I'm Not in Love (Once Upon a Winter Book 2) by Tilly Tennant Read Free Book Online

until they met. But, then again… he could be a twat.
    In the end, it had seemed a much safer bet to let Briony Hunter cajole her into going to her charity salsa night. Nice and safe, as usual, Hannah thought. Not that the idea of a room full of virtual strangers wasn’t a daunting prospect, but at least she had enlisted the support of her sister, who was even now on her way from Birmingham. Gina hadn’t taken much persuading, stating that January was shit and anything to break the tedium was fine by her. Hannah suspected it was a welcome distraction from messy divorce proceedings but, eitherway, she was glad of the company. Everyone else would doubtless be there with dates and spouses and as long as she and Gina weren’t expected to dance together they could get legless at the bar and have a pretty good night watching everyone else, not to mention helping various local charities in the process.
    *
    Later that evening, Gina and Hannah jostled for space at the bathroom mirror.
    ‘Hey, this is my house!’ Hannah giggled. She was already succumbing to the pleasant effects of a glass or two of gin and tonic, and Gina was similarly well-oiled on the mojitos she’d mixed for herself.
    ‘But I’m your guest. You’re supposed to go out of your way to make sure I’m happy.’
    ‘You should be happy I let you come anywhere with me at all.’ She gave Gina a playful shove. ‘So shift it.’
    ‘You should be honoured I’m allowing myself to be seen out with a social embarrassment like you,’ Gina laughed as she shoved her back. ‘Now, out of the way, munchkin. I’ve got beautifying to get on with.’
    ‘You don’t need it, you look gorgeous already.’
    ‘Are you kidding? I’ve got a couple of years on you; it’s hard enough as it is without keeping up with a younger model.’
    ‘Only a tiny bit younger,’ Hannah laughed. ‘I think at this point in our lives it doesn’t really make all that much difference.’
    ‘You’d be surprised.’
    ‘I don’t know why you’re worrying anyway – you got all the good genes.’
    ‘That’s not saying much from our parents, is it?’
    Hannah’s smile slipped.
    ‘Still,’ Gina continued quickly, ‘who wants to think about all that crap now? We’ve got serious things to sort out. Like do I go in a classy black dress or a slutty red one?’
    ‘Red. If it’s the dress I’m thinking of it will shake things up a bit.’
    ‘What are you wearing?’
    Hannah frowned. ‘I have absolutely no idea. Every dress I had thought about wearing looks horrible tonight and I didn’t buy anything new because I didn’t think it was worth spending the money. I wish I’d splashed out now, though.’
    ‘Want to borrow?’
    Hannah shook her head. ‘They won’t look the same on me. I haven’t got the gravity defying boobies for a start.’
    ‘It’s all in the bra, my dear, I keep telling you that. Try one of my dresses, please. I’ve brought far too many with me so it seems a shame to drag them all over and not use them.’
    ‘You could leave them here for when you come back.’
    ‘You mean come over and get pissed in public with you more often? Hannah Meadows – what on earth has got into you? You hate clubbing!’
    ‘I don’t hate it; I just don’t see the point of it most of the time. Right now, though, I feel like letting my hair down and having a little fun.’
    Gina turned back to the mirror and dabbed at her foundation. ‘Is that why Jason’s clothes have gone?’
    ‘You little sneak. Nothing escapes your notice, does it?’ Hannah laughed. ‘I thought it was about time. Besides, I need the wardrobe space if you’re going to keep your clothes in there.’
    ‘You know the minute I leave a dress here I’m going to want it in Birmingham?’
    ‘You don’t go out that much, surely?’
    ‘I might start… I’ve registered on a dating site.’
    Hannah blinked at her. And then she let out a peal of laughter. ‘Oh my God! So have I!’
    ‘Aren’t they all just