par-tay!’
The evening was a succ ess despite an early hiccup , and a quite literal one . Verity and Clai re had each partaken of at least two glasses of bubbly befo re the guests arrived , which was fo olhardy considering their empty stomachs . Under Claire’s instructions, t hey’d only snacked lightly during the day. She wanted her tummy as flat as possible for the evening, stating matter-of-factly, ‘ I’m on the prowl again , so I need to look my best.’ Unfortunately , t he wine had promptly gone to Verity’s head , and made her greetings to colleagues, acquaintances and perfect strangers , a little more warm and welcoming than usual.
Worse still, s he was sure she had actually hiccuped in someone’s face. Recalling it later, she shudder ed .
Should I try to remember who it was, or pretend it never happened? She grimaced, and her inner voice yelled, c hoose the second box!
After the hiccup incident, Verity had firmly resisted Claire’s proff ered ‘top-ups’ of champers and opted for the safer spritzig of s oda water. But Claire cheerfully sailed along on a sea of alcoholic bubbles, making good on her promise to keep the drinks flowing into every empty glass she spied , including her own .
And when Royce arrived, a number of refills after everyone else, he received a warm er than expected welcome. He’d been debating whether to go at all , and had finally decided to make a brief appearance. Rosie had been so determined he be there, and h e hadn’t come up with a good enough reason to avoid it. He wasn’t anticipating an enjoy able time , though . Nor did he expect the rush he felt at the sight of Verity, backlit by soft lighting, waiting in the doorway to greet him with a pretty smile. She looked alluringly feminine in an outfit very different from her corporate wear . Until that moment, he hadn’t realised what an attractive woman she was . He’d always regarded her as merely an o ther ‘ suit ’ .
A s Verity graciously extended him a hand in welcome, an arm suddenly materialis ed over her shoulder. Ro yce caught a glimpse of a flushed face as Clair e bellowed , ‘Heeshadrink , Royce! ’
He gave a smiling frown as he shoo k Verity’s extended hand, and accepted the over-filled glass Claire was handing him none too steadily .
Verity cringed a little , brushing drops of bubbly off her shoulder and gently pushing Claire’s arm away. ‘ Welcome , Royce . C ome on in . Do you know everyone?’
His eyes skimmed over the other guests as he stepped into the room . H e turned to Verity and said in his deep voice, ‘I think I recognise most of them.’
Surprised by the look— of reluctant admiration?— in his eyes, Verity stared wordlessly at him. And that’s when Claire noticed an empty glass in someone’s hand. She swiftly turne d on her heel , intent on righting the wrong. B ut in her sozzled state she stumbled against Verity, who gave a startled gasp, tipped forward, and fell against Royce.
He reached out to catch her, and growled , ‘Look out!’
‘Oops h, m’b ad , shorry , ’ Claire slurred as she wobbled off, still intent on her wine-waiter task.
But Royce was gazing down at the woman in his arms. No, not a woman. His boss. He couldn't see her face, only the top of her head. Just as a subtle hint of her perfume floated up to caress his nose, Verity straightened and pulled away. He quickly let her go , but kept one hand at her elbow until he was sure she was steady .
She took another step back , abs ently rubbing her arm . S he raised her eyes to his for the briefest instant, face aflame, before giving an embarrassed frown and mumbling , ‘ Um, thanks. For the ... you know, save. ’
H e gave a gravelly chuckle . ‘No problem. Makes a change, play ing the hero .’ A burst of loud laughter nearby made them both glance away, and Royce said quietly, ‘B y the look s of it, I’m about a bottle an d a half behind everyone else . B ut I guess that’s the hero’s fate , to
The evening was a succ ess despite an early hiccup , and a quite literal one . Verity and Clai re had each partaken of at least two glasses of bubbly befo re the guests arrived , which was fo olhardy considering their empty stomachs . Under Claire’s instructions, t hey’d only snacked lightly during the day. She wanted her tummy as flat as possible for the evening, stating matter-of-factly, ‘ I’m on the prowl again , so I need to look my best.’ Unfortunately , t he wine had promptly gone to Verity’s head , and made her greetings to colleagues, acquaintances and perfect strangers , a little more warm and welcoming than usual.
Worse still, s he was sure she had actually hiccuped in someone’s face. Recalling it later, she shudder ed .
Should I try to remember who it was, or pretend it never happened? She grimaced, and her inner voice yelled, c hoose the second box!
After the hiccup incident, Verity had firmly resisted Claire’s proff ered ‘top-ups’ of champers and opted for the safer spritzig of s oda water. But Claire cheerfully sailed along on a sea of alcoholic bubbles, making good on her promise to keep the drinks flowing into every empty glass she spied , including her own .
And when Royce arrived, a number of refills after everyone else, he received a warm er than expected welcome. He’d been debating whether to go at all , and had finally decided to make a brief appearance. Rosie had been so determined he be there, and h e hadn’t come up with a good enough reason to avoid it. He wasn’t anticipating an enjoy able time , though . Nor did he expect the rush he felt at the sight of Verity, backlit by soft lighting, waiting in the doorway to greet him with a pretty smile. She looked alluringly feminine in an outfit very different from her corporate wear . Until that moment, he hadn’t realised what an attractive woman she was . He’d always regarded her as merely an o ther ‘ suit ’ .
A s Verity graciously extended him a hand in welcome, an arm suddenly materialis ed over her shoulder. Ro yce caught a glimpse of a flushed face as Clair e bellowed , ‘Heeshadrink , Royce! ’
He gave a smiling frown as he shoo k Verity’s extended hand, and accepted the over-filled glass Claire was handing him none too steadily .
Verity cringed a little , brushing drops of bubbly off her shoulder and gently pushing Claire’s arm away. ‘ Welcome , Royce . C ome on in . Do you know everyone?’
His eyes skimmed over the other guests as he stepped into the room . H e turned to Verity and said in his deep voice, ‘I think I recognise most of them.’
Surprised by the look— of reluctant admiration?— in his eyes, Verity stared wordlessly at him. And that’s when Claire noticed an empty glass in someone’s hand. She swiftly turne d on her heel , intent on righting the wrong. B ut in her sozzled state she stumbled against Verity, who gave a startled gasp, tipped forward, and fell against Royce.
He reached out to catch her, and growled , ‘Look out!’
‘Oops h, m’b ad , shorry , ’ Claire slurred as she wobbled off, still intent on her wine-waiter task.
But Royce was gazing down at the woman in his arms. No, not a woman. His boss. He couldn't see her face, only the top of her head. Just as a subtle hint of her perfume floated up to caress his nose, Verity straightened and pulled away. He quickly let her go , but kept one hand at her elbow until he was sure she was steady .
She took another step back , abs ently rubbing her arm . S he raised her eyes to his for the briefest instant, face aflame, before giving an embarrassed frown and mumbling , ‘ Um, thanks. For the ... you know, save. ’
H e gave a gravelly chuckle . ‘No problem. Makes a change, play ing the hero .’ A burst of loud laughter nearby made them both glance away, and Royce said quietly, ‘B y the look s of it, I’m about a bottle an d a half behind everyone else . B ut I guess that’s the hero’s fate , to
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