Just for Christmas - Emily Harvale Page 0,18

it sounds lovely,’ Vicky said, eyeing them over her coffee.

‘Don’t think pink as in candyfloss,’ Molly said. ‘Think of the colour of … setting plaster. That’s a manly pink.’

‘Setting plaster?’ Chance thought about it. ‘Now that sounds cool. And I can picture that with the dark wardrobes.’

‘Excellent. Now you said you wanted the bedroom to look like something in a magazine, so I’m thinking, luxury hotel. What about a bedframe with a dark blue, padded, buttoned, high headboard? The bedding would be layers of the blue of the bed, the wardrobes and the pink walls. With maybe a touch of deep magenta. A throw and perhaps one cushion? And I think the bedside lamps should make a statement. I’ll work on that. And go with me here. What if you painted the ceiling a midnight blue and had a few, subtle, tiny stars dotted here and there? With those two large roof lights you’ve added, it would seem as if the entire room were open to the night sky. Or is that going a bit too far for you? Picture yourself lying on that bed, looking up at the stars.’

He didn’t respond immediately and she wondered if he was having second thoughts about wanting her help, but there was something in the way he was looking at her that made her skin tingle and her heart race.

When she’d pictured that bedroom, she’d imagined being in his arms, staring up at a black velvet sky sparkling with a myriad of stars. Was he imagining something similar? Except he would be seeing his girlfriend in his arms, not her.

‘I think I need to get you to redesign my bedroom,’ Vicky said. ‘That sounds heavenly, doesn’t it darling?’

Chance swallowed and his voice cracked when he spoke, so much so that he coughed once he’d managed, ‘It does.’

‘So you like it?’ Molly was delighted.

He nodded and held her gaze. ‘I can picture it right now. It … it’s perfect.’

‘That’s great. I can pick up some paint samples while I’m out, and I’m sure Sarah can supply a lot of the soft furnishings I have in mind. I was going to suggest you build a window seat in that side bay window. We could have cushions to match, or to complement the bedding. And perhaps wooden shutters the same colour as the wardrobes. Imagine sitting opposite one another reading a book. It’s big enough for two. Or drinking a glass of wine, watching the snow falling outside. Isn’t that romantic? Oh! … Er … When I said ‘we’, I meant that in the designer and client sense, obviously.’

‘Of course you did, sweetheart.’ Vicky didn’t sound convinced and the huge grin added to that.

Chance didn’t say a word. He ran a hand through his hair and coughed again.

Had she embarrassed him?

‘I think that’s enough for now,’ she said. ‘I’d better call Sarah and see what time we can meet. When do you want me back, Chance?’

‘Sorry. What?’

‘What time do you want me to be at the cottage?’

‘Oh. Er. Whenever. What about straight after lunch? Say, two o’clock?’

‘Perfect.’ Molly glanced at her watch. ‘It’s a little after nine, so that gives me plenty of time to spend some money. And some of that will be yours, Chance. I just thought I should mention that.’

He grinned. ‘What’s mine is yours.’

A hint of colour crept across his clean-shaven face and a little thrill ran through Molly, but she damped it down. He had a girlfriend. A girlfriend who would very soon be his fiancée. She must remember that.

And she must stop designing his cottage as if she were going to be living there. That was a definite no-no. And extremely unprofessional. She’d never done that before. But then she’d never designed anything for Chance Warren – until now.

‘And what’s mine is yours,’ she joked, nodding towards Miracle.

Having finished his breakfast, he was sitting beside his bowl, looking a little spaced out. Almost as if he were in a trance. The calm before the storm she felt, and the sooner she left him to Chance’s care, the better her day would be.

‘Why do I get the feeling that I’ve got the worst part of this exchange?’

Molly laughed. ‘Probably because you have. Thanks for breakfast, Vicky. I’ll call Sarah and then I’ll wash up.’

‘No need, sweetheart. Chance bought me a dishwasher a few years ago. You go and have fun. We’ll take care of this.’

‘You’re the best,’ Molly said, giving Vicky an impromptu kiss on the cheek.

She had no idea why