Erica had seen Hattie arriving back from her date with Noah and had a feeling her own happy ending wasn’t too far in the future.
“The champagne is a nice touch but if I see a rose petal anywhere I’m checking out.” She turned to Anna. “We’re going to drive from Manhattan. Apparently, Jack often does that trip to ski in Vermont. We could visit you and Pete on the way if you’re around, providing you promise not to interrogate him.”
“I can’t promise that,” Anna said. “It so happens that we won’t be around. We’re going away.”
“For Christmas? You always stay home for Christmas.”
“Wasn’t it your suggestion that I change some of our traditions? I decided that instead of Christmas at home, we’d come here. The kids are excited, and I’m even more excited now that I know I’m finally going to meet sexy Jack.”
Erica’s idea of a quiet, discreet few days away was vanishing into the ether. Was it a good idea to introduce Jack to her friends at this delicate point in their relationship? Maybe not. But on the other hand, if this really was a relationship, then it was going to have to include her friends. “Are you going to embarrass me?”
“I will try very hard not to, but it would be wrong of me to promise.” A dimple appeared at the corner of Anna’s mouth. “Apologies in advance.”
“Claudia is planning a special Christmas lunch menu,” Hattie said. “I can seat you separately, unless you’d rather share a table?”
Erica gave her friend a look. “If Anna promises to behave, we can share a table. If Jack is going to get to know me properly, he might as well know the truth about me early on. Including my questionable taste in friends.”
“The kids would love that,” Anna said. “Meg will fight to sit next to you, although she will do it discreetly while trying to look outwardly cool.”
“I’d like to sit next to Meg.” Erica glanced at Hattie. “Where will Delphi be sitting?”
“I always make myself available for guests,” Hattie said, “so Delphi usually tags along with me. It’s pretty informal. She and I usually eat in the evening, when everything has calmed down.”
“Why doesn’t she join us at the table? That way you can focus on work without worrying about her. She can sit on the other side of me.” Erica tried to sound casual, but she could see Anna gaping at her. “What? I’m relying on her instruction to know how I’m supposed to behave on Christmas Day.”
“You’re sliding comfortably into the role of Aunt Erica.” Anna winked at her. “I’ll sit next to sexy Jack so that I can get to know him better.”
“In that case, I’m sure our relationship will be over by the evening.” It felt strange talking about Jack as if they were a couple, although if she was honest with herself they’d been a couple for a long time. It was just that she’d refused to acknowledge it.
There isn’t anyone else, Erica.
“So that’s decided, then.” Hattie reached for Erica’s suitcase. “Technically, you are still here as a guest, not as a family member, so I will take your case downstairs for you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Erica took the case back. “If you want to help someone, you could help Anna carry all her new sweaters.”
They headed along the corridor and down the stairs, where Delphi was playing with Rufus.
“Aunt Erica!” She sprinted across to Erica and put her arms around her, squeezing tightly. “I hate it when people leave.”
Erica ruffled her hair and felt a lump in her throat. “I hate leaving.” She crouched down so that she was eye level with Delphi. “But I will be back for Christmas.” Rufus put his paw on her cream coat and she made a mental note to buy herself a more dog-friendly wardrobe.
Delphi held on to her. “Do you promise you’ll be back?”
Erica didn’t hesitate. “I promise.”
“Did you know that veggie eating dinosaurs had eyes on the sides of their head?”
Erica smiled. “I didn’t know that, but I’m going to study hard before I see you next.”
She was already looking forward to it.
TWENTY-SIX
Hattie
“Sorry I took so long. One more story turned into about ten more stories and I need to learn to be firmer. I know it’s Christmas Eve and I wasn’t expecting it to be easy, but I didn’t think she’d ever go to sleep.” Hattie collapsed onto the sofa next to Noah, who was stretched out comfortably. Her heart gave a little thump. She saw him all the time, but not like this. Not sprawled in her living room as if he was part of their lives. “What are you reading?”
“Delphi’s dinosaur book.” He closed the book and put it back on the table. “Did you know that a stegosaurus had a very small head compared to its body?”
“Yes. I know every word of those books by heart.” Hattie leaned her head back against the sofa. “Please don’t bombard me with any more dinosaur facts. Sometimes I dream about dinosaurs.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You dream about dinosaurs?”
“They play a big role in my life. No ballet or dolls for me.”
“Is that right?” He put his arm around her and pulled her closer. “Maybe it’s time we gave you something else to dream about.” His mouth hovered close to hers, and the look in his eyes was enough to make her forget the subject of their conversation.
Dreams. They were talking about dreams.
“I’d like to dream about something else.” She felt as breathless as a teenager. “Did you have something particular in mind?”
He gave a slow smile. “How about sharks?”
She started to laugh but then he covered her mouth with his and kissed her, and she kissed him back until her heart was hammering and her stomach melting. She wrapped her arms around him, feeling the hard muscle of his shoulders under her hands. His kiss was raw and skillful, an intimate prelude to something deeper, more intimate, but they both knew that wasn’t going to happen tonight.
Even consumed by pleasure, Hattie was acutely conscious of Delphi sleeping in the next room.
She pulled away reluctantly. “Delphi—”
“I know.” His voice was roughened, and he pulled back and closed his eyes for a moment. “Give me a moment. Talk about something unsexy.”
Unsexy?
“Er—did you know that a T. rex weighed around seven thousand kilograms?”
He opened his eyes. “Had he tried time-restricted eating?”
She smiled and snuggled closer, gazing into the fire. “I used to love Christmas.”
He closed his hand over hers. “And now?”
“This year I love it again.” She shifted so that she could look at him. “That’s because of you. I can’t believe you’re here, in my living room, on Christmas Eve. It feels—”
“How does it feel?”
“It feels good. It feels the way Christmas is supposed to feel.” She lifted her hand and traced his face, the roughness of his jaw, the silk of his hair.
He took her hand and kissed her palm. “It feels like Christmas to me, too.”
“Delphi was so excited that you were here this evening. And you were adorable with her.”