Page 105 of The Holiday Cottage

“It is if you’re the one getting frostbite.” He pushed his chocolate cake toward her. “Try a mouthful. I insist.”

She did as he instructed and closed her eyes as she savored it. “Okay, I admit it—that’s good. Too good. So what’s next on our agenda?”

“We are going to do all our Christmas shopping at the Christmas market. Then we’re having lunch.”

“And after that?”

“We’re going ice-skating.”

She put the fork down. “Seriously? I had no idea you could skate.”

“I can’t. I’ve never done it before, but Lissa assures me we will have fun.”

“You discussed our day out with your sister?”

He finished his coffee. “I wanted some tips on what would make a perfect Christmas date, so I consulted an expert. My sister is obsessed with Christmas. She visits at least two Christmas markets in Europe every winter and starts decorating in November. She says it brightens the winter months. I wanted you to have a good time.”

He’d wanted her to have a good time, so he’d asked his sister’s advice.

“For the record, I am having a good time, so her advice was good.” Her gaze met his across the table and she felt something shift between them. “I don’t suppose your sister gave you a list of gift ideas? I need to buy presents for Ava and Iris, also Sara, and I’ve never bought anything for children before.”

“I didn’t ask for that level of detail, but if we get stuck we can always call her. Are you ready?”

They left the warmth of the café and ventured out into the street.

They passed a gift shop and an independent bookstore and then turned a corner and found that the street had been transformed into a bustling Christmas market. There were wooden stalls offering handmade crafts, jewelry and ceramics, as well as specialty food and drink.

“It’s pretty. I hadn’t realised there would be food.”

“Lissa tells me that this is the best Christmas market around here because they bring together local producers, and the quality is exceptional. This is why I couldn’t risk bringing Ralph,” Miles said. “He can’t resist a good artisan sausage, and I didn’t want to risk the possible humiliation of dealing with a rampaging dog in a Christmas market. I have to carry on living in this place.”

“Poor Ralph. I’ll buy him a treat to make up for it.”

“You’ve been treating him by letting him sleep on your bed.”

She wondered whether to deny it, but a glance at his face told her there was no point. “How did you guess?”

“Because he tries to do the same when he is staying with me. The difference is that I don’t let him.”

“What can I say? I like having him there.” She refused to apologize for it. “Ralph is pretty much the perfect companion.”

“Are you setting me a challenge?”

“No. So far you’re doing pretty well too. Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“Was it true what Dorothy said about you not wanting another dog after Alfie?”

“Yes. That’s how I felt. Alfie was one in a million.” He picked up a hand-thrown pot from the stall next to them, checked the price and then put it back again. “I couldn’t bear the thought of replacing him. I wasn’t emotionally ready to move on. But then I saw Valerie struggling with Ralph, and I decided it was time.”

She felt a twinge of envy that he and Ralph would be living together. Sharing their lives.

“Ralph is lucky. I hope you’re buying him something special for Christmas.”

“That depends.”

“On?”

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