Page 58 of Christmas in Mistletoe
“The Bahamas, sipping a tropical cocktail?”
“Close. I’m leaning against a certain desk in the office barn.”
Fran paused for a few seconds.
Ruby was pretty sure she heard her smile.
“Are your legs spread?”
“Don’t.” Ruby closed her eyes, feeling herself getting wet.
“It’s my favourite desk in the whole world.”
“That makes two of us.” Ruby rolled her shoulders to stop herself dropping too deep into the memory. She was working, and this time, the blinds were wide open. She shook herself.
“Anyway, this is a lovely surprise. How’s it going with your indie girl band?”
“A little better. They’re here now, and Delilah is having a chat with them, which should hopefully go a long way to calming them down. If nothing else, they’ll have to process being starstruck, so it’ll take their attention away from their issues.”
Ruby’s jaw tightened. “Delilah’s there? Did you know she was coming?” She tried really hard to stop those words coming out as possessive. She wasn’t sure she succeeded.
“I didn’t, but she’s got a gap in her tour, so she came by the label. She’s helping out with Fast Forward, and we’ve cleared the air.” Fran paused, clicking her tongue on the roof of her mouth. “Just so you know, I’m having dinner with her later. Purely as friends. We’ve both moved on, and we’ve both met new people. That’s you, by the way.”
Ruby’s muscles tightened, then relaxed a little. She wasn’t sure which part of the previous sentence to focus on. The positive or the negative. “That’s good to hear. Nobody wants to have incredible sex one night, and then hear that person is going out for dinner with their ex two nights later.”
“I know,” Fran replied. “But I promise, this is purely to catch up. Delilah and I are going to cross paths. We work for the same label. So just in case anything gets in the paper or appears online, remember that. I can’t wait to come back to Mistletoe and see you again.”
Ruby had no hold over Fran. They’d shagged once. They weren’t going out. But Delilah was a megastar, and Ruby was not.
However, Fran’s head wasn’t turned by fame.
Ruby knew that.
She just had to keep reminding herself.
“The feeling’s mutual.” Ruby gripped the desk. The edge was now sticking into her leg. It wasn’t quite as soft and sensual as it had been.
“How’s the gig shaping up? I mailed Scott the designs, so hopefully he’s getting the Facebook ads to work locally.”
Ruby nodded. “He did, and he’s having success. I walked him through the basics and he was awake half the night setting it up. He might become my social media manager after this.”
“After your Mistletoe gig when everyone falls in love with you and your sales take off, you should definitely put him to work.”
Ruby smiled. “There’s only going to be a couple of hundred people. I’m not sure it’s going to change my life.”
“You never know who’s going to be in the crowd. It could be someone big. It’s what I tell all my artists. I’ve seen bands play to five people, but one of those worked for a major label and that was the gig that changed their lives.”
“I know. But the preparation’s going well. I practised some more today, and we’ve got posters, flyers, the lot.” Ruby dug the nail of her middle finger into the pad of her thumb. “You are going to make it back for Saturday, aren’t you? It would feel kinda hollow without you here.”
Fran didn’t answer right away. “Fast Forward have got a big day on Friday with press and a gig, then a TV appearance at the weekend. I shouldn’t need to be here after Friday, and that’s my plan. I’m going to do everything in my power to be at your gig.”
It was as good as Ruby could hope for. She desperately wanted Fran to be there. Her world might screech to a halt if she wasn’t. “Make sure your power is super-charged.” Ruby pushed herself off the desk, trying to stay upbeat. “What about Troubadour? When are they getting here?”
Fran slipped back into professional mode. “They’re driving down on Friday with all their gear. They’re staying at my parents’ house, which is all sorts of weird. I’m normally very strict with my boundaries between work and home, but I’m bending them like crazy of late. I’m calling it the Mistletoe effect. Or maybe the Ruby O’Connell effect. I can’t quite decide.”
That perked Ruby up. She couldn’t help but grin as she swapped the phone from one ear to the other. “My support band are staying with your parents? That’s brilliant. Also, really fantastic of them. I’ll tell them thanks when I see them. I called in on them this lunchtime, by the way. Your Dad was baking again and the house smelt delicious. Your Pop was watching a Christmas movie and weeping, although he denied it, telling me he just had something in his eye. I don’t think you need to worry.”
“I’m looking forward to baked goods at the weekend,” Fran replied. “I just want you to know, Saturday is a priority, okay? It’s just, the label have been so helpful with your gig, I want to help them out with Fast Forward.”
