Page 6 of A Chef's Kiss for Christmas

“Yes. Dinner tomorrow night.” That would at least ease the initial tension of his time with his parents. “And I’ll make sure you’re not out too late.”

Her needing to leave would actually be a good excuse to get away from the evening he’d been dreading.

Chapter Three

Bracing against the freezing wind outside Anna’s building the following evening, Warren couldn’t fathom how he’d even agreed to Anna coming to dinner. Her meeting his parents would complicate things in ways he hadn’t quite considered until he’d set off for her flat.

Because, while the idea of his parents asking Anna questions to keep the attention from him was great, inevitably Anna would have questions for them too. Since he’d moved to Chipping Campden four years ago, he’d been very careful not to talk too much about his life before that.

It was one reason he got on with Lewis so well. Lewis didn’t ask a lot of questions – he’d always accepted Warren as he was. The whole Carrington family had. Even when he was being grumpy, and sometimes outright rude, they still treated him like part of the family.

Having dinner with his parents meant Anna was bound to find out things about his past, and he’d really rather keep that to himself.

He rang the bell and waited for her to buzz him into the building. He’d been to her place with Lewis and the rest of thefamily before for an occasional dinner or other gathering, but arriving alone felt odd.

When she buzzed him in, he trudged up the stairs, then lifted an eyebrow when she appeared in the doorway.

“I’m nearly ready,” she said while pushing an earring through her ear. Her hair was tied up, with a few loose strands framing her face and drawing attention to the flawless skin at her neck.

A hint of blusher highlighted her cheekbones, and her subtle eye makeup drew attention to the blue of her irises.

“Are we driving or walking?” she asked, plucking a pair of black heels from the rack.

“Walking. I got a taxi over here since I thought I might need a drink or two with dinner, and it’s just down the road – that new Italian place.”

She paused, then returned the shoes and took a pair of boots instead. “I won’t wear heels then.”

“The thing is…” He got distracted watching her drag the zip of her knee–high boot over her skin-coloured tights. It left a small gap between the hem of her skirt. Bent over, her black V-neck sweater offered him a good view of her cleavage. It took him longer than it should have done to drag his gaze away.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, oblivious to him ogling her.

“I was just thinking that you don’t need to come after all.”

She frowned but reached for her coat, apparently undeterred. “We made a deal.”

“I’ll still come to your party. You just don’t need to come to dinner.”

“I’m hungry.” She took a step back along the hall and picked her dainty handbag from the sideboard. “Also, I got all dressed up. I’m coming.”

“It’s a stupid idea,” Warren said firmly. “They probably won’t even believe we’re a couple. And I just don’t need you to come. Okay?”

She stopped and glared at him. “I realise you’re stressed about spending time with your parents, so I’m going to let this go.”

“Let what go?”

She frowned again, then picked up her keys and shoved them into her bag. “You being surly and mean. I’ll ignore it since you have a lot going on at the moment.”

“I’m not being mean. I’m doing you a favour. Sparing you from an uncomfortable dinner.”

“It’ll be fine,” she said, pulling the door behind her as she stepped out into the hallway. “Stop panicking. I already told you I’m great with parents. Come on.”

He followed her. “You really shouldn’t come.”

“We don’t have to say I’m your girlfriend,” she huffed. “We can say I’m a friend.”

He hurried to keep up with her as she descended the stairs. “I didn’t even mention you were coming. I’m not sure how I’ll explain that I decided to bring a friend at the last minute.”

“I’ll make something up,” she said, holding the external door for him. “Stop stressing.”