Page 42 of A Chef's Kiss for Christmas

She grinned as she plonked herself onto the edge of the bed and kicked her shoes off. “I’m just imagining their glee at getting to work without you breathing down their necks.”

He gave her leg a gentle nudge with his own, then continued to the table by the window, where he stopped and rubbed his hands together. “Now we can really get this party going!” He glanced over his shoulder and flashed a mischievous grin.

“If you’re thinking of hitting the mini bar, I don’t think there is one.”

He rolled his eyes. “Who needs a mini bar when we have a selection of assorted teas?”

She laughed loudly and flopped back onto thebed. “Is that what you do when you mysteriously slip away from parties before the end – go home and drink tea?”

“It’s not just tea,” he told her, walking to the bathroom with the kettle in his hand. “There are also biscuits. Never let anyone tell you I don’t know how to party.”

Happily, she stared at the ceiling, only moving to roll onto her side when he’d returned and clicked the kettle on to boil.

“Did you have a good night?” he asked, dropping into the chair by the window.

“I did. Way better than I expected.” Her mind flicked back to dancing with Hayden, and she thought again about what he’d said. When she snapped back to the present, Warren was staring at her. “I really shouldn’t have lied to my friends. I don’t know how I’m going to get out of this now.”

“I’m sorry if I was too convincing. What was your original plan for explaining your return to single status after the party?”

“I didn’t really think about it. Pretending you were my boyfriend seemed like a good idea when Carla suggested it.”

“How often do you hang out with your friends?” he asked, sinking back in the chair. “Could you just drag me along with you often enough to keep up the pretence?”

She pulled a face at him. “I think I’ll confess to the girls. The guys can think whatever they want. Or I could become a recluse and never socialise again.”

“I like your thinking. I often dream of a hermit life.”

“No you don’t!” She laughed. “You love socialising. It’s effortless for you.”

“It’s okay every now and again,” he said, sifting through the tea bags. “What flavour do you want?”

“Anything,” she said, then watched as he tore the packet of the teabag. “Are you really staying over?”

He cast her a quick glance. “I thought I might, if you don’t mind. It’s not very appealing to drive home in the dark. Plus, Dev was very effusive aboutthe brunch tomorrow.”

“It is a good brunch,” she agreed.

“So it’s okay with you if I stay?”

“Yeah,” she said uncertainly.

“Don’t look so nervous,” he said, pouring water into the mugs. “I’ll sleep on the floor. Or if you’d rather, I’ll drink my tea and go.”

“You’re welcome to stay.” She hadn’t for a moment felt nervous at the prospect of him staying.

It had been a swirl of excitement that had swept through her stomach.

Warren genuinely wasn’t a fan of driving in the dark. That had been part of his reasoning for staying over at the hotel. If pressed, he might admit that it also had something to do with how much he enjoyed the pretence of being Anna’s boyfriend, and the prospect of continuing their act at brunch the following morning.

He slightly regretted the decision at two o’clock in the morning when he woke on the floor and couldn’t get comfy again. Dragging himself into the armchair, he dozed there for a couple of hours before giving up and lying hesitantly on the bed beside Anna. He kept his distance and stayed on top of the covers.

She’d suggested he sleep in the bed too, but had said it with enough uncertainty that he hadn’t even considered taking her up on the offer.

Now, he waited a moment, but when she didn’t stir, he let his body relax into the soft mattress and was asleep again in no time.

The next time he woke, it was to sunlight spilling through the gap in the curtains.

“Morning,” Anna said as he squinted against the light.