Swept off Her Feet by Browne Hester

Author:Browne, Hester [Browne, Hester]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2011-03-08T06:00:00+00:00

Fifteen

“What do you mean, you’re not coming?” I demanded. I stared out of the frosty glass around the door. All I could see was white. “Have you had an accident?”

“I’m really, really sorry,” said Alice. “But I can’t do it. I’ve left a message on Fraser’s voice mail apologizing, so don’t try to talk me out of it. It’s done. I’m not coming.”

“I don’t understand. You can’t come, or you don’t want to come?” I racked my brains for a reason. “Is it work? Are you ill? What’s the problem? Is it Fraser? He seems fine. He’ll forgive you for being rubbish in the reel!”

“No, it’s not that.” Alice went silent for several seconds. “I can’t say. Trust me.”

“If you don’t say, then how do I know whether to worry about you or not?” I demanded.

“There’s nothing for you to worry about,” she said. “But I do need you to do me a favor.”

“And what’s that? Oh, God,” I said, suddenly realizing. “I’m stuck here with Duncan and Ingrid and Fraser and Sheila all going ballistic because you’ve ruined their seating plans, their dancing plans, everything! What the hell am I going to say to them?”

“Exactly—that’s the favor. You have to go in my place,” said Alice, as if this were totally reasonable. “You can’t just flake out like you can with cocktail parties. They need eight people. And it’s too late to invite someone else now—everyone’ll be busy. It’s Valentine’s weekend. You’re the only person who’ll be free.”

“But I can’t just go in your place,” I wailed. “I don’t know how to do the dances! And correct me if I’m wrong, but that does seem to be quite an important element of the evening.”

“Learn,” said Alice. “You’ve got enough time.”

I spun round in disbelief, nearly dislodging the ski jackets hanging on the porch wall. “Four days? Get lost! I haven’t got the first clue about Scottish reeling!” I felt a tug and felt the long hood of my cardigan catch on a peg. I had to stop to disentangle myself before I broke the coat hooks, on top of everything else.

“Look, they can find someone,” I went on. “Catriona’s sister’s name came up—Laura, is it? I wasn’t going to mention it, but Janet Learmont was very keen to sub her for you in this precious Reel of Luck.”

“No! I don’t want Laura Learmont moving in on Fraser! I know what—” snapped Alice, then softened her tone, a fraction too late. “No, it would be better if you go. Don’t you want to dance with Fraser?” she added artfully.

Of course I did. How could I not? “Well, yes,” I said.

“Go on. He’s brilliant—you just have to let him put you in the right place. And you’ll get to meet some of his single friends. Like his brother—have you met Dougie yet? You can broaden your horizons, step out of your comfort zone. . . .”

Oh, that was too much. I almost yelped at the cheek of it.

“Alice, I’m already so

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.