The Office Christmas Party: A fun, feel good Christmas cracker of a romance!. Aimee Duffy

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      Thankfully nobody was paying attention to her, but the problem was, she didn’t know the restaurant at all and finding the bathroom was not as easy a task as she thought. She tried to look like she knew what she was doing, like she was supposed to be there, but desperation got the best of her and she grabbed a waiter’s arm, almost knocking over the three steaks he was expertly holding.

      ‘Bathroom?’ she pleaded.

      And the second he nodded to the far corner she was off, trying not to knock over tables as she went. But as she neared, a familiar face exited the men’s room, blocking her way to the ladies’ one. ‘No, please no.’

      Dean chuckled, and she had to resist the urge to hop from leg to leg.

      ‘That’s some way to speak to a guy you told everyone was riddled with crabs and then poured a gallon of wine over,’ he said with a smirk. ‘Are you legitimately here tonight or just in for a freebie?’

      Natalie gritted her teeth. She’d have argued with him all night, but … ‘I don’t have time for this. I’m about three seconds from ruining your shoes too, so if you don’t mind, step out of the effing way.’

      With a laugh he shifted to let her pass, even though she was fully prepared to shove him out of the way. When she’d regained her composure, she hoped desperately that he’d left, or was on a date. Then he couldn’t pester her anymore and she’d be able to sneak out without the lecture that accompanied peeing in a restaurant you’ve not ordered in.

      No such luck.

      He was leaning against a wooden archway when she emerged. ‘I think the whole restaurant heard you, there. Everyone thought a race horse had snuck into the bathroom.’

      ‘Har, har.’ But her cheeks burned as she stalked by him.

      ‘Lighten up, Nicole. This isn’t the battlefield. I was teasing.’

      ‘My name is not Nicole,’ she said, whirling on him. ‘And I doubt yours is Dean, either.’

      He smiled. ‘It is. I don’t suppose you’d tell me yours?’

      Who knew with his always slightly smug, amused expression? She couldn’t tell if he was sincere or if this was another one of those games he kept banging on about. She shook her head. ‘I need to go.’

      He frowned. ‘You’re not staying?’

      ‘Why, so you can tell some other sleazy bastards to feel me up because I’m easy? I don’t think so.’

      Just then, another man approached them and he looked remarkably like Dean. His features were similar, but the other one was younger, and looked worried, not like a smug bastard.

      When he spoke, it was sincere. ‘I’m really sorry, Miss. Whatever my brother did to you, I can honestly say you can do better. But listen, it’s my engagement dinner tonight, and I don’t want him to cause a scene in front of the future in-laws.’

      His smile was sincere too, especially when he glanced towards a table with a beautiful brunette and two older couples.

      Then he elbowed his brother in the ribs. ‘For fuck’s sake, Dean. Tell her you’re sorry.’

      Dean just smirked at her in an I-told-you-so way. She turned to the younger, nicer version and said, ‘Congratulations to the both of you. And don’t worry, there won’t be any trouble. I’ve never slept with your brother, he only wishes. Enjoy your meal!’

      She didn’t look at Dean, just accepted his brother’s gratitude and strolled out of the restaurant with her head held high. She had no idea who won that round, but like Dean said, this was not the battlefield – just an unwelcome coincidence. There would be plenty time to get her own back.

      ‘What took you so long?’ Rose asked. She was fully submerged in the shadows.

      ‘Who or what are you hiding from?’ Natalie asked. She didn’t really want to go into all that stuff with Dean. ‘And what’s wrong with eating here?’

      Not that she wanted to when he was there, never mind with his family, but it was weird for Rose to change her mind at the last minute.

      ‘I was hoping for somewhere quieter so we can talk.’

      Natalie wasn’t going to argue with that even if she didn’t believe it. She wanted to get away from here as fast as Rose seemed to.

      ***

      ‘There really is a first time for everything,’ his brother said as Dean watched his little thief storm out of the restaurant.

      Dean was too distracted to ask what his brother was on about – distracted by the way her black, skinny jeans moulded her arse and clung to her surprisingly long legs. But Jeffrey was never deterred by silence.

      ‘The one woman in London who would probably rather poke her left eye out than sleep with you and I got to shake her hand.’ His brother laughed.

      ‘It’s early days, and I’m fairly sure she’d rather sleep with me than dismember herself.’ Though in the mood she was in, he could see why Jeffrey might think otherwise.

      Jeffrey shook his head. ‘You never knew when to call it quits.’

      ‘I prefer to think of it as rising to face the challenge,’ he disagreed, following his brother back to the table. And Nicole, or whoever she was, definitely presented a challenge. But it was much more than that.

      ‘She might beat you down a notch or ten. So I say, go for it.’

      ‘Knob,’ Dean said, smiling. As they got closer to the table, he whispered, ‘You’re just jealous because you can’t chase sexy blondes anymore.’

      His fiancée was in earshot before his brother could reply and Dean wanted to rub in the fact that he’d gotten the last word for once, but decided to enjoy the win silently. Everyone had already dug into the main course that had just been served and didn’t notice the acidic look his mother threw them as they slipped back into their seats.

      She struck up a conversation about polo next, and he started on his steak, making sure to stuff his mouth before she asked how he had managed to be such a disappointment at that too. Anyway, he knew his father would answer for him.

       It’s all that meddling around with the computer, softened the boy up. We should never have bought it for him.

      Thankfully not even his mother seemed interested in what he was up to anymore so he concentrated on his dinner instead. Or at least tried to. Jeffrey didn’t have the best table manners when it came to spaghetti – why he picked that dish on the night the parents met was beyond Dean – but he was more distracted by Alana, occasionally wiping the sauce from his brother’s chin with a napkin, eyes shining and lips curving in a way that said like nothing but how completely and utterly in love she was with him.

      Putting the twinge in his chest down to indigestion, he refocused on his steak.

      Dean’s mobile vibrated, distracting him from things he’d rather not think about. He pulled it out of his pocket and checked the screen.

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