Read Online Christmas Kiss by Chrissie Loveday - Free Book Online Page A

insist on her clients taking the often expensive route to litigation. She would talk to them, advise them and try to show them they might find a solution. She spent longer than the time they were entitled to and charged them the lowest fees possible. It may not be good for business and the practice, but she was dealing with people’s lives. That was surely more important than making already well paid lawyers even better off? She could see trouble ahead and needed time to sort out her own thoughts before becoming too involved with her ambitious new boss. All the same, Alex Weston had done something to her own emotional stability. Roast dinner with Alex ... or a lonely omelette? No contest really but she chose the omelette, totally based on political reasons. Towards evening, she realised they had made no arrangements for Alex to collect her for work the next day so she called him. There was no reply. She left a message and hoped he would find it.
    Rather nervously the next morning, Sarah looked through her window, hoping to see Alex’s car coming along the road. At five past eight, she decided she must call a for a taxi. She was on the point of dialling when she heard his car stop. She put down the phone and rushed out.
    ‘Shouldn’t you lock your door?’ Alex asked,
    ‘It’s Okay. Locks automatically. Thanks for stopping. I wasn’t sure if you’d got my message.’
    ‘Of course. Sorry ... I should have called back. I was out with the horses. It turned rather cold last night so I thought I should make sure they had plenty of straw.’
    ‘Thanks. I appreciate your efforts.’
    They made slightly polite, stilted conversation throughout the journey. The easy closeness of Saturday had gone. Sarah cursed herself inwardly. She had spent a miserable day yesterday, almost as if she was punishing herself for allowing her guard to slip and tell him too many personal things. She had missed out on his company and possibly spoilt any chance of a good future friendship or even more. He parked the car and commented,
    ‘Another week at the grindstone. Have a good day.’
    They saw little of each other during the week. Sarah saw him pass her office door a few times during the days and he collected her promptly each morning. He said nothing more about seeing her outside work and by Friday, she decided that any chance that something might have progressed between them was totally lost. There was no suggestion of drinks after work on Friday and Sarah phoned for a taxi at the end of the day. If she had been hoping to go with him to collect the puppies the next day, she was to be disappointed. No mention of it had been made. A long boring weekend lay ahead. Maybe she should go and see her parents. But getting there was just too complicated. She would have to do a one-handed clean round the cottage and shop in the village. Very exciting.
    She awoke on Saturday to the sound of her phone ringing. She sat up startled and glanced at the clock. Seven o’clock. Who on earth was phoning at this time?
    ‘Hallo,’ she said still feeling sleepy.
    ‘Hi. It’s me. Alex.’ She knew his voice instantly. ‘Are you still willing to come with me to collect my puppies? Sorry, I never caught up with you yesterday. I need some advice about beds and other things so thought I’d go to a pet shop first thing and then drive out to collect them. I’ve also taken the liberty of getting Mrs H to prepare something for supper tonight. Then you can help me to settle them in.’ Sarah listened in surprise. Suddenly, her weekend wasn’t looking quite so bleak. Trying not to sound too enthusiastic, she replied,
    ‘I wasn’t sure you still wanted me to come with you. But yes, being unable to drive, I’m limited in what I can do. I was planning some cleaning and then a walk into the village to collect some groceries.’
    ‘If that’s what you’d rather do ...’ She could hear amusement in his tone.
    ‘Of course I’d really rather try to push the vacuum