Page 63 of A Chef's Kiss for Christmas

“And they stay in the same place?”

He nodded.

“And it has a hot tub?”

“Apparently it does now. It didn’t when I was a kid.”

“How long have you been going there?”

“As long as I can remember.”

“It must be quite nostalgic, then?”

“I suppose so.”

“But you’re not going?”

He sipped his tea and shook his head. “No.”

“I’m sure you could get an extra day or two off if you speak to Lewis.”

“I could,” he said. “But time off isn’t the reason I’m not going.”

“So that entire conversation with your mum was basically lies?”

“It’s either lie, or tell her I can’t stand the thought of spending more than a few hours with my family.”

“Is it really that bad? I know you argued with your dad, and I can see how they might not be the most relaxed people to spend time with, but they also seemed perfectly nice when I met them.”

His eyebrows drew together. “It turns out they’re much more bearable when there’s someone else around. I may need to recruit you for every family visit in the future.”

Warmth spread through her stomach, which had nothing to do with the tea. “Does that mean I get to go to Bath to do my Christmas shopping?”

“No! Even you would get sick of my family after more than a few hours. I wouldn’t subject you to entire days and nights with them.”

Anna smiled. “Your sister’s going?” she asked gently.

“Yeah.”

“Do you get on with her?”

He swayed his head from shoulder to shoulder. “We used to get on well when we were kids. These days I don’t see much of her.”

“And who is Joshie?”

“My nephew.” His eyes lit up. “He’s four, and he’s the only one who makes it at all tempting to go.”

“Maybe you should go,” she suggested. “Surely a couple of days with your family can’t be that bad. And it might be worth it to spend time with your nephew.”

He curled his lips in a frown, considering it.

“It’s almost Christmas. You’re supposed to spend time with your family.”

He lifted a solitary eyebrow. “Are you supposed todreadspending time with your family?”

“I think it’s pretty normal,” she told him. “When is the trip to Bath?”

“The week after next.”