Just for Christmas - Emily Harvale Page 0,23

arms in this gorgeous cottage, surrounded by snow, looking up from their sumptuous bed at a star-filled sky.’

Sarah nudged Molly’s arm.

‘Do I detect more than a hint of jealousy? Be careful of that, Molly.’

Molly sighed and looked Sarah directly in the eye.

‘I will. At least I’ll try. But Chance is just so bloody gorgeous. I’ve always had a crush on him. Ever since we were young. And I know I’ve hardly seen him over the years, but I’m feeling things for him that I know I shouldn’t be feeling. And once or twice, I’ve seen him looking at me in a way that makes me think he might be feeling something too. There’s definitely been ‘a moment’ once or twice. You know, when a guy looks at you as if he wants to kiss you?’

Sarah nodded. ‘I agree with you. I noticed that today. When you said we were going to be sitting on the kitchen counters, there was something in the way he looked at you that made me think he was having some sort of sexual fantasy. Of course, it may have been a fantasy about Jolene. Who knows? But it looked as though he had to drag his gaze from you.’

‘Really?’ Molly sat on her hands and sighed wistfully. ‘I’ve been having a few fantasies of my own.’

‘At least we can be sure that none of yours involve Jolene.’

Molly grinned. ‘We can be absolutely sure of that. But I do need to keep reminding myself that she is Chance’s girlfriend, and that she’s the one who is going to be living in this house, not me.’

‘Yeah. And you need to be careful about that too. Several of the things you bought today were things that you would like in your dream home. I’m not saying that Chance and Jolene won’t like them too – in fact, I’m sure they will. You do have excellent taste. But don’t forget, Chance is, effectively, a client. He’s not your boyfriend.’ Sarah flung her arm around Molly and hugged her tight. ‘We need to find you a man of your own. I hate to say this, but even if Chance is interested in you, we can’t ignore the fact that Jolene will be coming here to join him on New Year’s Eve.’

‘Or that he’s going to propose to the bloody woman. And obviously she’ll say yes.’

‘He’s going to what?’ Sarah shrieked. ‘Did you say he’s planning to propose to Jolene on New Year’s Eve?’

‘Bugger!’ Molly grabbed Sarah’s hand in hers. ‘That was supposed to be a secret. I promised Chance I wouldn’t say a word. Oh God, I’m a horrible person and a really bad friend. Please don’t say anything. Not even to Terry. Chance mustn’t find out I’ve blabbed. He’ll never forgive me.’

‘Oh come on. It’s not exactly a State secret. But it is bloody annoying.’

Molly eyed her friend. ‘Annoying? Please don’t tell me you like Chance as well.’

Sarah gave a roar of hysterical laughter. ‘Of course not. I agree he’s gorgeous, but I’m not interested in him in that way. I’m just annoyed that he’s doing all this for Jolene, plus he’s planning a romantic proposal on New Year’s Eve and they’ve only been dating for about a year. They don’t even live together in New York.’

‘And your point is…?’

‘My point is, Terry and I have been dating for four years this Christmas Eve, and living together for two, and yet there’s absolutely no sign of a proposal, either now or in the future. And that, Molly, is bloody annoying, let me tell you.’

Molly was surprised by Sarah’s outburst. She had no idea her friend was feeling like that.

‘Oh I see. Er. I don’t know what to say. I could have a word with my brother, if you like.’

‘No thank you!’ Sarah snapped. ‘I don’t want him to be forced into proposing to me.’

‘I wouldn’t force him. Besides, I couldn’t force Terry to do anything he didn’t want to do. Although, according to Chance, I was able to do exactly that when we were young. Sorry. Going off on a tangent there. I’d just have a sisterly word with him. Make a suggestion. Give him some encouragement. Just like I did when he asked you out. You didn’t mind me doing that. And I know you were glad I got you both beneath the mistletoe that Christmas Eve.’

Sarah smiled. ‘Yes. I was glad about that. And I’m glad you encouraged him to ask me out. Well, to continue to