Christmas at the Cove by Rachel Brimble

Author:Rachel Brimble
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CARRIE GLANCED SURREPTITIOUSLY around the hotel dining room. A chilled glass of white wine perspired alongside the tips of her right hand, while the fingers of her left rolled and released the corner of the linen napkin the waiter had drawn across her lap a half hour before.

She’d made it through her appetizer.

I can do this. I’m a young, independent woman and mother. I don’t need company at dinner. I don’t need Scott here with me. All I need is to know I have Belle waiting for me at home.

When her feet itched to move and her brain told her to stand up and leave the dining room, Carrie picked up her wineglass. She took a deep, fortifying gulp and replaced it on the table, steadfastly ignoring the way the liquid trembled.

The dining room was full of holidaying couples and big groups enjoying the start of the holiday season. Baubles sparkled, candles flickered and the enormous Christmas tree, eclipsing the corner of the room, claimed focal prominence. Christmas anthems played cheerfully, muted only by the various British accents that mixed and rose as joviality increased and the alcohol flowed. Yet, with each passing minute, the loneliness and pining for Belle gripped harder around Carrie’s heart. The more she fought it, the more she edged toward the easiest option of leaving the table and going to her room.

Two days. She had two days to get through before her final deadline to Scott of Christmas Eve. If she gave up now and went home, he’d have the ammunition to use one day that could potentially cause an irreparable split between her and Belle. There was no guarantee that now Scott knew Belle existed, he wouldn’t track his daughter down in the future—or that Belle wouldn’t make it her mission to find him. If that happened and Scott told Belle it was her mother’s fault their relationship never stood the smallest chance of blossoming, Carrie would be the villain in Belle’s eyes. No one else.

“Hey, I found you.”

Carrie jumped so high, her thighs knocked the table, sending cutlery clattering and her wineglass wobbling. She reached out to steady it and looked up into Amanda Arnold’s smiling face.

Oh, God. What’s she doing here? Carrie’s stomach tightened as she forced a smile. “Amanda. What are you—”

“You’ve been on my mind all day.” Amanda laughed as she slid into the seat on the opposite side of Carrie’s table. “All I could think was whether Scott would do the right thing and keep you company tonight, or leave you to have dinner all alone in a strange town.” She looked down at the place setting for one and tipped her head to the side and pouted. “I guess my supposition was right. He’s such a rat bag.”

Defensiveness for Scott rose on a hot, pounding wave, pinching Carrie’s cheeks. “The subject of dinner was never on the table...so to speak. We’re not dating. He’s just a friend.”

Amanda arched her eyebrow. “Friends don’t leave other friends to eat alone while they’re visiting.

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