Page 118 of A Christmas Celebration
It was the battered old Barbour again and it suited him perfectly.
‘Ah,’ I said, as the penny dropped. ‘I get now why Jack was on at you that day to have an account. He wanted you to upload your work, didn’t he?’
‘Yep,’ he said. ‘And he’s still on about it.’
‘Maybe you should,’ I said, biting my lip.
‘Don’t you start,’ he said, lunging to tickle me. ‘I get enough nagging from him.’
I let out a squawk as his fingers found my waist.
‘No more,’ I begged, when he wouldn’t stop. ‘I hate being tickled.’
‘Me too,’ he said, dropping his hands. ‘So don’t get any ideas,’ he added as I immediately darted back at him.
‘I suppose I’d better drive you home,’ I said reluctantly. ‘It’s getting late and if I don’t get some sleep, I won’t be any use to anyone tomorrow. You are coming to the Wonderland, aren’t you?’
‘Not tomorrow,’ he told me. ‘I need to work on Catherine’s painting, but I’ll come on Sunday.’
‘Do you think we’ll be able to get Albert to come then, too?’
‘I hope so,’ Brodie said. ‘I think he’d enjoy it.’
‘Me too,’ I agreed. ‘He loved the auction in town, even though it was busy. The Wonderland is more spread outso it should feel a little quieter. I’ll ring and ask him in the morning.’
‘Or I could ask him?’ Brodie offered. ‘That’s where I’m staying tonight.’
‘At the cottage?’
‘Most likely in the studio. I’m planning a long night.’
‘Given the amount of time you’re spending there now,’ I smiled as we loaded his bike into the Land Rover, ‘you’d be better off moving in.’
He didn’t say anything.
‘Brodie?’
He turned to look at me.
‘I’m not supposed to say anything,’ he said, ‘but Albert has offered me his spare room in the cottage.’
‘He never has?’ I gasped.
‘He has,’ Brodie confirmed, a frown forming.
‘And what have you said?’ I asked, noting his expression. ‘Don’t you want to take it?’
He ran his hands through his hair, so I knew the decision he had to make wasn’t an easy one and that he was giving it careful consideration before deciding.
‘I really do want to take it,’ he confided. ‘More than anything. Tilly and Jack are obviously becoming more than colleagues now…’
‘Are they?’ I cut in. ‘How wonderful is that? I knew there was something going on between them the day I had my almost-tour of the distillery, even if they didn’t.’
‘Yes,’ said Brodie, ‘and I’m really happy for them, althoughgooseberry has never been my favourite fruit. And it would be wonderful to be so close to the studio,’ he added. ‘That funny little place has transformed me.’
‘So, what’s stopping you saying yes to Albert’s offer?’
‘It’s just all so quick,’ he said, sounding wary. ‘I’ve barely known Albert any time at all and this would be a huge change, for both of us.’
