Page 28 of Escape for Christmas
‘Good idea,’ Jo said, with a gleam in her eye. ‘When you come back, find me. I can tell you all the wicked things I know about everyone here.’
‘I’ll do that.’ Sophie laughed. As tempting as Jo’s offer was, she thought this could be her moment to quietly leave and go home. It was silly of her, but she had to get out: into the cold, clear night to be on her own.
She slipped into the hall and through the kitchen, where Louise’s friend was taking out a tray of mince pies from the Aga. Fortunately she didn’t even notice Sophie dart through the door and into the boot-room.
Sophie’s chest tightened as she breathed in the frosty air after the heat of the party. She walked further from the house, into the shadows beyond the pools of light spilling from the windows.
Safety. Solitude. Silence.
This hadn’t been the best idea. She’d hardly spoken to Brody; he was in demand with his guests and was so busy topping up drinks and checking the fire. That was as it should be, and the last thing Sophie ever wanted was to be ‘needy.’
Perhaps she should go home.
She heard a snuffle from the stable block and then jumped as something warm and wet nuzzled her.
‘Harold!’
The security light clicked on, revealing the Labrador at her side, his tongue rough and warm against her fingers. She bent down to ruffle his ears, comforted by the warmth of his coat.
‘How are you, handsome?’ she asked, amused by his bow tie, which was now rather skew-whiff. That was Harold all over; Brody too. A bit dishevelled, but undoubtedly good-looking and a comforting presence. Sophie’s deep sigh brought another wave of cool air into her lungs, but this time it freed the tension.
Harold padded ahead.
She halted, halfway between the house and the stable, unsure of which way to go: back to the warmth of the festivities inside or forward into the cold, silent night. Frozen between the past and the future: staying in her safe, lonely bubble or breaking out and taking a chance.
CHAPTER TEN
‘Sophie?’
At the familiar deep voice, she turned to see Brody walking towards her with a glass of fizz in either hand. ‘I’ve been looking for you. Are you OK?’
‘Yes, I’m fine. I needed a breath of fresh air.’ She fanned herself.
‘It’s too hot inside, isn’t it?’ he said with a lopsided grin that sent her hormones into overdrive. ‘Mum kept going on about keeping the place warm, but she hadn’t factored in fifty people all creating their own hot air!’
‘They’re enjoying themselves,’ Sophie said. ‘It is allowed.’
He laughed and she realised that, in seeking her out, Brody had made the decision for her: she would stay. Her skin tingled with excitement. Was it possible that this Christmas could be a fresh start when she cast away the bad memories of the past?
‘I’m sorry I haven’t had much time to spend with you. I should have realised how hectic it would be as host. Doh!’
‘It’s OK,’ she replied, finding Brody’s awkwardness endearing. ‘Harold came out to find me.’
‘He’s a better host than I am. Aren’t you, mate?’
Sophie patted the dog’s head, silently thanking Haroldfor keeping her in the stable yard just long enough for Brody to find her. A few minutes later and she might have been on her way back to the guest house.
‘Um, I brought you a fresh glass of fizz. It’s well chilled because I kept it in the outhouse. Don’t tell anybody, but it’s also real champagne from my secret stash. I’m giving you the good stuff.’
He held out the glass and Sophie took it, feeling the condensation against her fingers. ‘Thank you.’
‘Why don’t we go and drink these somewhere quieter?’ he suggested.
‘Is that allowed?’ Sophie joked, while privately admitting she couldn’t think of anything she’d rather do.
‘Probably not, but I’m past the point of caring. Everyone can get along fine without me. Most of them are stuffing their faces with sausage rolls and getting plastered on the free booze. I doubt they’ll notice I’m gone.’
Sophie thought they definitelywouldnotice, but Brody was already on his way to the stable block.
