The Office Christmas Party: A fun, feel good Christmas cracker of a romance!. Aimee Duffy

since everything in the flat belonged to Rose. Unless she could work up the courage to use her mum’s things. But that was too depressing a thought.

      As if reading her mind, Rose said, ‘You can stay in the flat as long as you like and keep our stuff. I think when we do move in on our own, it’ll be to Toms place anyway. And Tom has plenty at his house. I’d just take some of my utensils. I could even find you a roommate if you’re worried about paying my parents the rent on your own.’

      ‘Thanks. The idea of moving so soon is scary. And don’t worry, I’ll deal with the rent.’ She was determined to stand on her own two feet, and that meant demanding a wage rise from Mick the Dick. If she could work up the courage for that, then maybe, just maybe, she’d be brave enough to face sorting out her mother’s things.

      ***

      Dean slipped away to pay the bill after his mother threw him a pointed look. Tapping the company credit card against the bar, he waited for the bill to be tallied and thought again about the interlude with his little thief.

      The way she’d said his name, layered with feigned disgust made him smile. He was going to make it his mission to find out hers.

      Jeffrey appeared next to him. ‘Listen, I’m sorry about last week. That was a shitty thing for me to say.’

      Dean shrugged. ‘I wasn’t exactly acting like the best brother either.’

      His brother laughed. ‘Nah, you were acting like an arse.’

      With a grin, he replied. ‘Always.’ He knew by the way his brother clapped him on the back that the fight was over.

      ‘So who was the cute little blonde that wouldn’t go near you with a ten -oot barge pole?’ Jeffrey asked.

      Where to start with that one? ‘Not sure what her name is. We’ve crashed a few of the same parties and as far as I can tell, she goes by the name Nicole.’

      Jeffrey raised an eyebrow. ‘It looked like she wanted to rip your throat out with her nails, after she kicked you in the balls.’

      He chuckled. ‘Yeah, she probably did.’

      Then his brother got serious, studying him with a look Dean had never seen before. ‘You like her.’

      ‘She’s sexy and I want her, but that’s all there is to it.’ Christ, where did all this attentiveness come from? His brother looked like he was examining a specimen in a petri dish – Dean being the object of his scrutiny.

      Jeffrey grinned. ‘You’re a shitty liar, my brother. But I’m not going to say any more about it. Well, maybe one thing.’