A Winter's Tale

THIS CHRISTMAS

Connie sits in her office chair. She has a huge smile on her face and her computer screen is turned off. She rises from the chair and picks up her blue coat which is spread over the back of the chair. Suddenly, as she goes to pick up her bag from the floor, her office door is flung open. She hadn't locked it, and the intruder stands well in the door. She lifts her head quickly and stares. She then gives a light, sweet smile.

"I thought you'd gone home? Is there something I can help you with Jacob?" Connie asks. The pair pause for a moment and the spark which lingers is reignited. 

"I just thought seeing as I'm not going to see you now until Boxing Day that I'd wish you a merry Christmas, Ms Beauchamp." As he responds, his smile gets bigger and he walks into her office and closes her office door behind him. 

"Yes, well, I would have you round but I'm spending Christmas with Grace and Audrey this year. Do feel free to come over tonight though for drinks. Audrey and Grace will be arriving at mine for eight o'clock, so that gives us time for at least one drink. Up for it?" Connie asks Jacob politely, hoping that he accepts her offer. 

"How could I reject such a magnificent offer, Ms Beauchamp?" Says Jacob, as he swoops in closer and closer and wraps his arms around Connie. Connie laughs. She doesn't flail free, but instead lifts her hands and rubs them on his chest. He goes down for a kiss and Connie lifts her head up - they then lock lips.

"Right, you leave my office now, I'll meet you outside by my car in five minutes, yeah?" Connie tells Jacob. He just returns a seductive smile before walking out her office and closing the door firmly behind him.

Five minutes later and Connie is driving both her and Jacob back to her house for a glass of wine. The sexual tension between the pair increases, and it's evident there's something there for them both. As Connie goes to change the gear-stick, Jacob rests his hand on top of hers. They move the stick together and in time. They then both continue to stare out the windscreen and smile. 

"This is a little romantic." Connie tells Jacob jokingly. They laugh in synchronicity.

She turns a corner again and a few seconds later she parks the car up in her drive.  She gets out and so does he. She then unlocks the door and they walk in. It's seven o'clock, and Connie is determined to let the drinking begin. They head on into the kitchen and Connie pulls out from a wine cabinet her poshest bottle of red. Jacob goes over to another cabinet and pulls out two wine glasses.

"Oh so you've been here enough times to know where I keep my wine glasses now." Connie jokes. 

Jacob laughs again, before instantly replying with "Of course, how could I possibly forget where you keep the finest of wine glasses - just for the most important of people, obviously." They then share another synchronized laugh...

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An hour later and after a few laughs and more than one glass of wine, the door knocks. 

"That'll be them. Come and meet them. Come on." Connie says as she holds his hand and walks him down the hallway and to the front door. 

The door opens and Grace bursts through the door. "Mummy, it's four hours until Christmas, quickly come on, I want to show you something." Grace says excitedly. She jumps a little and runs into the living room.

"Coming dear!" She shouts. "Audrey, how lovely to see you again. Are you keeping well? Oh it really is so lovely to see you again." Connie finishes. Her and Audrey share a hug. "This is Jacob, my new partner. Jacob, this is Audrey." Connie tells one another as she introduces them. 

"I'm Audrey, Grace's grandmother, nice to meet you." Audrey speaks firmly as she outreaches a hand to shake his hand with. 

"MUM! COME HERE!" Shouts Grace from the living room.