Chapter 1

Chapter One

BEE

M ariah Carey is fully embracing her time in the festive spotlight, as “All I Want for Christmas Is You” pumps out over the pub speakers. Even so, she’s barely managing to compete with the noise of party revellers. It’s one week before Christmas, and everyone seems to be throwing their all into the festive cheer.

I relax back in my chair and lift my drink to my mouth while idly looking around the converted Victorian warehouse. The bar is part of a big chain, and opened only last year. The heavy use of company colours in the space makes it look like an uneasy mash-up between Christmas and their annual general meeting. However, even their version of corporate holiday chic can’t stop the happy atmosphere.

A red-headed man leans over the bar, watching me with a sultry expression. I drop him a wink, and he brightens and immediately makes his way over.

“Hi,” he says.

I smile at him. “Hey.”

“Fancy a drink?” he asks, coming closer and gifting me a waft of his expensive cologne.

I look him up and down. “I’d love one. Rum and Coke, please.”

Smiling, he wanders over to join the huge queue.

My best friend heaves a heavy sigh next to me.

“What’s up with you?” I ask.

Ivy grimaces at me. “Well, look at you. It’s just not fair.”

“My combination of looks and brains?”

She rolls her eyes. “And your modesty. Don’t ever forget that.” I laugh, and she nudges me. “I can’t believe you. You only looked at each other once, and now you’ve pulled. Meanwhile, I can’t even get a bloke to give me a second glance.”

I drain my glass. “You’d have loads of blokes giving you third and fourth glances, but they don’t fit in with your marital timetable.”

“I told you. I don’t want casual one-night shags anymore. I’ve been there and done that, and now I want someone to spend the next fifty years with.”

“That’s alarmingly precise. What happens if he lasts beyond the time scale? Will he wake up and find you’ve chucked him in the dustbin?”

She grimaces. “I just want a bloke with a few years of monogamy in his tank. I know you don’t understand.”

“I don’t. I just want a man who’s capable of maintaining an erection for twenty minutes.”

There’s a sudden silence at the table next to us where a group of women wearing sparkly veils have been celebrating a hen party. Either that, or they’re contemplating entering a nunnery. They look at me and then immediately hoot and holler.

I grin at them, and Ivy rolls her eyes. She says, gloomily, “Good luck with your Erection Plan.”

“Is that a thing?” I ask, amused.

“By midnight, most of the men in here will be drooping like a daffodil on Mothering Sunday.”

As if on cue, a man reels over to us. He’s wearing a suit with his tie flapping limply. “Whash up, darlin’?” he slurs.

“Beyond getting pissed off your breath, not much,” Ivy snaps.

It seems to take an eternity to travel to his brain, but then he grins and sidles close to her. “Fancy a shag?”

“Ugh,” she says, shoving him. Unperturbed, he moves on to the group next to us, where his question is greeted much more congenially.

Ivy brightens as she looks to her right. “Sal,” she shouts, half standing and waving.

Her friend Sally comes towards us. She’s looking as gorgeous as ever, with her long brown hair shining in the light and her eyes sparkling.

“Alright, losers?” she says, throwing herself into the seat Ivy saved for her.

I grin at her. I don’t know Sal well, but I like her. She’s good people.

“Have you just finished work?” I ask.

“Yep,” she says, sighing. “I think Scrooge would be a better employer than mine at the moment. Last week, I had a prang in my car, and he told me to take the lunchtime off. And the stingy wanker hasn’t bought me a Christmas present.” She accepts the drink Ivy hands her with a smile and takes a healthy swig. “Never mind that, though. Are you all ready for the holiday?”

Ivy rubs her hands together. “Four days in Edinburgh. I can’t wait.”

I frown. “Who exactly is going again?”

“I knew you weren’t listening,” Ivy says. She turns to Sal. “Did you tell him facts while he was doodling? That was your first mistake. He never pays any attention.”

“I wasn’t doodling. They were valuable equations,” I protest, grabbing my next drink from the assortment that Ivy and I ordered earlier. Ivy and Sal roll their eyes, looking like disapproving meerkats.

“You’ll meet a few of the people going with us in a minute,” Sal says. “Everyone apart from Theo and Georgina are meeting us for a drink so we can get to know each other.”

“Lovely,” I say faintly.

Sal drains her drink, and I blink. I’ve only managed a sip of mine.

“I’ll go and get us another round,” she says, standing. “What do you want?”

We give her the order and watch her make her way to the bar. She grins wickedly at a group of blokes who are waiting to be served, throws her hair back, and they part like the Red Sea around Moses. In fact, Moses should have taken Sal along with him. She’d have found someone to carry the Ten Commandments in no time at all.

“Tell me again how you roped me into this Edinburgh idea,” I say to Ivy.

She digs her finger into my ribs until I squirm. “Because I want to go. I’ve never been to Scotland before, and Edinburgh is supposed to be beautiful at Christmas.”

“And where do I come in? I do have a lot of work on my plate at the moment, you know.”

She blows a raspberry. “Bee, you could take that DPhil with your hands tied behind your back.”

“I’m not sure that’s quite how it works. Well, not unless the examining board have become intriguingly BDSM themed since I took my last degree.”

“Which degree? You’ve got so many, I’ve lost count.” She leans closer. “You’re going because I don’t know any of the others, and you’re my best friend, so it’s the law that you have to come too.”

“You know Sal.”

“She’s my friend from work .” She says this as though it explains everything.

“And?” I prompt.

“Well, it’s not the same as being with someone I’ve known since I was five.” She smiles coaxingly. “We’ll have a great time, and it’ll be good for you to get away from your desk. You’ve been working so hard this term. You look tired and worn.”

“Was any of that meant to sound sympathetic?”

She cocks her head. “I was going for that, yes. Did I go too far?”

“Just a bit.”

Sal comes over in a flash of scarlet dress and long legs. “Nice blokes over there.” She plops down the drinks and gives the group at the bar a flirty wave. Then she settles down in her seat. “Now, where was I? Oh yes, the rest of the party. It’s going to be us three, plus my brother, Tom.”

“I’ve never met him,” Ivy tells me. She’s spacing her words out very precisely, as she always does when drunk.

“Lucky you. He’s lovely, but a complete wanknugget sometimes,” Sal says with the affectionate scorn of a sister. She starts to count off on her fingers. “Freddy’s coming. He’s one of Tom’s best friends, and you’ll love him. He’s awesome. There’s also Theo and Georgina. She’s my flatmate, and he’s her boyfriend.”

Ivy noisily sucks the last bit of her drink through her straw and then immediately picks up her next drink. If she doesn't slow down, I foresee an evening of holding her hair back while she hovers over the toilet.

Sal grins at me. “Then there’s Jack and Steven.”

“Ooh, I’ve met Jack. He’s lovely.” Ivy turns to me. “You’ll like him, Bee. I haven’t met his boyfriend Steven yet, though.”

“I can tell that,” Sal says, wrinkling her nose. “You still have your sanity intact.”

“Oh dear.” Ivy’s eyes widen in dismay.

“Ah, it’ll be great,” Sal says, waving her hand dismissively. “And if it isn’t, Edinburgh is a big city. I’m so glad you’re both coming.”

I grin at her. She’s incredibly charming and has a naughty air about her that I like.

She focuses on something in the distance and then waves.

I turn in my chair to see two men walking towards us. They’re bundled up in coats and already attracting attention because they’re very attractive. The dark-haired man has warm brown eyes and the perfect amount of stubble on his jaw. He has a sweet but slightly anxious expression and is holding hands with a blond man who’s smiling widely at us.

“Hey,” the blond man says. He loosens his grip on his boyfriend and extends his hand. “You must be Bee?” His voice is attractive, and his smile is very winning. “It’s lovely to meet you.”

I wipe my hand of the condensation from my glass and shake hands briefly. “Yes, that’s me. And this is Ivy.”

“I’m Steven.” He smiles at Ivy.

When Sal stands to hug his partner, Steven slides into her seat. “Just for a minute,” he says. "My feet are killing me. Jack forgot to order a taxi, so we had to walk miles from the restaurant.” His voice has a peevish edge.

The man who must be Jack turns around. He’s even more gorgeous up close. “Did I hear my name mentioned?” he says lightly, his chiselled jaw flexing.

Steven tsks. “It was a silly thing to do, Jack. You know it’s busy at this time of the year.” He gives him a loving, if still pained, smile. “It’s not like you to be so scattered. You’ll remember better next time.”

Jack’s eyes narrow, but then, obviously being polite in front of the strangers, he shrugs affably.

Sal directs a cool look at Steven and hugs Jack. “Or alternatively, we’ll get you so pissed you can’t even remember your own name.” She adds a few mumbled words that sound like, “Or who you’re sleeping with,” but a burst of laughter at the next table drowns her out.

Steven glances at the laughing women as he removes his coat and smooths it neatly over his knees. He makes a moue of distaste. “I can’t stand drunk women.”

He looks around for support but doesn’t get any, so he directs his gaze back at me. “So, Sal says you’re very clever.”

“I do my best.”

“Well, having some intelligent company on this trip will be nice. The Wrights are…” He waggles his hand. The gesture could mean anything from “they’re stupid” to “they’re mass murderers.”

“Hmm,” I say, falling back on my catchall expression for department events and social interactions just like this.

Jack leans over. “Nice to meet you, Bee,” he says with a charming smile. “I’m getting a round. What does everyone want?”

I grin up at him. “I’m fine, thank you. I have someone getting me another drink.” I look for the redhead but can’t see him in the scrum around the bar.

The others give him their orders while Steven stays quiet. Jack smiles at him. “And for you?”

Steven rolls his eyes. “Only the same thing I’ve been drinking for the last four months, silly .”

“Is it hemlock?” Sal asks sweetly.

Luckily, Steven doesn’t seem to hear her. Jack’s lips twitch as he gives Sal a nudge. She guffaws.

“Come on, trouble. You can help,” he says affectionately.

They vanish into the queue, and Steven huffs as he looks after them. “It would be good if that particular friendship went away.”

“Do you mean Sal?” I say, astonished. “She’s lovely.”

“Oh, she’s very charming. Have you met the rest of the family?” I shake my head, and he leans forward confidingly. “They’re all charming, but they’re a rackety bunch. Very loud and far too chaotic. Stoned all the time.” He mimes smoking a joint. “But Jack is ridiculously attached to Sal’s brother, Tom. They’ve been friends since primary school.”

I try to unpick that statement and look to Ivy for support, but she’s gone to the bar with Jack and Sal. She’s saying something that seems to require a great deal of gesticulation and laughter. Satisfied she’s okay, I turn back to Steven.

“Hmm,” I say again. I’m not very keen on bitchy people. It must show on my face because his expression changes.

“I’m sorry. That was uncalled for,” he says contritely. “I’m nervous in social situations and just tend to blurt shit. Ignore me.”

I relax instantly, feeling a wave of empathy. “I’m exactly the same.”

“So, Sal says you’re doing your DPhil. What’s it in?” Steven smiles at me encouragingly.

“Oh, it’s in mathematics.”

“Fascinating. I work in telecommunications. We were working with a university last month. Very interesting.”

“Really?”

He starts to tell me something, but I can barely hear him over the noise. I catch sight of my redhead. He grins at me and grimaces at the packed bar where he’s still queuing. I tap my watch discreetly, and he signals that he’ll wait.

Satisfied that my late evening is sorted, I turn back to Steven. My plan is to give his monologue an encouraging nod, as I’d prefer not to talk, but his voice drifts off and his expression turns sour. Reminds me of when Scrooge took a turn down memory lane.

“What’s up?” I ask.

“Nothing,” he says, staring at a point beyond me.

Before I can turn, Ivy darts over to me. “Supreme Hottie at ten o’clock,” she hisses.

I look in the direction she’s staring. “That’s not ten. It’s more like half past—” I abruptly forget what I was going to say. Something that rarely happens, but then it’s not every day I see the most beautiful man in the world moving towards us, and even better, his attention is on our table and… me. I swallow hard.

Thick, wavy, brown hair frames a chiselled face with full, pouty pink lips. He’s tall with legs that seem to go on forever and broad shoulders. His clothes don’t quite fit in with the bar’s party atmosphere, as he’s wearing heavy work boots, jeans, and a white T-shirt spattered with mud with a red plaid shirt flung over the top. However, he’s hotter than most blokes in their holiday best, and his walk backs it up. It’s a confident, loping stride, and he’s attracting appreciative looks that he seems oblivious to.

I sit up straight and offer him my patented pulling smile. It’s never failed me yet. His eyes assess me slowly, and I smile wider. My stomach falls as, instead of smiling back, he looks straight through me, his eyes flicking beyond me as if looking for a better option. It’s an utterly dismissive look, and I flush red in embarrassment.

Arrogant wanker, I think savagely.

I look around to see if anyone has spotted him bin me off, but everyone is talking loudly and laughing.

“Oi, tosser,” he says loudly, and conversation around us dims as a few people sit up for a better view of a potential fight.

“Pardon?” I squeak.

He waves a hand at me. “Not you,” he says, his tone matching that dismissive expression. “ You ,” he says, pointing at Steven.

“Hello, Tom,” Steven says with a distinct note of nervousness. “Good trip?”

Tom? My eyes grow big. This is Tom? The lovely person I keep hearing about is this rude, gorgeous twat?

I shift a little closer to Steven, ignoring my previous reservations about him. He obviously needs backup if he’s being confronted by this idiot. Steven shoots me a grateful look.

“Where’s my house key?” Tom grits out.

Steven’s eyes open wide. “What ?”

Jack and Sal appear with handfuls of drinks. Jack’s face lights up when he sees Tom, despite Tom’s sulky twat expression. “Alright, Tom?” he says. “Have you just got back?”

“I have,” Tom says grimly. He gestures theatrically at his body. “And lo and forsooth, look at my party outfit. Now ask me why I’ve embraced lumberjack chic.” He puts his hands on his narrow hips. It makes the T-shirt ride up and I’m very cross with myself for noticing the sliver of yummy olive skin and the beginning of a very interesting V-line.

“Are you drunk already?” Jack asks.

“I’m afraid I haven’t had the chance,” Tom grits out. “I drove all the way back from fucking Northumbria and got home in good time to get changed and meet you all, only to find that I can’t get into our fucking house,” he grits out.

“Tom shares a house with Jack,” Ivy whispers to me helpfully.

“Thank you so much. I would never have guessed.” I wince as she pinches me.

“Why couldn’t you get in?” Jack frowns. “Have you lost your key?”

“Oh, not lost,” Tom says silkily. He points to Steven. “Twatface took it.”

“ What ?” Jack exclaims. “Surely not. How do you know that?”

“I never removed the key from my keyring. And, before I set off, I saw him fiddling with it. He’s been itching for a key to the house for ages.” He turns to Steven. “How the fuck dare you take my key without asking, you total knobhead.”

“Tom,” Jack says, wincing.

Steven sighs, and I pat his hand. Tom’s eyes narrow at the gesture, and I offer him a glare of my own, which makes him blink.

“Bully,” I mouth. He either doesn’t notice, or he chooses to dismiss me. Again.

I’d like to say I’m sticking up for the underdog, but I can’t for two reasons. Firstly, I suspect the underdog is probably at fault here, and more than likely Steven has a vicious bite of his own. Secondly, I know myself. I’m still smarting at Tom’s dismissive look. It brought back more than a few unpleasant memories of my adolescence.

“I needed a key,” Steven says defensively. “Jack never remembered to get one cut for me.” He glances reproachfully at Jack as if this is all his fault.

“How farsighted of Jack,” Sal breathes. She’s moved to stand next to her brother, her eyes bright with irritation.

Tom rolls his eyes and pats her hand. “Step down, psycho,” he murmurs.

She grins at him and kisses his cheek. “Glad you’re back,” she says and sits down on the arm of my chair.

Steven glares at Tom. “So, I borrowed your key. Is it really a big deal?”

“Yes. You took my key without asking for my permission. And I’ll take a wild guess that you had a copy made and never asked your boyfriend about it.”

Steven settles back in his seat and crosses his legs nonchalantly. “You can have it back,” he says sweetly.

“You bet I can. Now.” He snaps his fingers and holds out his hand.

Steven huffs, reaches into his pocket, and then drops two keys into his palm. “Happy now?”

“Are you coming home with Jack tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Then no, I’m not.”

“ Tom .” Jack sighs.

Tom grimaces. “I’m going home to get changed. Are you coming to the Stardust bar? The drinks are half price. Freddy’s already there.”

“I’m in,” Sal shouts.

Tom gives her a crooked smile that is not attractive at all—not one bit. I smile at Steven in solidarity, ignoring the peevish look on his face.

“What about staying here?” Jack asks. “You can get to know everyone and say hello.”

“No need,” Tom says cheerfully. “I can do that really quickly.” He looks around at us. “Hello, everyone,” he says with a charming air. “Coming to Stardust with us?”

Everyone smiles and choruses greetings at him. The next thing I know, they’re standing and gathering their coats. I glare at Tom and become even more irritated when he appears to miss my expression.

“Meet you at Stardust, then?” Tom says to Jack.

Jack shoots a look at his boyfriend, and Steven huffs. “Oh, don’t mind me.”

“Okay,” Tom says happily. “Come on, Jack,” he coaxes. “We can have a drink and let loose. We’ve broken up for the holidays , baby.”

Jack grins at him, his slightly anxious air completely gone. “Okay, then.”

“For fuck’s sake.” Steven stands and stomps off towards the toilets.

Tom claps Jack on the back. “I’ll leave you with that.”

“Thank you so much.”

Tom nods at us and walks away.

Ivy comes to stand next to me, and we watch him march out of the bar. I can’t help noticing the swell of his world-class arse.

Ivy looks at me. “Where’s your coat?”

“Where it was before the lord and master appeared. And coincidentally, where it’s staying.”

She blinks like a tiny drunken owl.

“I’m not coming,” I explain.

“What? Really ?”

“Do you mind?” I ask. “Will you be okay?”

She waves a careless hand. “We’re going on to Sal’s afterwards, so I’ll get a taxi home from there. Why won’t you come, though? Is it Tom? You were glaring at him like he’d eaten the last Penguin in the biscuit tin.”

“He looks the type to do that.” I shrug. “He shows up and is appallingly rude, and then flashes a smile and expects everyone to follow him. What a complete twat,” I finish disapprovingly.

“Good-looking one, though.” She leans into me. “And we’re going away on holiday with him.”

“Well, hopefully, he’ll stay far enough away that you can stare at his face and be able to ignore his personality.”

“Oh, come off it. I can’t blame him for being cross.” She looks around to check Steven is out of earshot. “He’d got no right to take Tom’s key. He doesn’t pay rent in their house.”

“I’d lock Tom out if I lived with him. I’d lock him in a room in Outer Mongolia.”

She stares at me. “It’s not like you to be so judgemental, Bee.”

I shrug. “Men like that wind me up.”

“Maybe you’ll end up sharing with him,” she says slyly.

“Only if I was impossibly evil in a former life.” I smile at her. “Never mind,” I say, looking past her at the redhead. “I’ve got other fish to fry tonight, and if I play my cards right, I won’t have to speak to Tom at all while we’re away.”