She could only nod in reply and the flutter turned into full-on butterflies. God, he was sexy.

She heard the pop of sparkling wine, then Callie called out, “Hooray,” and the moment ended. Matt put himself on bartending duty, as he called it, and Jules went back to feeling a little removed from everything as she watched the friends move with ease around the kitchen.

Within minutes, they were all seated in the living room, each with a glass of bubbles and the impressive cheese platter dominating the coffee table between them. She caught Ash watching the clock. Davo was late—only by seven minutes, but Jules could see the nerves beneath Ash’s hostess-with-the-mostest façade.

“So,” said Callie as she cut into a rich, oozing brie, “What have you been up to since we saw you the other day?”

“Not much. Just getting ready for Christmas.”

“Please don’t say that Ash’s kept you here captive?” Thea threw Ash a look.

Ash blinked a couple of times, as though snapping out of a daydream. “What? No! She wanted to help.”

“I did. It’s been great.”

“And how else do you think all this happens?” Ash waved her arms about to encompass the apartment.

Callie stepped in, “It looks amazing, guys, honestly. That table! You’ve definitely outdone our Christmas from last year.”

Within minutes of meeting her, Jules had crowned Callie as the most enthusiastic person she’d ever met—and that said a lot considering her Aunt Jackie and her side of the family. Callie was also the most genuine, her effusiveness anything but a pretension.

She’d made quite the impression on Jules with her obvious love of life and how she found joy in the minutiae. And, as Ash had said, she and Thea were such a good fit. Thea had a gentleness to her, a willingness to let Callie shine, to take the lead, but Jules sensed that Thea was the tether in their relationship.

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.