Whatever Damon told her tonight, it was clear to her that this thing between him and Rachel was no festive fling.
Rachel’s heel skidded on the parquet flooring, and Celeste gripped her arm a little tighter, as Theo had hers on the ice rink.
‘You okay?’ Celeste murmured.
‘No.’ Rachel held onto Celeste while she found her balance. ‘But I will be.’
‘Do you want me to come with you to talk to him?’ Not that she was sure what she could do, but she could tell her best friend was scared. Rachel was the one person in the world she’d always been able to read right. She’d learned her, the same way she learned dates and names and sources. Because from the moment Rachel had become her friend, she’d known she had to work as hard to keep her as she did her grade average.
‘No,’ Rachel said. ‘I need to do this alone.’
‘You’re sure?’
Rachel’s gaze skittered towards Damon, and Celeste’s followed. He looked as if he was bracing himself for Sunday lunch with the parents—or, worse, Christmas Day. Maybe he was.
Oh, she had a feeling this was going to go very badly.
‘Sure,’ Rachel said, sounding more certain than Celeste felt. ‘Besides, I need you to do something else for me.’
‘Anything,’ Celeste said. She couldn’t fix this for her friend, but she could help her through it.
‘Distract the rest of the room?’
Huh. She hadn’t been expecting that, but she supposed it made sense. There weren’t so many people at the gathering that any argument between Rachel and Damon would go unnoticed. In fact, it would probably be the most exciting thing that had happened at one of the Hunters’ Christmas Eve parties in years. Of course, Rachel wouldn’t want a gaping audience—unlike every time she and Theo went out in public.
‘Just while I get Damon out of here. I don’t want an audience for this,’ Rachel went on.
Celeste tried to smile, although she wasn’t sure she managed it very well. ‘On it.’
She didn’t look back as she crossed the room; Rachel had to do this alone now. And she had a job to do.
Unfortunately, the only way she knew to draw the attention of the masses was by kissing Theo Montgomery.
The things she did for her friends...
* * *
Celeste’s father was obviously a very intelligent man, Theo decided, but he was no storyteller. He’d been talking—at length—about his research and discoveries for the last fifteen minutes, and Theo was still no clearer what he’d actually been doing.
Celeste would have made the story exciting. He’d have listened to her explain anything. Partly because he was stupidly in thrall to her, but mostly because, despite what she believed about herself, she was actually good at making history interesting. At telling the stories that made the past come to life.
He’d known that about her before he’d even met her, from listening to her on the radio. It was how he knew her new TV show would not only be picked up, but be a success. And it was, now he thought about it, probably why there’d been such uproar after the Christmas Cracker Cranium Quiz had aired. People weren’t just cross because he’d been mansplaining to her, but because they’d wanted to hear what she had to say, and he’d been following the producer’s orders to cut her off.
She’d asked for tips on being on TV but, in truth, she just needed to be herself. She needed to see herself the way he saw her—as a passionate, engaged, fascinating historian who made stories of the past feel real and immediate.
He didn’t know what her history with men, or other people generally, was like—he hadn’t asked and he wouldn’t—but he got the impression that others might not have always taken the time to see her that way. Maybe they’d been put off by her sometimes prickly nature—something he suspected now was more down to social nerves than anything else. Or perhaps the people she met simply didn’t like being told they were wrong, even when they were.
But she’d let him see beyond the prickles. And he’d been told he was wrong his whole life. It was actually a relief to be told it when it was true. At least Celeste also acknowledged when he was right.
She hadn’t laughed at the idea of him studying for a degree; she’d encouraged him. And she’d put up with lunch with his parents without flinching, then told him they were wrong about him.
Something he’d been waiting to hear his whole life. Not from fakers like him, who lied for a living.
From someone who told the truth no matter how inconvenient. From Celeste.
And that was why he’d been politely listening to her father drone on for the last thirty minutes, without excusing himself and leaving this travesty of a party. Because if he left, he wouldn’t see her again tonight—and, God help him, he wanted to see her again.
He tuned out Jacob Hunter completely as Celeste returned to the room, arm in arm with Rachel—looking stunning in a wine-red gown that had Damon, across the room, standing gawping at her like an idiot. Huh. Obviously things were afoot there.
Suddenly, Celeste broke away from her friend and headed towards him, a determined glint in her eye. Her father didn’t seem to have noticed, as he was still continuing a run-on sentence that had been going on for half a glass of wine now. Theo put his glass down on the nearest table, and braced himself for whatever was about to happen.
Celeste grinned. Oh, but he had a bad feeling about this...
She ignored her father as much as Mr Hunter was ignoring her, her gaze not leaving Theo’s as she approached. And then she was in front of him, almost pressed up against him, in fact, that slippery black fabric sliding against the front of his freshly pressed shirt.
‘Just follow my lead on this one, okay?’ she murmured.
And then she kissed him.
It was like the ice rink all over again, with a similar chance of him falling over, just out of shock. Theo froze for less than a second, before the feel of Celeste’s mouth on his let his instincts take over, pushing his brain to the back of the queue.
He knew how to do this, whatever her reasons. Hell, he wanted to do this, had been dreaming of doing this, ever since the last time. His baser instincts weren’t going to let his brain ruin this for him now.
Around them, there were murmurs, comments, and he happily ignored all of them. If Celeste didn’t care what her family and friends were saying about their public display of affection, he sure as hell didn’t. Instead, he sank into the kiss, holding her close and wrapping his arms tight around her as if he never intended to let go.
Maybe he didn’t.
Celeste, however, had other ideas. Apparently oblivious to the way her kiss was changing his whole world around him, she pulled away, and glanced over her shoulder.
‘Okay, they’re gone.’ She let him go, flashed a smile at her father, and headed out into the hallway.
Theo blinked, then followed.
‘What was that about?’ he asked as the door to the living space swung shut behind him, and they were alone at last.
‘Rachel needed to talk to Damon, without an audience.’
‘So you drew the audience’s attention our way instead,’ Theo surmised.
She smiled. ‘Exactly.’
Theo watched her, watched as her smile started to waver. ‘Did I do it wrong?’
He laughed, not at her but at himself. ‘Sweetheart, trust me. I don’t think you know how to do it wrong.’
Celeste gave a one-shouldered shrug. ‘Oh, you’d be surprised. Guys are generally with me for my brain, or my university connections, rather than my lips or my body. Which, you know, is a good thing, I suppose.’ He’d sworn to himself he wouldn’t ask about her past romances. It was none of his business—especially since this wasn’t even a real relationship. But if she was just telling him, that was okay, right?
‘Not if they’re just using those parts of you.’ He frowned
at her. ‘Wouldn’t you rather have someone who wanted all of you? Brains and body, your soul and your sexuality?’
Tossing her hair back over her shoulder, Celeste barked her own laugh this time, too sharp and short to contain any actual humour. ‘You can talk. You only want me for my publicity.’
God, if only she knew the truth. How much he did want her, just as she was. Except for her, this was still about her career, and his. She’d never hinted at wanting anything more. And he could only imagine how people would laugh if he even pretended to be smart enough to have anything more with her. Half a distance-learning degree wasn’t going to match up to her PhD and academic credentials any time soon.
But if she honestly thought he wasn’t attracted to her, that he didn’t dream about her lips, her body under his...then she really hadn’t been paying attention.
The question wasn’t whether he wanted her. It was whether she wanted him.
He waited, just a moment, until her gaze settled back on his again. He didn’t laugh off her comment the way he would have done before that kiss. Didn’t make a joke, and let the moment pass. Didn’t hide anything, for once.
He let her see the heat in his eyes. And, because he was watching oh-so-carefully, he saw the answering flare in her own, before she blinked and tried to bury it.
‘Celeste.’ Theo stepped closer, relieved when she didn’t move away. ‘Do you really think this is still all about the publicity?’
‘Isn’t it?’ Her tone was defiant, but he heard the hope behind it. ‘What else could it be? We had an agreement...’
‘And then I kissed you on that ice rink and nearly lost my mind with wanting you.’
A sharp intake of breath was the only response she gave him.
He stepped closer. Her back was already up against the bannister, and he was so close now he could reach past and rest one arm on the wood right beside her head. If she gave him the slightest hint, he’d back away.
But she didn’t. That heat was back in her eyes, and he could feel it growing between their bodies, too.
‘Celeste, I don’t know what this is between us. But it’s sure as hell not about the publicity right now, okay? There’s no one watching. No cameras. And I still need to do this.’
He ducked his head to capture her mouth with his own, loving the small sigh she gave as their lips touched. She wanted this as much as he did. Needed it, even.
He’d worry about what the hell that meant tomorrow.
It was long moments before he pulled away, panting slightly, and rested his forehead against hers. ‘How long do we have to stay at this thing?’
Celeste shook her head, as if she was trying to clear it. ‘I told my parents I’d stay here tonight. It’s Christmas Eve, Theo.’
He swore. Christmas Eve meant he needed to drive back to Sorrelton House tomorrow morning, to brave the festivities with the family. Christmas Eve meant Celeste would have her own family stuff to do.
‘That means I have a bed upstairs,’ she pointed out, and all the blood in his body rushed in one direction.
But before he could sweep her into his arms and carry her up the narrow town-house staircase, Rachel came barrelling through from the kitchen, her face blotchy with tears.
Celeste broke away from him instantly, taking her best friend into her arms and whispering with her. Then she turned back to Theo, her face thunderous.
‘Can you get Rachel a taxi, please? I need to go and speak with my brother.’
CHAPTER NINE
HER HEAD STILL swirling from that kiss, Celeste stormed out into the back garden to find Damon.
‘I warned him,’ she muttered to herself. ‘I told him to be careful with her heart, and now look. Honestly. Men.’
The fact wasn’t completely lost on her that she was avoiding thinking about the man she’d just walked away from inside. Had she really been just about to lead Theo Montgomery up to her childhood bedroom and let him seduce her? Or seduce him if it came to it?
Yes, her mind replied. And her treacherous body added, And you still might.
Focus, Celeste.
She needed to deal with Damon first. Then she could figure out what the hell was going on with Theo.
She found him, eventually, sitting forlornly on the swing at the end of the garden. Her steps faltered for a moment, when she saw how heartbroken he looked.
This is what love does to you. Where lust can lead.
She shook her head. This wasn’t about her. And she wasn’t Rachel, and Theo wasn’t Damon. They both knew what they had was fake. They lived different lives in different worlds that had only intersected for this brief, wonderful time. In the new year, it would all be over, and as long as she remembered that she’d be fine.
‘You are the biggest idiot known to man,’ she said, sitting down beside him.
‘I know.’ God, he sounded miserable.
‘Let me guess.’ Celeste kicked off the floor with one foot, making the old swing seat sway forward and back. ‘She asked you to commit and you said no.’
‘Basically.’
‘Why? Because you wanted to be free to sleep with as many other women as possible?’ If that was the case, she was walking out of here right now and leaving him to be miserable on his own.
‘No!’ The horror in his voice surprised her into silence. ‘Because I’m not that guy. I’d let her down, in the end, when she realised that.’
Oh. Oh, Damon.
His head was bowed, his hands clasped between his knees, so she saw clearly the moment his spine stiffened, as if someone had walked over his grave.
‘Damon?’ she asked, concerned.
‘I’m okay.’ A lie, but she let him have it. If he was having a come-to-Jesus revelation moment, she didn’t want to ruin it. Especially if it might just set him on the right path again.
‘For what it’s worth? I don’t think you’d let her down, little brother.’ Standing up, she pressed a quick kiss to his hair, something she couldn’t remember doing since he was a child. ‘In fact, I think you’ve got a better handle on this love thing than most of us. You just need to be brave enough to go after it.’
She was as surprised by her words as he obviously was, but she knew they were right, deep down. Damon was a good guy, and if he loved Rachel then he’d do everything in his power to make it right.
Celeste headed back up to the house, her head still whirling. The whole thing was just a reminder how distracting and distressing love could be. She’d never been sure if her parents really loved each other, or if their academic goals were just so neatly aligned that they’d decided they might as well team up. Either way, they’d made a good enough go of it, but they weren’t exactly role models for affection and romance. Or parenting, come to that.
It seemed she’d spent her whole life trying to prove to them that she was as good as they were, earning their love through academic achievements—while Damon had gone the opposite way entirely and followed his own path, never trying to impress anyone at all, never committing to anything.
Celeste had already heard her mother’s opinion about her choice of date for the evening; she imagined that it was probably about as favourable as Theo’s parents on her. She didn’t have a title or money. And Theo didn’t have a PhD or a research grant or publishing history. He didn’t even have an Oxbridge degree, it turned out.
She reached the back door and stared through the kitchen to where Theo was standing in the hallway, alone. He leaned against the bannister where he’d kissed her, running his hand through his hair. Was he having the same second and third thoughts as she was? Probably.
They weren’t a match, that much was clear. But did they need to be, really?
Only if it’s for ever.
And it wasn’t. It was just for now. And right now... Celeste’s body knew what she wanted, even if her mind was still spinning.
She let the door slam shut behind her, and Theo looked up instantly, his gaze locking with her own.
‘I put Rachel in a cab,’ he told her as he moved closer. ‘She was heading to the Cressingham Arcade.’
‘Good.’ If Damon wanted to go after her, he’d find her easily enough there, right? Those two could figure things out on their own from here.
She had her own love life to sort out.
No, not love life.
Her sex life. Something that had been dormant for far too long—not a problem that she imagined Theo having. Which meant maybe he could help her get over her drought, with both of them clear that was all this was.
She stepped towards him, closing the gap. ‘In that case, where were we?’
Theo’s eyes were dark. ‘You were telling me about the bedroom you have upstairs. And how it’s Christmas Eve.’
The way he looked at her, she felt like his Christmas gift, waiting to be unwrapped.
Maybe she was.
Do I really know what I’m doing here?
No, she admitted to herself. She hadn’t got a clue. But she’d lived her whole life so far knowing exactly where she was going—which degree, which research project, which professor she wanted to study under.
Perhaps it was time to take a leap into the unknown, for a change.
In the other room, she heard her mother laugh, and her father clink some silverware against a glass, ready to make his customary Christmas Eve speech. She didn’t need to hear it to know it would be the same as the year before, and the year before that.
She was ready for something new.
‘Come upstairs with me?’ she asked softly.
Theo hesitated, and she almost took back the whole thing. ‘Why?’ he asked.
Celeste swallowed. But she’d come this far, she wasn’t going to stop now. And besides, having a clear overview of her objectives was a positive thing, right? That was what her PhD supervisor had always said anyway.
‘Because I want you, and I think you want me. Not just for the publicity, but for the fun of it, too. So I think you should make love to me tonight, because I can’t imagine going another minute without kissing you again.’
A Midnight Kiss to Seal the Deal Page 11