Page 59 of The Christmas Holiday
‘Right.’
He kept the smile, shaking his head. ‘I don’t think I can see you wanting to live in a backwater like this either, though, somehow.’
‘I… um… haven’t ever really thought about it.’
‘I don’t know what I was thinking, asking someone like you out.’
‘Someone like me?’
‘Sophisticated, fearless, pretty as hell.’
‘Now you just mind your language, young man.’ His auntput the drinks down on the table, gave me a smile and left.
I giggled, and so did he and the ice was broken.
‘I’m really not any of those things.’
‘You are to me. That guy you work with? He’s obviously really good at his job and has that whole Alpha Male thing going on but you weren’t taking any shit from him.’
‘He’s not as scary as he likes to make out.’
‘So he wouldn’t havethrown you out of the boat?’
‘Oh yes. He totally would have. I was definitely on my last warning with that.’
‘Good job I would have been there to save you then.’
I gave him a look and smiled. ‘That’s very sweet of you.’
‘I wish you weren’t leaving so soon. I think I’d like to get to know you better.’
I wasn’t quite sure what to say to that right at the moment so I hoped a smilewould suffice while I studied the menu.
As the tide came back in, the smell from the exposed silt disappeared and it turned into a pleasant evening.
‘This is a great spot,’ I said, looking out over the dark water. I bet it’s lovely on a summer’s evening.’
‘It really is. And honestly, the smell isn’t that bad normally. Just typical it had to be at its worst when I bring someone likeyou.’
I laughed. ‘I wish you wouldn’t keep referring to me like that.’
He blushed. ‘Sorry. I kind of always wanted to travel. I guess that’s partly why I joined the army. Although, gotta admit, Afghanistan wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.’ I didn’t have a reply for that either so I just listened. ‘London was definitely on my list. I feel like a hick compared to you. That’s all I meant.’
‘Don’t be silly. And just because you haven’t done it yet doesn’t mean you won’t at some point. Things change. People learn to deal with things in their lives better.’
He nodded. ‘Yeah. Maybe you’re right. And I do find it easier to go into the city nowadays. I still wouldn’t want to live there, and I’m always glad to get out of it. But it’s not like it was a few years ago.’
‘Thereyou go, then. Who knows what the future holds for you, and what places you might discover.’
‘I think I’m pretty sure it doesn’t include you, though. However much I might want it to…’
‘Marty…’ I smoothed the paper napkin on my lap.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.’
‘No. You haven’t. And it’s very sweet of you to say something like that. But you really don’t know me. I’mquite often a huge pain in the arse, especially when I set my mind to something. Just ask Hunter.’
‘Nothing wrong with tenacity. Your co-worker?’
