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The amusement slid from her face and a flush crept over her cheeks. “I’m happy to answer that if you’re prepared to tell me whether you want me to come on to you.”

Far from ducking the conversation, Anna was emotionally mature enough to face it. “We were looking for something to eat,” he mumbled, unable to meet her eyes.

She didn’t need to reply. Her look said it for her. The worst of it was, he couldn’t disagree. He was a coward.

December 15th

When Anna wandered into the kitchen the next morning she found a message from Luke on the kitchen table. Next to it was a thermos. When she unscrewed the lid, her heart did a neat tumble turn. Grumpy, uncommunicative Luke had left her a thermos of coffee.

She took a sip—yep, just how she liked it—and read his note.

Sorry, had to run an errand. Will be gone most of the day. Hope whatever Colin had planned can wait till tonight. If not, message me. L

She stared at the scrawled writing in a thick, felt pen he must have taken off the kitchen whiteboard. Then traced her fingers over the phone number he’d left beneath it. They hadn’t done that, she realized. Here she was, having erotic dreams about a man whose number wasn’t even in her contacts.

Yesterday had been awkward, then fun, then—how did she define her thick, meaty sausage comment followed by his smoldering are you trying to come on to me?

It certainly wasn’t by the term “platonic friends,” which was what she’d tried to pretend they were as they’d shared a pizza that evening in front of Slow Horses. Even though she’d been acutely aware of every time he’d crossed and uncrossed his ankles. The flex of his biceps as he’d shifted to rest his hands behind his head.

It was surely just as worrying that her stomach now felt heavy at the thought of a whole day by herself, without him.

Which was exactly why she needed it. Soon Luke would be gone and she’d have to cope with real life again. Going to work, coming home to this big empty condo. Eating alone. Making her own coffee.

To cheer herself up, and remind herself she wasn’t alone, she replied to the message she’d woken up to from her bestie, Charlotte, checking in on her.

All good here bestie, you don’t have to worry about me. Sharing the condo with Luke, going through the advent activities Colin set us, is proving to be a good distraction. A x

Immediately she got a message back.

Don’t leave me hanging like that!!!!! I want to hear more!!!!! Phone me when you’re not too distracted!!!!! Love you, take care. C xx

Smiling to herself she slid her phone onto the table. She wasn’t quite ready to discuss what was happening with Luke with anyone yet, not even her best friend. Mainly because she wasn’t sure what, if anything, was happening.

With a sigh, she picked up the advent and opened today’s window.

Dress up, raise a toast to me in my favorite bar.

Oh, Colin. Her chest hollowed with a deep pang of loss. What she wouldn’t give to see his smiling face. To go to the bar with him.

She missed him in so many ways; his sparkle, his infectious laugh, his wise counsel. He’d have known what she should do about this crush she’d developed on his best friend.

Are you deliberately pushing us together?

Punching Luke’s number into her contacts, she typed out a message.

Whatever secret squirrel mission you’re on, you don’t have to be back till tonight. We’re dressing up and going out for a drink. A x

She pressed send too quickly, before realizing she’d added an x, as had become a habit in her messages to Charlotte. Taking a breath, she shook her head at her overreaction. As a former Brit, Luke would know it was a causal British thing, no biggie. It’s not like the x really meant a kiss.

Her phone buzzed almost immediately.

Is that you asking me out or Colin?

PS did you intend the kiss?

For a man who didn’t like to talk, he sure didn’t mind flirting.

Colin is asking. We’re to raise a toast to him in his favorite bar. A x