Mistletoe by Lyn Gardner Page B

nose into a crumpled napkin, Jamie sniffled a few times and then sneezed again. “Fucking Willoughby and her fucking need to anoint the fucking house in dead flowers!”
    Sneeze.
    “God damn it!”
    Sneeze.
    “Oh, Jesus Christ, give me a fucking break!”
    Sneeze.
    Hearing someone giggling behind her, Jamie glanced over her shoulder and saw Diana standing near the door.
    “Christ, sorry. I didn’t know anyone was out here.”
    Shaking her head, Diana walked over and handed Jamie the cocktail napkins.
    “I thought you might need these.”
    Quickly grabbing the wad of napkins, Jamie turned her back on Diana and blew her nose. Waiting a few seconds to make sure the tickle that had caused her sneezing had disappeared, Jamie turned back around. Noticing that Diana was trying not to laugh, Jamie asked, “You think this is funny?”
    “No…well…maybe,” Diana said, allowing one small snicker to escape.
    “You look funny when you sneeze?”
    “I do?”
    “Yeah, your face gets all scrunched up and…well, it’s funny.”
    Before Jamie could respond, her nose tickled. Turning her back on Diana, Jamie sneezed again, and again, and again.
    “God bless you,” Diana said, putting her hand on Jamie’s shoulder. “Are you all right?”
    “Oh, Christ, that fucking potpourri is killing me,” Jamie said, wiping her nose.
    “Are you allergic to flowers?”
    “No, but some perfumes get me going and that stench inside is stifling. It started just after I got here, but I didn’t want to leave until I saw you,” Jamie said, turning around.
    “Oh.”
    “I wanted to apologize for what I did at Phelan’s house. I had no right to force myself on you. I was enjoying your company, and I think I ruined the evening by doing what I did.”
    “You wanted Phelan to kiss me?”
    “What? No! Of course not.”
    “Then I don’t think you have anything to apologize for.”
    “You’re not angry?”
    Of all the emotions that Diana had felt since meeting Jamie Nash, anger had yet to make the list. Surprise had struck the first night they had met, both at the jacket offered and Diana’s own reaction to the chivalrous gesture. Trust quickly followed when Jamie came to her rescue under the mistletoe, and anticipation began to heat her blood a few days later when she found herself walking through shops looking for the perfect dress with only one person in mind. Fear crept onto the scene as she stood in the bathroom repairing her makeup earlier that night, wondering if what she was feeling was real. And it was that feeling…that emotion …that was doing her head in.
    How could she be feeling love for someone she didn’t even know? She had never been in love before. In lust – yes.
    Intrigued – yes. Infatuated – most definitely, but what she was feeling for Jamie seemed to be more than all of those combined. Much more.
    Brought back to the conversation by a slight breeze that sent a chill down her spine, Diana said, “Of course I’m not angry.”
    Smiling at Diana’s response, and the fact that her sneezing fit had finally ended, Jamie wadded up the napkins and stuffed them in a nearby flowerpot.
    Taking a deep breath of the crisp air, she reached into her pocket to find her cigarettes.
    Taking a moment to admire the way Jamie’s tuxedo was tailored to fit her womanly curves, Diana broke the silence. “Nice suit, by the way.”
    “Thank you,” Jamie said, bowing her head at the compliment. After lighting her cigarette, she casually exhaled and allowed herself the pleasure of taking in the sight of Diana Clarke. While Jamie had told her eyes not to stop at the dark valley between Diana’s breasts, her eyes apparently had a mind of their own.
    After lingering there for a few seconds, she was finally able to force them upward, and when she looked into Diana’s eyes, Jamie said in a breath, “Awesome dress.”
    The flutter that Jamie’s throaty whisper had caused meandered its way through Diana’s body and settled soundly