Page 98 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
‘I assume you will take it?’
‘It’s a much better package than the other team is offering. Marco’s going to be much more flexible about emergency time off, and stuff like that. He’s not the type to be taken for a fool but he realises people have families and that life doesn’t always go to plan.’
‘That’sfor sure.’
I looked at him but his head was down as, having shoved his feet into his boots, he now concentrated on pulling on black leather gloves.
‘If it’s what you want, you should go for it. Assuming you feel you can work with Benoit?’
‘Yes. We’re lucky. We managed to get past the mess we made of things,’ I said, studying my socks. Marco’s offer of a job had been a surprise, but his otherrequest had been an even bigger one.
‘He wants you back.’
‘What?’ My head snapped up and met Cal’s stormy grey eyes. ‘No. I got offered a job because I’m damn good at it!’ I felt the blood rush to my face, partly because Cal was accurate in his assumption but also in annoyance at the same thing.
‘I wasn’t suggesting that was the only reason for him coming to you. I just wondered if it wereone of them. Your blushes gave me the answer.’
‘I’m not blushing. I’m cross with you for being so misogynistic as to think there has to be another reason for me being offered a job like that!’
Cal held up his hands. ‘I wasn’t thinking that at all!’ He paused for a moment. ‘OK. Yes, admittedly it did sound like that when I said it. But I didn’t mean it to.’ He gave a brief smile and laid a handon the door handle. ‘Besides, it’s none of my business. I’m sorry. I … I shouldn’t even have said anything. Night, Lexi.’ He pulled open the door and quickly stepped through, closing it behind him before I’d even had a chance to respond.
Was Marco right? Was complicated worth it? Cal and I weren’t together but right now we didn’t exactly feel like friends either. I didn’t know how I felt. Actually,that wasn’t exactly true. I knew I felt totally miserable. Stuffing my feet into a battered up pair of Ugg boots by the door, I stepped out into the cold.
‘Cal!’ I called, the wind swirling my words around and whisking them away. He was nearly at his car. I followed quickly and called again. This time he turned. The moonlight showed a frown on his face as he did so.
‘Lexi, get back inside. You’llfreeze!’
‘I’m fine,’ I said, my mind occupied with other things.
Cal waited, not saying anything, just looking at me. ‘Did you want something?’ he prompted eventually.
‘I …’
I really did. But I couldn’t have it …
‘I … heard Mum had invited you both to Christmas dinner.’
The frown remained. ‘She did.’
I nodded. ‘I … umm … I hope you’ll come. I think you’d enjoy it. I know George would.’
‘I’m sure we would, but I haven’t decided yet. You should get back inside.’ With that he turned and crunched the last few steps over to his Land Rover. I remained where I was. He stopped at the door, let out a sigh, and dropped his head forward, leaning on the frosty glass of the car’s window. ‘It’s not that simple, Lexi.’
‘What isn’t? It’s just dinner.’
He turned his head, catching me in thatheady gaze that made the whole world disappear.
‘It’s not just dinner though, is it? It’s being here. Being with you, pretending I’m OK with it all, and you know what?’ He threw up his hands. ‘I’m not. I’m not OK with it at all. Not remotely. I hate it. I hate this friends, but not quite friends thing. I can’t do it. I can’t pretend not to feel what I do for you.’
I could feel the cold bitinginto me but I didn’t care.
‘So … you want me to keep out of your way?’ I asked.
Cal stared at me for a moment then laughed. But it was sad and hollow.
‘No, Lexi. What I really want is quite the opposite of that. What I want is standing right in front of me.’
‘Cal, we’ve been over this.’
