The Woman Who Destroyed Christmas by M J Hardy

Author:M J Hardy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-23T16:00:00+00:00

21

Toby’s car is much like the man himself, rich, gorgeous and super cool. It’s powerful, smooth and the subject of many admiring looks as we speed through the streets that now have a smattering of freshly fallen snow, covering them in a magical, winter blanket.

Toby turns the stereo on high and haunting Christmas songs fill the car as we head off into the unknown.

After a while, he turns the music down and sighs heavily. “I’m sorry, Lily. I had to get out of there, which for me was quite a record.”

“A record?”

He grins. “Yes, I lasted exactly one-hour longer than I usually do and I think I know why.”

He looks sideways at me and grins. “And I’m looking at her.”

I feel my face flush and he laughs. “Don’t tell me you didn’t notice the attraction. I could tell it a mile off.”

I feel angry and snap. “I’m not attracted to you.” Shrugging, he changes gear and says softly, “That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about my attraction to you.”

His words knock the breath from my body as I struggle to breathe. I’m not sure what to say and he laughs. “I’ve shocked you – good.”

“Why is that good?”

“Because now you know. It’s not just because you’re with my brother either.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well, it was quite a game we played. He would hit on my girlfriends and I’d do the same to him. Sometimes it worked but often didn’t. I’m sorry, old habits and everything.”

I’m not sure whether to feel angry or flattered and say tightly, “I think you should take me back.”

Laughing, he pulls the car to a stop and leans across, his arm resting on the backrest of my seat and lifts his finger to my chin. Tilting it up, I can feel his hot breath on my face as his eyes penetrate mine, making my mind empty as I think of nothing but the fact that I want to feel those lips on mine. It feels forbidden, wrong and yet so exciting. Leaning towards me, he whispers, “I could kiss you right now and you would want every tantalising taste of it. You would crave it and like a drug want more.”

I battle my own stupid weakness and swallow hard. “You’re wrong, I love Oliver – your brother.”

He strokes my cheek. “I’ll remind you of that when you’re in my bed.”

Batting his hand away, I take a few deep breaths and say angrily, “Take me home.”

Pulling back, he suddenly changes before my eyes and looks broken and defeated. Reaching behind me, he pulls a bunch of flowers as if from nowhere and says sadly, “As soon as I’ve said ‘hi’ to my parents.”

Blinking at the sudden change in atmosphere, I look around and with a pang see we have stopped at a cemetery. He shrugs and I see the tears glisten in his eyes as he smiles. “Come, I’ll introduce you.”

My earlier anger and indignation evaporate in a heartbeat as I scramble from the car and pull my coat around me tightly to protect me from the snow that is falling faster.

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