She still looked a bit stunned. ‘I’ve heard about the staff party. I just wasn’t sure if I was going to go. What will the rest of the staff think if I go with you?’
He waved his hand. ‘Who cares?’
‘I care.’ She looked serious.
He shook his head and took both her hands in his. ‘Grace, they will think I’m saying thank you for the way you’ve decorated the hotel. The way you’ve managed to bring Christmas to The Armstrong in such a classy, stylish way. And they’d be right.’
She glanced over at the Christmas tree and finally smiled again.
She tilted her head to one side. ‘Well, when you put it like that...’
CHAPTER FOUR
ALICE ARCHER COULD sniff out a problem from forty paces away. ‘What’s wrong with you today, Grace? One minute you’re talking non-stop, next minute you’re staring out of the window in some kind of daze. All with that strange expression on your face.’
Grace started back to attention. ‘What expression?’ she said quickly as she hung up another of Alice’s coats.
Alice gave a knowing smile. ‘That I’m-thinking-of-a-special-man kind of smile.’
Heat instantly seared her cheeks. ‘I have no idea what you mean.’
But Alice wasn’t put off. She merely changed the subject so she could probe another way. ‘The decorations are beautiful.’ She leaned back in her chair and gave a wistful sigh. ‘I doubted I’d ever see Christmas in The Armstrong again. But you’ve captured the spirit perfectly.’ She gave Grace a careful glance. ‘Who knew that purple could be such a festive colour?’ She picked up the individual snow globe that Grace had brought up to her room this morning, tipping it over so the snow swirled around in the liquid, then setting it back down on the table and watching it with a smile on her face.
‘It’s nice to see things changing.’
Grace was concentrating on the clothes hanging on the rails. She’d started arranging them into colour schemes. ‘He’s asked me to the staff party,’ she said without thinking.
‘He’s what?’
Darn it. She’d played right into Alice’s hands.
Alice pushed herself up from the chair and stood next to Grace. ‘Finlay asked you to the party? He doesn’t seem the type to do parties,’ she added.
Grace turned to face her. ‘He doesn’t, does he?’ She hadn’t slept at all last night. The excitement of the day, the success of the decorations, the long hours she’d worked. The truth was she should have been exhausted and collapsed into bed. Instead, although her bones had been weary and welcomed the comfort of her bed, her mind had tumbled over and over.
Even though she’d been so busy, as soon as she’d stepped inside the flat last night a wave of loneliness had swamped her. It had been there ever since her gran had died, but this time of year just seemed to amplify it. She’d ended up texting Clio and asking for extra shifts. She couldn’t bear to be inside the house herself. Keeping busy was the only thing she could think of.
She wasn’t quite sure how she felt about all this. Finlay had been straight with her. He was still mourning his wife. Christmas was hard for him. He was her boss. He’d been angry with her. He’d almost fired her.
But he hadn’t felt like her boss on the roof when she’d been contemplating an even lonelier Christmas than she was already facing. For a few minutes he’d felt like someone she’d connected with.
Again, when he’d held her hand and those little tingles had shot straight up her arm.
Again, when he’d given her that look as he’d stood behind her in the shop and stared at their reflection in the mirror.
Again, when she’d seen joy on his face as he’d seen the purple Christmas decorations.
But she was probably imagining it all.
What did she know? When was the last time she’d been on an actual date?
Wait? Was this a date?
‘He asked me to go to the party,’ she said out loud again. ‘It’s only a thank you for the decorations.’
Alice gave a brief nod. ‘Is it?’ she said knowingly.
Grace made a little squeak. Panic was starting to wash over her. ‘It’s just a thank you.’
Alice turned and walked back to her chair. ‘I don’t know that he’s ever taken anyone else to the party—or to a party.’
‘No one else has done Christmas decorations for him,’ Grace said quickly, sliding the doors closed on the wardrobe.
She had to stop overthinking this. He’d been clear.
‘He said we might not even stay long. And he said he doesn’t dance. But the food will be good and there will be champagne.’