Page 43 of Yule Party on Sunflower Street

‘Really?’ He grimaced. ‘I hate having my photo done.’

‘Me too but we could get you some practice.’

‘How?’ he asked.

Tara pulled her phone from her bag then came around behind his chair. She held the phone in front of them and smiled. ‘Say cheese!’

‘I’d be afraid to in case that William Shakespaw comes and steals it.’ He laughed and Tara snapped some selfies of them. She showed him and he peered at the phone. ‘Not bad but it’s because you’re in front of me and that draws the eyes to your beautiful face and away from mine.’

‘My beautiful face?’ she said.

‘Yes.’ He turned to her. ‘It’s a very beautiful face.’

Tara’s heart raced in her chest, and she blinked as she gazed into Seth’s eyes. He thought she was beautiful and he wasn’t afraid to tell her.

‘That’s… very kind of you. I think you have a nice face too.’

She leant towards him and he closed the space between them.

Their lips brushed.

A jolt of electricity shot through her and she gasped. When she met his eyes again, she could see he was as shocked as she felt.

‘Wow,’ he said, his voice gruff.

Tara returned to her seat on wobbly legs and put her phone down on the table.

‘Could you send me the photos of us?’ he said.

‘Of course.’ She reached for her phone again then watched as he received the photos and smiled.

‘We look good together.’

‘I think so.’

‘I could give this one to my mum.’

‘Why would you do that?’ Tara said. ‘She doesn’t even know me.’

‘I was teasing, but even so, I’d like you to meet them.’

‘I’d like that too,’ she replied before picking up her coffee again.

‘And my nieces. In fact, they’ll all come to the Yule Party, so it will be the perfect chance for you to meet them.’

‘You’ve already met my parents,’ she said.

‘And they’re very nice indeed.’ His smile was warm and Tara’s eyes lingered on his lips as she thought about the kiss they’d shared. Barely more than a gentle meeting of mouths and yet it had made her feel a thousand things all at once. No man’s kiss had ever affected her like that before, and she was confused about why Seth’s had. But then, why not Seth? He was gorgeous, funny, kind and good company and she felt more comfortable with him than she had done with Paul throughout their relationship.

She’d known for a long time that something had been missing with Paul, but it had taken Sadie and Sander’s wedding last Christmas to make her face it. Watching her sister marry a man she was so deeply in love with had shown Tara just how different her own relationship was. She’d ended things with Paul early in the new year.

But she had to keep reminding herself that this was temporary, Seth was her landlord and she would be leaving the village and the shop at the end of the year. Seth would go on with his life, and she would have to decide what to do next.

It was simple, really. She had mentioned wanting a permanent shop of her own, and Seth hadn’t suggested that she stay and rent his. Perhaps he already had a new tenant lined up.

But there were still a few weeks before she was due to leave Wisteria Hollow. They still had the Yule Party to look forward to, and after the way today had gone, anything could happen between now and the end of the year.

Who knew? There could well be a Christmas miracle that would bring her and Seth together and leave her with a future she had only just begun to dream about…