Read Online Holly's Christmas Kiss by Alison May - Free Book Online Page B

think up that clashed with the season. She’d even written a cookbook based on the same ide a– ‘The Anti-Christmas Cook.’ She wasn’t exactly the new Delia but it had sold reasonably well, and given Tanya a career for the first time in her life.
    Michelle’s own book dropped onto her lap and her eyes settled closed, lulled by the rhythm of the moving train.
    ‘Excuse me.’ The voice seemed to be coming from outside. ‘Excuse me!’
    It was louder now, and closer.
    ‘Excuse me!’ Michelle opened her eyes, and looked around. She was still on the train, but Jean had gone. There was an empty seat beside her and a couple standing in the aisle. The man was glaring at her. ‘These are our seats.’
    Michelle rubbed her eyes and shook her head. ‘No. This is only reserved from Newcastle.’
    ‘Yes.’ The man’s tone was increasingly impatient.
    ‘But we’ve only just left …’ Michelle petered out as she looked around her. The family across the aisle had gone. The teenagers resting on the luggage rack had also vanished. She looked out of the window and saw unfamiliar buildings. She turned back to the couple. ‘Where are we?’
    ‘Leaving Newcastle, and these are our seats.’
    ‘Right. Sorry.’ Michelle swung her legs around and slipped past the man into the gangway. She hurried along the aisle, grabbed her case off the luggage rack and dragged it out of the packed carriage. She paused by the door and read the list of stations. Next stop: Edinburgh. Michelle groaned. Why hadn’t someone woken her up?
    Never mind. She’d have to get off at Edinburgh and then catch another train back to Leeds. Her immediate problem was finding somewhere to sit. Her hand went to the ticket, stuffed in her pocket. She had a reserved seat in first class. Of course, that would mean Sean. It was at least another hour to Edinburgh. She turned and peered back down the train, hoping desperately for a free seat.
     
    Sean stared out of the window as the train moved away from the built-up outskirts of Newcastle and on to cling to the coast towards Berwick. This part of the journey was always when he started to feel as though he was nearing home. Home for Christmas. He smiled to himself.
    ‘Is this seat still free?’
    He was jolted out of his reverie by the voice, but he didn’t turn away from the window. After her reaction to him that morning, he wasn’t minded to throw down the red carpet. ‘I thought you were only going as far as Leeds.’
    There was a pause. He glanced up at her.
    ‘I fell asleep.’
    Despite his resolution to be cool with Michelle, Sean’s face cracked into a laugh. ‘I guess you’re stuck with me then.’
    Michelle slumped into the seat beside Sean. ‘Only until Edinburgh. I’m getting the first train back to Leeds.’
    Sean paused. An idea, only half formed was jumping up and down in his head, demanding his full attention. ‘What if …’
    ‘What?’
    ‘Look. I know we’ve only just met, but it’s Christmas. It’s silly to be on your own. Why don’t you come with me?’ The question surprised Sean almost as much as Michelle. He’d seen her reaction to the ticket to Edinburgh. At this point a sensible man would have known that it was time to give up, but he couldn’t let go. He felt like his accelerator pedal had got stuck hard to the floor, and the only option was to hold on and enjoy the ride.
    Michelle’s lips pursed. ‘We’ve been through this.’
    ‘For goodness ’ sake. You’re already halfway there. You’d really rather go back to an empty flat?’
    Michelle’s expression shifted slightly. He’d done enough sales pitches to see that she was interested, but she wasn’t on the hook yet. Think Sean. What do you know about her? She’s practical. Sensible. Somehow, he needed to make running away for Christmas with a virtual stranger sound sensible.
    ‘Do you even have any food in your cupboards?’
    Michelle shook her head.
    ‘Right. Well, it’s Christmas Eve now. What are you