Page 90 of The Christmas Holiday
Hunter looked up from folding and returning the blanketto the pile. ‘Yeah. They kind of are.’ I was still watching him when he finished.
‘Uh-oh. What did I do now?’
‘Nothing. I just didn’t expect you to agree with me. You tease them so about being as lovey-dovey as they are.’
‘Sandy knows I don’t mean it. And Liv is fun to tease. But she knows I don’t mean it either.’
‘Don’t you? Liv told me you don’t really look for commitment anymore. I mean, for yourself. She was quite surprised to discover you’d ever been engaged and wondered if your reluctance was because things ended badly for us.’ I fiddled with a blanket fringe. ‘I told her it wasn’t. I hope I was right.’
Hunter indicated it was time to leave and I headed to the door as he followed, finally answering as we got there. ‘You worry too much. Come on. You look likeyou’re ready to drop here on the spot.’
I gave him a look that said he might not be far off the mark.
‘With anyone else I would, of course, be chivalrous and follow Sandeep’s example, but I’m afraid if I did that with you, I’d probably be rewarded with a swift kick in the nuts and get called a Neanderthal.’
‘You have such a high opinion of me.’
‘I do.’
‘I’m not that bad!’
‘I know. OK. So what would have happened?’
‘I…’
Oh dear.
I cleared my throat. ‘I would obviously immediately have asked to be put down.’
‘More like you would have wriggled like a worm on a hook, and demanded to be put down on pain of serious injury.’
‘Well, then I guess it’s a good job you didn’t try.’
‘I’m kind of fond of certain parts of my body.’
I let out a noiseof resignation and we plodded back up to the rooms in silence, which for the most part was companionable.
‘Night, Mia,’ Hunter said, as we got to my door.
I beeped my card against it. ‘Night, Hunter. And thanks for coming up to get me tonight, making sure I didn’t miss out on the meteor shower.’
He opened the door for me, and I ducked in under his arm. ‘You’re welcome. It’s part ofLiv and Sandeep’s story so it was important for you to see it. Plus, if we do end up doing a piece on this place, it gives you an idea of what it would be like to sit in that same place and look out over the sea at the Northern Lights.’
‘Oh. Yes. Yes, of course.’
‘You all right?’
‘Yep! Tired. You know.’ I pointed behind me and he gave me an odd look.
‘OK. Get some rest.’
Ilifted my hand in a wave and let the door go before turning around and leaning on it. Note to self. Do not get caught squashed up against Hunter Scott’s toned, hard body in the middle of the night, no matter how innocent the scenario. Especially when it’s been so long since you had sex that you’re probably going to need a quick go-around with some Mr Sheen and a duster before anything else happens.
‘Ugh!’ I groaned, kicking off my boots at the same time as I fought to get out of my jumper, before falling back into bed.
***
‘Oh my gosh! I can’t believe it’s nearly over!’ Liv said, dropping the collection of designer shopping bags she’d been carrying and flopping down into one of the Chesterfields in the bar area of the London hotel. Classical renditions of Christmas songs playedsoftly in the background and a huge, stylish, traditional tree made a bold statement at the end of the bar.
