Page 9 of Lucas & Melissa Falling in Love
“Thank you, ma’am. Merry Christmas to you too.”
This must be what Scrooge felt like the morning after, all warm and fuzzy. I could be insane, but I didn’t think so. I felt free. It felt good to let go. I had no idea what I was letting go of, but it felt wonderful. I wasn’t worried about money. I’d sell the damn Hermès bag. Some crazy person would pay handsomely for it and I could eat well for a month.
I was one of those crazy people who paid too much for designer bags, wasn’t I?I used to be.A twinge of uncertainty hit me and I had no idea what to think. I’m still myself, aren’t I?I still loved beautiful things, and there was nothing wrong with that. Stepping onto the elevator, I felt my chin rise in defense of the old me. It was the irrepressible pride. It must be part of my DNA.
When the elevator stopped, I leapt out, suddenly anxious to see my old dear friends, to reassure myself that I was still me. Not some crazy stranger. Not the woman who would invite a strange handsome man to a party on a whim, who would let him kiss her silly, who would tell him personal things.
The door opened and I rushed inside straight into Margo’s arms and hugged her.
“Merry Christmas,” she said with only a little surprise in her voice.
“The merriest ever,” I said, stepping back.
Henry dropped the bags in the foyer and Margo looked a question at me. I waved a hand and shrugged out of my coat and hat and gloves. Everything I wore tonight was designer label and stunningly expensive. And it was the last of such clothes that I owned.
“I’m heading to my parents for a holiday visit when I leave here tonight.” I spoke casually as if there was nothing amiss, as if everything was the same, as if I still had a closet full of designer clothing.As if I still had a closet.
But there was no closet. The designer clothes were all gone. The sensation came over me as if a rug slid away under my feet and was about to expose a giant black hole into which I was about to fall.
“You look like you could use a drink,” George said as he came up behind Margo and wrapped his arms around her.
I nodded and wanted to weep, but I didn’t. My penting-up skills were back in full force and I was determined that not one single bit of emotion except holiday cheer—even if it was fake—would leak out of me tonight.
At least not until Lucas arrived. Then I had no idea what would happen. The notion sent a bolt through me made of fear and dread. And scintillating, hair-raising, skin-tingling desire.
It was the memory of that kiss.
