Meet Me Under the Mistletoe

I laughed in disbelief. ‘Oh, really? How would you even know that about me when we’ve only just met? Besides, is that what only children are meant to be like?’

‘I have no idea, I’m just winding you up.’ He sat back and laughed. ‘What do you like to do in your spare time?’

Shrugging, I ran my finger around the top of my wine glass. ‘I don’t really have that much free time with running the shop, and when I get home I’m tired.’

‘But you’re only twenty-six. You can’t just work and sleep.’

‘I don’t. I watch TV in between.’

‘Don’t you go out dancing?’

‘No. All my friends are settling down with their boyfriends and can’t afford it. Besides, how did you know I was twenty-six? I didn’t tell you, did I?’

‘I think your dad mentioned it.’

‘Oh.’ I frowned. That was odd. Why would my dad be telling the new tenant how old I was? But then I suppose he might have been talking about me running the shop. ‘Anyway, what’s this about dancing? Who says dancing these days? Clubbing is the word.’

‘Dancing sounds nicer. I like dancing.’

‘Can you dance?’

‘Of course I can dance!’ He looked offended at the very notion that he might not be able to.

I raised an eyebrow. ‘Do you fancy yourself as a bit of a Fred Astaire? We should call you the dancing detective.’

‘Ha ha, I like that.’ He looked like he was going to say something else but changed his mind and took a sip of his beer instead.

I smiled at him. ‘What’s the time?’

‘Nearly eight.’

‘Already? I should go.’

‘Why? Is your Horlicks calling to you?’

‘No, but my bed is. I’ve got to be up at five to go to the flower market.’

‘Five? That’s crazy! I can’t believe you have to go that early. What time does your shop open? Nine?’

‘Half past eight.’

‘So, why do you have to be up at five?’

‘Have a shower, get dressed, put my make-up on, then I drive there, choose the flowers, have a chat, drive back, make up any orders.’

‘Can’t you get them delivered?’

‘Yes.’

‘So, get them delivered.’

‘I like to go and see what’s there. They always have new things in. It’s exciting.’

Anthony frowned at me. ‘But, do you really need to go tomorrow? Couldn’t you get them delivered? Just this once?’

‘For a policeman, you’re a really bad influence, you know!’

He grinned. ‘Is that a yes?’

I looked at his smiling face and decided I’d much rather have an evening out with a handsome man than get up at five and start work early. ‘Well, I suppose it’s not essential that I go tomorrow. But I’m not sure about going dancing. How about we just go to another bar?’

‘Okay.’ He turned and called the waitress over for the bill. I got my purse out of my bag but he waved me away. ‘I’ll get this as a thank you for coming out with me tonight.’

‘You don’t have to do that. It’s my pleasure, honestly.’

‘No, let me. Please.’

Chapter Two (#ubfd5aa5b-d344-5dcd-a87b-360f986167ef)

We left the bar and walked up the street to find somewhere else. It was too cold to walk far. I shivered in my coat and huddled down.

‘Where did you meet Patrick?’

‘Here, in Chester.’

‘In a bar?’

‘Yes. This one just up here, actually. Do you want to go in? I promise I won’t cry.’

Anthony laughed. ‘Okay. At least it will get us out of this wind.’

The music coming from the bar got louder and louder as we went up the steps, until I could feel it pumping in my chest. It hadn’t been this noisy the night I’d met Patrick. I cast a doubtful look over my shoulder at Anthony but he was just looking around curiously, his eyes flicking over the groups of people standing in huddles near the bar or else sitting together at tables dotted around the edge of the empty dance floor. We ordered drinks from the bar and found a little booth in the corner with a round table and a bench seat. The lighting was dim and blue and we sat close together, almost touching but not quite.

‘It wasn’t like this last time I came here,’ I shouted.

‘Sorry?’ He bent his head and I put my lips close to his ear to repeat what I’d said.

He shrugged and shifted closer to me. ‘What was it like then?’ His voice reverberated in my ear, making the tiny hairs on the back of my neck rise. Heat and desire melted my insides and made my legs weak.

I turned my head to speak into his ear. The smell of his aftershave made my senses reel and I had to resist the urge to let my lips brush his skin. ‘Quieter.’

He nodded and leaned away slightly to look around the bar again. I wanted to pull him back against me and tell him to look at me, not the other people. I took another sip of wine and then another, realising I felt slightly drunk as I did so. Anthony leaned back against me and spoke into my ear again. ‘You said you met Patrick here?’

I nodded.

‘Were you out with friends?’

‘No, I was alone.’ I blushed and pulled back to laugh. Leaning in again, I put a hand on his shoulder. ‘I’d been stood up and Patrick happened to be in here.’