Not Just for Christmas

Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

T he inside of the church was considerably smaller than it appeared from the outside. Midnight mass on Christmas Eve was obviously a popular service, which Erin should really have expected. All the pews were occupied when she arrived, and there was already a crowd standing at the back.

Briefly, she contemplated ditching the idea and heading back to the hotel, then decided it didn’t make much difference if she stood. It was a short service, and she was only there for the carols and festive cheer. Also, it was late and she was sleepy after an eventful day – if she sat down she might nod off.

Among the throng at the back of the church, the atmosphere was wonderfully cheery. Everyone she looked at had a smile for her, and she felt a warm buzz as she surveyed the carol sheet in her hands.

“Sorry,” a low voice said, somewhere over her left shoulder. People around her shuffled out of the way as the familiar voice apologised repeatedly. “If I could just slip past,” he said, squeezing between Erin and the man beside her.

“Lewis!” she said, drawing his attention.

His smile was quick and genuine. “You didn’t find a seat?”

“No. It was already packed when I arrived.”

“It always is. My mum arrives about two hours early and takes over a pew for the family. I need to go and sit with them or she won’t believe I was here.”

Erin smiled. “I’ll catch up with you after.”

“Come with me.”

Before she could protest, he took her hand and pulled her along behind him as he shouldered his way through the crowd. The vicar had just started speaking when they hurried hand in hand down the aisle, then darted to the left to join what appeared to be a full pew.

Erin had the definite feeling they were doing something they shouldn’t as they dashed into the row at the last minute. Laughter threatened as she squeezed past people’s knees. The wooden pew groaned as its occupants shifted to let them pass. When Lewis hissed at people to make space for them, he sounded incredibly rude until Erin realised he was speaking to his sisters.

“Hi,” Erin whispered to Anna and then Carla as she squished past them. “Sorry,” she said, almost sitting on Carla’s knee as she sat in the small space beside her. She aimed a finger in Lewis’s direction. “It’s all his fault.”

“I believe you. I blame everything on him. Also, I saw him dragging you down the aisle.” Her eyes sparkled with mirth. “Which is funny because I’ve always told him that’s the only way he’ll get a wife.”

While Erin stifled a laugh, Lewis reached over and shoved his sister’s leg. “Try not to embarrass me for once in your life.”

“I would never embarrass you,” she replied cheerfully. “Not when you can manage it so well by yourself.”

A hand reached around Lewis to get Erin’s attention. “Hello! Or should I say Ho Ho Ho!”

“Hi!” Erin beamed at Lewis’s Dad who was quickly shoved back against the pew by the woman beside him .

“This is my mum,” Lewis whispered.

“Fiona,” the woman said, smiling warmly, but only for a moment. Then she gave Lewis’s arm a quick, sharp slap. “You should have told me you were bringing someone. I wouldn’t have let that old couple sit in our row.” She tipped her head behind her. “You should have seen the looks the woman was giving me for saving seats. Silly mare!” She leaned so far towards Erin that she was no longer in her seat at all, but hovering over her husband and son. “It’s so nice that you came. Nicholas was telling me about you this afternoon. I hope you’re enjoying your stay at the hotel.”

“I’m having a great time,” Erin told her.

“Lewis will be looking after you well, I’m sure. He’s always good at looking after people.” She patted his cheek, then turned at the sound of the woman along the pew shushing her. “Not got a lot of Christmas spirit, that lady,” she said, her voice no longer a whisper.

“Sit down and be quiet, Mum,” Lewis instructed her. “Some people want to listen to the vicar.”

“Not me,” Carla said in Erin’s ear. “I’m only here for the singing.”

“Me too,” Erin replied quietly.

“I can’t hold a note.” Carla gave her arm a friendly nudge. “But what I lack in vocal ability, I make up for in volume. I apologise in advance.”

Erin stifled a laugh and switched her attention to the vicar, who was talking about the spirit of Christmas. His monotone voice would have been difficult to concentrate on even if Lewis’s thigh wasn’t wedged against hers and monopolising her attention.

It was a really solid thigh. Which perhaps wasn’t the most appropriate thought to have in church, but she couldn’t help it. It was the vicar’s fault really for not speaking dynamically enough. Of course, her mind would wander .

And wander it did. From his thigh to the memory of their moment under the mistletoe. It had been a really lovely kiss and she couldn’t help but wonder if there’d be a repeat. Maybe if they walked back to the hotel together after the service, they might get another chance.

The congregation stood for the first song, breaking her thoughts.

Carla hadn’t been exaggerating about the volume of her singing, and after her initial amusement, Erin decided it was the perfect time for unselfconscious singing. She joined in heartily, then almost got the giggles when she caught Lewis’s eye. Maybe she should be self-conscious with him beside her, but she felt far too at ease with him. Despite having only known him a short time, she knew he wasn’t the type of person to judge her for singing her heart out on Christmas Eve, even if she wasn’t quite on key.

Once or twice she caught him exchanging an eye roll with Anna, but his mouth was fixed in a grin for the duration of the carols. As the vicar brought the service to a close, Erin felt a jolt of disappointment. She’d happily have sung all night if it would keep the amused grin on Lewis’s face. Though she could also think of other ways to put a smile on his face. The thought made her cheeks flush as the congregation moved slowly out of the church.

Erin stuck by Lewis and was soon stepping into the frigid air and pulling her gloves from her coat pocket.

“I have to get back to the hotel,” he told his family, who were gathered around him. His gaze met Erin’s while he hugged Carla tightly. “Do you want to walk back with me, or are you going to hang around for a while?”

“I’ll walk with you.” She bunched her shoulders up in a show of being cold – as though the weather was determining her decision and not the thought of spending more time with Lewis, or the possibility of getting caught under the mistletoe again .

She grinned as she was embraced by Lewis’s parents and Carla. Anna was more demure but offered a warm smile as she wished Erin a happy Christmas.

As she fell into step beside Lewis for the short walk back to the hotel, Erin pressed her gloved fingers to her cheeks, giving her facial muscles a micro massage to relieve the ache from so much grinning.

“Usually, I feel the need to offer some kind of apology to anyone who spends time with my family.” Lewis cast her a sidelong glance that was brimming with amusement. “But you were almost as bad as Carla back there.”

Her cheek muscles tightened again as laughter bubbled out of her. “Nothing wrong with getting into the Christmas spirit, is there?”

“Not at all. Maybe you and my sister could start your own choir.”

“We are extremely talented singers,” she said gleefully.

“I was thinking of a choir for enthusiastic singers rather than talented ones.”

She knocked her shoulder against his, then hooked her arm through his elbow when he offered it.

They continued in silence and were nearing the hotel entrance when she cast him a surreptitious look and caught the twitch of his nostrils as though he was about to sneeze. Instead, he raised his hand to his mouth to smother a yawn.

“Sorry,” he said, chuckling as she mirrored his yawn with a dramatic one of her own. “It’s catching.”

“Do you still have work to do?” she asked, wondering again at the long hours he worked.

“Not really.”

Erin frowned as they reached the hotel. “How come you’re going back to work, then?” It had seemed as though he’d been in a rush to get back, but maybe he’d just been making an excuse to get time alone with her .

“There’s mulled wine and mince pies for the guests who’ve been to church,” he said, destroying her previous notion. “The other staff will have set it all out in the lounge before they left so theoretically the guests could help themselves, but I’ll hang around for a bit and make sure everyone is happy.”

“You’re very dedicated,” she said idly as he pulled open the door.

Stepping inside, the warmth and the gentle Christmas music enveloped her while the mistletoe overhead drew her gaze like a magnet. When her eyes dropped to Lewis, he was standing right in front of her, his attention fully on her lips.

Her brain coaxed her to make a joke about how they should stop meeting like this, but she intercepted the message between her thoughts and her mouth. She didn’t need a lame joke to break the atmosphere or make it clear she wanted him to kiss her.

All she needed was for her heart to calm down a fraction, so she didn’t get too lightheaded.

His warm breath swept over her lips, but was whipped away by an icy breeze as the door opened.

“It was a lovely atmosphere,” Mrs Ward was saying as she bustled inside with her husband behind her. The Cockney couple were hot on their heels and Lewis and Erin stepped back to make room for them.

“The vicar wasn’t exactly brimming with charisma,” the woman said as she plucked her bobble hat from her perfectly smooth hair. “It didn’t even matter though with everyone belting out the songs. It really puts you in the mood for Christmas.” She joined in with the music filling the room, launching into a tuneful rendition of I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas as she sashayed over to the lounge.

Mr Ward appeared beside Lewis. “I heard there would be more mince pies on offer after the service. I’m not about to be disappointed, am I?”

“Definitely not.” Lewis’s smile was all professionalism as he gestured across the room. “The chef has them waiting for you.”

“Good,” Mr Ward grumbled. “I went into the kitchen to ask the chef for the recipe this afternoon, but his response wasn’t exactly polite.”

“You know what chefs are like,” Lewis said amiably as he led Mr Ward away.

“Downright rude, he was,” he said, casting an accusing glance at Lewis.

“Sorry to hear that,” Lewis said patiently. “Let’s get you a drink and a mince pie.” He was halfway across the room when he glanced back at Erin and discreetly rolled his eyes.

It made her laugh, and she followed him to the table laden with a large metal drink urn and plates of mince pies.

“Do you want wine?” he asked as he poured steaming liquid from the urn.

She didn’t want anything to eat or drink, but hesitated before shaking her head. “I should get to bed.” That was what she should do, despite her overwhelming desire to hang around, hoping to get a moment alone with Lewis.

He handed the steaming mug to the curly-haired woman beside him before turning back to Erin. “Sleep well,” he whispered.

“Thanks.” She took a step back, fighting the urge to change her mind about the drink. “You too.”

As she ascended the stairs, she told herself she was imagining the feeling of being watched. That wasn’t even a real thing. How could you feel someone watching you?

Only when she reached the top step did she give in to the urge to look back at the lounge.

Lewis was still standing beside the table of refreshments.

And his gaze was most definitely fixed on her.

The smile he gave her kept butterflies dancing in her stomach all the way to her room.