Mistletoe Mansion by Samantha Tonge

Author:Samantha Tonge [Tonge, Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781474008402
Publisher: Carina
Published: 2014-11-10T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

‘Why are you trying to cause trouble,’ I’d hollered at Luke, fists curled, seconds after Adam stormed off.

I sighed and blocked out the memory, trying instead to focus on my party evening. Hot tub? Ready. Hair straightened? Yes, even though the steamy water would frizz it within seconds. Lip gloss applied? Of course, despite the imminent onslaught of snacks and fizzy drinks.

Alone, I waited for the guests to arrive, my mind – my aching chest – incapable of wiping out Adam’s disastrous visit, hours earlier. There’d be no point discussing it with anyone. Jess and Melissa had problems of their own and if I kept it to myself, it was easier to pretend it hadn’t happened. My chin quivered. All my plans to impress him had been for nothing.

‘What is it about me that you hate?’ I’d said next to Luke. ‘Because clearly you’re well intent on ruining my life. You run hot, you run cold… I can’t keep up. Why deliberately cause trouble between Adam and me?’

‘Don’t be so dramatic,’ he’d calmly replied, whilst I considered baking him cupcakes “accidentally” made with yew seeds (they’re poisonous, according to Jess).

‘I recognised him straightaway,’ Luke continued. ‘He’s the guy from the photo in your bedroom. I bet he’s the one who thought you were mad setting up your own business. What with his symmetrical, safe haircut and uptight voice… You’re better off without him; I know his type and bet he’s never taken a risk in his life.’ He wrinkled his nose. ‘And he smells like toilet cleaner.’

‘That’s his aftershave and no he doesn’t!’ I snapped, a titch annoyed that I’d kind of felt relieved at Adam’s departure – it meant I could be myself again. Not that I’d stop loyally defending my boyfriend to smug Luke. ‘Honestly, you’ve only met Adam for a few minutes, how could you possibly have a clue what he’s like?’ Toddler-style, I felt my bottom lip jut out.

‘Solid. Reliable. Afraid of change. My sister’s husband is similar and always tried to put me off striking out on my own. Now I work for myself whilst he’s still slogging his guts out at a supermarket.’

If only Adam had turned up when I was cleaning the house from top to bottom – or even better, showing some prospective buyer around.

‘You all right?’ asked Jess as she came into the kitchen. ‘Your face looks all funny.’

‘Never better,’ I said, brightly, even though, inside, every fibre of me flinched as I recalled Adam’s disdain. ‘You sure you don’t mind this get-together? If you’re not up to it, I can phone Terry and Melissa. It’s not too late to cancel.’

‘I’m fine. As long as we get tidied up in time for Murphy’s visit tomorrow morning. The last thing I need this week is to find myself homeless again.’

‘Has Dana been on your back all day?’

‘Yeah, more than usual. I was amazed that she let me off half an hour early for the doctor’s.’ Jess had just stepped out of the shower and her bobbed red hair was wrapped up in a towel turban.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.