Page 38 of Yule Party on Sunflower Street

The host led them to a fairy-lit booth and they sat opposite each other and opened the menus. The food all sounded delicious and Tara wondered how she was going to choose.

‘I don’t suppose you fancy getting a sharing platter, do you?’ Seth asked. ‘There are so many tasty looking things here that I can’t make up my mind.’

‘I’m game for that,’ she said.

A server came and took their food order, and Tara chose a mimosa to drink while Seth opted for an alcohol-free lager. Tara was going to have a Coke but Seth said she should have something stronger to celebrate her purchases.

When their drinks arrived, Seth held up his glass and said, ‘Here’s to a successful morning.’

‘Cheers.’ Tara gently touched her glass to his then took a sip. ‘I forgot to ask how your meeting went.’

‘Really well, thanks.’ He gave a small nod.

‘Good. I’m glad.’ She eyed him over the top of her drink. ‘You’re a busy man, aren’t you?’

He sipped his lager then set his glass down. ‘I like to be busy.’

‘Any reason why?’

‘What do you mean?’ His brows met.

‘Well… sometimes people keep busy to avoid thinking about things.’

Seth took another sip of lager then set his glass down. ‘I don’t like thinking about heavy things.’

‘Heavy things?’ she said.

‘Getting older. Losing loved ones. My own mortality.’ He rubbed a hand over his forehead as if saying the words was hard enough.

‘I don’t think anyone does.’

‘And keeping busy and being productive, well, it’s the best way to feel alive.’

‘In some ways I agree with that, but there are other ways to feel alive.’ She held his gaze, her heart fluttering at the dove-grey of his eyes and the perfect symmetry of his features. All except for the lone dimple in his left cheek that appeared when he smiled.

‘Oh?’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘Do tell me more.’

Tara bit her bottom lip as she realised what she’d said. ‘Well… you know… spending time with loved ones. Hugging people. Eating good food. Getting a massage.’

‘Food is good and I enjoy it. I haven’t had a massage in years, but I find staying still difficult so they’re not that relaxing for me. I always feel like I should be up and about getting things done.’

‘And I understand that but aren’t there times when you want to be still and quiet?’

‘Still and quiet?’ He tapped a finger against his mouth, and her eyes were drawn to his full lips as she wondered what it would be like to kiss them.

‘Like in bed.’

‘In bed?’ he asked with a waggle of his brows.

She gasped and covered her eyes as if she could hide away. When she lowered her hands, she said, ‘I meant… when you’re sleeping.’

‘I’d hope so otherwise what else could you do in bed that involves being still and quiet?’ He frowned thoughtfully.

‘I think we’re digging ourselves a hole here.’ She gulped down some of her mimosa. ‘But… What I mean is that there are ways you can feel alive when you’re with someone. You don’t have to be doing something. Sometimes just being close to someone can make you feel that way.’

‘I see.’ He reached across the table and turned his hand palm up. ‘Humour me?’

Tara placed her hand on top of his and they sat there, eyes locked, palms touching.