Holly's Christmas Kiss Read Online Free Page B

voice trailed off as she saw Sean’s eyebrows flick up.
    ‘I’m sorry. I don’t think anyone’s flying out of here today.’
    ‘It still says delayed.’ She looked forlornly at the departures board and then back out through the window. The snow was still falling, covering the scene outside in an ever-deepening blanket of white.
    He paused as if deciding what to say next. Eventually he smiled softly. ‘All right. I guess we’d better make ourselves comfortable for the wait then.’
    ‘We?’ Michelle could hear the horror in her own voice. Sean, however, seemed to be immune, or, at the very least, choosing to ignore it. He had put his own drink down, taken off his jacket and laid it out across the floor.
    ‘Madam,’ he took Michelle’s drink out of her hand and gestured toward the coat. ‘Hardly the full Walter Raleigh, but the best I can do.’
    He nodded back towards the main departure lounge. ‘There’s not a seat to be had through there.’
    ‘But you don’t have to wait. Your flight’s cancelled. You can go home.’
    ‘And leave you all alone? Never.’
    ‘Why are you still here?’
    ‘There is nowhere I would rather be.’
    Well that made no sense. What was the point in hanging around at an airport after your flight had been cancelled? Michelle opened her mouth to argue, but stopped herself. Bringing her a drink had been kind. She should probably try to be gracious. Very slowly, she lowered herself onto the coat and wriggled to one side, leaving space for Sean to sit beside her.
    He sat himself down and picked up his hot chocolate. He pulled the plastic lid off, and took a generous gulp, allowing the cream to settle on his top lip and the tip of his nose. Turning his face towards Michelle he grinned and raised his eyebrows in challenge.
    ‘Don’t be silly.’
    ‘Why not?’ He looked disappointed, but wiped the cream from his nose and lip with the back of his hand.
    ‘Because you’re a grown-up, not an eight-year-old.’
    ‘No. It’s Christmas. Everyone gets to act like a kid at Christmas.’
    ‘Don’t be stupid.’
    ‘Why not? Nothing wrong with embracing your inner eight-year-old.’
    Michelle rolled her eyes. ‘Apart from that’s it’s completely unrealistic. I have a grown-up life, a grown-up flat, a grown-up job.’
    ‘What do you do?’
    ‘I’m a money adviser.’
    Sean rolled his eyes. ‘Like in a bank?’
    Michelle shook her head vigorously. In her line of work, banks were usually on the opposite side of the argument. ‘I’m a debt adviser. I help people who can’t cope with their debts.’
    Sean laughed. ‘Figures.’
    ‘What?’ There was something about his tone that Michelle didn’t care for.
    ‘Jess said you were always trying to fix things for everyone, you know, make everything better.’
    ‘What’s wrong with that?’
    ‘Nothing.’ Sean shook his head. ‘Seriously, nothing. But wouldn’t it be nice to take a break from being sensible?’
    What a preposterous idea. It was just the sort of thing Michelle fancied her father would think. She closed the door on the thought before it had chance to take hold.
    ‘You can’t take time off from being grown-up.’
    Sean considered her answer in silence. ‘What about running away to the Caribbean for Christmas? That’s taking a break.’
    ‘Not from being responsible.’ Michelle’s voice raised. She twisted uncomfortably to face Sean. ‘This holiday is all about taking responsibility for myself, not needing someone else to look after me.’
    Sean raised his hands in submission. ‘Sorry.’
    They fell into silence. After talking about the importance of being grown-up she realised that refusing to let it go would look childish. Beaten by her own argument. She swallowed the warm creamy chocolate and let out a breath. ‘It’s Ok.’
    They sat for a moment looking out at the white landscape beyond the window.
    ‘Excuse me madam.’ Michelle turned around and saw a young woman in airline uniform approaching