All She Wants for Christmas by Annie Claydon

Author:Annie Claydon [Claydon, Annie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460376515
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-06-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

THE party was moving into its second phase. Easy chairs were pulled back to make way for dancing, and the bass notes of the music began to pump in Beth’s head as James turned the volume of the CD player up. A child-friendly fruit punch was replaced with a killer concoction, which was Marcie’s own invention, and she and James announced that the party was now for adults only by performing a practised tango across the sitting room.

Matt had left to drive Jack over to his grandparents’ for the night and when he returned he was quickly lost in the crowd. It appeared that Beth no longer belonged at his side.

She shrugged to herself, biting back her disappointment. He probably wanted to dance or get to know people or whatever. Suddenly there seemed to be an empty space around her, even though the room was full of friends and acquaintances.

James caught her hand and pulled her into the group of dancers, while Marcie made for a young physiotherapist who was standing on his own in the corner. They were obviously both doing their usual job of getting everyone to join in, and Beth wondered whether she had looked as alone as she had felt.

‘Having a good time?’ The thud of the music was distracting her and James had to repeat the question.

Beth nodded, grinning.

‘Matt having a good time?’ This time James took his hand from her waist and signed.

Beth gestured over to where he was standing, deep in conversation with three of the nurses from A and E. ‘Looks like it.’

James laughed. ‘Bet he won’t dance with any of them.’ As if responding to a cue, one of the women tried to drag Matt into the crush of dancers, and he made an excuse, refusing to move. James flipped a querying finger in his direction.

Beth had caught the movement of his lips. ‘He said he has two left feet.’

James’s lip curled. ‘We’ll show him how it’s done. Want to dip?’

Beth nodded, laughing, and James bent her backwards over his arm until her spine cracked. He pulled her back up and twirled her round so that her head spun. When the room finally righted itself, Matt was nowhere to be seen.

James’s finger tapped her shoulder, and she directed her attention back at him. ‘Kitchen.’

She raised one eyebrow.

‘Just in case you were wondering.’ James’s eyes were amused.

Beth punched at his shoulder and James laughed.

‘By the way, you look very nice tonight.’ He laughed, pulling her into him when she tried to stamp on his foot, and she relaxed against him, following his rhythm. This was nice. Warm and companionable. This wasn’t Matt.

When James finally let her go, Matt was still nowhere in sight. Beth plastered a smile onto her face, helped herself to a half-glass of the killer punch and made the best of it. Just as well she had not had any expectations of tonight. She accepted every offer to dance, even the one from the hospital administrator who wheeled his partners around the floor like a perambulator.

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