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Tonight, I just wanted to push everything out of my mind. Mrs Reynolds, Jonathan’s revelation, the upcoming visit to see Mam. I wanted to forget it all for a few brief hours.
Shay emerged, and I hurried to grab my coat and handbag. I opened the front door before he even had a chance to press the button. His eyes travelled slowly up my body, and I knew Vivi had done a good job when I saw a flicker of heat there. I swallowed nervously as his eyes burned a path from my shoes, up my legs and along my hips. I felt thoroughly seen, and it sent a thrill through me. His appreciation was blatantly evident.
“You look amazing,” he typed into his phone, and I flushed.
“Thank you. You look good, too. Really handsome.” It was the truth. Shay wore a deep blue shirt with a black tie and dark slacks. It was the fanciest I’d ever seen him dressed.
His eyes went over my shoulder as he glanced inside my flat. Then he smirked and typed, “Maybe we should just stay in tonight.”
“No,” I said, playfully wagging my finger. “I was promised a party.”
Shay smiled and pressed his hand to the small of my back as he ushered me into the car. The warmth of his palm seared through my clothing, and I momentarily regretted not agreeing to stay in. Rhys sat in the driver’s seat, but there was no Stephanie tonight. Maybe she was going to meet him at the party.
“Hi, Rhys,” I greeted.
“Hello, Maggie. Good to see you,” he replied.
Once Shay had me secured in the back, he went around to sit in the front next to Rhys. I liked that because it would be rude for us both to sit in the back and act like Rhys was our chauffeur or something. It was also good because, as handsome as Shay looked tonight, it was going to be hard keeping my hands off him.
When we arrived at the hotel, Rhys parked in the underground car park, and we took a lift to one of the function rooms where the staff party was being held. Rhys explained the part-timers were all working to facilitate the full-time staff having their party.
Shay slid his hand into mine as we entered the large room where the proceedings appeared to be in full swing. A DJ played all the usual Christmas songs, while long tables of food had been set up on one side and a busy bar on the other. I was impressed the hotel went all out for its staff, but then again, it was still a family-owned business. Most other hotels in the city were run by large corporations.
I spotted the receptionist who’d been rude to me that one time, Lloyd. He sat at a table sipping Prosecco and chatting with a few others, and I made a note to avoid bumping into him. Sometimes, all it took was one mean comment from a particular person to ruin your entire night.
“There’s Tristan and Nuala. Come, and I’ll introduce you,” Rhys said, motioning for us to follow him. He led us to where a man and woman, both in their thirties, sat sharing drinks. There was such a resemblance between them they had to be brother and sister, perhaps even fraternal twins. They had the same chocolate brown eyes, though where the woman’s hair was blonde, the man’s was light brown. Those were the Balfes I’d heard mentioned, the ones Rhys was close friends with. As far as I knew, their father owned the hotel.
“Tristan, Nuala,” Rhys said. “I’d like you to meet my cousin, Shay, and his date, Maggie.”
“Shay, I’ve heard so much about you,” the woman, Nuala, exclaimed. She then proceeded to sign something, and Shay smiled as he signed back. They shared a back and forth before Nuala explained, “I’m a primary school teacher, but I did some work with deaf children back when I was training and learned some sign language. It’s nice to be able to use it again. I’m a bit rusty.”
Shay signed something that appeared to be a disagreement on her rustiness, and she grinned bashfully. Again, I felt that pinch of discomfort. I wished I could just click my fingers and be able to use sign language with Shay. I wanted it more than anything, and I was irrationally jealous of everyone who could talk with him in that way. Perhaps once I finished the double shifts I was working, I could start taking a class. I was already attending my literacy classes. Surely, adding another couldn’t hurt.
“Please, sit down,” Tristan said. “We nabbed the best table.”
Shay ushered me over to a seat, then motioned to the bar, and I knew he was asking if I’d like a drink. “I’ll take a coke,” I told him, and he arched an eyebrow. “I don’t drink alcohol,” I explained, realising I hadn’t actually mentioned that to him yet. He nodded, unfazed, before proceeding to sign to Rhys and Nuala, likely asking if they’d like a drink, too.
