Mills & Boon Christmas Delights Collection. Rebecca Winters

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СКАЧАТЬ shook my head. ‘No. It’s fine. And no, I’m not cancelling on you. Absolutely not. He has to realise that I’m not at his beck and call.’

      ‘Right.’ ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

      ‘What? All I said was “right”.’

      ‘It was the way you said it.’

      ‘Jesus,’ he sighed. ‘Look, just finish a bit earlier with me. You can change at my place and then still get to the restaurant in time to meet him.’

      I looked out of the window, but the darkness now fallen meant I saw little but my own face reflecting back at me.

      ‘At least he didn’t just turn up tonight and see me looking like this.’

      Michael pulled up at a red light and looked over, his brow furrowed. ‘Like what?’

      I waved my hands over my face and clothing. ‘This.’

      ‘You look perfectly…fine.’ The light changed and he found first gear a little more forcefully than he had on previous times. ‘If he can’t see that then the man’s an idiot. Oh, that’s right. He is.’

      I threw my hands up. ‘How can you say that? You don’t even know him!’

      ‘I know all I need to know. He calls and you jump. And apparently expects you to be perfectly dressed and fully made-up whenever he does.’

      ‘It’s not like that,’ I replied, although there was less conviction in my voice than I had intended.

      ‘Right,’ he said again.

      From the corner of my eye I saw the streetlights flash across us, briefly illuminating Michael’s face with each pass. His jaw was tight and his hands gripped the wheel more intently than they had on the way down. He rolled his neck and, as if sensing my thoughts, flexed his long fingers from the wheel. It was clear neither one of us was going to break the silence, so I rested my head on the window and stared out past my reflection, into the darkness beyond.

      ‘I’m sorry to have wasted your time today,’ I said, as Michael pulled up outside my flat. ‘I got a little carried away.’

      ‘You didn’t waste my time. It was good to get out.’ He stopped the engine.

      I nodded and gave a tight smile. ‘Right then. I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight.’

      ‘Katie wait.’ Michael’s hand caught my arm as I reached for the door catch. He ran the other hand over his face and gave his overgrown stubble a scratch. ‘I shouldn’t have said anything about your boyfriend.’

      I gave a small smile, preparing to accept the apology.

      ‘How you let him treat you is none of my business.’

      The smile left my face.

      ‘Excuse me?’

      ‘What?’ he asked, looking at me.

      ‘Is that your idea of an apology?’

      Michael’s face remained blank.

      ‘You know what?’ I said, grabbing for the catch. ‘You’re pretty unbelievable!’

      ‘Now what I have done?’ He sat back, apparently genuinely perplexed.

      ‘That fact that you don’t even know what you’ve done is just – ’

      ‘Don’t give me that “if you don’t know what you’ve done” shit. You’re better than that and you’re usually not afraid to tell me when I’ve fucked up. Which, by the way, is something you ought to try on your so-called boyfriend. Because from where I’m sitting, he’s treating you like crap and yet you never pull him up on it!’

      ‘So much for you feeling that you shouldn’t be commenting on my love life! That didn’t last very long, did it?’

      ‘Maybe because I wasn’t actually sorry in the first place, but felt I ought to say it because for some reason I felt bad for upsetting you!’

      ‘Maybe because you thought I’d run and tell your sister on you? Well, don’t worry. I had no plans to do that, so feel free to say what you think. I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself. This is between you and me, and whatever I think of you and your misplaced opinions, I would never tell tales to your family. But it’s nice to know that you think I would!’

      ‘That’s not why I said it. I didn’t think you’d be “telling tales” at all. Besides, it wouldn’t really make any difference bearing in mind Janey has the same opinion of this Colin bloke as I do.’

      ‘Calum! His name is Calum! And really? You’re going to sit there and lecture about the right way to treat women?’

      ‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’

      ‘You think he’s using me?’

      ‘I don’t know what he thinks he’s doing. But I think he’s getting it easy, with you just being there when it suits him.’ He held up a hand, as I made to protest. ‘And yes, I know, I know, he’s busy. Jesus, Katie we’re all busy but that doesn’t mean you go weeks without seeing someone you care about if you can help it!’

      ‘He can’t help it. Don’t you get it?’

      ‘Kate. He’s in feckin’ sales not a war zone! Believe me, he can help it.’

      I felt my chest heaving and unwrapped my scarf, suddenly hot in the cab of the pickup. Michael turned his head towards the side window, away from me.

      ‘What did you mean about me and the way I treat women?’ He looked back at me. His jaw was set, the street lights casting deep shadows on his face – the only illumination now that the interior light had flicked off, its time up. ‘You think I use women?’

      ‘I should go.’

      ‘I want to know.’ His voice was soft, questioning. ‘Is that really what you think of me?’

      ‘Does it even matter what I think Michael?’ I was suddenly so tired, and the slight headache I’d had at the start of the journey was now building into something a lot more intense.

      ‘Yes, in this case.’

      ‘Why?’

      ‘Because, although I don’t give a shit about what a lot of people think about me, I do, for some reason, care if you think I’m some misogynistic user of women. Because I’m not.’

      ‘OK.’

      ‘OK? Is that it?’

      ‘What do you want me to say?’

      ‘I want you to say what you really think! I’m not Colin or Calum or whatever the hell he’s called. You don’t just have to agree with every word I say.’

      ‘Good. Because, believe me, that is never going to happen!’ СКАЧАТЬ