Page 42 of The Christmas Holiday
‘But he was upfront from the start. I have to give him that. He never leads anyone on. He always tells them he’s not the committing type. I mean, not that he would cheat on anyone… Oh God, he didn’t cheat on you, did he?’
‘No.’
‘Good. But yes, he justtells them he’s not looking for anything serious. Every time. He’s never looking for anything serious. Ever. We’ve known him for quite a few years now, and I’ve never known him to be any other way.’
‘I guess people change,’ I shrugged.
‘Can I ask something?’
I had a feeling I knew what was coming, and I really wanted to say no.
‘Of course.’
‘Do you think what happened withyou two changed his outlook? You know? Gave him the commitment issues he has now.’
‘No. I don’t think so. It was a mutual decision.’
Sort of.
Liv nodded and then threw a glance back towards her fiancé, her perfect brows knotting at their lack of progress.
I followed her glance, sensing the tension. ‘Goodness, they really are stuck there, aren’t they? Hang on. I’ll go and see whatI can do.’ I stood and made my way over to where Hunter and Sandeep were still being held in conversation, despite making several polite attempts to head towards the food.
‘Darling! There you are!’ I said, slipping my arm through Hunter’s as I turned to the couple. ‘Olivia and I were beginning to think we’d been abandoned!’ I gave a tinkly laugh, and doinked my head adorably against Hunter’sbicep.
‘Of course not, sweetheart. We were just coming.’ Hunter joined in the charade. ‘So nice to meet you.’ He shook hands with the man and nodded to the woman, who was now looking at me with a very fixed smile. Sandeep followed suit and we all made our way over to the table, where Sandy sat momentarily and apologised to Liv. Hunter pulled out my chair, bending as I sat. ‘Nicely done. Iowe you one.’
Once the men had got back with their plates suitably loaded up, we fell into an easy conversation and talked over all the things we had seen so far, and of the places still to come.
‘So, you said you’d been together for three years, is that right?’ I asked as we all returned to the table after a dessert run.
Liv nodded. ‘I can’t believe it sometimes – it’s all gone sofast, hasn’t it, Sandy?’
Sandy had a mouthful of sweet, sticky Indian pudding and took the option of nodding and covering his fiancée’s hand with his own in answer.
‘Love at first sight?’
A hint of blush coloured Liv’s cheeks. ‘I thought he was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. Of course, I expected him to know that too. At least that had been my experience quite often in the past.And I knew he was very successful – but I didn’t think there was any way we’d get on. But then he looked at me across the room, excused himself and came over to speak to me.’ Liv smiled at her fiancé. ‘I don’t think we spoke to anyone else again the whole evening.’
I glanced across at Hunter, expecting him to make his usual sarcastic remark or pull a face. He had his head down, focused onhis dessert. But I could see the gentle smile that softened his features.
‘And you, Sandeep? Is that how you remember things too?’
Sandy gave a little head tilt. ‘I’d seen Liv’s photograph several times, and we’d likely been at the same functions at the same time but I’d never managed to get the opportunity to meet her. When this one came up, and I knew she was on the guest list, I wasdetermined. She was beautiful and from my enquiries—’
‘You made enquiries?’ Liv laughed.
‘Of course! And from those enquiries, I knew I had to meet her.’
‘And?’
‘And here we are!’ He laughed.
‘How soon did you know that this was where you’d end up?’ I pursued, partly in a work capacity, and partly just because I loved a romantic story.
‘Oh, probably about when she said“hello” back to me.’
Liv nuzzled against Sandy’s face and Hunter gently shook his head, but the soft smile was still in place.
