He might rather be needing them.
It was everything a Christmas party should be.
The theme was fun and midwives knew how to have it.
All the Christmas music was playing and Louise was the happiest she had been in a very, very long time amongst her colleagues and friends. Anton was there in the background, making her toes curl in her strappy stilettoes as she danced and had fun and made merry with friends while he suitably ignored her. Now and then, though, they caught the other’s eye and had a little smile.
It was far less formal than the theatre do and everyone let off a little seasonal steam, well, everyone but Anton.
He stood chatting with Stephanie and Rory, holding his sparkling water, even though he was off duty now until Monday.
‘Louise,’ Rory called to her near the end of the evening, ‘what are you doing for Emily at Christmas?’
‘I don’t know,’ Louise said. ‘I’ve been racking my brains. She’s got everything she needs really but I’m going Christmas shopping tomorrow. I might think of something then.’
‘Well, let me know if you want to go halves,’ Rory said. ‘Or if you see something I could get, then could you get it for me?’
‘I shall.’
‘I’m going to take Stephanie home,’ Rory said, and as Stephanie went to get her coat, even though Anton was there, Louise couldn’t resist, once Stephanie had gone, asking Rory a question.
‘Is it Stephanie?’
‘Who?’
‘The woman you like.’
‘God.’ Rory rolled his eyes. ‘Why did I ever say anything?’
‘Because we’re friends.’
‘Just drop it,’ Rory said. ‘And, no, it’s not Stephanie.’ He let out a laugh at Louise’s suggestion. ‘She’s married with two children.’
‘Maybe that’s why you have to keep it so quiet.’
‘Louise, it’s not Stephanie and you are to leave this alone.’ He looked at Anton. ‘She’s relentless.’
‘She is.’
Louise pulled a face at Rory’s departing back and then turned and it was just she and Anton.
‘Do you want a drink?’ Anton asked.
‘No, thanks,’ Louise said. ‘I’ve had one snowball too many.’
‘What are you drinking?’ Anton asked, because he had seen the pale yellow concoction she had been drinking all night.
‘Snowballs—Advocaat, lemonade and lime juice,’ she pulled a face.
‘You don’t like them?’
‘I like the idea of them,’ Louise said, and then her attention was shot as a song came on. ‘Ooh, I love this one …’
‘Of course you do.’
‘No, seriously, it’s my favourite.’
It was dance with her or watch her dance alone.
‘I thought we were being discreet?’ Louise said.
‘It’s just a dance,’ Anton said, as she draped her arms round his neck. ‘But Rory’s right—you are relentless.’
‘I know I am.’ Louise smiled.
They were as discreet as two bodies on fire could be, just swaying and looking at each other and talking.
‘I want to kiss you under the mistletoe,’ Anton said.
‘I assume we’re not talking about the sad bunch hanging at the bar.’
‘No.’
‘Did you know these stockings come with matching underwear?’
‘I do,’ Anton said, ‘I saw your work in the magazine.’
‘Did you like?’
‘I like.’ Anton nodded. ‘As I said, I want to kiss you under the mistletoe.’
‘I am so turned on.’ She stated the obvious because he could feel every breath that blew from her lips, he could see her pulse galloping in her neck as well as the arousal in her eyes.
‘Good.’
‘We need to leave,’ Louise said.
‘I’m going to go and speak to Brenda and then leave, and you’re going to hang around for a little while and then we meet at my car.’
‘I live a two-minute walk from here,’ Louise said.
‘Okay …’
She loved his slow smile as she gave him her address. ‘I’ll slip the key into your coat pocket,’ Louise said. ‘You can go and put the kettle on.’
‘I shall.’
‘Please don’t,’ Louise said. ‘I meant—’
‘Oh, I get what you meant.’
Anton said his goodbyes and chatted with Brenda for an aching ten minutes, though on the periphery of his vision he could see Louise near the coats but then off she went, back to the dance floor.
Anton headed out into the night and found her home very easily. Louise had left the heating on. She loathed coming home to a cold house and a furnace of heat hit Anton as he opened the door as well as the dazzle of decorations, which were about as subtle as Louise.
And as for the bedroom!
Anton couldn’t help but smile as he stepped inside Madame Louise’s chamber. He looked at the crushed velvet bed that matched the crushed velvet chair by the dressing table and he looked at the array of bottles and make-up on it.
Anton undressed and got into her lovely bed. He had never met someone so unabashed and he liked that about her, liked that she was who she was.
Louise had never been more in demand than in the ten minutes at the end of the party. Everyone, everyone wanted her to stop for a chat, and just as she finally got her coat on and was leaving, Brenda suggested they drop over to Louise’s as some work dos often ended up there.
‘I can’t tonight,’ Louise said. ‘Mum’s over.’
‘Your mum?’
‘I think she and Dad had a row,’ Louise lied, but she had to, as her mind danced with a sudden vision of a naked Anton in the hallway greeting half of the maternity staff. ‘It’s a bit of a sensitive point.’
Louise texted him as she walked out.
I just told the biggest lie
Should I be worried that there is a crib in your bedroom? Anton texted back.
She laughed because she had already told him it was for Emily’s baby and it was wrapped in Cellophane too, so she continued the tease.
Aren’t we making a baby tonight? Louise fired back. Get here!!!
She waved as a car carrying her friends tooted, trying not to run on shaky, want-filled legs, and almost breaking her ankle as she walked far too fast for her stilettoes.
She could barely get the key in the door, just so delighted by the turn of events—that they were going to put other things on hold and simply enjoy. Her coat dropped to the floor as she stepped into the bedroom and there he was, naked in her bed and a Christmas wish came true.
‘Who’s been sleeping in my bed?’ Louise smiled.
‘No sleeping tonight,’ Anton said. ‘Come here.’