The Mills & Boon Sparkling Christmas Collection. Kate Hardy

of two chunky sofas, scattered with coloured cushions. A low, dark wooden coffee table sat on a wool rug in front of a cast-iron fireplace and in one corner a shelved recess held books and photo frames. Everywhere he looked there was warmth, colour, and texture.

      ‘Wow. What a great room.’

      ‘Thanks.’ She looked directly at him, a teasing challenge in her eyes. ‘So you trust me to do a good job in your room?’

      ‘Implicitly.’ He replied solemnly, hand on his chest.

      ‘Good. Have you taken a sneaky look at your room – it’s almost finished.’

      ‘Not recently. Think I’ll wait for the grand reveal.’

      ‘Okay then, I’ll let you know when that’ll be.’ She gave a small laugh and he loved the sound of it.

      Ben knew it was time for him to go but thoughts of the ceilidh entered his head and he knew it was now or never if he was going to ask Eva.

      ‘Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask you – a favour.’ He hesitated and she smiled at him expectantly. ‘The Professor in our department has organized a ceilidh for St Andrew’s Day – next Friday. It’s for charity and, well, I’m never really comfortable with these work things and wondered if you’d come with me? I know it’s a bit short notice …’

      He saw Eva blink in surprise. ‘Me? Why would you ask me?’

      ‘Well, why wouldn’t I?’

      She frowned, giving her head a little shake. ‘I can think of a few reasons. That’s the weekend Jamie’s away. I don’t have anything to wear …’ She seemed to be talking more to herself but then her gaze shifted to Ben, her eyes narrowing slightly.

      ‘Are you sure there’s not someone else you’d rather go with?’

      ‘No.’

      ‘Not someone from the university?’

      ‘No,’ he replied, puzzled.

      ‘You’re sure?’

      ‘Is there something I’m missing here?’

      ‘I just thought you might want to take your colleague – you know, the one with shiny hair who came to your house?’

      Ben frowned before realizing who she meant and then burst out laughing. ‘Kat? God, no.’

      ‘Really? I thought you two …’

      He lifted an eyebrow. ‘Yes?’

      ‘I’m not sure – that you’d have lots to talk about.’

      ‘You and I have lots to talk about, don’t we?’

      ‘But not science-y things.’

      He managed to keep a straight face as he replied. ‘That suits me just fine.’

      ‘Well, if you’re sure.’

      ‘I’m sure. She’s a colleague, that’s all. I’m happy to show support for her academic aspirations but let’s just say I don’t want to encourage any other aspirations she may have.’

      ‘And they won’t think you’ve brought your decorator?’

      ‘I highly doubt it and even if they did, so what?’

      Eva was smiling at him now. ‘In that case yes, I’d be happy to come with you.’

      He gave his head a small shake, thinking how she was unlike any woman he’d ever met and the prospect of spending time with her sent a surge of anticipation through him, a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time. Ben started to make a move to leave, his body feeling strangely reluctant. ‘I guess I better go,’ he said.

      ‘Um, right. Thanks for coming round, to check we were all right.’

      ‘You’ll be okay?’

      ‘Of course. I have Hamish to look after me.’

      Ben’s instinct was to stay; he didn’t want to leave her on her own. He wanted to make sure she was safe but like a physical force, he felt a much more primal instinct and decided that staying probably wasn’t a good idea. They made their way through the hall and Ben stopped before he opened the door, their eyes meeting. He lifted his hand and tenderly brushed his finger against her cheek.

      ‘Goodnight, Eva.’

      Ben left Eva’s home and heard the fading rumbles of the storm, his body racked with all sorts of tensions. He doubted he’d get much sleep tonight.

       Chapter Ten

      It was Friday morning and Eva was trying desperately to hold herself together, determined not to embarrass Jamie. Knowing she could quite easily dissolve into a pool of tears, she dug her nails into her palms, hardly believing her son was going away without her.

      Last night she and Jamie had packed his bag. Eva had ironed name tags onto his jumpers, trousers, and towels and then stuffed them into his rucksack with the hundred pairs of socks he’d been told to bring. She tried to go along with Jamie’s obvious enthusiasm but seeing him so excited reminded Eva so much of Paul.

      She had blocked the image of Paul getting ready to go off skiing, the glint in his eye he used to get at the thought of the adrenaline rush to come, which used to terrify her. This was different she told herself, taking a deep breath and speaking in the calmest voice she could find. ‘Listen carefully to all the instructions, okay? And do exactly what you’re told.’ Eva looked Jamie in the eye, willing him to keep safe.

      ‘Yeah all right, Mum. We’ve been over this like ten times,’ he said with a sigh.

      Sometimes Eva looked at her son and was amazed at how grown up and tall he was becoming but today all she could see was her little boy. The boy she had cherished since the moment he was born and who was now standing with his rucksack attached to his back ready to leave her. Heather came over and gave her arm a reassuring squeeze.

      ‘You know, worrying is an occupational hazard but you do tend to take it to extremes. He will be all right, I promise.’ She smiled.

      ‘I know,’ Eva sighed wishing she could be so relaxed. The bus pulled up outside the football club and the babble of voices grew louder as the children who had been standing in groups with parents now started to make their way towards the bus. A coach with a clipboard ticked their names off. Hugs and final kisses were given. Eva quickly wrapped her arms around Jamie.

      ‘Have an amazing time. I love you!’ Eva waved as the bus trundled out of sight, feeling as if her whole world was disappearing.

      ‘I had a feeling you might need one of these,’ Heather said handing her a tissue.

      ‘Thanks,’ Eva sniffed with a weak smile and proceeded to blow her nose.

      But there the sympathy ended. Heather was not giving her chance to wallow. She had already informed Eva her that she was taking charge after the boys left and, knowing this was the night of the Professor’s ceilidh had organized some pampering.

      ‘Honestly, Heather, you don’t have to do this,’ Eva pleaded. Going home and burying herself under a blanket for the next forty-eight hours suddenly sounded very appealing. Heather treated her to a withering look.

      ‘When did you last do anything just for yourself?’

      ‘I, um –’

      ‘Exactly. You deserve a day with some pampering. What else would you do now? You’d go home and just obsess about Jamie staying safe.’

      Unable to deny it, Eva sighed. ‘But I don’t want to make a big deal about tonight. It’s just a casual invitation.’

      ‘Well then, you’re going to look casually sexy.’

      Eva