Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Determined to respect her wishes, even if the cost was physical pain, I stepped back. “We look like a Christmas advertisement.”
Sarah laughed, taking in the burgundy velvet of my tuxedo against the forest green of her dress. “So we do.” She reached for my hand, drawing me back to her. “Who cares? I think we’re beautiful.”
“You certainly are.” I threaded my fingers through hers, drawing her close before leading her toward the door. “I’m warning you, I’m feeling very thigmophilic this evening. You can tell me to back off whenever it gets too much.”
She blushed prettily again, heat in her eyes that gave me hope. “Maybe I’m feeling thigmophilic tonight too.”
Grinning, I nodded. “Good. I’m open to groping. Are you?”
She smacked my arm, laughing.
“That wasn’t a no, little darling.”
Sarah leaned into me, wrapping her other arm around mine. “No, it wasn’t, was it?”
Twenty-Six
SARAH
We met a few people on the stairwell, but I didn’t recognize their faces and, thankfully, they didn’t seem to recognize mine. Music cascaded up the stairwell toward us, bagpipes and accordions with fiddles leading the tune.
I’d grown more and more nervous about the Christmas party as the day progressed but was attempting to hide that from Theo. It was strange, though, to come to the castle as his guest. For seven years, I’d scuttled around the halls here, trying to be invisible. It wasn’t my job I was embarrassed by. No. I wasn’t particularly proud of my timidity back then. And now I felt like a fish out of water. Like I was a fraud.
Theo didn’t even acknowledge the weirdness of it. Maybe for him, it wasn’t weird. We were in a relationship, and he wanted me to be his date for the Christmas party.
I think he just wanted a distraction, and I was willing to suck up any discomfort I felt to give that to him.
The great hall was filled with guests. A small band, including a bagpiper, played traditional Scottish country dance music as guests performed the Gay Gordons, some successfully, others not so much.
I spotted Lachlan Adair with his wife Robyn among the participants. Years ago, my eyes would have lingered on my longtime crush. Now I looked up at Theo. “I’m having primary school traumatic flashbacks. Please do not make me country dance.”
Theo chuckled. “We’re on the same page. Let’s find something to drink.”
We skirted the edges of the great hall and followed other guests through the arches and down the corridor to the dining room. It had been transformed for Christmas. Glittering trees, wreaths, an abundance of fairy lights, and garlands everywhere. A long buffet table was set up along one side with serving staff. Tables in the middle of the room were decorated with elaborate vase centerpieces filled with gold-sprayed foliage and fairy lights. Miniature golden deer and red wreaths decorated the bases. The tableware was gold, the napkins red, and the table linens a crisp white.
Servers in the usual Ardnoch tailcoats and gloves moved through the guests with trays of champagne, offering them to those they passed.
“I used to get a peek at the décor the day of the party, but I’ve never seen the place filled with guests or music.”
Theo gestured to a server who slowed to offer us the tray. My date handed me a glass of champagne before taking one for himself and muttering his thanks. When the server moved away, Theo turned to clink his glass to mine. “To grabbing life by the balls.”
I smiled curiously. “That’s our toast?”
“Yes. Despite your fears, you went after what you wanted when you came to me all those months ago. And despite my utter terror, I went after what I wanted when I chased you here from London.”
Tenderness warmed me and I clinked my glass against his. “To grabbing life by the balls.”
We’d barely taken a drink when my ex-boss Aria Howard appeared with her fiancé North. North and Theo greeted each other easily, which made me relieved for Theo. I knew men weren’t good at admitting such things, but I believed his friendship with North meant a great deal to him.
“Aria, you’re looking effulgent this evening.” Theo gave her a cordial bow of his head.
She grimaced. “Was that an insult?”
I snorted into my champagne glass, but at her suspicious look, I hurried to explain, “It means radiant.”
“Oh.” Her expression slackened as she turned to Theo. “Well, thanks.”
“It doesn’t sound like a compliment, so I understand your confusion,” I added.
Aria nodded, wrinkling her nose. “It sounds like a fungus.”
Theo barked out a short laugh.
Aria shook her head, a small smile playing on her face. She did look radiant. Her envious curves were accentuated in a dark red dress that made her look like a movie bombshell from the 1950s. “Sarah, can I sneak you away for a second?”
“Of course.” I gave Theo a reassuring smile, then noted his disgruntled frown. A playful side of me felt like sticking my tongue out at him, but I gestured toward North in a silent insistence that he talk with his friend while I was gone.