Meet Me Under the Mistletoe. Carla Burgess

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СКАЧАТЬ his hand from mine. ‘Suffice to say, it is not a genius manoeuvre to string people along like that and leave them feeling duped.’

      ‘Is that how you feel? Duped?’

      ‘Pretty much. And used and stupid. When I finished with him he said he didn’t want to leave it like that and that he’d phone me and we’d talk everything through. And guess what? He didn’t phone. So, even though I said the words “It’s over”, I still feel like he had the last laugh by making me wait for a phone call that never came. It’s like he’s play-acting all the time. Everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie.’ I shook my head. ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be talking about him. This must be very boring for you.’

      ‘Not at all. It’s my fault, after all. I did ask you about him.’

      ‘That’s true.’ I smiled at him. ‘What about you then? How did your last relationship end?’

      He looked startled for a moment. ‘Oh, err, with me leaving, I expect. That’s usually how they end.’

      ‘Were you living together?’

      ‘Oh God, no. Nothing like that. Like I said, I just like to move around.’

      ‘Does that have to mean leaving everything behind, though? Like you said before about me and Patrick, London isn’t the end of the earth, so if you’re staying in the UK, surely it’s easy enough to carry on seeing someone?’

      ‘Not if you work all the time, it isn’t.’

      ‘But didn’t we already discuss that your colleague John is happily married?’

      He laughed. ‘I suppose I’ve never met anyone I wanted to keep in touch with like that.’

      ‘Does that mean you’ve never been in love?’

      He cleared his throat and shrugged. ‘Define love.’

      I gaped at him. ‘You’ve never been in love? How old are you? Thirty-five?’

      He shrugged a shoulder. ‘Thereabouts.’

      ‘How have you managed to get to thirty-five and not fall in love? Are you a robot or something?’

      Laughing, he put his knife and fork together on his plate before pushing it away. ‘I don’t want to fall in love. I generally leave before it gets to that stage. Love is time-consuming and painful.’

      ‘It’s also wonderful and exhilarating and joyful.’

      ‘Says the woman who’s had her heart broken.’

      ‘But I will love again.’

      ‘Wow! You said that like it’s a slogan or something. Have you had that printed on a T-shirt?’

      I laughed. ‘Just think about all the women whose hearts you’ve broken in your time.’

      ‘Funny, I’m pretty certain I haven’t broken any hearts.’

      ‘I bet you have, Anthony.’

      ‘No, I haven’t.’

      ‘Even if you don’t think you have, I bet you have. Just look at you. On top of being handsome and intelligent, you have beautiful manners and seem really kind too. Not that I know you, of course. But you seem lovely.’

      ‘Maybe that’s the problem. Women don’t want a lovely man with beautiful manners. Women want a bad boy in motorcycle leathers.’

      ‘Erm, not really.’ I looked up as the waitress came over to take our plates.

      ‘Do you want another drink?’ he asked.

      ‘Oh, I shouldn’t.’

      ‘Go on. I’ll walk you home.’

      ‘You don’t have to do that. It’s only up the road.’ I felt slightly flustered as I looked up at the waitress. ‘I’ll have another wine, please.’

      Anthony ordered his drink and then turned back to me. ‘You kind of proved my point with Patrick.’

      ‘What point?’

      ‘About women preferring bad boys. You said you’d never met anyone you cared about before Patrick. He didn’t exactly treat you well, did he?’

      ‘He did when he was with me. And the boys I’d seen before weren’t super nice or particularly horrible, they were just immature. Patrick was older, so maybe I just prefer older men.’

      ‘He didn’t treat you well, Rachel. You never knew where you were with him. And he didn’t meet any of your friends and family. I’m pretty sure I’ve met at least some of the friends and family of every girl I’ve ever been in a relationship with. And I’m always upfront about the fact I’m not looking for anything long-term or serious.’

      ‘Really?’

      ‘Really. I’m not out to mislead anyone or make false promises.’ He scratched his face and looked at me. ‘I wouldn’t like to think I’d broken anybody’s heart. That’s just sad.’

      I smiled at him. ‘You’re very sweet. And that’s exactly why I find it so hard to believe that nobody has fallen in love with you.’

      He rolled his eyes, looking embarrassed. ‘Anyway, this is getting a bit deep. Let’s change the subject now.’

      ‘Okay. What do you want to talk about?’

      ‘I don’t know.’ He laughed. ‘Tell me about yourself.’

      ‘Me? We’ve talked enough about me. Why don’t you tell me about you? You’re the new boy in town.’

      ‘I’m really not that interesting.’

      ‘I disagree. I think you’re quite fascinating, actually. You have a very bizarre attitude to relationships and I’d like to know why.’

      ‘Ah, but we’re not talking about that any more.’

      I leaned my elbows on the table and smiled at him. ‘Let’s start with your family. Are you an only child?’

      He hesitated for a moment, a smile playing on his lips as he looked at me through narrowed eyes. ‘No. I have a younger brother.’

      ‘How much younger?’

      ‘Three years.’

      ‘Is he married?’

      ‘Yes. And he has two children.’

      ‘Aww, so you’re Uncle Anthony. Are they cute?’

      ‘Very.’

      ‘You like kids?’

      ‘I love kids.’

      ‘But you don’t want any yourself?’

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