Not Just for Christmas

Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

T houghts of Lewis were swirling in Erin’s head when she woke, just as they had been when she fell asleep. It was a long time since she’d had such an all-consuming crush and, at the corner of her mind, she felt a little ridiculous over the intensity of her feelings, given she’d only known him for a few days. It was Christmas, though, and there was magic in the air. That’s what she told herself – determined not to ruin her good mood by overthinking things.

Plucking her phone from the bedside table, she joined in the group chat with her friends, wishing them a merry Christmas and then filling them in on her kiss under the mistletoe. They were appropriately excited for her, which made her feel less self-conscious about her Christmas romance.

Her smile slipped when a call from her sister replaced the group’s messages on her phone. She could hardly ignore her only sibling on Christmas Day, but she couldn’t deny the temptation to do just that. At least she was getting it out of the way early in the day.

“Hi,” Zara said curtly. “Happy Christmas. ”

Erin returned the greeting with the same amount of cheer. None.

“How is it in the Cotswolds?”

“Great,” Erin said, her lips pulling into an involuntary smile as she lay back against the pillows.

“Not too depressing on your own?”

“No.” There was no way she’d mention Lewis, not least because her sister would get all smug about her needing a man to be happy. “I’m having a great time. The area is beautiful and you wouldn’t believe the hotel.”

Zara sighed dramatically. “I think it’s rude that Mum and Dad wasted that gift on you. Jake and I would have made much better use of a romantic break.”

Erin rolled her eyes. “You’d already arranged to spend Christmas with his parents.”

“I might not have done if I’d known there was the option of a hotel stay. Not that they’d have bought that for us, anyway. It was like a charity gift because you’re single.”

“Thanks,” Erin said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Whatever. I was just calling to wish you a happy Christmas and say thanks for my present.”

“Was it exactly what you wished for?” Erin asked mockingly.

“Ha ha.” Her sister’s tone held absolutely no humour. “I don’t know why you can’t send me a link to what you want instead of making me choose something for you. If you don’t like your gift, you’ve only got yourself to blame.”

Zara sent out a link to her wish list in October, along with strict instructions not to buy anything that wasn’t on the list. It was the same ritual every year, and every year she got annoyed with Erin for not doing the same.

“I just think it’s more fun to choose presents for people,” she said, though she wasn’t sure why she was wasting her breath. They’d had the same discussions so many times. She and her sister would just never see eye to eye on some things. Most things, come to think of it.

“Have you spoken to Mum and Dad today?” Zara asked, changing the subject.

“No, have you?”

“No. I thought I’d speak to you first. Get it out of the way.”

Erin would be offended if she weren’t so shocked by Zara’s bluntness. In fairness, she’d had the same thought, but the difference between them was that she wouldn’t come out and say it.

“That’s nice,” she said, annoyed by the bitterness that crept into her voice.

“You know what I mean.”

“I think you made it quite clear what you mean.”

“Why do you always have to make things into an argument?” Zara snapped. “This is exactly why I wanted to get this out of the way. Have a nice Christmas.”

“I will,” Erin said, hating the way they always brought out the worst in each other. “You should look up the hotel online,” she added. “It really is the height of luxury. It was very generous of Mum and Dad.”

A noise that sounded distinctly like a growl reached her ear and she felt a jolt of satisfaction at it.

“Happy Christmas, sister dearest!” Erin said sweetly.

“Same to you,” Zara managed before she hung up.

Erin spent a few minutes relaying the conversation to her friends on the group chat before showering and heading downstairs for breakfast. The few guests in the dining room offered her a smile and wished her a merry Christmas. She had a pleasant chat with the waitress who took her order, and tried not to let her gaze drift too often to the door behind the bar.

It was where she expected Lewis to appear from at any moment. The anticipation of seeing him almost made her lose her appetite. Not quite though – the eggs benedict was so delicious they didn’t require much appetite, anyway .

Maybe he wasn’t even at work yet, she told herself when he failed to materialise.

When the door to the kitchen swung open, her gaze darted to the tall, broad chef. Maybe it was his heavily inked forearms, or maybe his overall bulk, but he had a slightly menacing air as he wandered behind the bar. Then he smiled at the barmaid and his eyes crinkled, taking away all his hard edges.

Erin returned her focus to her breakfast, but her ears pricked up when the chef spoke.

“Where’s Lewis?” he asked the barmaid. “Don’t tell me he’s come in late for once?”

Erin kept her head down to avoid being caught eavesdropping, but distinctly heard the barmaid mention the office.

He was at work then…

Erin shook her head, telling herself to get a grip. Setting her cutlery neatly on her plate, she pushed it aside. She’d finish her coffee, then go upstairs and call her parents and put her crush out of her mind.