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

perhaps very gala evening, but Hannah felt comfortable in it and figured nobody would really be looking at her anyway.
    ‘You look lovely,’ Gina said as Hannah slipped on her shoes. ‘I don’t know what you were worrying about.’
    ‘So do you. That dress is amazing.’
    Gina gave herself the once over with a small smile. ‘Howard bought it for me. One of the last ones he did buy. Cost an arm and a leg and, with hindsight, I suppose it was a guilt purchase. Still…’ she sniffed, ‘who am I to look a guilty gift horse in the mouth?’
    ‘Wreak havoc in it tonight, and think of it as revenge when you do.’
    Gina’s smile broadened. ‘My thoughts precisely!’
    *
    When Ross had called to pick them up, a little after seven, Hannah couldn’t miss his ravenous glances at Gina. She knew he wasn’t that sort of a letch, and his reaction was genuine, involuntary lust, but she felt reassured that Ross was too much of a gentleman to act on his desires. Gina, however… she was a different matter entirely. She was out for a good time, and Hannah could only hope that whatever tryst she got involved in (and whoever the lucky man was) it would be for the right reasons.
    As Ross pulled up at the venue, Hannah was surprised to see how upmarket it was. She had expected somewhere like the dusty old village hall she’d once gone to looking for second hand furniture at a bring-and-buy sale, and she hadn’t really concerned herself with more details about where they were heading tonight, knowing that Ross had offered to drive. The building they were outside now was a sweet little hotel that boasted its own ballroom – not the swish luxury she had encountered at far too many wedding receptions than she had the energy to recall – but smaller and more intimate, with a charming, shell-pink art deco façade, and set in modest but pleasant grounds. The trees were strung with fairy lights, the lawns bordered by solar lanterns, gravel paths running alongside neatly trimmed shrubs and hedges. She’d driven past often, but never with an excuse to look inside. Now she was glad to be atthe charity night, if only to visit this lovely building, and made a mental note that if she ever needed a party venue, this one would be perfect.
    Inside, the ballroom was decorated for the occasion with all things Latin American – or, at least, the closest the organisers could find in the heart of England – with lights that looked like chilli peppers, paper fans pinned to the walls; red and black streamers and balloons festooned the ceiling.
    ‘This looks fabulous!’ Hannah said as Briony greeted them, looking suitably Latino herself in a corseted dress with waterfall skirt and a tropical flower pinned into her hair. ‘And you look absolutely lovely. I feel I should have made more of an effort now.’
    ‘Nonsense; you look as pretty as a picture. Besides, you could have come in a bin bag for me; I’m just glad you’re here.’
    Hannah laughed. ‘Thank you for being so kind.’ She gestured at Gina. ‘This is my sister, Gina. She’s come all the way from Birmingham to chaperone me.’
    Gina smiled. ‘It’s lovely to meet you.’
    ‘I’m so happy you could both come and support the event,’ Briony replied, beaming at the sisters in turn.
    ‘Has your husband come tonight?’ Hannah asked. ‘I haven’t seen him in ages and I’d like to say hello.’
    ‘He has, but I have no idea where he is now,’ Briony said as her gaze swept the room. ‘I expect he’ll make an appearance when the band starts playing. Paul never misses an opportunity to dance and the passionate ones are his favourite.’
    Somehow Hannah couldn’t equate the no-nonsense farmer with a passionate ballroom dancer, but she supposed it just went to show that people concealed all sorts of surprises. ‘I look forward to seeing him in action later,’ she said. ‘Will you be giving us a demonstration of your prowess on the dance-floor too?’
    ‘Just try and stop me!’