Page 57 of Christmas Romance Galore!
“What did you get?” I asked.
“Cranberry Porter — want to try?” She held out her beer to me, but I shook my head. The colour alone was enough to put me off, resembling what I imagined Rudolph’s blood might look like on a particularly cold day.
Holly took a sip and leaned back, grinning at me.
“What?” I wrinkled my nose.
“Us. This.” Holly stretched out her long legs so her feet were lounging beside my chair. “I’m still getting used to it. In a good way.”
A waft of barbecued meat drifted into the bar and my stomach rumbled. “Let’s hope they don’t burn the kitchen down and Nicola has to rescue us. That’d be just my luck.”
Holly laughed. “I think that’s the smell of burgers cooking, not being burnt.”
I took a sip of my beer and flexed my jaw. “Talking of Nicola,” I said.
Holly raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t think we were.”
I leaned over and planted a kiss on her lips.
“Well, nearly Nicola. I was out shopping yesterday and I ran into Melanie. In Selfridges’ Christmas department.”
Holly covered her mouth as she sat up straight. “Your sacred place,” she said.
I nodded. “Anyway, turns out, this isn’t going to be such a happy Christmas for Nicola.”
Holly looked nonplussed. “She lost you, so I’d say that was obvious.”
I drew in a sharp breath. This ‘girlfriend’ side of Holly was all new to me, and it was still taking me by surprise. A nice surprise, but still — I wasn’t used to her waxing lyrical about me.
“You’re pretty sweet, you know that?”
She dipped her eyes and gave me a bashful smile.
“Anyway, Melanie’s dumped Nicola — the wedding’s off.”
Holly’s mouth dropped open. “Really?” she said. “Well I never. Even Melanie has standards that Nicola didn’t reach. That is damning in the extreme.”
I didn’t say anything, just fiddled with my napkin. I thought Holly was being a little harsh, but said nothing. Old habits died hard where Nicola Sheen was concerned.
“But let’s consign Nicola to the backburner, shall we?” Holly said.
“Backburner? Really?”
Holly laughed. “That was not intentional.” She paused. “But you know what I mean. No more talk of Nicola or Melanie. Let’s just concentrate on us, because we’re far more interesting. Me and you, Christmas, our party, my birthday — it’s going to be amazing.”
“I hope so. How many have we got coming to the party?”
“I think about 20 last count, which is perfect.”
“Agreed. And we’re doing those mince pie martinis?”
“We are.”
“Great. And the Dixie Chicks tomorrow too.”
Holly licked her lips and nodded. “It’s going to be the perfect Christmas. Well, the lead-up is, anyway.”
“It is,” I said. “You know the only thing that would make it more perfect?”
