Why had she allowed herself to get in such a sweat? she thought crossly. Anyone would think she was eighteen again! Her hand trembled slightly as she sipped her drink. Would it have been so awful to perhaps feel Jed’s warm hands at the nape of her neck, pulling her towards him? To feel his lips touch hers, if only for a moment? Or to sense his heart beating against her chest for a fraction of a second? She checked her thoughts abruptly. What on earth was the matter with her—was she drunk? Yes, that must be it! These sort of imaginings were not part of the deal between her and Jeremy Hunter. So why, then, was she feeling so…let down, so left out, so…undesired? Go on, admit it, she told herself fiercely. Why was she feeling so damned disappointed?
It was getting on for 1:00 a.m. when the manager used the loud speaker system to address the still almost full gathering; only a few couples having already left.
‘Ladies and gents…guys…’ he began, as someone raised a drunken cheer. ‘I have been passing the word around, but as it’s nearly time to call it a day I should warn you that it’s not getting any better outside, and some of you are going to have difficulty getting home tonight.’
Mild consternation greeted his words, and people began to stand up. Cryssie frowned as she looked across at Jed.
‘What’s going on? What is it?’ she asked.
‘Oh—just that it’s been snowing on and off for most of the evening, that’s all,’ he said casually. ‘But as there’s nothing anyone can do about that I wasn’t going to spoil the occasion by bothering you with the information.’
Snow! That was news to her! But she realised she hadn’t heard any weather forecasts over the last day or so. ‘What did he mean that we’d have difficulty getting home?’ she asked childishly. ‘Your car is well equipped to deal with changes in the weather, isn’t it?’
She wished that she didn’t feel so unlike herself as she spoke…so strange…But then, was that a surprise? She’d never drunk champagne before in her life, and her usual wisdom and common sense seemed to have deserted her in allowing Jed to refill her glass all the evening. Neither had she ever spent this most poignant night of the year with such a handsome member of the opposite sex! It was certainly the funniest business meeting she’d ever attended!
She tried to get to her feet, then sat down again hurriedly.
He picked up a large jug of water and poured some into a glass. ‘Here—dilute the alcohol a bit,’ he ordered. ‘I’ll go outside and take a look.’ He held her anxious gaze for a second, a rush of something he couldn’t explain sweeping over him. ‘Don’t worry—Crystal,’ he said evenly, and his use of her name made her glower. ‘It’ll be okay.’
It had better be okay, she thought, as she sipped at the water. But of course it would…Even the weather wouldn’t dare interfere with Mr Jeremy Hunter’s plans! He’ll get it sorted, she reassured herself. And anyway, the Laurels wasn’t that far away from home…only about five or six miles, if she’d judged the distance right. Home! Why wasn’t she there now, safely tucked up in bed?
There was a general hubbub in the room as everyone made plans to leave, and presently Jed returned to the table, an unusually rueful expression on his face.
‘You’ve been ages,’ Cryssie said, looking up at him. ‘What have you been doing—building a snowman?’
‘No, nor taking part in any snowball fights either,’ he replied pleasantly. ‘I’ve been checking with the police about the prospect of our journey home. This blizzard—or rather, the intensity of it—was totally unexpected. A few showers were anticipated, that’s all, with more to follow mid-week. But nothing like this. And it’s still coming down—you can hardly see your hand in front of your face. Several of the higher roads are already impassable, and the ploughs won’t be out until the morning—if then.’ He ran a hand through his hair, which was wet and speckled with glistening white flakes. The unusually dishevelled look gave him an alluringly boyish appearance, Cryssie thought briefly.
She stood up, still uncertain on her feet, and he automatically cupped his hand under her elbow.
‘I should sit there for a bit,’ he advised. ‘There’s no rush.’
‘What do you mean there’s no rush?’ she demanded, her voice sounding shriller than she’d meant it to. ‘Oughtn’t we to be setting off? Everyone else seems to be going,’ she added, glancing around at the now practically empty room.