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‘She’s like the Pied Piper . . .’
‘I think people are too frightened to refuse her. They’ll be toeing the line or else . . .’
‘Quick, hide, or you’ll soon be twirling your way behind her.’
They ran back to the drinks stall, which people had abandoned in favour of the dancing throng.
Fergus laughed as he suddenly stopped. ‘Wait a second. Look where we are.’
‘Will you look at that.’ She pointed up at the mistletoe. ‘We’d better move or folks will talk.’ She began to edge away from him but he pulled her close.
‘Let them talk,’ he said quietly, looking at her intently. He smiled again and touched her cheek. Then he leaned down, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently on the lips.
Amelia gripped his shoulders and kissed him back.
Chapter Forty-Seven
When the crowd started trickling back into the bar, exhausted and thirsty from their dancing, Amelia reluctantly let go of Fergus’s hand. His smile was playful. ‘This is definitely to be continued.’
Amelia couldn’t wipe the grin from her face. She had forgotten how good kissing could be, and Fergus was excellent at it. ‘I should head back behind the bar . . .’
‘Give me two minutes and I’ll come and help you. I’ll lose the outfit first though.’
Amelia couldn’t stop grinning, and when his hand gently touched her waist, her stomach flipped. They worked side by side, pulling beers and dispensing drinks to the rowdy crowd. She sensed he was watching her and it was exciting to share a secret together.
‘That’s the gin finished,’ Amelia called to Doris.
‘The bottled beer is almost finished too,’ shouted Fergus. ‘I’m going to go out the back to fetch some more.’
‘Does everything normally run dry so quickly?’
‘It must be a particularly thirsty crowd tonight.’ Grant had arrived with Thea. ‘I’ve never seen it this busy.’
‘Wow, what a day,’ said Thea. ‘I’m exhausted. I can’t ever remember having so many visitors here before.’
‘Yes, there were a lot of unfamiliar faces,’ said Grant. ‘The ferry from Ardrossan will have been busy today.’
‘Rob did say the hotel was full. But it’s great. Business has been booming. I’ve done a roaring trade at the shop, so I’m not complaining.’
Edie appeared wearing her red sequinned sweater and reindeer ears. She yawned. ‘I’m calling it a night. It is way past my bedtime.’
Amelia looked at her watch. It was approaching eight o’clock.
‘Thought I should let you know in case you were looking for me.’
‘Are you okay, Edie?’
‘Yes, it’s been a long day and my wee feet are tired.’ She smiled. ‘I’ll leave you youngsters to it.’
Fergus glanced over. ‘Do you want me to walk you back, Edie?’
‘Thank you but I will be quite fine. I’m only two minutes along the road. You all enjoy yourself.’
‘Bye, Edie,’ they chorused, and she did a little curtsy before making her exit.
‘Someone looks happy tonight.’ Thea jerked her head towards Fergus. She winked at Amelia. ‘Santa found you then?’
Amelia laughed, her face red, when she realised Thea knew a lot more than she was letting on. ‘He certainly did. Why didn’t you tell me? I spent a while dodging him completely.’
