Just for Christmas - Emily Harvale Page 0,43

him go.

And if Chance hadn’t suddenly pulled away, the plain fact was, Molly would’ve happily made love with him right there on the bloody doorstep. Even if Vicky had stayed.

Bloody hell. What on earth was wrong with her?

But why had Chance pulled away?

Was it just because he had a girlfriend?

Or was it because he could feel just how much Molly wanted him? And he didn’t reciprocate her longing. Or her passion. Or her love.

Because that was the long and short of it. When you got right down to it. She was in love. In love with Chance bloody Warren. A man who in exactly one week’s time would be down on one knee proposing to some other bloody woman.

And she wasn’t just in love. And this wasn’t just some holiday romance. This wasn’t just because it was Christmas and she’d let herself get caught up in all the magic of the season.

No. This was real. This was true. And she wasn’t just in love. She was madly, deeply, passionately in love.

For all the bloody good that would do her.

‘Did you have a good time?’ Vicky asked.

You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me.

How could Vicky ask that as if she were asking someone if they were enjoying a nice cup of hot chocolate? Didn’t she see that kiss?

‘Yes thanks,’ Molly somehow managed. ‘But I think I might’ve had too much champagne. I’m getting a bit of a headache.’

‘Oh no, sweetheart.’

Vicky was genuinely concerned and Molly felt bad about lying. She didn’t have a headache. But she did think her mind might implode. Or explode. Or whatever.

‘Chance is getting me some tablets. But if you don’t mind, I’ll only stay for a few minutes and then I’ll go to bed.’

‘Of course I don’t mind. We’ll open one present each right away and then you can go and get some sleep. You’ll want to be all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for tomorrow. You’re having breakfast here, aren’t you, before going to your brother’s for the day?’

If she didn’t die of a broken heart in the night, yes.

‘Er. Yes. That was the plan.’

‘Excellent. At least Chance and I will get to spend some time with you on Christmas Day. And don’t you worry about Miracle. He’ll be fine here all day. Oh, and in case I forget tomorrow, when you want to leave Terry’s tomorrow night, text Chance and he’ll come and walk you home. Won’t you darling?’

‘Won’t I what?’

Chance went straight to Molly and handed her the tablets and the water but he avoided meeting her eyes.

‘You’ll go and meet Molly at her brother’s tomorrow night so that you can walk her home.’

‘Er … Yes. Yes, of course I will.’

‘There’s really no need. It’s just around the corner. I’ll be fine.’

‘It may be just around the corner,’ Vicky said. ‘But I’m not having you walking the streets on your own, late at night, especially with all the drunks you get at this time of year. And I’m speaking as a former drunk myself, don’t forget. Most people mean well and are out to have fun, but sometimes, just sometimes, people go a bit too far. And it’s a prime time for muggers and thieves, you know. I heard it on one of the documentaries. Or did I read it online? I can’t recall. But anyway. Chance will come and meet you and that’s the last we’ll say about that. Now let’s open a present each so that you can go and rest your pretty head. And I know I said this earlier, sweetheart, but you do look beautiful tonight. Especially in that gorgeous, and rather sexy dress.’

‘Mum. You’re forgetting Molly has a headache. I think you’ve said enough.’

‘Oh, Pah. Go and get the presents from the tree and we’ll let her get to bed.’

Vicky reached across and squeezed Molly’s hand, making Miracle and Beauty, who were both curled up with her on the loveseat, as usual, slip from their positions of comfort, bark, jump down and tear around the room.

Unfortunately for Chance, he didn’t see them coming, and both Miracle and Beauty thumped into him, taking his legs from under him. Luckily, he fell back on an armchair, but he did a sort of sideways tumble, rolled off the chair and landed on his knees at Molly’s feet.

She couldn’t help herself and burst out laughing, as did Vicky. Even Chance laughed, once he’d obviously seen the funny side, but he glanced up at Molly, met her eyes and leapt upright as though the floor