You Had Me At Christmas: A Holiday Anthology(46)

He started to talk, in that awkward way people do when they are still looking at you even though they are having a conversation with someone else.

Having had enough of that for one night, Kate pulled out her own phone to check her work emails. What she saw was an incoming text indicator she hadn’t heard because she had been polite enough to put her phone on vibrate mode.

When she opened it she nearly gasped. It was John.

I f*cked up… notice the use of the word f*ck. And even though you have no reason to give me one, I’m asking for another chance. Please.

She looked at the time it was sent. Only a few minutes ago. Helpless against it, she found her fingers moving over the letters and hit send before she could overthink it.

Why?

She wasn’t even really sure what she was asking. Why should she give him another chance? Why was he asking for one? This time she felt the phone vibrate in her hand. She looked across the table at her date, who was still talking on his phone. So she only felt a little guilty that she was technically talking to one man while on a date with another.

Because I’m pretty sure if I don’t kiss you again I’m going to explode.

Kate smiled. Before she could think of how to respond, her phone buzzed again.

I know this is going to sound crazy after one strange Christmas night and one really horrible date… but I miss you.

It was crazy. And ridiculous. And worse, she missed him too. She missed who she’d been with him. A wilder, sexier version of herself. She wanted that Kate back.

Let me make it up to you. Please.

Kate could feel herself caving. If only she hadn’t felt the same way. If only she could stop remembering what kissing him had been like. She couldn’t. Even though logically she knew she was never going to see him again. She was still amazed at the idea she was never going to kiss him again. Only now he was texting her. Wanting a second chance.

OK.

Tonight?

If only it could be tonight. Instead she was stuck on a date with a man who should have been way more her type, but all she could think about was John.

“Hold on Jerry, I’ve got to go.”

Kate was about to put her phone away. She would have to text John later tonight. Especially since it seemed David was wrapping up his call.

“William!” David called even as he stood up. Another man, the alleged William Kate imagined, joined them at the table. “Kate, I’m sorry, can you give me a minute? I haven’t seen this guy in a month! How the heck are you?”

The two men started talking, moving away from the table toward the coat check area to avoid being an impediment to the wait staff, easily dismissing Kate.

“Take all the time you want,” she muttered.

She glanced down at her phone and started typing.

I wish I could. I’m on another horrible blind date. I blame you.

Oh no! You’re right. If I hadn’t messed up you would be with me again. Boring?

Very. Has spent more time on his phone and now is catching up with an old friend rather than talking to me. I turned to my phone as a distraction.

And found me…

Yes.

Leave.

I should. I doubt he would notice.

Better… tell me where you are and I’ll come get you.

Kate looked down at the phone and was shocked by how much she wanted to say yes. It would be totally rude to get up in the middle of a date and just walk out. Something she couldn’t fathom doing—and yet the whole reason she’d started down this path in the first place was because she didn’t want to be alone.

Right now, on this date with David, she was totally alone.

With John she wouldn’t be.

OK.

She typed out the name of the restaurant and sent it to him.

Give me ten minutes and then wait outside. Are you wearing a dress?

No. Pants this time.

Given that her dress had been such a particular disaster last time, she wasn’t taking any chances.

You wore a dress for me.

Which caused you to run out of the restaurant if you recall.

Ouch. No more running. One last question… how do you feel about motorcycles?

I don’t know. I’ve never been on one.

See you in ten minutes.

Kate put the phone away and then found her waiter. She paid for the meal and left a very good tip. She found her handbag and stood, thinking she would go over to David and let him know that she had an urgent work emergency which had to be dealt with immediately.

When she looked around for him she saw that he and William were in the restaurant’s bar area. Each with a fresh drink in their hands.

Kate decided the man didn’t deserve an explanation, and instead retrieved her coat and left the restaurant.

Ten minutes later, the subtle purr of an engine got her attention. She turned to see John driving up to the valet spot on what appeared to be a very large and very sleek black motorcycle.

“Oh my,” she whispered more to herself.

He smiled, and there was a bit of the devil in his eyes.

“Hop on, Red.”

Right, she thought. Because if she was going to be a biker chick now, she definitely needed a nickname. It would be without a doubt the most spontaneous thing she had ever done, and it felt good to not even hesitate. To do, instead of thinking.

She scrambled on the back and he handed her a helmet. She put it on and shoved her hair out of her face.