by Fiona Harper
He shook his head. ‘No.’
‘Even after I ran away from you?’
Her confidence wobbled a bit as she said that. Because run away from him she had. She hadn’t tried to fight for him, hadn’t tried to stay.
‘You didn’t run away from me because you were scared,’ Will said, his eyes blazing with warmth. ‘You ran away because you thought you had to. You were being selfless and generous and it only made me realise even more how amazing you are.’
Gemma tried to say something back, but she discovered her throat had swollen up and it was difficult enough to swallow, let alone form words.
‘And there’s only one thing to do when a woman like that runs away from you.’
‘What’s that?’ she managed to croak.
Will gave her his most dazzling and most sexy smile yet. ‘You run after her.’ And then he dipped her over and delivered another one of those kisses. Gemma reckoned this one had to be worth a million at least.
A few feet away a director and his two leading actors watched the unfolding scene with interest. Ruby was smiling, but Jared was looking a little gobsmacked. ‘Who are these people?’ he asked, although he’d been working with Gemma for a week and really should have recognised her by now.
Calvin just walked up to his male lead and prodded him on the chest. ‘Don’t you worry about that. Just watch and take notes, Bucko, because that is what I’m talking about...’
EPILOGUE
CHRISTMAS EVE WAS COLD and frosty this year, leaving a dusting of glitter on the roof of Juliet’s house. Half the local woodland was festooned inside, and white lights twinkled round the porch. She heard a car approach on the gravel drive and walked, smiling, to open the front door. Gemma emerged from her car with a tangle of shopping bags and yelled her greeting.
When she was inside she dropped the bags in an untidy heap and the two sisters hugged.
‘How was Finland?’ Juliet asked.
‘Beautiful, but very, very cold,’ Gemma said. ‘Thank goodness I’m taking that job with the new production company, because I think I’m getting too old for all this running around after movie stars. I used to be able to put up with it, but nowadays I find myself wanting to give them a good, hard slap and tell them to get over themselves.’
Juliet waited while Gemma shrugged off her coat and hung it on the coatrack under the stairs. The kids had obviously trained her well when she’d been here last year. ‘Do you have a firm start date yet?’
Gemma nodded and followed her into the kitchen. ‘Beginning of February. I can’t wait. They’ve leased offices in Soho, so it’s almost commuting distance from here.’
‘That’ll be handy,’ she said smoothly, ‘for when you move in next door.’
Gemma looked so shocked Juliet was tempted to laugh.
‘Let’s get used to living in the same country as each other first, Sis! One step at a time. Nobody wants the next world war to start in Tunbridge Wells.’
Juliet just smiled, then looked first at the kettle and then at the fridge. ‘Tea or wine?’
Gemma leaned against the kitchen counter. ‘After that comment...wine. Definitely.’
They chatted while Juliet poured them both a glass then headed off to the living room where the kids were currently sprawled over the sofa watching a movie.
‘Auntie Gemma!’ Josh, Jake and Polly cried and came rushing towards their aunt. Juliet only had time to relieve her of her glass of wine before they all bundled on top of their aunt and knocked her onto one of the sofas.
‘Boys!’ Gemma yelled. ‘I have warned you about the bouncing before!’
They twins stopped. Eventually. When Gemma had kissed them all and promised she’d brought presents with her, they allowed her to disentangle herself enough to sit up. Juliet handed Gemma back her wine glass as she looked around the living room.
‘What happened to games night?’ she asked, frowning.
‘Well, Violet is out with her friends until eight thirty and we have something less...stressful...planned this year.’ She gave Gemma a sheepish look. ‘Some traditions have their expiry date, you know, and the kids wanted to do something different.’
‘Such as?’
‘Movies and pizza.’ She frowned as she picked up the takeaway leaflet from the coffee table. ‘Christmas Pizza’, the kids said, but I can’t find it on the menu anywhere.’
‘Ah,’ Gemma said.
Juliet frowned harder. She knew that look. ‘Spill,’ she said.
Her sister put on her best angelic face. ‘We made it up last year. It’s just normal pepperoni pizza with some...ah...additions.’
Juliet raised her eyebrows. ‘Such as...?’
‘Rudolph noses?’ Gemma said hopefully.
Juliet didn’t think she wanted to know how they featured into the pizza. ‘Please tell me they’re cherry tomatoes.’
Gemma shook her head.
‘We found glacé cherries worked much better!’ Polly piped up.
Gemma pulled her niece into a headlock and whispered loudly in her ear. ‘Thanks for that, Polls. I was trying to break it to your mum gently!’ Polly just giggled and slipped out of Gemma’s hold.
Juliet was still trying not to shudder. Eww. Just the thought of it was enough to put her off the pizza entirely. Still, it was Christmas...
‘You’d better go and see if you can find any in the larder,’ she told the kids, and they ran off, squealing.
Gemma took a big slug of wine and looked at her sister. ‘Okay, let me have it... What time are we getting up in the morning to start cooking?’
Juliet eased herself into an armchair. ‘Not too late,’ she said. ‘About three thirty.’
Gemma spat out her wine. ‘Three thirty! The flipping turkey must be the size of a grizzly bear!’
Juliet shook her head. ‘Oh, that’s not for the turkey. It’s the time we’re going to start stuffing the peacock.’
Gemma just stared at her.
She couldn’t hold back any more, Juliet had to giggle. ‘Had you there, didn’t I?’
Her sister shook her head. ‘I ought to rescind my offer to help for that.’
‘Too late... I’ve got you on bread sauce duty, and possibly stuffing. I was going to get you to peel the veggies, but the kids begged me to let them do...’
She broke off when the doorbell rang. ‘That’s not the pizza man,’ Juliet told Gemma. ‘He said he wouldn’t be here for another fifteen minutes.’
Gemma was instantly off the sofa and rushing to the front door. Juliet smiled as she watched her go. She’d been on location for a month—her last big film—but she’d come here first instead of going next door. That said something.
She decided not to go and greet her other guest yet, knowing that Will and her sister would probably want a bit of privacy. They were still so sweet together. And good for each other. Will’s smiles were no longer rare, and he’d lost that slightly stuffy edge. And Gemma? Well, Gemma was still Gemma, but she seemed happier, more grounded.
She rose to kiss Will hello when they finally came into the living room. Gemma’s cheeks were a little flushed and her eyes were sparkling. Will, too, seemed so happy he couldn’t stop looking at Gemma with barely contained adoration.
Juliet sipped her wine and smiled to herself. She’d been the sister to get a ring for Christmas last year, but she had a feeling that this year it might be Gemma’s turn.
And, while her mind was on that subject...
She turned to her sister. ‘Actually, I’ve got a favour to ask you.’
Her sister smiled at her. ‘Anything.’
Juliet looked down into her wine glass. ‘I wondered if you had any plans for New Year’s Eve? Because I might need a babysitter.’
Gemma dropped into the chair opposite her
and leaned forward. ‘The guy? The hunky PE teacher? He finally asked you out?’
Juliet bit one side of her lip. ‘Actually, I asked him out.’
Gemma’s eyes grew wide, and then she chuckled. ‘You go, girl!’ she said, approval in her tone.
Juliet just smiled.
* * * * *
About the Author
As a child, Fiona Harper was constantly teased for two things: having her nose in a book and living in a dream world. Things haven’t changed much since then, but at least she’s found a career that puts her runaway imagination to use!
Fiona loves dancing, so clear the floor if you’re ever at a party with her. Her current creative craze (one of a long list!) is jewelry-making. She loves good books, good films and good food, especially anything cinnamon-flavored, and she can always find room in her diet for chocolate or champagne!
Fiona loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through [email protected], find her on her Facebook page (Fiona Harper Romance Author) or Tweet her, @FiHarperAuthor.
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ISBN-13: 9781459256484
Make My Wish Come True
Copyright © 2014 by Fiona Harper
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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