Did she need a tether or a kite?
Jules had felt mired in a sort of middling state for so long, she didn’t know what would shake her free from it. And maybe she’d been kidding herself thinking it was all about her job.
She did need to find something else—and soon. Something to stretch her abilities, something where she was challenged. But she was starting to realise that her dissatisfaction was also because she’d become complacent in her singlehood.
Sure, she had lovers and she’d go on casual dates from time to time, usually with guys she didn’t end up having anything in common with, or guys who behaved like dicks, but maybe she needed to be open to something else, something more meaningful.
She glanced at Matt, who was chatting to Thea. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt butterflies, actual butterflies, just being near a guy. And, yes, he was undeniably good-looking and sexy, but he was so much more than that. Just knowing him a few days, Jules could see how caring he was, how fascinating … and he made her laugh.
Maybe the hot Aussie winemaker was the key to shaking her from the doldrums.
Chapter 17
The May Ladies
“Merry Christmas, Lucy!” Jules exclaimed.
Lucy squinted bleary-eyed at her phone, the faces of her best friends grinning up at her.
“Lucy, are you okay?” Jules’s grin fell away. “You don’t look so good.”
“What time is it?” Lucy’s tongue felt thick and furry.
“It’s Christmastime!” Jules saw on the screen that she was slanting to the left—drinking wine nonstop for twelve hours might have had something to do with it—and righted herself.
“Lucy, seriously, are you okay?” asked Chloe.
Lucy pushed herself up to a seated position and cradled her forehead. “Ow.”
“Ohhh,” said Chloe. “Had a big night, did you?”
Lucy nodded, instantly regretting it.
“Luce, you lush!” teased Jules. “Although, I can’t talk. I’ve had a buzz on since this morning, trying to keep up with the Aussies.”
Lucy ignored the commentary, noticing that someone—most likely Will—had left a large glass of water on the bedside table. She sent him a silent “thank you” and took a swig.
“If you look in the medicine cabinet, there’ll be some Tylenol,” said Jules. Lucy looked confused. “Pain killers. Headache tablets. Well, go. We’ll wait.”
Lucy scurried out of bed. “I should have warned her,” said Jules. “A hundred to one, my dad’s hot chocolate is the culprit. That stuff is lethal.”
“I haven’t even really started yet. Christmas lunch isn’t ’til four. Oh, unless you count three pieces of Susan’s Christmas cake. It’s basically sherry held together with dried fruit.” Jules wrinkled her nose; she hated Christmas cake. “You know, I think I’ve had more sherry in the past few days than I’ve had in my entire life.” Chloe realised she was probably a little tipsy too. Although, if she lingered too long on Archer’s news from that morning, it sobered her right up. Just wait ’til she told the girls. Although, they may already have seen the photos.
Lucy reappeared on their screens. She looked paler than usual, but a little better than before. “Hiya, loves, Happy Christmas.” She gave them a weak smile, then shook her head gently at herself. “I can’t believe I let myself get totally trollied on Christmas Eve. What must your family think of me, Jules?” What must Will think of me, more like.
Jules laughed, “Oh they won’t care. They were probably all well on their way too—except Bradley and Bridget, ’cause they’re underage. Although, I caught Bridget sneaking rum last year. She’s not as straight as she seems.” Jules felt an overwhelming longing for home. “So, how is everyone. How’s my family?” she asked, aiming for nonchalance.
“Brilliant. They’ve all been so lovely.”
“What about the eccentric aunty? What’s she like?” asked Chloe. She was stalling, unsure of how to broach her news without killing the Christmas vibe.
“Oh, yeah! How was meeting Aunt Jackie? What mortifying thing did she lay on you? I love her to bits, but I swear that woman’s filter gets worse every year.”
Lucy felt the burning in her cheeks as she relived the moment in the foyer. “Come on, Lucy, spill,” prodded Chloe. “You’ve turned into a strawberry. She said something.”
Lucy sighed, knowing her friends would not let her off the hook until she told them. Damn her tell-tale cheeks. “It was just something about Will and me making lovely babies together.” Chloe’s eyes widened as a bark of a laugh escaped; even she wouldn’t say something like that.
Jules imagined the scene and a throaty laugh took hold. “Oh, my god! That woman is hysterical! You and Will …” She chuckled some more.
“Um, Lucy?” Chloe scrutinised Lucy’s face, which had gone from pink to full-blown red. “Anything else you wanna tell us?”
Lucy’s hand flew to her cheek, feeling the warmth under her palm. “Well, fuck,” she said. Her friends blinked at her in surprise. She didn’t drop that word very often.
“Lucy?” Jules’s eyes narrowed and her smile started to fade. There was a beat while she scrutinised Lucy’s face, then realisation struck. “Oh,” she said, her mouth forming a perfect facsimile of the sound. “You and Will?”
“Nothing’s happened, not really,” said Lucy, racing to reassure her friend. “We just kissed, that’s all.”
“You kissed him? What the hell, Lucy?”
There was no way Jules wanted Lucy, who was completely oblivious to how beautiful she was and what effect she had on men, anywhere near her brother—especially after what had happened with his ex-girlfriend.
“It’s just silly, really … just a bit of fun,” Lucy lied. It wasn’t like that for her, but she would give anything to wipe that look from Jules’s face.
Jules scowled at the screen, her mind filled with thoughts of Will falling hard for Lucy, then Lucy disappearing back to England and abandoning him. Poor Will. “Well, if that’s the case, Luce, then just stay the hell away from him, okay? The last thing he needs—”
“So, Jules,” Chloe cut in, not wanting their Christmas call to devolve into
