A Christmas Affair. Carole Mortimer

only be described as juvenile, one teenage boy very free with his mistletoe as he moved among the queue looking for all the pretty young ladies.

      Cathy winced as she glanced sideways at Dominic, knowing from experience that he hated anything resembling a fast-food restaurant at the best of times. And with the volume of people that passed through these service areas in a day they couldn't be classed as anything else!

      But today Dominic didn't seem in the least concerned by their surroundings. Just as he seemed totally unaware of the fact that Cathy's hand was still tucked warmly inside his arm!

      ‘Wow, my luck's really in today,’ murmured an admiring voice.

      During her preoccupation with Dominic Cathy had completely forgotten the young man with the mistletoe, but unfortunately he seemed to have reached their place in the queue.

      He was a young man of about eighteen, with an untidy mop of blond hair and mischievous blue eyes, wearing the customary jeans and thick jacket.

      And he looked as if he had every intention of kissing her.

      ‘I don't think so,’ Dominic drawled softly.

      An irritated blue gaze was turned on the older man as he stood so commandingly at Cathy's side. The two gazes clashed challengingly but, whatever it was the younger man read in Dominic's eyes, he looked disappointed rather than rebellious when he turned back wistfully towards Cathy.

      Then his expression brightened suddenly. ‘Well, there's no reason why the mistletoe shouldn't be put to good use.’ And he held the green sprig with its creamy berries over Cathy's and Dominic's heads, his intention obvious as he looked at them expectantly.

      Cathy was too embarrassed by the action to even glance at Dominic.

      How on earth were they going to get out of this one, and with everyone in the near vicinity turning to look at them curiously now? If Dominic tried to cry off by claiming she worked for him he was only likely to receive ribald comments from the over-enthusiastic crowd in here today.

      But the idea of the two of them actually kissing each other was unthinkable too!

      ‘I——’

      ‘It is Christmas, Cathy,’ Dominic reminded her softly, the firmness of his lips softening into a smile as her mouth fell open in surprise at his remark.

      The fact that her mouth had fallen open made the brief brushing together of lips that the kiss should have been virtually impossible, their mouths melding together in a kiss that took Cathy's breath away.

      Dominic was actually kissing her, was standing in the middle of a crowded restaurant and kissing her! It was unreal. Incredible. Beautiful. Wonderful …

      And over much too soon.

      She swayed dizzily, her mouth still raised invitingly as Dominic straightened, looking as cool and in control as he usually did. And for all the world as if he hadn't just shattered Cathy's own control.

      The young man with the mistletoe moved off down the queue in the search of more victims of his pranks, having no idea of the turmoil he had left behind him.

      The focus was no longer on the two of them, and yet Cathy couldn't speak. Her lips still felt the touch of Dominic's, firm and oh, so sensual, not cold and unyielding as they had always appeared.

      She was breathing hard, her fingernails digging into the sleeve of Dominic's jacket where she still clung to his arm, slowly forcing her grip to relax as Dominic looked down at her enquiringly.

      ‘I——’ She moistened dry lips. ‘I'm sorry about that.’

      ‘It doesn't matter,’ he dismissed shruggingly, turning to organise their food on to a tray. ‘It didn't hurt.’

      It took a couple of minutes for Cathy to realise he was talking about her nails digging into his arm, and not the kiss!

      How could he just carry on as if nothing unusual had happened, when to her it had been the single most breathtaking experience of her life? Because he wasn't in love, she acknowledged heavily.

      But, whatever she had thought of the intimate side of his life during the past few years, the kiss he had given her had been that of an expert, practised and assured. And she was left wondering who he had done the practising with!

      ‘You didn't mind what happened just now, did you?’ Dominic had turned and seen her frowning expression. ‘I thought it would cause less embarrassment to all concerned if we just humoured the young man.’

      Of course he had; he certainly hadn't wanted to kiss her.

      ‘I realised as much.’ She nodded abruptly. ‘The chicken looks nice,’ she murmured brightly, the slightly dry-looking poultry, despite the sauce that covered it, not really appealing to her at all. In fact, the thought of any food at all made her feel ill.