Will glanced at the cake, then his gaze went back to the road. They were still crawling along, but at least they were moving. “Well, that does smell amazing. I’ve got a pocketknife in the glove compartment—unless you think we should just tear off chunks with our hands.” The smile was back and Lucy succumbed to one herself.

Minutes later, she placed a generous slab of Christmas cake sitting on top of a Burger King napkin—also from the glove box—onto Will’s thigh. The wedge sat tawny brown and glistening with delicious moistness. “See? Definitely not dry and crumbly.”

She watched him take a bite, then heard his guttural groan. Maybe I’ll get to hear more of that groan later, she thought before rolling her eyes at herself.

“It’s good, isn’t it?” she said, taking a bite of her own piece. “It’s even nicer with a thick slice of Wensleydale cheese,” she added, her hand covering her mouth.

“It’s amazing. I’m not sure about the cheese though. Is that an English thing?”

Lucy thought about it and realised she didn’t know. She’d just always had it that way and, ever since she was an adult, with a glass or two of sherry. “Hmm, not sure.”

“And, just asking, but is there alcohol in this?”

“Oh, loads. Mum practically empties an entire bottle of sherry into it in the month leading up to Christmas.” She had a realisation and her head spun towards Will just as he glanced at her, then down to the cake. “Oh, bollocks. You’re driving.”

“I was just thinking that.”

“Sorry, I should have realised. No cake for you, I’m afraid.” She took the cake off his leg, noting how taut his thigh was beneath his jeans, and wrapped it up in the napkin. “At least not until we get there.”

“It’s really good, though. You’ve definitely changed my mind.”

She smiled to herself as she took another bite. Looking out the window, she went back to her “snowed-in alone with Will” fantasy, which now included a boozy Christmas cake.

Chapter 6

Jules

“Here you go, sweetheart,” said her dad as he manoeuvred his SUV between two others. Denver airport was mayhem this time of year.

“Thanks again for driving me. You didn’t have to. I could have Ubered.”

“Jules, this may come as a huge surprise, but I’m going to miss you, sweetheart, and this way I got to spend a little more time with you.”

Jules wondered if she was imagining the sheen of tears in her dad’s eyes. He made a gruff man-sound and climbed out to retrieve her luggage from the trunk. Jules took a deep breath as a wave of melancholy washed over her. Yes, she was a grown woman with a job and her own place and a life, but this was the first time she’d be spending Christmas away from her family, from her dad.

The sound of the trunk slamming shut brought her back to the present. She gathered her carry-on bag and her satchel from the footwell and braced herself for the blast of cold.