Page 120 of A Chef's Kiss for Christmas

“Just hoping, I suppose.”

Her smile was half-hearted at best.

“Sorry,” he muttered. After ignoring her for a week, now he was moving too fast. “If you’re still annoyed with me, it’s totally understandable. I spent the last week caught up in my head, and it wasn’t fair to you, but I really am sorry and I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

“It’s okay.” She shifted to face him. “I just don’t want to be in a relationship with someone who shuts me out. I might seem like a pushover most of the time, but I won’t put up with that for very long.”

“Good. Because you shouldn’t. I promise I’m done with hiding things.” He paused for a moment. “I can tell Edie I’ll see her tomorrow. She won’t mind. We can just go to my place, or yours, and I’ll explain everything properly.”

“Thank you.” She sighed. “It’s Christmas, though. You can’t bail on Edie.”

Part of him wanted to insist it was fine to cancel his plans with Edie, but he also felt a stab of guilt at the thought of it. It was their little Christmas tradition, and she’d be waiting for him.

“Are you sure?”

Anna nodded.

“We only need to stay for half an hour. Then we can go to my place and I’ll tell you everything.”

It would be a relief to get it all off his chest. Hopefully, she’d be her usual understanding self when she knew the truth about him.

Half an hour later, he sat at his neighbour’s kitchen table withAnna enthusiastically explaining to Edie how her online shop worked.

“It’s fascinating,” Edie said over the Christmas music emanating from the speaker on the windowsill. Her gaze was fixed on Anna’s phone, looking at her website. “Isn’t it fantastic how you can set up your own business, just like that. It’s very clever.”

“Thanks,” Anna said. “I’ve been thinking of expanding, but I’m not sure.”

“Expanding how?” Edie asked.

“Into a physical shop.” Anna bit down on her lip, looking suddenly vulnerable. “I have an appointment to view a place next week.”

Edie’s face lit up. “That’s exciting.”

“You made an appointment to view somewhere?” Another stab of regret hit Warren. If he’d been in touch with her, instead of shutting her out for the last week, he’d already know that.

“Yeah.” She put her thumb against her teeth, nibbling on her nail. “Which sort of feels like a mistake. Maybe I’ll cancel it. I haven’t even made a proper business plan.”

“You can at least have a look,” Warren said.

“If you like the place, that will be good motivation to make a business plan.” Edie patted Anna on the shoulder. “It sounds very exciting to me. I think we should have another glass of wine to celebrate.”

“There’s nothing to celebrate yet,” Anna insisted but didn’t protest when Edie refilled her glass.

Feeling slightly anxious about the conversation he needed to have with Anna, Warren had been intending to suggest leaving, but decided another drink would probably make the conversation easier.

“I’ll turn the music up,” Edie said, and Warren exchanged a look with Anna, whose cheeks were rosy from the wine.

“Warren was saying you two sometimes have kitchen dance parties.”

When Warren gave Anna a reprimanding stare, she only beamed back at him.

“That’s a good idea.” Edie held out her hand to Warren as she shimmied across the kitchen. “Let’s have a waltz.”

Since he couldn’t say no, he took a large swig of his wine and obediently twirled her around the kitchen toSanta Babywhile Anna giggled away. With Edie and Anna having such a good time, he waited half an hour before suggesting they leave.

“That was fun,” Anna said, slipping her hand into his for the ten second walk across the driveway. She was giddy from the wine and kissed him as soon as they stepped into his place.

“Not so shy any more, are you?” he said when he could get a word in between kisses.