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‘Whydon’tyoustopbothering me and go and find something more worthwhile to occupy your time?’
As happy as Grace was to be both alive and back on reasonably good terms with Griff, since the morning they had got stuck together in his car in the blizzard, three days ago, something had changed between them.
The snow had melted quickly and the temperature had been far too warm for more snow. The temperature had risen at Betancourt too.
Grace had become more wary of the effect just being close to Griff could have on her. He seemed to have started to tease her again, the way he did when they were young.
The grin on his face curved into a smile and his eyes danced with mischief. ‘Am I bothering you, Grace? I do hope so. And frankly, I can’t think of anything more worthwhile to occupy my time than … tobotheryou.’
There was something in the way he said that word, and in the way he was looking at her that sent quivers running all over her body.
She couldn’t think of anything to say and if he continued to look at her like that, she wasn’t sure what might happen.
Once they had been rescued from Griff’s car, by a passing RAC breakdown van and driver, she had dived straight back into work, after explaining to her parents and to Hope about the mistake she had made concerning Davina. Griff was right. Grace did jump to conclusions.
‘Next time you think I may be dating someone,’ Griff had said, ‘or I do or say something that you might’ve misunderstood, please discuss it with me. Don’t dash off and refuse to speak to me. That just makes us both cross.’
He had introduced her to Davina and Grace had seen instantly why Griff and she were best friends. Grace was sure Davina would become someone Grace could be best friends with given the opportunity. Davina had said the same and had winked at Griff.
‘Just sayin’ honeybun. No pressure or anything.’
Griff had laughed but he had looked at Grace in such a way that made her think she might be seeing more of Davina in the future.
Grace had gone with Griff to Bed and Bath, the shop in Folkestone, as promised, and she had introduced Griff to the joys of bath bombs. He’d bought several sets, not just for Davina but also for Tabby and the staff, and even for Bianca, who was definitely coming home in time for the Mistletoe Dance.
No one was sure what would happen with Archie and Bianca but if Bianca could be in a better head space that might be a start. And maybe take an interest in Archie’s new found hobbies. Especially the chickens which the man seemed to adore.
Now as Griff followed Grace from room to room pretending to take notes of things she was saying, of items that needed touching up or finishing or moving or tweaking, she wondered what Griff was waiting for.
Surely if he liked her as more than just a friend, he would tell her? He knew that she had believed herself to be in love with his brother for most of her life, but he had dismissed that as mere fantasy.
Was he concerned about the fact that his dad had loved her mum so desperately? Did he think that might make things difficult? Was he worried about starting a relationship with someone who lived so close? All his previous women had come down with him from London. Did he see Betancourt as a safe haven?
Or was it simply that, although he liked her, he didn’t like her enough?
That day of the car breakdown and subsequent accident, he had said that he and she needed to have a serious talk very soon, and yet three days later he had said nothing more about it. He hadn’t asked her out. He hadn’t told her he liked her more than as just a friend. He hadn’t said a word, other than to tease her, just as he was teasing her now.
She turned and swiftly walked away but his footfall was audible behind her and the next second, he grabbed her wrist, slid his hand down to hers and pulled her to him so fast that their bodies thwacked together.
They stared into each other’s eyes for a second and then Grace placed her free hand on his chest and tried to push him away.
‘Get off me!’
‘Don’t fight it.’
‘What?’
‘We have no choice. Look.’
He glanced upwards and Grace’s gaze followed his.
Hanging right above their heads was a huge bunch of mistletoe. Grace should’ve remembered it was there because she was the one who had secured it into position, along with several other bunches of mistletoe dotted around the Great Hall and dining room.
‘Don’t even think about it,’ she warned him.
‘I can’t seem to think of anything else,’ he said, his voice oozing sex appeal.
He bent Grace backwards in an overly dramatic gesture and with a roar of laughter he leant down and kissed her.
