At the mention of the speech, Charlie seemed to snap back to reality. ‘The speech. Yes. Yes, I did. It’s all fine. And did I mention you look amazing?’

Holly laughed. ‘You might have stammered something, yes. And thank you.’ She moved a little closer to him. ‘You scrub up pretty well yourself.’

‘Thanks,’ Charlie’s voice had a husky undertone. ‘Although I should take issue with the colour of the dress, it really, really suits you.’

He dipped his head and Holly gasped as his lips met hers. All of a sudden, as the kiss deepened and he pulled her close towards him, she wanted to forget all about this starchy dinner and drag him upstairs to her bedroom. But, once again, time was against them.

‘Steady on,’ Charlie breathed. ‘It’s going to be a long night if you keep reminding me of all the kissing we could be doing instead!’ He broke away from her, and she could see his eyes were dark with desire. ‘And we really should get going.’

Holly smiled. She felt about a million miles away now from the shy, hesitant girl she had been all those years ago in London, and although the dress was also miles away from what she would normally wear these days, she had to admit that she liked the effect it was having on Charlie. ‘OK. But I’m warning you, I can only keep a lid on my subversive opinions for so long. You might have to drag me away if I end up getting too outspoken.’

‘So long as I can drag you away and be alone with you, that’s fine with me,’ Charlie said, that husky note still very much in his voice. ‘But for now, let’s go and mingle, shall we?’

Heart thumping almost painfully under the bones of the bodice of the dress, Holly wondered what would happen after the mingling; was tonight the night that she and Charlie would take a step further in their relationship? Her body, already beginning to ache for his touch, was sending signals that it, at least, really hoped it was.

21

Holly felt a fresh flutter of nerves in her stomach as Charlie pulled into the car park of the Swanley Hotel. A triumph of Victorian industrialist architecture, its austere windows peered suspiciously out across the town centre, seeming to glare at all newcomers.

Holly shook her head. ‘I thought this kind of gig had died out along with Nokia phones!’

‘Sadly not,’ Charlie said wryly. ‘But then, most party members are twice your age, and probably still using that kind of mobile.’ He turned off the engine and looked at her. ‘Thank you for coming with me tonight,’ he said softly. ‘I know this isn’t exactly your cup of tea, but I’m glad you agreed to it.’