Read Driving Me to Christmas (London Loves Book 5) for Free Online Page B

baby. You know I can’t say no to you.”
    “Thank you!”
    She leaned over and kissed him. “By the way, I’ve got a little surprise in the back – I bought some nice lingerie when I was with Scott!”
    “Awesome! I can’t wait to see you in it!”
    “I can’t wait for you to help me remove it!”
    “Me too – I’ll use my teeth!”
    Sam giggled, but pushed away her arousal for now. “I also got your mum a little present, but it’s obviously not underwear!”
    “Good!”
    “It’s a silk scarf – really pretty. It’ll keep her warm out here in the countryside. I’ll give it to her when we arrive, as an early Christmas present.”
    “She’ll like that. See how kind you are? Just like I was saying yesterday.”
    “Anyone would do it.”
    Verlaine shook his head at her modesty, then he threw his concentration back over the winding road.
    Sam touched the cold window and took in the winter scenery. It was amazing that all this was only an hour’s drive out of London. They were cruising along the coastal road at the moment, which was flanked by a field that stretched back to the horizon. There were ponies in the field, and a scrubby patch of wild grass. Sam’s stomach twisted with nerves. What was it going to be like meeting Rebecca?
    This road ran parallel with the grey sea below and, as Sam glanced out of Verlaine’s window, she saw how rough the water was today. The sandy beach looked damp and desolate. The cliff they were climbing fell away to a sheer drop, and Sam suddenly felt insecure. The waves crashed hard below and there was no fence to prevent them from plunging over if Verlaine swerved unexpectedly. Sam was grateful he was such a good driver. Her life was in his hands. It was sunny today, but what if there was a storm? Driving would be impossible. And they’d be stranded with his relations...
    Verlaine slowed the car as the road widened out to a junction ahead. He pulled them heavily around a sharp bend, then approached a long driveway. “This is the place.”
    “ This is your childhood Christmas venue?”
    “Yep.”
    The black iron gates opened automatically, and Sam stared at the mansion that stood at the end of a gravel driveway like a horror movie model. The grey stone bricks seemed to rise organically out of the lawn, and the pitched roof swept up steeply to the blue sky, protected by turrets and steel girders. Sam expected to see the ghostly apparitions of the long-dead residents floating past the huge windows. And perhaps an atmospheric bolt of lightning would strike the iron spire. Even though it was a lovely sunny day, this six-bedroom Victorian manor sent a creepy shiver up Sam’s spine. It was dominating and timeless. She knew this building would be here much longer than she would be – as if it was actually growing out of the cliff. As if it was alive. 
    Sam caught a glimpse of three people loitering outside the house, looking like the Lord and Lady waiting to greet their city guests. But it was actually Verlaine’s parents – Patty and Jim. Sam liked Patty – she reminded her of Verlaine; she was a lovely lady – kind and relaxed, with cropped brown hair and a pragmatic approach to life. Verlaine’s dad, Jim, was an all-American guy who ran his own haulage company. He was tall and strong, and a little overweight. Sam had no idea whether he still sported a full head of hair, because he always wore a baseball cap. He’d started out as a mechanic, too, and done well, but he’d never lost his working-class roots. Sam got the feeling Jim had dreams of Verlaine following in his footsteps and starting his own business in the car trade. But Verlaine was happy working with his hands. He wasn’t the sort of guy to be straight-jacketed into a desk job. It would crush him. Probably as it had crushed Jim.
    Sam peered past Verlaine’s parents, and realised that the other person with them must be Rebecca. Even from here Sam could see she was tall and slender; pretty and