Page 29 of The Christmas Catch

Morgan’s senses switched to high alert. She gulped. She hadn’t been expecting Ali in a towel. Her broad shoulders or her defined biceps. Did app developers work out? Apparently this one did. Morgan cleared her throat and tried to focus her eyes on anything other than Ali’s body. Any part of it.

It wasn’t that easy.

She stared at the bathroom doorway as steam danced in front of her.

“Did you find your phone?” Ali made sure her towel was secure, then moved to get her bag on the velvet armchair. As she leaned, her towel slipped down.

Morgan’s eyes widened, and she swallowed down hard.

Ali stood quickly and pulled the towel back up.

“I must have left it in Dave’s truck.” Morgan smoothed herself from the inside out.

“Bugger.” Ali held up her phone.

Morgan let her gaze slide down Ali’s shoulders, then just as quickly away.

“Feel free to call home on mine if you remember the number.” She made sure her elbow was holding onto her towel. Then Ali unlocked her phone, threw it onto the bed, and flicked a thumb back to the bathroom. “I’m going back in here to get dressed in exactly the same clothes I was wearing before.” She tiptoed back to the bathroom and shut the door.

Morgan exhaled, wondering when her thoughts about Ali had jumped from ‘Nicole’s younger sister’ to ‘smokin’ travel companion’. She shook her head, wiped her thoughts clean, and called her parents’ number. The landline hadn’t changed since she was young.

Her mum answered after three rings.

“Look, I’ve told you, we’re not interested.”

“Mum?”

“Oh, hello sweetie! Sorry, I thought you were one of those call centres trying to sell something. What are you calling on the landline for?”

Morgan sighed. “I lost my phone. It’s a long story. But don’t worry, I’m okay and hopefully I’ll be able to get it back.”

“Where are you?”

“In a town called Snowton. In the Lakes.”

“And when will you be home?”

That was the million-dollar question. “Fingers crossed, tomorrow.” Tomorrow was December 23rd. She had to be home by then, as it was the local secondary school’s last performance of their Christmas play. Her dad had written and directed it.

“Will you make it back for the play? Your dad’s very excited you’re coming.”

Guilt lodged itself in her stomach. “That’s the plan. I’ll do everything I can to make it.”

Ali stepped out of the bathroom in jeans and her bra. When she saw Morgan look up, she stopped.

Morgan flinched as her breath lodged in her throat. Her skin tingled all over, and her lips were suddenly very dry. Every bit of moisture in her body travelled south at pace. She swallowed, and allowed her gaze to wander from Ali’s face, down to her breasts and impossibly flat stomach, and then back up to her gaze that was now drilling into Morgan’s soul.

Big mistake.

Morgan sat up quickly as Ali turned.

“I was just getting my brush,” Ali muttered, then ran back into the bathroom.

Morgan jumped off the bed and slammed her left hand into the pocket of her trousers. Then she paced in front of the window, not quite knowing what to do with the thoughts that crowded her head.

“You like her!” said one. “If she was in a bar, you’d notice her,” said another. “You’re sharing a bed with her tonight,” said the third.

“No,” Morgan said to nobody in particular.