Just for Christmas - Emily Harvale Page 0,41

But the trio of pies does sound delicious. And comfort food is what’s called for when it’s snowing outside. Turkey, Port and Cranberry. Steak, Red Wine and Mushroom. And finally, Ham, Spiced Cider and Onion. Yum.’

Molly laughed. ‘Does champagne go with all that? What am I saying? Champagne goes with anything.’

The food was delicious, as Molly knew it would be, and Chance promised he’d never look down his nose at a pie again.

‘You’re right,’ he said after just a few mouthfuls. ‘These pies are heaven on a plate.’

‘I’m always right. Especially when it concerns food. And Christmas decorations.’

‘Yeah, yeah. I’ll admit you were right.’ He held up his glass of champagne. ‘Here’s to you and to always being right.’

Molly held up her glass. ‘And here’s to you and to being able to admit it.’

‘Happy Christmas, Molly. I hope you get everything you’ve wished for.’

She knew she wouldn’t. Chance was in love with someone else.

‘Happy Christmas, Chance. I hope the same for you.’

She didn’t. Not totally. She hoped it would continue snowing so that his girlfriend’s flight would be cancelled and she wouldn’t make it here in time for New Year’s Eve.

But that was mean. He deserved to be happy. Even if that meant him being happy with someone else.

‘I really do,’ she added, knocking back her glass of bubbly as if she hadn’t had a drink for a week.

Twenty-Two

It was still snowing as Chance and Molly walked home but the temperature had dropped and in parts, where the snow had been trodden down, the pavements were icy. Molly had almost slipped as they left the pub but Chance had caught her arm and he linked it through his without thinking. He wanted to keep her safe.

That wasn’t all he wanted.

He had just had one of the best nights of his life. Possibly the best night. And yet he couldn’t end the night the way he wanted – because he had a girlfriend.

All he could think about, as he and Molly made their way home, was how much he wanted to kiss her.

He’d thought about it on and off all evening. All afternoon too, if he were honest.

Especially when they’d put up the decorations in the cottage earlier and he, his mum and Molly, together with Miracle and Beauty, had danced around the room to ‘Rocking Robin’. Molly had caught her foot in a string of fairy lights and tripped, grabbing him as she fell. He’d managed to save her and had pulled her into his arms.

For a moment it was as if the rest of the world had vanished and it was just her and him, their lips inches apart, their bodies pressed together. But Miracle and Beauty had leapt up at them, thinking it was a game. Vicky had roared with laughter. And so had Molly.

But for just a split second, he had thought he’d seen something in Molly’s eyes that had made him think she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

And tonight, more than once, she’d looked at him as if he were her hero. The love of her life. The one man in the world she really wanted to be with. His heart had raced, his head had pounded; at one point he’d felt as if he couldn’t breathe. He had to fight the urge to take her hand in his and pull her to him and kiss her.

Now, as they were walking home, surrounded by softly falling snow and twinkling fairy lights, her arm linked through his, her body brushing against his with every step, he wanted that even more.

He saw the mistletoe hanging in the porch and this time he didn’t make an excuse to avoid it. Perhaps he’d had too much champagne and wasn’t thinking straight, but why not? It was Christmas Eve, after all.

He could kiss her. He could get his wish. Well, part of it at least. She wouldn’t think anything of a kiss under the mistletoe. And it wouldn’t be cheating, exactly. Even though, in his heart of hearts, that was why, until now, he had walked away. Kissing Molly would feel like cheating.

But he wouldn’t mind if Jolene kissed someone under the mistletoe on Christmas Eve. Not in the least. It was tradition. It didn’t mean anything.

And would one kiss really do any harm? Just one, brief kiss?

The front door opened and his mum beamed at them.

‘Hello, you two. Have you had a lovely time?’

Molly seemed as surprised to see Vicky as Chance was. It was as if