Page 88 of A Winter Kiss on Rochester Mews
Shouting at each other.
Again.
‘When someone asks you if we provide a gift-wrapping service, you don’t say to them, “You’ve got to be kidding me,”’ Mattie told Tom in no uncertain terms, her hands on her hips. ‘Honestly, you shouldn’t be allowed near the general public.’
‘And you shouldn’t be allowed to boss me about when I’ve worked here longer and I have a doctorate!’
‘But it’s in books, it’s not in anythinguseful!’
‘So says the woman who has a diploma in cake!’
‘It’s patisserie!’
‘Cupcakes. A certificate in cupcakery,’ Tom snorted.
‘That’s not even a word, Tom.’
They were circling each other now, like two wild animals ready to spot a weakness in their opponent and pounce. The Christmas Eve crowd and their colleagues had all melted away and all Mattie could see was Tom and his infuriating, lofty face.
‘When I first met you, I thought you were cool and laid back with your Audrey Hepburn vibe and the witty French twist on classic English bakes,’ Tom said thoughtfully. ‘But it soon turned out that you were completely uptight and controlling, and Audrey Hepburn must be turning in her grave over the fact that you stole her look.’
Mattie opened and shut her mouth a few times. How dare he? How very dare he? ‘Well … well …’ she blustered, absolutely unable to use her words. ‘My opinion on you hasn’t changed because I thought you were a dull, dusty academic with a cardigan that should be burned, and even if you did turn out to be charming and handsome with hidden depths, you’ve ruined several of my non-stick pans by scraping at them with metal utensils. So there!’
‘Why are you so obsessed with my cardigans?’
‘Because they’re an affront to my eyes! That one with the leather patches on the elbows – what were you thinking when you bought it?’
‘That it would be both warm in a draughty shop and practical because I tend to wear out the elbows on my other cardigans from leaning on them when I’m reading. Charming and handsome, eh?’ Tom stepped closer to her and she could hardly breathe.
‘I didn’t say that,’ she denied in a throaty little voice.
‘You did. You definitely did,’ Nina called out and Mattie and Tom looked around and realised that they had an audience of not just their colleagues but an entire shop of book buyers.
‘That’s quite enough,’ Tom decided and in one of those smooth, deceptively strong moves of his, he pulled Mattie into the just vacated Mistletoe Booth, sitting down on the stool and pulling her into his lap.
‘I don’t know why you’re going all Alpha Male when you’re obviously not interested in me. Phil said that you were done with women and their tote bags and their cupcakes, so you obviously meant me!’
‘I never said that,’ Tom protested, putting his arms around Mattie, which made her precarious position on his lap much more comfortable. ‘Phil’s unintelligible recalls of last night’s activities would never stand up in a court of law.’
‘You can’t be done with me: we’re not even doing anything for it to be done with,’ Mattie said.
‘You’re done with me! You can’t even remember kissing me, when that kiss was one of the greatest moments of my life,’ Tom said in a hurt voice.
‘But you said thatyoucouldn’t remember the kiss!’
‘Only because you said thatyoucouldn’t remember it first. I didn’t want to be accused of kissing you when you were incapacitated, though I genuinely didn’t think you were incapacitated at the time.’ Tom frowned.
‘I wasn’t incapacitated but I am confused. You’re the king of mixed messages,’ Mattie said, placing her hand flat on his chest so she could feel his heart positively thundering away. ‘One day you’re shouting at me about tote bags, then the next day, you’restrokingmy hair. Don’t even try to deny the hair stroking this time.’
‘I denied it because you clearly don’t feel the same way about me as I feel about you. I mean, you said you were ready to start seeing other men now that you’re over your evil ex-boyfriend.’
‘I don’t want to see other men,’ Mattie said and Tom’s face fell and even though his arms were still around her, she felt him withdraw, shuttering his charming and handsome features so he became a pinch-faced stranger again.
‘So, you still hateallmen,’ he confirmed sadly.
‘Notallmen …’ Mattie began but stopped when Tom rested his forehead on her shoulder as if he was in despair.
‘I really didn’t want to take advantage, Mattie,’ he said, swallowing hard. ‘I felt so guilty about kissing you. It’s a very fine line to walk when you’re attracted to someone who’s been hurt before by a man who blurred all the boundaries. If my attentions were unwelcome …’
