Mine Under the Mistletoe by Kat Latham

Author:Kat Latham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Ashley watched Ollie talking on his cell phone on the street. He hunched over to protect himself from the cold, his free hand shoved in his pocket. His breath hit the cold air and looked like puffs of white smoke. He shook his head a few times but he was too far away for her to see his expression.

When his phone had rung a few moments earlier, a storm cloud passed over him and he excused himself to take the call outside. She’d thought it was out of politeness to the other diners, but now she realized this was a difficult conversation, one he probably didn’t want to have in front of her.

He hung up and put the phone back into his pocket, but instead of coming straight back into the warm, cozy restaurant, he stayed huddled on the cold street for a minute or two more. Finally seeming resolved about something, he turned and pushed the door open, rubbing his hands together and blowing on them as he approached the table.

“Everything all right?” she asked.

He nodded slowly, clearly distracted. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you. What were you saying?”

“I wasn’t saying anything. You were.”

“Oh. Right. What was I saying, then?”

She didn’t answer. He probably hadn’t expected her to. He didn’t even seem to know he’d asked the question, since his mind was so clearly a thousand miles away. Suddenly he said, “Ashley, there’s something I want to ask you.”

Dread settled in her belly. “What’s that?”

“There’s an event some of my mates are going to this afternoon. That call was from one of them. I’d really like it if you came with me. It’s Christmassy, I promise, so it won’t be a waste of your day.”

“Of course I’ll come. What is it?”

He cleared his throat. “It’s a panto.”

“Um, is that a word I should know?”

Brows rising in clear shock, he gasped. “You don’t know what a panto is?”

She shook her head.

“Okay, angel, you’re definitely coming with me. There’s nothing more British than a Christmas panto.”

“Not even figgy pudding?” she teased.

He groaned. “I swear to you, I’ve never had figgy pudding in my life. Christmas pudding, yes. It’s revolting, but it’s still dessert and it’s doused in alcohol so I manage to choke it down. Figgy pudding no.”

“And am I dressed appropriately for this thing you call panto?”

Pretending to give it serious consideration, he braced his hands on the table and leaned forward to check her out. His gaze slid all over her, leaving a delicious warmth in its wake, and she focused all her energy on not preening like a stroked cat. “Jeans and a jumper? You’ll be fine. Maybe we can find you some feathers and sequins on our way, though.”

Anticipation arcing through her, she said, “Okay, now I’m really curious. Take me to your panto.”

After Ollie had paid their bill, Ollie helped Ashley limp to a minicab and climb in. The snow outside had piled itself into high drifts against the buildings, and as soon as they got in the cab the driver began complaining about the quality of the roads.

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