Free Holiday with the Best Man by Kate Hardy Page A

‘Just.’
    And then the butterflies in her stomach started stampeding as Roland took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. Was this still a practice run? Or did he mean it? He held her hand through the whole film, and she still hadn’t worked it out when the first raindrops spattered down.
    The ushers swiftly handed out ponchos to the audience, who passed them along the rows of chairs. Grace couldn’t help laughing when the ponchos that reached them were pink.
    â€˜Hey. I’m comfortable enough with my masculinity to wear pink,’ Roland said, and helped her with her poncho before putting on his own.
    â€˜Uh-huh.’ She was still smiling.
    He looked at her. ‘What?’
    â€˜You, looking all pretty in pink. I should so grab a picture of that for Hugh and Tarquin,’ she said with a grin.
    In response he kissed her until she was breathless.
    And her concentration was totally shot to pieces.
    After the film, they went for a burger. ‘I’m afraid this isn’t going to be anywhere near up to the standard of last night’s food,’ Grace said ruefully.
    â€˜You’re comparing apples and pears,’ Roland pointed out, ‘and I’m as happy with a burger as I am with gourmet food.’
    She scoffed. ‘You don’t seriously expect me to believe that.’
    â€˜I eat out sometimes for work,’ he said, ‘or when Hugh and Tarq drag me out for our regular catch-up and suggest we go for a curry or a burger. But most of the time for me it’s a ready meal at home or a takeaway because I don’t really have the time or the inclination to cook.’ He looked at her. ‘But that meal you cooked me—it was very obvious that you cook on a regular basis.’
    â€˜I like cooking,’ she said simply. ‘It relaxes me.’
    â€˜You’re really good at it. Did you ever think about going into catering rather than accountancy?’
    â€˜You asked me that before.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m happy with my job—or I will be, if I get offered the one I had the interview for the other day.’
    â€˜I’ll keep my fingers crossed.’ He paused. ‘And if you don’t get it?’
    â€˜Then I’ll keep applying until I get a permanent job. But in the meantime the temping tides me over,’ she said. ‘Anyway, I don’t really want to talk about work tonight. Though I guess work is a good topic for a first date when you’re trying to get to know someone.’
    â€˜As we’re sorting out my rusty dating skills, what other topics of conversation would you suggest for a first date?’ he asked.
    â€˜Things you like and don’t like. Say, what kind of films do you normally watch?’ She looked at him. ‘I’m guessing action movies?’
    â€˜Actually, no. I like the old ones that rely on good direction and acting rather than special effects.’
    â€˜Like Hitchcock’s films?’ she asked. ‘ Vertigo and Rear Window are two of my favourites.’
    â€˜Mine, too,’ he said. ‘So does this mean you’re a film snob at heart?’
    She raised an eyebrow. ‘Would a film snob go to singalong musical showings?’
    He groaned. ‘No. Please. Tell me you don’t.’
    â€˜Oh, I do—that’s one thing where Bella and I definitely see things the same way,’ she said with a grin. ‘You can’t beat singing along to Grease , Mamma Mia or The Sound of Music with a cinema full of people.’
    â€˜So I really did get off lightly, tonight.’
    â€˜You don’t like musicals?’ she asked.
    He grimaced. ‘Lyn used to make me watch these terrible rom-coms. I put up with them for her sake, but...’ He grimaced again. ‘I’m sorry if you think rom-coms are wonderful, too, but they’re really not my thing. Musicals aren’t quite my thing, either.’
    â€˜I’ll remember