Page 50 of A Chef's Kiss for Christmas

“What did you say?” Frannie asked, a frown wrinkling her forehead.

“I thought he wanted us to be friends.” Her voice sounded oddly hollow. “I thought he missed being friends with me and wanted us to still hang out as friends. That’s what I said no to. I told him he’d hurt me and I didn’t want to be around him. I was still so upset, and I couldn’t stand the thought of spending time with him as friends. And I was devastated that he was so unaffected by the breakup that he thought we could continue being friends.”

Kylie tilted her head. “He’s been obsessed with you this whole time. We all thought you knew.Hethought you knew.”

“I can’t believe this!” Jake threw his hands up and glared accusingly at Frannie. “I thought women were supposed to talk. Did it never occur to you to ask Anna if she still had feelings for Hayden?”

Frannie’s gaze went to Anna. “You never really wanted to talk about it.”

“Because I was so upset and humiliated,” she said weakly.

Kylie’s eyes widened dramatically. “Do you still have feelings for Hayden?”

With her thoughts all over the place, Anna closed her eyes to calm her racing thoughts. “I don’t know,” she murmured.

Chapter Twenty-One

After five minutes of pestering Anna with questions which she didn’t know how to answer, Jake gave up and headed out to the pub. The sound of the front door closing behind him was followed by a momentary silence.

“He’s gone,” Frannie stated, sitting forward in the armchair. “Now we can talk properly. Do you still have feelings for Hayden?”

Anna sighed, sinking back into the couch cushions. “A week ago, I’d probably have said yes.”

“And now?” Frannie pressed.

“Now I don’t know.”

“What’s happened in the last week to make you so unsure.” Kylie’s eyes danced with mirth. “Can I take a guess?”

“It’s Warren, isn’t it?” Frannie said when Anna failed to answer.

Plucking the cushion from beside her, Anna held it over her face and let out a grunt of frustration. “I’m so confused.”

“But you like Warren?” Kylie asked.

“Maybe.” Anna put the pillow down again. “I always thought he was attractive, but I also found him intimidating. Itend to see him at the hotel when he’s barking orders in the kitchen. Or when my sister’s around and the two of them are bickering.” She frowned. “When we were at the party, he was different. It was the first time in ages that I wasn’t thinking about Hayden.”

“I’m not surprised,” Kylie said. “Warren was very attentive.”

“It was all fake though,” Anna said quickly.

Frannie’s eyes swam with kindness. “Was it?”

“Yes. I helped him out with the thing with his parents, so he was repaying the favour.”

“No way.” Kylie shook her head. “I don’t buy it.”

“What do you mean you don’t buy it? It’s the truth.”

“He was too convincing,” Kylie said with a shrug. “He looked at you as though he was obsessed with you.”

“I agree.” Frannie’s mouth pulled into a small smile. “It might have all been pretend, but he was clearly enjoying the pretence.”

“That doesn’t mean anything,” Anna protested, while her stomach turned a cartwheel at the thought that he might feel something for her.

“He totally fancies you,” Kylie said, in that cocksure way of hers that left no room for argument. “You should go for it.”

“Hang on.” Frannie raised her hands. “What about Hayden?”