I laugh at that. ‘She does have a firm hand. You probably need it, though.’
Oooh, am I flirting? I have been binge-watchingThe Witcher,and Lewis does have a Henry Cavill chin.
Luckily, he doesn’t seem to notice and slouches against the bar—his bar, I guess, since he runs the place. He swings into business mode.
‘Thanks again for accommodating that last-minute addition. The recycled bottle duvet is an important part of our guilt-free sleep marketing campaign.’ He shrugs. ‘Who knew you could even make duvets out of plastic bottles?’
‘I know, this sustainability project has certainly been eye-opening for me too. I’ve started buying tofu to save the planet,’ I say.
He cocks an eyebrow. ‘Ah, but are you eating it?’
‘Well, no,’ I admit with a guilty smile. ‘It’s in my fridge. I just have to find the right recipe.’
Too late, I remember Lewis is a foodie, and he probably knows twenty delicious ways to cook tofu.
But he just grins and says, ‘Check out Olive. That’s a good recipe site.’
He hands me the rum and Cokes, and I sip one. It tastes even stronger than before.
‘Where are you sitting?’
‘I’m over there with Andrea.’ I nod at the couches where Andrea is talking to some guy wearing a red Christmas jumper and black trousers.
‘Looks like Bailey’s keeping her company.’
‘Who’s he?’
‘One of my friends who’s rather into the festive season, as you can see.’
As we get closer, I note that his friend Bailey also has a flashing bow tie and is wearing elf ears.
Good lord, he’s a walking Christmas cliché. I’m instantly repulsed.
Andrea looks up as we approach. ‘Oh, there you are, Holly. I see you ran into Lewis.’
‘I did.’ I hand her a rum and Coke and pointedly don’t look at Bailey, who I’m sure is dying for me to notice him in his tacky get-up.
‘Hi, Lewis.’ Andrea gives me a knowing look, which I return.Yes, I’m going to be all over that TikTok as soon as I’m alone.
‘Andrea—mind if I sit here?’he asks.
‘Of course not.’ She shifts over, and Lewis sits down next to her, and they start talking about something to do with the project.
I sense Bailey checking me out from his position opposite them on the couch. Sigh. I really don’t want to talk to him, but sure enough, he clears his throat. ‘Hi, I’m Bailey.’
‘Holly,’ I mutter.
‘Are you a client of Lewis’s?’
‘Yes, I’ve been managing his sustainability project.’
‘Oh, cool.’
I glance at him while he’s taking a sip of his drink. He’s got a sweep of golden-brown hair, brown eyes, round cheeks with dimples, and underneath the latex, I assume, normal-sized ears. He does make a cute elf, I have to admit. But his bow tie is flashing so rapidly and brightly I feel the pinprick of a headache starting behind my left eyeball.He sees me staring at him.
‘Sorry, do you want to sit down?’
‘No, I’m fine.’
