A Christmas Tail: A heart-warming Christmas romance

‘What about him?’

‘Is he single?’

Cat gawped, momentarily unable to respond. Mark was descending the stairs, looking back at her. ‘He, uhm, he’s had a bad break-up recently.’ The moment she said it, she felt as if she was betraying Joe. Would he want Jessica to know?

‘The poor darling. He’s seriously sizzling,’ Jessica said. ‘And an excellent kisser.’ And with that bombshell Jessica followed Mark down the stairs, leaving Cat next to a black-and-white photo of the hostess with her three dogs. They were captured in a rare moment of calm, their furry bodies placed elegantly round Jessica’s seated form, looking up at her as though she was a goddess. Maybe she was, thought Cat. After everything she’d seen, it wasn’t entirely implausible.

It was after three in the morning when they made it back home. Cat flopped onto the sofa next to Polly, kicking off the shoes that had, earlier, caused so much panic. Joe put the kettle on.

‘Urgh,’ Polly moaned, ‘I have to be up early for lectures. Why didn’t I leave earlier?’

‘Because it was an amazing party,’ Cat said, ‘and it was impossible to leave.’

‘Elsie managed it.’

‘Yes, but she is older. And I think she was all talked out.’

‘Did you find Mark again?’

‘What, after my lucky escape?’ Cat hid her head in her hands. ‘What was I thinking?’

‘Maybe,’ Joe called from the kitchen, ‘like usual, you weren’t. You could have lost them both as clients – and friends – if they’d realized what you were up to.’

‘I know,’ Cat murmured. ‘I was being ridiculous.’

‘Did you ask him out?’ Polly asked, her eyelids fluttering.

‘No, because Jessica was there, and I only saw him briefly as he was leaving.’

‘But you will?’

‘I will,’ Cat said, but she wasn’t entirely convinced. She felt out of her depth now she knew he was another writer. Jessica was much more suited to him than she was. They had similar interests, they moved in the same circles of producers and agents and glamorous dinners, they were both attractive and dynamic. How could she compete with that?

But then, when he’d said goodbye, he’d put his hand on the small of her back, brushed his lips against her cheek and handed her his iPhone. When she looked, he’d already added her name into his contacts, the cursor blinking next to the mobile entry. Grinning, she’d typed her number and held the phone out to him, her heart racing when he’d purposefully brushed his fingers against hers and kissed her for a second time.

Joe put three cups of tea on the table and sat on the arm of the sofa. A couple of his shirt buttons had popped open, and Cat thought he looked happily dishevelled.

‘You had a good time, Joey?’ Polly asked.

He nodded. ‘I did. Better than I expected – thanks for asking me, Cat.’

‘Sure.’ She gave him a quick smile, and then because she couldn’t bear not to know, added, ‘Jessica was very taken with you.’ Was it her imagination, or did his cheeks flush slightly?

‘She’s a formidable woman,’ he said.

‘Good kisser?’ Cat risked.

‘Cat!’ Polly screeched, now fully awake. ‘Joey?’

He shrugged his jacket off and moved to the opposite sofa. ‘She cornered me in a corridor and I…’ He ran his hand through his hair, his brows knitting in confusion. ‘It was a party, she’s very attractive, I kind of…got caught up in the moment.’ He shrugged, not quite smiling, his eyes finding Cat’s.

‘Joseph Sinclair,’ Polly said, ‘you utter hussy!’

‘It doesn’t mean anything,’ he said. ‘It was a quick kiss, not a full-on…look, I don’t even know why I’m discussing this with you. It’s not going to happen again.’

‘Jessica might have other ideas.’

‘Really?’ He sipped his tea, his gaze suddenly anywhere but on her.

‘I was piggy in the middle. “I really like your friend Joe, will you ask him to come and meet me behind the bike shed?”’

Polly screeched. It wasn’t something she did very often, and it shocked them all, especially Shed, who’d been fast asleep in front of the fireplace. ‘Oh my God, Joey, you’ve got a celebrity author after you! Who’d have thought it?’

‘Shush,’ Joe said. ‘It was a party. Party…things happen. And at least I didn’t spy on the hostess.’

‘I think,’ Cat said, leaning forward, ‘we should make a rule. What happened at number one can only – only – be discussed within these walls. Like What Happens inVegas. Deal?’ She held out her arm, fingers clenched into a fist.

‘Deal.’ Polly bumped it, and they both looked expectantly at Joe.

He stared at them. ‘Oh, for God’s sake.’ He leaned forward and bumped their fists. ‘Now we’re definitely back in the playground. I’m going to bed.’ He stood and lifted his jacket, swinging it over his shoulder with a finger. ‘Thanks for a great party, Cat. I’m glad I came, and not for the reason you think. I just…’ He shrugged. ‘I had fun. Maybe I should listen to you more often.’

‘Wow,’ Polly murmured, ‘this is a big moment.’

‘Oh, shut up, Sis.’ He turned towards the door, but not before Cat caught his grin. ‘Night all.’

Polly put her head on Cat’s shoulder. ‘Looks like the King of Grump can be cheered up after all.’

‘I think Jessica has magical powers. She’s bewitched him.’

‘He didn’t look that bewitched.’

‘No,’ Cat agreed. ‘Happy, though.’

‘That could be all the champagne.’

‘True.’ Cat stretched her toes out and yawned. ‘Maybe we’d better do a temperature check tomorrow, see how long it lasts.’

She felt Polly nod against her shoulder. ‘So you didn’t get to speak to Mark, not properly. Did you get any new clients?’

‘I did,’ Cat said, feeling the flap of excited butterflies below her ribcage. ‘The Barkers at number six. They’ve got two retrievers, and they need someone to walk them three days a week, when Juliette has to go into the office. I’m going to see them on Sunday to firm up the arrangements.’

‘So you managed to have fun and network?’

‘I managed it. I didn’t think I would, but I did. I was given some very good advice,’ she added.

‘Fab, good for you!’ Polly put her arm around Cat, and Cat returned the hug. Contentment washed over her with the knowledge that, nearly two months in, her new business wasn’t failing. It was still slow, but she hadn’t messed it up the way Alison had told her she would, and – thanks to Joe – she had a plan. She was surrounded by friends, she got to spend her days out in the fresh air with the friendliest creatures on the planet, and Mark wasn’t going out with Jessica. It felt as if everything was slowly coming together.

‘Come on,’ she murmured, when Polly started snoring gently into her ear, ‘let’s get to bed, or we’ll still be here when the sun comes up.’