“You too.” He smiled broadly. “What a wonderful evening. The Christmas markets are beautiful this year, aren’t they?”
“Paul, you might not have met one of our pastoral care leads.” Sylvie gestured to Ade. “This is Adelaide Poole from the science department’s international cohort.”
“Pleased to finally meet you. I’ve heard lots of good things about your group.” Paul shook her hand. “It’s really breaking down barriers bringing science and art into one team. It’s a marriage made in heaven, isn’t it?”
Stunned by the whiplash of having to pull back from almost kissing Sylvie, Ade forced a breath into her lungs. “Yes. Pleased to meet you.”
“You must both join me and my family for drinks,” Paul said, hooking his right thumb over his shoulder.
“No, please. We couldn’t possibly intrude.” Sylvie’s voice strained with politeness.
“Nonsense, it’s Christmas. My wife has a table in the square.” He spread his arms wide, ushering them toward a bustling café.
Ade caught Sylvie’s eye, and they shared a wild look. She replayed the near miss as she followed in the footsteps of the head of department and Sylvie. She squeezed her palms together, trying to ground herself from losing all control.
That had been amazing, until it had been wrenched from her reach. The hum of the crowds suddenly filled Ade’s ears with unbearable noise, and it took all she had not to run off and find a quiet place. She wanted to stay with Sylvie. She yearned to finish that kiss. Nothing mattered more than discovering just how soft Sylvie’s lips were, how they tasted. But the moment had slipped through their hands like a flurry of snow. Would she get a second chance at that kiss? Or would Sylvie have second thoughts?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
They hadn’t discussedthe not-kiss. Paul’s timing had been awful, but it had given Sylvie a split second to reconsider the career-limiting move. If he’d seen them and called her out, it would’ve put an end to her promotion dreams. Maybe even her book deal would have been questioned.
She’d sent Ade a few messages, focusing on faculty deadlines and student updates. She’d agonized over every word, taking care to avoid any hint of hope or regret. But the memory of Ade’s lips edging closer to Sylvie’s replayed over and over. She’d spent the whole weekend shaking the vision of Ade’s breath, forming in the cold air, blending with her own until the distance between them was imperceptible.
Her heart had raced like never before when she’d finally admitted her loosely defined feelings. Ade had mirrored Sylvie’s own fear of being rejected, of being laughed off and discarded.
A tempest of questions stormed her mind, but she had no time to calm them. She adjusted the last of the cushions on her parents’ couch and ignored the plume of dust which rose into the air. Country living was all very well, but it seemed to create much more mess.
A horn sounded, and Sylvie ran to the window to see Elda climbing out of the car. Grinning from ear to ear, she waved with both hands before a small child gripped her thigh.
Sylvie swung open the front door, and the whole Mason-Brown family poured into the cottage. “Guys, you’re here.” She enveloped Elda in a huge hug and planted kisses on the boys’ cheeks.
Charlie brought up the rear with both hands full of gift bags. “Hey, Sylvie. It’s so good to see you.” She blew her a kiss.
“In, in, in. I want to inspect these boys.” Sylvie made a big deal of measuring them against herself. “Stand right there, Eli. Mm, just as I hypothesized. At least the length of a sausage.”
Elijah giggled and leaned into her.
“How about you, Arlo? I’m not sure you’ve grown.” Sylvie grimaced and sucked her breath between her teeth. “You seem just the same.”
“I have grown!” Elda and Charlie’s youngest son protested with a stamp of his foot. “Tell Sylvie, Mama.”
“There’s only one way to find out, little guy. Last time we got together you were up to this crease on my jeans.” She pointed to her mid-thigh. “Shall we see what’s happened?”
“I can already see he’s grown a bit,” Eli said, jumping on the spot.
“I think you might be right.” Sylvie clapped her hands, and both boys cheered with glee.
“You are too much,” Elda said, squeezing Sylvie’s arm.
“Who wants lunch? You must be hungry from all that traveling.”
“They’re always hungry, Sylvie. It doesn’t matter what we do.” Charlie dropped the last of the bags in the hallway.
“Too early for champagne?” Sylvie drew her friends into the kitchen.
“It’s Christmas, isn’t it? We brought a couple of bottles with us. Charlie, will you grab the duty free?” Elda winked and peeled off her coat. “I love coming here. Thank you so much for the invitation.”
“Thank my parents. They’re the ones who’ve gone away and left us to it.”
