Free Love and Mistletoe by Zara Keane Page B

his place more often. I’m there a couple of days a week as it is.”
    All this was true. It didn’t mitigate the disappointment that was deflating her mood. She’d let herself believe the flat upstairs was a done deal. How would Brian react if she started spending even more time at his house? And she didn’t want to take advantage of him by overstaying her welcome at his house. She took a deep breath and turned to her friend. “Call Jill today and tell her you’ll take that job. It’ll do you good to get out of Ballybeg.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Of course I’m sure. What kind of friend would hold you back from an opportunity this good?”
    “You’re the best.” Naomi gave her a hug. “Promise you’ll visit me in the Big Smoke?”
    “I’ll visit so often you’ll be sick of the sight of me.” Sharon plastered a smile on her face, determined to stem the gnawing doubts and worries that were threatening to derail her day.

Chapter Ten
    ON THE DAY OF THE CHRISTMAS BAZAAR, Brian strolled into Ballybeg’s town hall wearing a heavy overcoat and a huge grin. Although the temperature had plummeted over the past few days, nothing could chill his good mood.
    He spotted Sharon and Naomi’s stand over in a corner by an enormous Christmas tree and made a beeline for it.
    Sharon was bagging an array of colored bath products for a customer. Her green pullover was snug-fitting and traffic light bright. His gaze trailed down her curves to the studded leather platform heels. The sight made him chuckle. She had the zaniest taste in clothes, but she could pull off even the most outlandish of outfits.
    She glanced up at his approach, and a wide smile suffused her face. “Well, hey, you! Come to make sure there’s no illegal substances lurking in the bath salts?”
    He rounded the stand and kissed her on the lips. “Shockingly, no. I have news. I went by the psychology department’s notice board this morning.”
    She sucked in a breath, and her skin turned chalky white. “And?”
    “And… our research project was the best in the class.”
    She whooped with delight. “Seriously?”
    “Seriously. We got first class honors.”
    She slumped against his chest, laughing. “I’ve never done this well on any test or paper before. It must be your influence.”
    “I think it bodes well for the rest of your grades this semester. You’ve worked really hard.”
    Crazy though it might sound, he was even happier for her sake than he was for his own. She’d put so much work into the project, and she tended to doubt herself when it came to her academic ability. With a bit of luck, this success would boost her confidence.
    He tugged her ponytail playfully. “I’d love to drag you away from here right now and celebrate.”
    “I can’t abandon the stand. We’re selling gangbusters here, aren’t we, Nomes?”
    Naomi was flicking through the cash box, doing a quick count. “We’ve already doubled what we spent on ingredients. I have to hand it to you, Sharon. You were right.”
    Brian slipped his hand around Sharon’s. “Much as I’d love to hang here with you, I’d better do the rounds. I’m not officially on duty today, but I promised Seán I’d stop by to see if he needed help.”
    “Aren’t you going to drag your girlfriend under the mistletoe?” Naomi demanded, pointing toward the huge boughs suspended over the entrance.
    “No dragging required,” Sharon said, teasing his stubble. “I’d be a willing participant.”
    “Then I’ll make sure to maneuver you under those boughs later.” And he’d do so with pleasure. These past couple of months had been the best in his life. He walked with a new spring to his step, and a smile was never far from his lips.
    He dropped a final kiss on her cheek and sauntered off in the direction of the punch stand, where Seán was chatting to one of the town councilors. He waved when he spotted Brian.
    “How’s it going?” Brian asked.
    “Pretty quiet so far.” Seán