Page 59 of The Secret Holiday Kiss

‘So an animal version of Frankenstein’s lab?’

‘That’s more accurate.’ Avery pointed his wine glass at Harry. ‘But I wasn’t planning on monsters. It’s Christmas, not Halloween.’

‘The ball’s going well too.’ Daisy regretted it the moment the words left her lips. Could she sound any more childish?

‘Ah, here comes competitive Daisy Anderly,’ Harry said with a grin.

‘I’m just saying. We’ve sorted out the dance cards and most of the decorations.’

‘And I’ve found us a string quartet,’ Sophie said.

‘Thirty people have put their names down to provide a buffet dish,’ May added, ‘and Dexter will cook us up a storm. I think everyone will bring a bottle, but we need to make sure the booze doesn’t run out.’

‘I’ve got a couple of suppliers I can ask,’ Harry said. ‘The ones we used for the wedding?’

Sophie nodded. ‘Ermin said there was money in the events kitty that he’s happy to contribute.’

‘He’s offered me some for the wood for my sculptures,’ Avery said. ‘I had some offcuts, I want to recycle where I can, but Ermin told me he’d portion it out – half for each of us. I think we’ll use it on prizes for the winners.’

‘It’s only fair that it’s split,’ Daisy said, ‘considering it’s a competition.’

May laughed. ‘It’s Mistingham’s Christmas festivities.’

‘But if it is also a competition, if we’re focused on winning, then both teams will do a better job.’ Avery’s voice was a low rumble, and Daisy swallowed, because the reminder that she was trying to win against him, of them clashing with each other, took her back – not to their fight the day before – but to the kissing before that. The way it felt as if their connection went beyond straightforward attraction: as if they were trying to prove something to each other. She stood up. ‘I’m going to get a glass of water. Anyone else want one?’

‘I’m good,’ Sophie said, and May and Harry shook their heads.

She had reached the hall when she heard footsteps behind her. ‘I’ll come too.’ Avery’s breath coasted over her neck.

Daisy pointed at the kitchen door. ‘There be dragons.’

Avery rolled his eyes. ‘I’m going to risk it. I let Clifton touch my hand the other day.’

‘OK, but this is Darkness and Terror too.’ She stopped with her hand on the handle. ‘Sure?’

‘Sure.’ Avery’s nod was determined.

The kitchen was dark apart from the light on the cooker hood, and the blinds hadn’t been closed, so night crowded in at the windows, a black nothingness that made Daisy shiver. The dogs were snoozing, Terror raising his head as they walked in but not getting up.

‘Looks like you’re safe,’ she whispered, as Avery followed her to the sink.

‘It’s a bit of an anticlimax, if I’m honest.’

She smiled at him. He was in jeans and a navy shirt, the sleeves rolled up to show off his strong, tanned forearms. His bruise had darkened, the purple smudge reaching up to his eye. She filled two glasses with tap water.

‘How was it really? With Lars?’

She passed him a glass. ‘It was as I said. Good for business.’

He nodded, and she could see he was scrutinizing her, trying to read something in her expression. She hoped her face did not say he very unambiguously asked me back to his place for sex, and I can’t say I wasn’t flattered by the attention, and for a second I might have imagined what it would be like, but I promise I was never tempted. If Avery was a mind reader, she was in trouble, but he didn’t push her.

‘I’m sorry about yesterday,’ he said.

Daisy shook her head. ‘Whatever you’re doing, it … it’s up to you. But just know that there are people here who care about you. I’ve only been back for a minute, but already I know you’ve got May, Harry and Sophie. Winnie and Mary obviously have a soft spot for you, and there’s your construction team. They would all help. You’re not on your own.’

He shrugged. ‘Aren’t we all on our own, when it comes down to it?’

Daisy went to contradict him, but then she remembered how lonely she’d felt after everything with Stefan. She’d lost him and their home, and their friend group had fractured – a lot of them had been Stefan’s friends before they’d met – so she lost them, too. ‘You don’t have to be though,’ she said. ‘Not about … whatever this is.’