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

wedding. ‘So are you excited about Christmas apart from that?’
    ‘Yeah. Course we are.’ Jess talked quickly. ‘Thanks, Michelle. I’d better go.’
    And she hung up. Michelle flicked her phone off and got dressed. Jess was bound to be preoccupied at the moment. They would have plenty of time to catch up in the New Year, she was sure.
     
    Sean finished the washing up in silence. So Michelle had lost her mum. Was that what gave her the hint of vulnerability he kept seeing under the tough shell? Sean tried to picture his own life without the ever-growing gaggle of his family. Not possible. Family. Home. They were what made him who he was. They were what made Christmas what it was. They were what had kept him going when he thought he’d lost everything.
    He dried his hands and turned the television on. There wasn’t much to choose from with the time rapidly running towards midnight. He was still flicking between the channels when Michelle padded back into the room wearing a T-shirt and sarong tied around her waist.
    She gestured towards the outfit. ‘I packed for the Caribbean.’
    ‘You look great.’ He gestured towards the TV. ‘This won’t keep you awake, will it?’
    She shook her head. ‘Actually, I’m not that tired. Eating late, you know, I think I’ve confused my body clock.’
    ‘We could watch a movie?’
    ‘Ok.’ The idea of a film appealed to Michelle. She could imagine losing herself for a couple of hours, not having to think about her missed holiday, or about Sean, and definitely not having to think about Christmas. She squashed down into the corner of the L-shaped sofa, apparently trying to take up as little space as possible.
    ‘Relax. Put your feet up. It’s what it’s designed for.’
    Michelle stretched her legs out in front of her, causing her sarong to split apart revealing a long pale-skinned leg. Sean’s eyes travelled up the leg and settled for a second on her thigh. He swallowed hard and turned back towards the television. ‘Ok. Film. Wait there.’
    Michelle watched Sean jog from the room and reappear with an armful of DVDs. ‘Ok. I thought something festive would be in order. So It’s A Wonderful Life ? White Christmas ? Mary Poppins ? That one’s not technically Christmassy but near enough. The Santa Clause ? Elf ?’
    ‘Christmas films?’ Her face was incredulous. ‘I’m assuming those came with the apartment?’
    ‘No! My mum buys me a new Christmas movie every year. I own them all. What do you fancy?’
    ‘I’m not sure.’ Michelle’s heart sank. She couldn’t think of a worse way to pass her time than being forced to sit through a saccharine fantasy of Christmas. She was Sean’s guest though, and she had agreed to watch a film with him. She sighed. ‘Which is best?’
    ‘You mean you haven’t seen them?’
    Michelle shook her head.
    ‘None of them?’
    ‘Mary Poppins, maybe, when I was a kid.’ Michelle swallowed the memory of Christmas Eve, with her Dad, before things changed. ‘None of the others I don’t think.’
    Sean was insistent. ‘Then it has to be a classic. It’s A Wonderful Life .’
    Sean put the DVD in the machine and leant back into the sofa clutching the remote. ‘It’s a bit cheesy but, you know, it’s Christmas.’
    Michelle watched the opening to the film in silence, uncomfortably aware that Sean was glancing at her to check her reactions. As time passed she lost herself in the story and forgot his attention. Sean had been right. The movie was pure cheese. As she watched George Bailey decide to end his life, Michelle rolled her eyes. She’d never had any time for self-pity. Life was tough and there was nothing to do but get on with things.
    The film went on. The eye-rolling stopped. Michelle felt a lump rising in her throat, as George realised how many people in his life loved him. She swallowed it, and bit the inside of her cheek to distract herself.
    As the credits rolled Michelle turned to see that Sean’s eyes were