A Cotswold Christmas by Kate Hewitt

Author:Kate Hewitt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Published: 2016-10-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Anna woke to the smell of frying bacon. She lay in bed, blinking up at the ceiling, her mind a tumult of half-remembered, rather erotic dreams in which Colin had had a starring role. Why hadn’t he kissed her last night? For a second she’d thought he’d at least been thinking about it, unless she’d read the situation entirely wrong. The possibility she had was enough to make her close her eyes, cringing.

Well, there was nothing she could it about it now. Slipping out of bed, Anna yanked on a fleece and a pair of jeans, ran a comb through her hair and brushed her teeth before heading downstairs.

The kitchen looked transformed. Anna pretended to stumble back in shock, one hand clutching her chest. “Am I in the same house?”

“All right, all right,” Colin called good-naturedly.

He was dressed in a faded, gray t-shirt and even more faded jeans, and both pieces of clothing showed his powerful frame to perfection. Anna had the urge to run a hand along his stomach to see if his abs were as taut and sculpted as they looked.

“I figured I ought to clean up, considering.”

“Considering?”

“I have a houseguest.”

“Where did you put all the stuff?” she asked as she perched on a stool. The island and table were both completely clear, their wooden surfaces freshly scrubbed.

“In my study upstairs. Don’t open that door on pain of death.”

“I consider myself warned.”

“Coffee?”

“Yes, please. Can I help?”

“Nope.” He handed her a ceramic mug of coffee and Anna wrapped her hands around it as she watched Colin fry bacon and eggs. She felt rather remarkably happy. “I haven’t asked you if you like bacon and eggs,” he remarked as he slid two fried eggs onto a plate. “There’s toast if you don’t.”

“I love bacon and eggs.” She assured him. “Makes a change from the usual bowl of cereal standing at the sink.”

“I thought we could go for a walk today, if you wanted?” Colin said when they were both seated with their fry-ups. “I know you’ve seen a bit of the village, but there’s a nice stroll along the Lea if you’re interested.”

“That sounds lovely,” Anna answered hesitantly. “But I feel as if I’m commandeering your entire holiday...”

“I don’t mind.” Colin looked down at his plate as he toyed with a forkful of egg. “I’m enjoying it.”

Her heart flip-flopped just as it had last night. It felt as if Colin had made a bigger admission than perhaps he’d meant. Or maybe that was just more of her wishful thinking.

“So am I,” Anna said, and they shared a quick smile, complicit before they finished their breakfast.

After breakfast they did the washing up together, developing a bit of banter over greasy plates and soap suds, and then Anna went to get dressed for their walk, meeting Colin a few minutes later at the front door with Millie frisking around their heels.

It was a glorious day, cold and brisk, the stark branches of trees thrust up against a pale blue sky and wintry sunlight making everything glitter.

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