All I Want Series Boxset, Books 1-3: All I Want for Christmas, All I Want for Valentine's, All I Want for Spring Read Online Free PDF Page A

raising her espresso cup. “Here’s to you and Sienna — may you have a night filled with passionate kisses.”
    I clinked my imaginary coffee cup to hers.
    ***
    December 2nd and I was already on date three — even I was impressed at the speed of my progress. Holly had already told me I had to be more choosy, but being choosy was what had got me here in the first place.
    I was still exhausted, as today had been a busy day with three external meetings. I’d tramped across half of London, and my face felt like it needed to be put on a hot wash after miles of Tube travel. About the last thing I wanted to do right now was go on a date. My ideal date for tonight would be my duvet and my bed.
    I headed to the Thai restaurant where I was meeting Sienna, which was decorated in suitably chintzy shades of gold and pink. I’d wanted to try out this restaurant for a while now as it’d been getting stellar reviews. Tonight it was packed with customers all chowing down on Thai classics with a modern twist, and the scent of coriander, garlic and chilli made my mouth water. I spruced up my make-up in the toilets before taking a seat.
    Sienna worked in the charity sector, which immediately put her on the moral high ground. She was from East London, had a cockney accent that curled at the edges and a definite orange hue. She arrived half an hour late which didn’t endear her to me, causing me to drink a glass of wine before she arrived. Couple that with my extreme tiredness and I could feel my eyelids getting heavy before she sat down.
    “Sorry I’m late, I got stuck at work.” A waft of cigarette smoke sailed across my nostrils as she unwound her massive rainbow scarf and sat down, eagerly perusing the menu. “Have you ordered already?”
    “Only a glass of wine while I waited.” I indicated my empty glass.
    “Fab — I’ll get a bottle. Was it red?”
    I nodded and she got the attention of a nearby waiter.
    So, Sienna looked like her profile picture — tick. After all the scary stories I’d heard about online dating, I half-expected one of my dates to turn up and be a man. However, Sienna was very much a woman, her low-cut top providing an invitation to her breasts — double tick. She had short, black hair and was dressed casually in trousers and a red top. She was promising.
    “So sorry about my time-keeping again. Our American office decided they wanted to chat just as I was walking out the door.” She threw me an apologetic smile as she shifted in her seat to get comfortable.
    “American office? Sounds like you’re in banking and not the charity sector.”
    She shook her head. “A lot of people think that — but the charity sector is a big, global business these days. We’re always on the lookout for donations and ways to spend the money best. Nobody sleeps, believe me.”
    Mention of sleep deprivation made me open my eyes wider. I wanted to appear as alert as possible, even though I was this close to slumping on the table.
    The wine arrived a few minutes later and we ordered our food, then settled back to get to know each other. It turned out that Sienna was born and raised in London and her parents still lived within a ten-minute walk of her front door.
    “Really? I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who didn’t move to London. I can’t imagine being raised here.” I shook my head. “That means you’ve been riding the Tube your whole life.”
    Sienna laughed. “I have. I used to take the Tube into town with my mates at the weekend and cause havoc. Still do, but I’m an adult now, so it’s overlooked.”
    I grinned at her. “Funny how that works, isn’t it?”
    “How about you? I can’t detect an accent.”
    I shook my head. “Oxford, no accent required. My mum’s a professor there.”
    “Does that mean you’re posh?” Sienna poured wine into my glass with a reassuring glug.
    “People tend to think so, but no, it doesn’t just rub off like gold dust. Besides, being a professor is a grand