Free Holly's Christmas Kiss by Alison May

planning on eating tomorrow?’
    Michelle shrugged. ‘Anything but turkey.’
    Sean shifted in his seat to face her.
    ‘We’re not discussing this any more,’ he tried.
    No response. He was going to need to grovel at least a bit before he laid down the law. ‘I’m sorry I bought the ticket to Edinburgh. It was out of order. I should have asked you first.’
    ‘You should.’
    There was a note of acceptance in her voice that hadn’t been there before. Sean’s stomach jumped. She might actually agree.
    ‘Ok. What about a deal? It’s Christmas Eve. What if you give me forty-eight hours? Two days. After that I’ll drive you home myself. Forty-eight hours in the warm, with plentiful food and lots of Christmas spirit.’
    ‘I’m not really a fan of Christmas.’
    ‘Then I’ve got two days to change your mind. Deal?’
    ‘Don’t be silly.’
    ‘It’s not silly.’ Two days. She might go for that, and it was only two days. Nobody could get their heart broken in two days. Sean grinned. This was it. This was his pitch. ‘It’s practical. It saves you wasting time and money travelling home. It saves you wasting more money at home on food and heat, and we both get some company.’
    He held a hand out for her to shake, and waited. This was the sort thing he used to do so naturally, follow his instincts because something felt right. Well, he’d done it now. No option but to stick with the idea and hope she didn’t notice him trembling.
    Eventually she took his hand. ‘But only because it saves me a long trip home.’
    Sean exhaled. ‘Ok. Now for the terms and conditions.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘I’m a businessman. It’s important that contracts are clear upfront. It saves all sorts of problems later.’
    ‘But you can’t add things now.’
    ‘I’m clarifying our agreement. You have to enter into the spirit of things. No refusing to “do Christmas”. No standoffishness. Basically you have to go along with whatever I say.’
    ‘Whatever you say?’
    ‘Absolutely. Forty-eight hours. I’m in charge.’
    Michelle scowled. ‘You’re not in charge of me.’
    ‘And you’re pulling a face, which isn’t very festive.’
    ‘It won’t make any difference. Christmas is for kids. We are not kids.’
    Sean shook his head. ‘What’s wrong with being a kid at heart?’
    Michelle didn’t reply.
    ‘So you agree to my terms?’
    She nodded.
    ‘Good.’ Sean turned h is face back to the window to give himself a moment to regroup. This was fine. It was only two days. Time limited. Just a bit of fun. He glanced back at Michelle settling back into the seat beside him, and felt his stomach lurch again.

Chapter Seven
    Christmas Eve, 2012
    Michelle
     
    ‘This is going to be great.’ Jess is pouring champagne into two glasses.
    ‘Isn’t it a bit early for that?’
    ‘Lighten up.’ She shrugs. ‘It’s Christmas.’
    ‘It’s Christmas Eve, and it’s half past nine in the morning.’
    ‘It’s exciting.’ She carries her champagne into the living room and I follow her, leaving the second glass on the kitchen counter. ‘Christmas with no family. It’s going to be amazing.’
    I ought to reply. I open my mouth but I can’t make any words come out.
    She claps her hand over her mouth. ‘Oh my God! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean “no family” like … Sorry.’
    ‘It’s Ok.’ She didn’t mean anything by it, and it’s been two months. Mum wouldn’t be impressed if she thought I was moping. I force myself to smile.
    Jess giggles. ‘Is it wrong that I’m happy my parents have gone on a cruise over Christmas?’
    I shake my head.
    ‘So what about a cruise?’
    ‘What?’
    ‘With your money.’
    ‘I don’t think so.’ I can’t really see myself playing quoits with a party of retired librarians from Barnsley.
    ‘Well you have to book something.’
    I know I do. Mum was very clear about me spending the inheritance on a holiday. ‘I don’t even know how much it is.’
    Jess’s brow furrows again. ‘I