All I Want Series Boxset, Books 1-3: All I Want for Christmas, All I Want for Valentine's, All I Want for Spring by Clare Lydon Page A

was an okay first date.”
    “Did you kiss?”
    Holly went all coy. “A goodnight kiss — nothing major. But we’re going out again tomorrow night, so who knows?” She took a sip of her beer, and looked away briefly. “How about you?”
    I shook my head and laughed. “Spanish Vixen was yet another of my disaster dates that I’m thinking about starting a blog about. Perhaps a book too, then a mini-series. I think it’d go down well. A bit like her.”
    Holly raised an eyebrow. “What happened this time?”
    “Let’s see,” I said, spreading my hands. “She tried to sell me life insurance, and then if I bought it — and only if I bought it — she promised me the best orgasm of my life.”
    Holly nearly spat her drink out. “That’s a unique sell,” she laughed.
    “It’s only a matter of time before she’s on The Apprentice ,” I replied, exhaling. After what had just happened in the bridal shop, thinking about Max was light relief.
    “You’ve got her number, right?” Holly was smiling her lopsided smile. “Just in case I have a life insurance emergency.”
    “On speed dial, of course.”
    We both smiled at each other.
    “And any more dates in the pipeline?”
    I shook my head. “I’m a bit dated out, to tell you the truth.”
    Holly frowned. “But you’re on a schedule — you’ve got to get a girlfriend by Christmas.”
    I shrugged. “Yeah well, that might have seemed like a good idea initially, but now I’m not so sure. I’m exhausted and not getting anywhere fast, so I might give it a break for a bit. See where life takes me and stop chasing my own tail. I could do with some peace and quiet.”
    “This is a change of pace,” Holly replied. “I thought this was do or die, nobody moves until this project is complete?”
    “It was, but now I’m a bit over it. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it’s not the end of the world. I’m cool with it.”
    Holly frowned. “Well I’m not okay with that. You’re going to get a girlfriend by Christmas. It’s my personal mission.”
    I took another sip of my mulled wine and gave her a look. “Have you been drinking already?”
    She giggled slightly. “Only a couple.” Then she put her arm around me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
    The world always felt like a safer, warmer place with Holly’s arm around me and I was glad that with the likes of Nicola, Jenny and Max in the world, it was Holly I came home to, Holly who was always there to talk.
    I could rely on Holly in ways I could never dream of with anybody else in my life.

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 13
     
     
    Saturday December 10th
     
    The following afternoon found me lying on the sofa in the lounge, watching our Christmas tree lights blink on and off, listening to the trains rattle by our window. Sometimes, the noise of the trains drove me insane, but at other times, like today, it was soothing and comforting, providing an order to my day. And I needed order today, because yesterday had been studded with disorder.
    I’d kissed Nicola Sheen while she was trying on her wedding dress. Or had she kissed me? However it happened, I didn’t come out of it covered in anything resembling glory. But it was a one-off — she was marrying Melanie, so I had to let it go. It was just stupid, pre-wedding jitters. After all, this kind of thing happened with brides and grooms all over the world. It’s what stag and hen parties were created for.
    I got up and stood at the window, staring into a train below our window, stuck at a signal. Our flat was close enough that you could see people’s faces, make out the newspaper they were reading. But you never knew what they were thinking, whether they were looking at you, whether or not they could make out the turmoil embedded into my Saturday. To them, I probably just looked like a normal young woman without a care in the world.
    My phone beeped and I grabbed it.
    It was a text from Nicola. Okay, so yesterday could be slotted neatly into the