Page 31 of The Christmas Holiday
‘Engaged?’
Olivia’s eyesshowed more surprise than I’d expected and I wasn’t quite sure how to take that. I guess she’d been used to him dating socialites and models and actresses. I suppose, now I thought about it, my news could well be throwing them for a loop. I motored on anyway.
‘Your dad doesn’t know, and we didn’t think we needed to tell him because it’s all in the past. It’s irrelevant to how well either ofus can do the job, which is all that matters. I know when he finds out he’s going to be mad at me for not telling him and I could well be out on my backside, but if I’ve got a bunch of great articles to show him, and with Hunter’s incredible photos, I’ll at least have something to bargain with, and prove that it didn’t affect what either of us could do. So, I’m sorry we didn’t tell you. But it wasa long time ago and we were different people and we’ve both moved on… oh, and all that crap. But basically, what I’m saying is that we’re here, we knew each other previously and we’re both really good at our jobs, which is all that matters.’
Sandeep spoke first. ‘Nice speech,’ he said, grinning.
‘You’re not angry?’ I looked between him and his fiancée.
He shook his head, and lookedat Liv. ‘Not at all. Why would we be? You’ve said it won’t affect your work, and so long as you two aren’t unhappy then it’s all good as far as we’re concerned. Right, Liv?’
Olivia was turning her clutch over slowly in her hands. ‘Well. I do wish you had told me.’
I saw Hunter shoot me a look.
Oh shit.
She looked up. ‘But only because then I wouldn’t have made such an idiot ofmyself like I just did with… assumptions and making you both uncomfortable.’ She looked kind of miserable.
I leant forward and put my hands over hers, stilling the nervous movement. ‘It’s no problem. We’re fine. And I know you were only trying to be kind and generous, and sweet. Really. And we appreciate all of that.’ I smiled, waiting for Hunter to back me up.
Silence.
‘Don’t we?’I asked, turning my head and widening my eyes at him in an attempt to encourage his assistance.
‘I’ve been telling Liv not to try and set me up ever since I met her.’
Not exactly the answer I was after.
‘OK. So, he’s being a dick, which only goes to prove you shouldn’t waste your time and effort trying to find him someone.’ Liv giggled, and Hunter let out a sigh and a couple of choicewords under his breath. ‘But I appreciate it all enormously.’
Liv squeezed my hands back and I smiled, before we let go and I sat up straighter. Just in time for the car to brake heavily and come to a stop. Something I didn’t do immediately until I was on the floor, looking up at the others.
‘Sorry about that. There is a cow,’ the driver called back.
‘No problem!’ I waved from my newposition before scrambling back onto the seat, assuring everyone I was perfectly OK, and being thoroughly British about it all.
I settled back in the seat, furtively slipping my arm through a seatbelt that hung languidly there, just so I at least had something to grab on to should another bovine see fit to wander in front of our vehicle. From beside me, I heard a low chuckle. I decided totake the moral high ground.
‘I’m so glad I can provide amusement for you.’
OK. More moral middle ground then.
‘I’m not laughing at you landing on your arse… although admittedly that was pretty funny.’
I turned to face him. ‘Such a gentleman. I can see why you’re never short of “company”.’ I did the thing with my fingers and everything. Even this middle ground was starting to feelpretty damn slippy now.
‘Point taken.’
I glanced out of the window but my curiosity was piqued.
‘OK. So what did you actually find so funny?’
‘The aftermath, and the fact that when anything like that happens you seem to delve deep into your DNA and find the most terribly British piece of it you can.’ He said “terribly British” in a really good fake accent.
‘You know that’sa rubbish accent, don’t you?’
‘No, it’s not.’ His gaze locked on to mine, daring me to challenge him. I ignored it.
