Название: His Wicked Christmas Wager
Автор: Annie Burrows
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Исторические любовные романы
Серия: Mills & Boon Historical Undone
isbn: 9781408995594
isbn:
“Is that any way to greet a nice girl like me?” asked a teasing voice.
My heart did the weird twist and release thing it did every time Amber called. I knew what I owed her, but she was still a constant reminder of my past.
I took a breath and put a smile into my reply. “Hey, sweetheart. Bad timing on my part. I thought you were my dad.”
She laughed. “You’ve got to start remembering who I am.”
“How could I forget?” I joked.
I meant it in a light-hearted way, but the second I said it, my mind went to Beth, and I wished I hadn’t spoken. They were cousins. I’d known Amber first, in fact. She was the daughter of one of my dad’s golfing buddies. Our mothers attended the same social functions. At a party one night, Amber had introduced Beth and me, all those years ago.
“Too late,” I murmured out loud.
“Pardon?” Amber said.
“Nothing. It’s just always a relief to hear your voice.”
She snorted, but I knew she liked the flattery. “You promised me you’d show up tomorrow.”
“I promise a lot of girls a lot of things,” I teased.
“I’m sure that’s truer than I want to think about,” Amber said. “But you made this one to me.”
“Babe…” I searched for the kind of excuse that usually came so easily, and failed. “I’m not going to be great company tomorrow.”
My honesty was a testament to how on edge I was feeling.
“I know. You really aren’t all that much fun in general. But you did promise,” she told me in a sweet voice.
I wanted to laugh at her obvious manipulation. I’m generally impervious to any and all attempts to reel me in, and I was sure Amber knew it. Maybe my emotions were just raw enough, or maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for letting anyone down. Whatever the reason, I found myself agreeing.
“A promise is a promise,” I said.
“Yes it is.”
For one second, I thought I heard a hint of smugness in her voice, and I was immediately regretful of agreeing to meet her. I held my temper in check and refused to back down. I clenched my teeth together and made myself bury the irritation under a chuckle.
“You’ll have to remind me where I said I’d be,” I told her cockily. “Lots of promises mean lots of forgetfulness.”
She drew in an irritated breath, and this time I chuckled for real.
“It’s the market in the commons,” she reminded me, just shy of completely impatient.
I should apologize.
I couldn’t make myself do it.
“All right, sweetheart,” I said. “I’ll be there. I’ll even dress nicely so you don’t regret inviting me along.”
“Oh, I won’t,” she assured me, and hung up.
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