The Christmas Project: A laugh-out-loud romance from bestselling author Maxine Morrey

‘But what?’

‘Where is he?’

‘I just told you, he’s working.’

‘He’s always working. He’s always busy until he’s not and then he expects you to come running. And you do. And honestly? It’s not on.’

‘Everyone’s busy these days Janey. It’s competitive and people have to fight for their jobs.’

‘Has he ever taken you away for a long weekend? Or even a short weekend, come to think of it?’

‘Well, no, but – ’

‘He couldn’t find one weekend in – how long is it now? Six months to take you away for a couple of days.’

‘We’ve had the odd night away.’

‘As part of one of his many business trips! That’s hardly the same thing.’

‘I don’t mind. I’m busy with work a lot of the time too. It’s good to have someone who understands that.’

‘I’m just saying you deserve better. You deserve to be treated better.’

‘He treats me fine Janey. Really.’

‘Oh Katie. You’ve too much to offer to accept “fine”.’

I ran a hand back over my hair, smoothing in some escapees from my French plait, before taking a sip of my drink. Janey laid her hand on mine as it rested on the table.

‘It’s only because I love you. I want you to be happy.’

‘I am happy, I promise.’

Janey gave me one of those looks that her brother was so good at. I tried to hold it.

‘OK. If he’s making you happy, then that’s all I can ask.’

‘He is.’

‘Good. So, change of subject?’

‘Please,’ I grinned and squeezed her hand.

‘How’re things going with our Mikey?’

‘Oh! Yes. Fine, I think. Well, we’ve really only had one session…half a session really. There was a bit of a misunderstanding.’

‘Misunderstanding?’

‘Yes. He assumed that I would be the one coming back after the assessment meeting to do the job.’

‘Oh. So did I.’

‘And I had every intention of doing so. But I know he’s on a deadline and the first space he had worked better for Bernice than me, and she said she was happy to do it, if I didn’t think he’d mind. Which I genuinely didn’t.’

‘But he did?’

‘Yes. Apparently he understood that when he said he wanted my company to do the job, that also meant me doing the job. It didn’t really come up that I had someone else working for me. We didn’t exactly get chatty.’

‘No. He said it was a little tense.’

Tense was an understatement. At least he’d had the grace not to tell my friend that I’d called her brother an arsehole.

‘Does you sending Bernice along instead have anything to do with the fact you called my brother an arsehole within five minutes of meeting him?’

Oh crap. Yet another reason why I don’t like doing favours for friends.

‘He told you that then.’

‘He did.’

I covered my face with my hands. ‘Janey I’m so sorry. If I could take it back, I would. I don’t know what came over me. I’m not like that normally, you know that! It had been a really long day and I was soaked and freezing. I know that’s no excuse and I’m so sorry. Really.’

Janey wrapped her hands gently around my wrists and moved my hands away from my face.

‘I’ll tell you what came over you- Mikey O’Farrell. He has a knack for getting under people’s skin. Normally it’s in a good way. Or at least it always used to be. But since the divorce, he’s been known to…let’s say, ruffle a few feathers.’

I’d felt less like I’d had my feathers ruffled and more like I’d been entirely plucked.

‘Are you upset with me?’ I asked.

‘Me?’ Janey replied, laughing. ‘God, no. I grew up with him! I know exactly how bloody annoying my big brother can be, believe me. He’s had plenty of kicks in the shin, and anywhere else I could reach, over the years.’

‘Yes, but you’re family. I’m supposed to be a professional.’

‘Ah, don’t worry. It’s a good thing. You showed him you’re not a pushover. It’s set some boundaries.’

‘I couldn’t believe I’d said it.’

‘Well, between you and me, he found it funny so don’t go worrying yourself over it any more.’

‘He did?’

‘Incredibly. It tickled him that this super professional, conservative-looking woman suddenly just lost it at him.’

‘Well, I’m glad it amused him, at least.’ I rolled my eyes and sat back as the waiter brought our food and placed it front of us, his appearance thankfully distracting us both from the subject of Michael.

After we’d finished dinner, Janey sat back, her hands resting on her bump.