Page 45 of Christmas in Mistletoe
Ruby scanned the words. She focused on the chorus. ‘Even if the journey seems far, you need to follow who you are, sometimes all you need is a leap of faith.” Was that what Ruby needed to edge closer to Fran? She’d already kissed her, and that had been the first leap. That kiss had made Ruby’s blood steam. It had lifted her up. It had made Ruby want to feelmore.
Of Fran, but also of herself.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Ruby fished it out. A text from Fran. A grin settled on Ruby’s face as she opened it.
‘I’ve got some social media designs to run by you. Can we meet for a coffee later to chat? Does 6pm at the farm work?’
Ruby stared off into the distance, her body humming with anticipation as thoughts skated around her brain. Every single one had her kissing Fran.
She texted straight back to say that would be fine. Her parents would give her the time off for the concert. That it involved spending time with Fran was an added bonus.
Ruby shook her head. The gig began to pulse in her mind. She didn’t have time to sit around and daydream. She checked her watch: 8:30am. Another half an hour before the farm opened to the public, which meant she had another 30 minutes to nail these songs.
She stood and cleared her throat. She could worry all she liked about the crowd’s reaction, but she couldn’t control that.
The one thing she could control was her performance.
She had to be perfect for Saturday.
Chapter 19
Fran strolledalong Farm Lane at 6pm, having escaped The Bar before the locals turned up. She didn’t want to get pinned down again. She’d learned her lesson on Friday. Norman drove by in his retro-green Morris Minor, tooting his horn. He lived down the road from the farm, and was probably heading to The Bar for a drink. He seemed to be a permanent fixture there.
Fran blinked as her eyes adjusted to being outside and not pointed at a screen. It wasn’t snowing, but it was cold enough for what was there to stick.
Today had been an intense day, and she wasn’t sure how it boded for the rest of the week. Fast Forward’s single launch had gone well, but the group were still far too nervous about all the things that needed to be done. Damian and the rest of the team were doing a brilliant job, but in the end, the buck stopped with her, as Fran’s boss had told her today.
Could she buy a couple more days in Mistletoe before she had to get back on Thursday? Fran hoped so. Her dads were loving having her, and then there was Ruby. Tall, gorgeous, unexpected Ruby.
Every time Fran thought about her, a shiver of anticipation ran up her spine.
That kiss had taken up brain space ever since it happened. How could it not?
Whatever occurred, Fran had to be back in Mistletoe for Saturday night and Ruby’s gig. She couldn’t miss that, not after suggesting it in the first place. Plus, she had a feeling Ruby was going to need all the support she could get. Fast Forward had a gig and TV appearances on Friday and Saturday, but Damian and the team could hopefully handle the finish if she was there for the start. She should have checked her schedule before she suggested the gig, but she hoped she could work it out. Every time she thought about it, her stomach sagged. She’d overcommitted, but she was going to have to live with it.
Now, it felt like Ruby was her artist, as well as Fast Forward. Fran knew whose music she preferred. Also, who she’d like to kiss again as soon as humanly possible.
As the farm sign came into view, Fran turned into the drive and spotted Ruby’s silhouette walking towards her.
As she got closer, Ruby greeted Fran with an unsure smile.
In return, Fran gave her a small wave.
They were rubbish at this, weren’t they? They’d shared one dynamite kiss in the snow, but what was the etiquette now? Did she hug her? Kiss her on the lips? Cheek? Shake hands? Did they do things differently in Mistletoe to London? Fran was in the same country, but life in Mistletoe might as well have been on the moon.
For one thing, she didn’t generally run around London kissing women in the snow.
Mistletoe 1, London 0.
“It’s good to see you.” Fran went with no physical contact and a lame opener. She should never give up her job to do improv. She’d be bankrupt within weeks. Particularly if it involved Ruby.
“You, too.” Ruby’s face was guarded in the flashing lights of their Christmas tree on the drive.
Fran shivered. “It’s so much colder here. I thought I’d hate it, but I kinda love it.”
“Especially now you have the right coat to deal with it. How was the curry? Did your dads love it?”
“It went surprisingly well.” Ruby remembered. Fran beamed.
