The Mills & Boon Sparkling Christmas Collection. Kate Hardy

expected Ben to ask her to this ceilidh and wasn’t sure what, if anything, to read into it. A favour he had called it. He saw her as a friend and you asked a friend to do you a favour. But the night of the storm kept replaying in her mind. During their conversation she had felt a real connection and then just before the lights turned back on she had felt an intensity – almost a physical heat – between them. Even thinking of it now sent tingles through her body, as if parts of her that had been frozen for years were beginning to thaw and on a massive scale.

      Heather was talking to herself, looking at her watch. ‘We have time for a spray tan if you want? Don’t suppose you’ve ever had one before?’

      ‘No and I don’t want one today, thank you.’

      Heather peered at her, narrowing her eyes. ‘I suppose you can get away with it. You’re lucky to have such lovely colouring. In that case we’ll have a quick coffee before your facial. Then the hairdresser’s and a bit of shopping.’

      ‘But I don’t need –’ Eva’s voice trailed off as Heather put up her hand.

      ‘It’s all booked now so it’s too late.’

      Two hours later Eva lay with her head back in a head-massage-induced trance. The heavenly head treatment came complimentary with her haircut and it was exquisite. It was only thoughts of the evening ahead, which kept popping into her head, that prevented her from becoming totally comatose.

      Once Heather was happy everything on her list had been attended to, they drove back to Eva’s house. While Heather sorted through various shopping bags, Eva couldn’t resist a small smile at her reflection in the mirror. She’d almost forgotten the power of a good cut and blow-dry.

      ‘I’m not sure what you were planning on wearing, but I have something to show you before you decide,’ Heather said while Eva was busy turning her head from side to side admiring the way her hair bounced over her shoulders. She should probably be ashamed how bedraggled it had become but her appearance simply hadn’t been much of a priority recently.

      Heather was now pulling a slip of dark blue material from a bag and carefully unfolding it to reveal a beautiful dress. ‘Wow, that’s lovely,’ Eva exclaimed.

      ‘I’m glad you like it because it’s for you to wear tonight.’

      ‘I can’t take this!’

      ‘Of course you can. I bought it and never wore it. I’m two pregnancies away from ever fitting into that dress. Try it on at least.’

      ‘All right then, just for you,’ Eva conceded giving her friend a fond look.

      Eva changed clothes, gently pulling the dress over her head. It had been so long since she’d worn anything pretty she almost didn’t recognize her own reflection. The dress had a mesh neckline with embroidered detailing and a fitted bodice that flared out at the hips, stopping just before her knees.

      ‘Oh, that’s gorgeous. It’ll be perfect for spinning round the dance floor and showing off your legs. It’s fun and flirty but retains a certain elegance.’ Heather’s head bobbed in approval.

      ‘Are you sure?’ Eva asked, seeking reassurance.

      ‘It’s perfect. Just think of me as your fairy godmother.’

      Eva shot her a comical look and curtsied. She had to confess to feeling great in it.

      ‘I’ve got to say, it’s good to see you in something so feminine – you look lovely.’

      ‘Not exactly my dungarees is it?’ Eva grinned at Heather.

      ‘As hot as they are, this is even hotter, trust me.’

      ‘What’s that for?’ Eva asked as Heather now handed her a glass filled with sparkling wine.

      ‘Liquid courage.’

      ‘Thanks,’ she replied as they clinked glasses. ‘But I won’t need it. Nothing is going to happen.’

      ‘Oh, I wish it was me going out,’ Heather sighed wistfully. ‘Talking to people, making eye contact, a little flirting, lingering looks … Oh I forgot the excitement of a date.’

      ‘It’s not a date! And anyway, you have Douglas. You wouldn’t change anything would you?’ Eva looked at her friend thinking how the spark between Heather and Douglas was still obvious.

      ‘No of course I wouldn’t. It’s just that feeling at the beginning. Butterflies in your stomach, a racing heart, counting the minutes until you see him again …’

      ‘Uh-huh,’ Eva muttered, all those things sounding disturbingly familiar.

      ‘It’s really quite magical,’ Heather reminisced happily, drinking more wine.

      ‘Did you always know Douglas was the one?’

      ‘Suppose I did. We met in a nightclub, fancied each other and that was it really – sounds quite old-fashioned now.’

      ‘Apparently one in five relationships now start online.’

      ‘Really? How’d you know that?’

      Feeling caught out, Eva stuttered, ‘I, er was just looking, you know … at dating sites.’

      Heather’s head swivelled around. ‘Why were you doing that?’

      Eva’s shoulders slumped. ‘All right, I admit it. I have been having thoughts … feelings if you will, about Ben.’

      ‘I knew it! Oh this is so exciting.’

      ‘I’m so out of the whole dating thing, I only wanted to know what kind of questions they asked. See if I could work out if we were compatible, if our personalities matched.’

      ‘So what questions did they ask?’ Heather sounded interested.

      ‘Well, you had to choose words to describe yourself – like shy, affectionate, outgoing, intelligent. Then tick things you like doing – cinema, theatre, reading, shopping, dining, and so on.’

      ‘And?’

      ‘From the little I know about him, I’d say we have nothing in common.’

      Heather chuckled, shaking her head. ‘Nonsense – you two are made for each other, I can just tell.’

      ‘How much of that wine have you had? Think about it. He reads science journals; I read trashy magazines. He’s probably a member of Mensa and I have trouble finishing the easy crossword.’

      ‘I wouldn’t pay too much attention to all that stuff. It’s all about the chemistry,’ Heather professed selecting various jars and tubes, which she had laid out on the table. ‘It’s time to do your make-up.’

      ‘All right but I don’t want to wear too much,’ Eva protested taking the foundation from Heather. She applied some eye shadow, a little eye liner, mascara, and finished with a touch of pink lipstick. ‘There. Will I do?’ she turned to ask Heather.

      ‘My work here is done.’ Heather grinned.

      Later, when they discovered Heather had managed to drink almost the whole bottle of wine by herself, Douglas was called upon to take her home. After they’d gone, Eva was left on her own waiting for Ben to arrive, feeling madly nervous. She kept checking her phone for no reason.

      She almost jumped out of her skin when the doorbell sounded and she made her way to the door on wobbly legs. She almost gasped at how breathtakingly handsome Ben looked. His hair had been neatly swept back and he wore a pale blue shirt under a smart jacket with black jeans. She saw his eyes skim over her before he smiled.

      ‘Wow,’ he said in a low voice. ‘You look lovely.’

      ‘Thanks,’ she replied, snatching her coat and bag and trying to breathe normally. She closed the front door behind her, reminding herself this wasn’t a date even though it was the closest she’d come to one in a very long time. The evening