Just for Christmas - Emily Harvale Page 0,39

were her best feature.

Chance wasn’t staring at them like some men did though, he was taking in all of her and it was pretty clear he liked what he saw.

‘Molly Ford!’ Rupert, the pub owner said, hurrying over to her as she and Chance waited to be seated. ‘My, my. Don’t you look a picture? Maud, sweetie. Have you seen our Molly? If you weren’t the love of my life, sugarplum, this handsome young man might have competition for our Molly’s heart.’

‘Oh. We’re not … that is … we’re friends, Rupert. Just friends. But thank you for the compliment.’

Now she really was the colour of her dress, and Maud made things worse.

‘Oh. My. Pickled. Onions! Don’t you just look the bee’s knees? In all the years we’ve known you, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so beautiful. But that’s what Love does.’ She tapped Chance on the arm as Molly tried to explain, yet again that they were only friends. ‘I hope you realise how lucky you are, young man. Our Molly’s very special.’

‘I know. Believe me,’ Chance said, smiling at Molly as if he agreed with everything Rupert and Maud had said.

Molly stared at him, open-mouthed, for at least three seconds.

‘We’ve saved ‘The Lover’s Nook’ just for you two,’ Rupert said, which made Molly colour-up even more, and Chance look a little unsure of what to say.

‘I’m so sorry about all that,’ Molly said, as soon as they were seated and Rupert and Maud had gone about their business.

‘That’s okay. It wasn’t your fault.’

Now, his gaze darted everywhere other than at her.

‘It’s only because they saw us together at the Snowball Pie event, and because tonight’s Christmas Eve and we’ve both got a bit dressed up for the occasion, they’ve put two and two together and made fifty. But I always dress up if I go out on Christmas Eve. And they always make a big thing of it if I happen to come in here.’

That last part wasn’t quite true, but he wouldn’t know that.

And she did dress up if she was going out, but tonight she’d made an extra special effort.

He definitely didn’t need to know that.

Chance relaxed slightly and smiled.

‘Shall we have champagne? It is Christmas Eve, after all.’

‘Oooh yes. I love champagne. But we’re going halves on the bill, okay? Our prize covers dinner for two with wine, but tonight they have a special Christmas menu and it’s more expensive than usual.’

‘That’s fine. But we’re not splitting the bill. Don’t argue.’

‘This isn’t a date, Chance. I’m not having you pay for me.’

His jaw locked and his eyes flashed as if she’d just slapped his face.

‘I’m well aware it’s not a date, Molly. You don’t have to remind me of the fact. I want to pay because you’ve done so much for me and Mum over the last few days. This is simply a little ‘Thank You’. There’s no need to make a big deal of it.’

She wasn’t really trying to remind him; it was herself she was having to remind.

‘Okay. I’m sorry. But there’s no cause to get all stroppy. And I’m the one who should be saying ‘Thank You’. If you and Vicky hadn’t let me stay at her house, I don’t know what I would’ve done. So where gratitude is concerned, I think I’ve got you beat.’

‘I wasn’t getting stroppy. And gratitude isn’t necessary. That’s what friends are for.’

‘Right back at ya. Friend.’

‘Why can’t you just let me do something nice for you?’

‘You’ve done lots of nice things for me over the last few days. Why can’t you let me go halves?’

‘Because I want … to treat you.’

‘That’s lovely, Chance. But maybe I want to treat you. Have you thought about that?’

He raised his brows. ‘Frankly, no.’

‘Okay. This is getting silly. If it means so much to you, fine. You can pay. But only if you let me pay for drinks in here on New Year’s Eve. Deal?’

‘Deal.’ He beamed at her, but a second later, the delight slipped from his face and an expression of abject horror replaced it. ‘I can’t, Molly. I … I … I’ll be with Jolene on New Year’s Eve.’

Molly’s happiness melted away faster than a snowman in sunshine. She had completely forgotten about Jolene. Yet again.

But so had he.

‘Of course. Er. How silly of us. You’ll be in your cottage on New Year’s Eve, down on one knee, proposing to the woman you love. How could either of us forget about that? And we haven’t