Page 69 of A Chef's Kiss for Christmas

“He must want you to go, though. And if he’s keen for you to go away with his family, he must really like you. I bet you’ll get together with him while you’re there.”

“Stop it! I’m nervous enough without you saying things like that.”

“Don’t be nervous. It’s exciting.” She went to pick her cup up again, but paused. “What are the sleeping arrangements? Ifhis family thinks you’re a couple, I assume that means you’ll be sharing a room.”

“I wondered the same, but he called me earlier in the week to check I hadn’t changed my mind. He said not to worry about the sleeping arrangements because he always takes a room up in the attic.”

“How do you mean,always?”

“They stay in the same holiday house every year. Apparently, they’ve been going since he was a kid.”

“That’s nice.”

“Yeah. Anyway, there are two bedrooms up in the attic, so he said we won’t need to share, but everyone will assume we’re sharing. No one else goes up in the attic.”

“That’s annoying.”

“Yeah,” Anna agreed before the two of them burst into laughter.

“I assume you haven’t heard from Hayden?” Frannie asked when they calmed down again.

“No. Nothing. Which is a good thing, I think.”

“He thinks you’re with someone else, so it would be shady of him to make a move now.”

“Yeah.” Her shoulders sagged. “It’s so good to finally feel I’m moving on.”

“I still can’t believe you were pining for him for all that time. I honestly had no idea.”

“I should probably have talked to you about it, but with hindsight, I’m glad I didn’t. I think things work out as they should. Hayden and I weren’t right for each other.”

“And you think Warren is right for you?”

“It feels different. When I’m with him, I can be myself.”

“And you couldn’t with Hayden?”

“I’m not sure I could, no.” She dragged a hand through her hair. “I hope I’m not getting ahead of myself. Maybe Warren only sees me as a friend.”

“A couple of nights away with him should make things clearer. When do you go?”

“Monday morning. And I have a stall at a Christmas market tomorrow, so I won’t have too much time to think about it over the weekend.”

“You’re looking forward to it, though?”

“Yeah. I am.”

She wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.

But she was definitely excited about spending more time with Warren.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Warren was saying something, but Anna didn’t register the words as she stepped out of the car at the end of the sprawling driveway and gazed up at the stylish Georgian house, built from the distinct golden-coloured Bath stone. Having expected a quaint cottage, the building – which was more of a small manor house – was slightly intimidating.

Two rows of miniature fir trees, tastefully decorated with soft orange fairy lights, were lined up like soldiers to lead the way to the front door.

“This is where you came on childhood holidays?” Anna asked, glancing at Warren as he lifted their bags from the boot.