kids’ suits, even though Lily will go out for less than five minutes probably. In the meantime, Katie’s going to come downstairs. She’s been cooped up here enough.’

I tightened the belt on my dressing gown but Janey was already pulling a white throw off the chair that Michael had been sat in earlier. She handed it to him.

‘Here you go.’

Michael draped it around my shoulders.

‘I’m OK. Really, I’m quite warm en…Argh! No, put me down. For goodness’ sake, I can walk down the stairs! Michael put me down. Please!’

He grinned down at me as he made his way towards the top of the stairs. Janey was following us, two small bright snowsuits over her arm.

‘Janey, please tell him to put me down!’ I said, pleading with her. ‘He listens to you.’

Janey grinned in the same manner as her brother had. ‘Off you go Mikey.’

‘Urgh!’ I let my head fall to the side, bumping against his broad chest. I could feel the laughter in it. ‘It’s not funny,’ I stated.

‘Yeah, it is.’

‘No, it’s embarrassing. Look, we’re at the bottom now. Please, I can walk fine. Please put me down.’

Michael, predictably, ignored me and entered the living room where the kids and Patrick looked up.

‘Ooooh!’ Lily’s face was all excitement and giggles. ‘Uncle Mikey, you look like when the Prince picks up his Princess after they’ve got married!’

I saw Janey and Patrick exchange a look and for a moment nobody said anything. Janey had mentioned before that marriage and Michael weren’t generally topics that went well together as conversation starters, and even when brought up by the kids, it was evident the subject caused him tension. But pressed up against his chest, held in his arms, I had to admit, I didn’t feel any tensing at all.

Michael looked down at me. The throw was wrapped around me but some of it trailed over his arm, looking to Lily at least, enough like a wedding dress train to prompt the comment.

‘Ah, Lily, I think our Katie here is far too wise to marry me.’

Lily looked up at me as Michael, finally, let me down and held my arm gently as I got comfy on the sofa.

‘Don’t you like Uncle Mikey?’ She blinked.

‘Oh…I…yes, of course, Lily. He’s very…nice.’

From the corner of my eye, I saw Michael smother a laugh. I gave a look around, pleading with my eyes for some help. All I got were grins in return. Great.

‘Uncle Mikey picked me up from school once and I heard one of the other mummies saying that she thought he was sixty.’

Patrick gave a snort of laughter.

‘Oh,’ I said, floundering for a moment. There was no doubt in my mind that the mummy in question had actually described Lily’s uncle as ‘sexy’, but if I said that, I knew the very next question would be, ‘What does “sexy” mean?’ I might be feeling better but I definitely wasn’t up to that. Thankfully Michael stepped in.

‘Must have been a rough night. Looking older than my years.’ He winked at me. ‘Right, who’s up for snowman building!’

Janey and I sat quietly, watching through the glass doors as the men, Pilot and little Lily began on their quest. Lily lasted just over ten minutes before opting for the warmth of the house but the boys stayed out and the snowman building, inevitably, descended into a snowball fight. We watched for a while, laughing as Patrick and Joey ganged up on Mikey and then we left them to it. Janey lent me a book and quietly started reading another to Lily.

***

‘Well, you look healthier than you did a few days ago,’ Michael declared as he entered the room, rubbing his hair with a towel having now showered to warm up after tea. He disappeared for a moment to hang the towel up to dry in the utility and then flopped down on the sofa next to me. The citrusy scent of his shower gel drifted towards me.

‘I feel miles better, thanks.’

He leaned in a little. ‘You had me worried there for a moment.’

I looked round. His face was close and I could see he wasn’t joking. His gaze held my eyes until it, momentarily, dropped to my mouth. I felt myself swallow and force a smile, sitting myself back a little. His eyes were back on mine. In fact, the glance he’d given to my lips was so brief…Was I imagining things? Let’s face it. I’d been pretty out of it there for a while and although I felt much better, I knew I wasn’t entirely back up to speed yet. And this weekend, being surrounded by so much care and, well, love, it was easy to get carried away. Luckily I hadn’t got too carried away. Because if I had, I might have just made yet another faux pas with this particular client.

‘Don’t be silly. Just a little bug,’ I replied lightly, trying to distract myself from the disturbing knowledge that Michael O’Farrell most definitely had the most tempting mouth I’d ever seen. I pulled myself back and caught sight of his face. Worried that I had sounded far more dismissive of his concern than I’d meant to, I added, ‘But thank you. For everything you’ve done.’

‘Apart from the carrying down the stairs.’ That hint of smile played around the edges of his lips.

‘Apart from that. Did you have fun out there?’ I nodded towards the window.

He smiled widely. Relaxed. ‘I did.’

‘Good.’

I read another page of my book, or at least tried to, as Michael leant forward and grabbed his own from the coffee table.

‘Do you often spend the weekends round here?’

He slid me a sideways glance and shook his head.

‘Oh. Well, it’s clearly something everyone loves when you do.’

‘It’s mutual.’

‘Oh come on. Admit it,’ Patrick laughed, taking a chair opposite and pulling Janey gently down onto his lap. ‘You just didn’t trust us to look after Katie well enough. He’s got a little of the control freak about him, don’t you, Mikey?’

‘I’ve absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.’

‘It’s all right,’ I laughed. ‘I’ll be fine to finish the house off. Although there’s really not much left to do. Which is just as well as it’s only a week away now.’

‘I hope you have a tree on order. The kids will refuse to come in if there’s no tree for presents,’ Janey added.

Michael shot me a panicked look that told me he’d completely forgotten about getting a tree.

‘Don’t worry,’ I said, moving my hand and squeezing his gently, out of sight of the others ‘It’s all in hand. I suggested to Michael that it was probably better to get the house finished before getting anything like that so that he could easily see the best place for it.’

‘Great!’ Janey smiled. ‘I can’t remember the last time that house saw a Christmas tree.’

‘Don’t worry. I know a great place,’ I whispered as Janey and Patrick began talking between themselves.

‘You’re a lifesaver. I don’t know how she does it, but my sister always manages to catch me on the hop.’

‘Probably just because she knows you so well.’

He gave an eyebrow shrug of concession. ‘Thanks for bailing me out.’

I smiled and went back to my book. But not for long.

‘Although I do have one bone to pick with you.’ His voice was still quiet, but now a little stern too.

I looked up to see him holding his book up for me to see the title.

‘Jane Eyre? You’re reading it?’ This man continually surprised me.

‘I am. I thought as you had named my dog referencing it that I’d better read it.’

I got the feeling I knew what the bone was he had to pick with me.

‘So Pilot is Rochester’s dog, right?’

‘Mmmhmm.’

‘And Rochester so far appears moody, short tempered and frankly a bit of a cold fish. I’m beginning to wonder if there is more to the naming of that hound than your innocent claim of just liking the name?’

‘I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.’ I tried not to smile and pretended to concentrate on my book, despite the fact I’d now been on the same page for the last ten minutes.

‘I’m pretty sure you know exactly what I mean,’ he replied, opening the book to where the bookmark lay.

I risked a glance. He caught me and held the gaze a moment, before shaking his head.

‘But Rochester has his reasons and he does improve as the book goes along,’ I started digging.

‘So you’re saying there’s hope for me yet? Is that it?’

‘No.’

His eyebrows shot up and that tempting mouth began to curve.

Oh.

‘I mean…not that you couldn’t improve…haven’t improved…’

It curved a little more and I wondered if my fever might be making a resurgence because it was suddenly so much warmer in the room than it had been a few moments earlier.

‘Or rather that…’ I lifted my eyes and met his highly amused ones. ‘It’s just a name in a book,’ I finished feebly.

Michael leaned in.

‘You’re such a bad liar. But I’m glad that there’s hope for him at least.’ He flicked through the book momentarily. ‘I thought I heard somewhere that he ends up marrying his employee.’ He flashed me a look.

‘I’m not your employee!’ The words were out before I had a chance to filter them.

He looked at me evenly, but I could see the merriment in those beautiful eyes. ‘I was merely referring to the fact that the story has a happy ending for him.’

‘I…of course. I knew that.’

‘I know you did.’ He shuffled himself down a little on the sofa and stretched his legs out in front of him, settling the book on the top of his thighs. Turning a page, he glanced up at me. ‘But like I said, you’re “sixty” when you get fired up. And when you blush.’

I gave him a look and then held my book up in front of my face, intent on concentrating. Unfortunately I could see his grin from the corner of my eye and with his shoulder resting against mine, could feel the laughter as they moved. I risked another look as he did the same.

‘Go on now Jane. Back to your book reading.’

‘Hilarious,’ I stated flatly.

He chuckled again and went back to his novel.

***

A couple of days later I was just heading out to Michael’s after dropping in at the office to rendezvous with Bernice and do a bit of catching up, making sure she was happy with everything. Thankfully, as usual, Bernice had everything under control.

‘Off to Mr O’Farrell again?’

‘Yep,’ I replied, buttoning my coat, before pulling on my hat and winding my scarf round my neck. I knew that soon I’d be doing the usual thing of taking it all off in order to prevent melting whilst on the train and then putting it all back on to stop myself freezing on the walk between the station and his house.

‘You don’t seem so reluctant to go there these days.’

I ignored the prompt.

‘And you say he stayed at his sister’s the whole weekend too?’ Bernice tried again.

‘There’s nothing going on between us,’ I stated. No need to add that I’d had a moment when I’d wanted nothing more than for him to kiss me.

‘Right,’ Bernice replied. ‘But you don’t want to hit him with a snow shovel any more either, do you?’

I turned, my hand on the door handle. ‘Not most days, no.’

‘That’s what I thought.’ Bernice waggled her eyebrows and I left the office to the refrains of Love is in the Air.

The trouble with someone who is completely and utterly loved up is that they then feel it is their mission to get you to the same place. Which is a sweet sentiment, but not necessarily achievable. And frankly, after the last debacle, perhaps just giving myself and everyone else some space, might be the best plan moving forward. Yes, Michael was gorgeous and yes, I’d had a moment or two of weakness when a random thought had popped into my brain reminding me of his tempting mouth, or the body that I knew lay beneath the clothes. Well, obviously I didn’t know all of it. That was…

Crikey, I thought, it’s warmer out here than I thought. I pulled at my scarf and flapped some cool air around my neck and face as I made my way towards the train that would take me to Michael’s.

***

‘I’ll see you soon then.’

My step faltered as I turned onto the drive and looked up. Stepping out from Michael’s front door was a tall, expensively dressed blonde. As I hesitated, her arms slid around his neck and he responded by hugging her close. As she stood back from him, she drifted her hand to his face and then leant and kissed him, somewhere between his mouth and cheek.

‘It was good to see you Michael.’

I saw him respond, but thanks to a passing ambulance and its wailing siren, what he actually said was lost to me. From their smiles though, I guessed whatever it was had been pleasing to them both.

Feeling horribly awkward, I slowed my pace even more, not wanting to interrupt. And mostly just wanting to find an accommodating hedge to hide behind for a few minutes, but that, apparently, wasn’t to be.

‘Hi Kate,’ Michael called as he finally saw me. I smiled and waved as I approached the doorway. My client turned to his companion. ‘This is the woman I was telling you about.’

Oh?

‘Ah! You are the miracle worker?’ She laughed, her gorgeous French accent topping off her perfection. No wonder Michael was looking so pleased. ‘Michael has told me what a difference you have made to his house. It is all so beautiful. I can hardly imagine it as he describes it before.’

Oh. Right. Of course. So, I guess that meant the house tours were back on now.

‘It’s what I do!’ I sort of half laughed and turned my palms up, as I locked away everything that had begun revealing itself over the weekend spent at Janey’s, realising now that any thoughts in that direction were completely misguided. See? This is what happens when you start opening up to people.

First the Calum disaster and now thinking that there was the distinct possibility I had feelings for Michael and the even more ridiculous notion that he might return them. What was I thinking? I glanced back at the woman, thought of the photos of his wife, and the woman I’d seen him chatting up in the pub that time. They had one thing in common: They were all outstandingly beautiful. I glanced back at Michael as he kissed his visitor on the cheek. As was he.

For God’s sakes, Kate. Get a grip. You were never in with a shot here.

His visitor stepped elegantly down the steps and waved before sliding into a brand new sporty Mercedes. She started the engine, blew Michael a kiss through the window and pulled away.

‘I…err, hope I didn’t interrupt anything. It’s always OK to reschedule if something…comes up.’ That probably wasn’t the ideal turn of phrase but I was already committed.

‘Not at all. Selene was just leaving anyway.’ His smile was open and friendly. I stepped inside and shed my outer layers, saying hello to Pilot and giving him a good ear rub at the same time.

‘How are you feeling?’ he asked, taking my coat off me to hang it up.

‘Great, thanks. You?’

He smiled. ‘I’m fine. But I wasn’t the one who was sick.’

I waved my hand. ‘I’m all done with that. No more time to dedicate to lounging around.’

Michael gave me a head shake.

‘Your friend seemed to like the house. I’m really happy that you’re feeling more comfortable about having people round now. That’s really great progress Michael. I’m so pleased.’

‘Oh yeah. She was really impressed. Don’t be surprised if you get some commissions from her. Would you consider travelling to Paris for the odd job?’

I laughed, and then realised he was serious.

‘What?’

‘Selene’s family has a construction business that, although based here, does a lot of work in Europe, France especially. When I told her about what you’d done here, she mentioned that she thought some of her friends might benefit from your services.’

‘Oh right. Well. Wow. I guess I’ll just cross that bridge if and when I come to it. Thank you though, for whatever it is that you said.’

‘You’re your own recommendation Katie.’

My mind was turning over his words. ‘So, she’s in construction?’ I asked, attempting to put as much casualness into the conversation as humanly possible.

‘Yeah.’ He gave me a quizzical look. ‘Why do you ask?’

‘No reason. Just being conversational.’ He was still giving me that look. ‘Looking at her you’d think she was in fashion, rather than construction. She’s gorgeous.’

He made a gesture of acceptance with his head. ‘She is. And, of course, ordinarily she wears a hard hat all the time. I don’t know why she didn’t today. It normally finishes off her look beautifully, I think.’

I pulled a face. ‘Funny.’

He gave me an amused look in return. His face looked so much more relaxed these days, and the hard planes of it now just added attraction rather than enhancing a spikiness of character.

‘Anyway,’ I said, ‘I’m glad that we’ve made enough difference for you to feel happy enough to show your…friends around. That’s obviously a big improvement on where we were a month ago.’ I smiled and tried to push away the disappointment I felt, not to mention confusion at that disappointment even existing.

‘I know. Who’d have thought, eh? And, more good news, there’s this huge project I wanted in on and apparently it’s now down to me and one other guy. They’re going to make a decision later this week.’

‘Oh, that’s great! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.’

‘Thanks. I already have you to thank for getting me this far.’

I had a foot on the bottom step, and his words made me turn.

‘Me?’

‘You,’ he said, coming up to me. Even one stair up, he was still taller than me. ‘Without you coming here and doing this, and making the decision to sort out my office first, I never would have got it together enough to get my pitch in on time.’

It wasn’t very cool or professional but I couldn’t stop it: I beamed at him. ‘Really?’

‘Really.’

‘I’m so pleased Michael, I can’t tell you how much. I could tell you loved this house and the history you have with it, with your family, but it was pretty obvious you weren’t getting everything out of it that you could. Looking at you now, you just seem so much more relaxed, and well, happy to be here. And the fact that you’re being more productive, it’s just great because that’s clearly making you happier too.’

‘It is. But there’s something else.’

‘Please don’t tell me you’ve found another ten boxes of stuff!’

He shook his head. ‘No. I think it might be worse than that.’

‘Oh no.’ Just as I was convinced we had managed to hit the target Janey and Michael had set. What on earth could it be?

‘Katie – ’

His phone started bouncing on the table as it vibrated, trilling out its ringtone.

Michael’s eyes closed briefly before he turned to grab it. He looked at the screen. ‘I’m sorry. I really need to take this.’

‘It’s OK. I’ll head up and just take a note as to what’s left to do now. Just come up when you’re done. No rush.’

He nodded and answered the call. ‘Matt, hi. How are you?’