The Mills & Boon Sparkling Christmas Collection. Kate Hardy

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      ‘I know,’ Eva sighed wishing she could be so relaxed. The bus pulled up outside the football club and the babble of voices grew louder as the children who had been standing in groups with parents now started to make their way towards the bus. A coach with a clipboard ticked their names off. Hugs and final kisses were given. Eva quickly wrapped her arms around Jamie.

      ‘Have an amazing time. I love you!’ Eva waved as the bus trundled out of sight, feeling as if her whole world was disappearing.

      ‘I had a feeling you might need one of these,’ Heather said handing her a tissue.

      ‘Thanks,’ Eva sniffed with a weak smile and proceeded to blow her nose.

      But there the sympathy ended. Heather was not giving her chance to wallow. She had already informed Eva her that she was taking charge after the boys left and, knowing this was the night of the Professor’s ceilidh had organized some pampering.

      ‘Honestly, Heather, you don’t have to do this,’ Eva pleaded. Going home and burying herself under a blanket for the next forty-eight hours suddenly sounded very appealing. Heather treated her to a withering look.

      ‘When did you last do anything just for yourself?’

      ‘I, um –’

      ‘Exactly. You deserve a day with some pampering. What else would you do now? You’d go home and just obsess about Jamie staying safe.’

      Unable to deny it, Eva sighed. ‘But I don’t want to make a big deal about tonight. It’s just a casual invitation.’

      ‘Well then, you’re going to look casually sexy.’

      Eva knew there was no point in protesting, not when Heather had that sparkle in her eye – she was a woman on a mission and there was no stopping her. She’d have to try and go with it even though her mind and body were sending mixed signals about what she wanted from tonight.

      Eva hadn’t expected Ben to ask her to this ceilidh and wasn’t sure what, if anything, to read into it. A favour he had called it. He saw her as a friend and you asked a friend to do you a favour. But the night of the storm kept replaying in her mind. During their conversation she had felt a real connection and then just before the lights turned back on she had felt an intensity – almost a physical heat – between them. Even thinking of it now sent tingles through her body, as if parts of her that had been frozen for years were beginning to thaw and on a massive scale.

      Heather was talking to herself, looking at her watch. ‘We have time for a spray tan if you want? Don’t suppose you’ve ever had one before?’

      ‘No and I don’t want one today, thank you.’

      Heather peered at her, narrowing her eyes. ‘I suppose you can get away with it. You’re lucky to have such lovely colouring. In that case we’ll have a quick coffee before your facial. Then the hairdresser’s and a bit of shopping.’

      ‘But I don’t need –’ Eva’s voice trailed off as Heather put up her hand.

      ‘It’s all booked now so it’s too late.’

      Two hours later Eva lay with her head back in a head-massage-induced trance. The heavenly head treatment came complimentary with her haircut and it was exquisite. It was only thoughts of the evening ahead, which kept popping into her head, that prevented her from becoming totally comatose.

      Once Heather was happy everything on her list had been attended to, they drove back to Eva’s house. While Heather sorted through various shopping bags, Eva couldn’t resist a small smile at her reflection in the mirror. She’d almost forgotten the power of a good cut and blow-dry.

      ‘I’m not sure what you were planning on wearing, but I have something to show you before you decide,’ Heather said while Eva was busy turning her head from side to side admiring the way her hair bounced over her shoulders. She should probably be ashamed how bedraggled it had become but her appearance simply hadn’t been much of a priority recently.

      Heather was now pulling a slip of dark blue material from a bag and carefully unfolding it to reveal a beautiful dress. ‘Wow, that’s lovely,’ Eva exclaimed.

      ‘I’m glad you like it because it’s for you to wear tonight.’

      ‘I can’t take this!’

      ‘Of course you can. I bought it and never wore it. I’m two pregnancies away from ever fitting into that dress. Try it on at least.’

      ‘All right then, just for you,’ Eva conceded giving her friend a fond look.

      Eva changed clothes, gently pulling the dress over her head. It had been so long since she’d worn anything pretty she almost didn’t recognize her own reflection. The dress had a mesh neckline with embroidered detailing and a fitted bodice that flared out at the hips, stopping just before her knees.

      ‘Oh, that’s gorgeous. It’ll be perfect for spinning round the dance floor and showing off your legs. It’s fun and flirty but retains a certain elegance.’ Heather’s head bobbed in approval.

      ‘Are you sure?’ Eva asked, seeking reassurance.

      ‘It’s perfect. Just think of me as your fairy godmother.’

      Eva shot her a comical look and curtsied. She had to confess to feeling great in it.

      ‘I’ve got to say, it’s good to see you in something so feminine – you look lovely.’

      ‘Not exactly my dungarees is it?’ Eva grinned at Heather.

      ‘As hot as they are, this is even hotter, trust me.’

      ‘What’s that for?’ Eva asked as Heather now handed her a glass filled with sparkling wine.

      ‘Liquid courage.’

      ‘Thanks,’ she replied as they clinked glasses. ‘But I won’t need it. Nothing is going to happen.’

      ‘Oh, I wish it was me going out,’ Heather sighed wistfully. ‘Talking to people, making eye contact, a little flirting, lingering looks … Oh I forgot the excitement of a date.’

      ‘It’s not a date! And anyway, you have Douglas. You wouldn’t change anything would you?’ Eva looked at her friend thinking how the spark between Heather and Douglas was still obvious.

      ‘No of course I wouldn’t. It’s just that feeling at the beginning. Butterflies in your stomach, a racing heart, counting the minutes until you see him again …’

      ‘Uh-huh,’ Eva muttered, all those things sounding disturbingly familiar.

      ‘It’s really quite magical,’ Heather reminisced happily, drinking more wine.

      ‘Did you always know Douglas was the one?’

      ‘Suppose I did. We met in a nightclub, fancied each other and that was it really – sounds quite old-fashioned now.’

      ‘Apparently one in five relationships now start online.’

      ‘Really? СКАЧАТЬ