Page 109 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
‘Thank you. Me too,’ I croaked, my throat raw from tonight’s assault of emotions.
‘Have a think about everything I said.’ He put a hand to my cheek for a moment. ‘The job is still there if you want it. But it’s only yours if it’s for the right reasons. And I’ve known you long enough now so don’t even bother trying to fool me.’ He bent and kissed my forehead and pulled me into a long hug. ‘Youhave to take a chance at some point, Lex,’ he whispered. ‘And I’m thinking now would be a pretty good time.’ Marco let go and stood back. Turning to Cal, he held out his hand. ‘I’m fairly sure you overheard me say something about kissing her but as you haven’t punched me yet, I’m hoping you’ve decided not to.’
Cal took his hand and shook it. ‘As it’s nearly Christmas …’ Humour glinted in hiseyes.
Marco gave a conceding nod. ‘Then I wish you a very merry Christmas. And the best of luck.’
Cal caught the meaning. ‘Thanks.’
Marco opened the back door. ‘I’ll call you soon.’
I smiled. ‘Text me when you’re home, OK?’ I said, glancing past him and looking up at the clouds now sending down larger flakes.
Marco grinned and shrugged at Cal who had now come to stand at my side. ‘She’s worsethan my mother sometimes.’
‘And like her, just because you’re world champion doesn’t mean I’m going to go all reverential around you. Just send the damn text.’
Marco dashed another kiss on my cheek. ‘So feisty.’ He winked at Cal before hurrying out to his car and quickly ensconcing himself inside. The engine burbled into life and, without drama, Marco gently steered the car out of the driveand turned out into the road. In the still of the night, we heard the engine open up as its owner drove away from the sleepy village and back to the lights and noise of the city.
I closed the door against the cold and glanced over at Apollo. He’d shuffled himself onto his back and was now lying with all four paws in the air, his front legs loose and floppy, his back haunches folded, and everythingoverlaid with gentle, contented snores.
‘Very elegant, Apollo.’
Cal’s gaze followed mine and his beautiful face, moments ago serious and concerned, creased into laughter. I loved his smile, the sound of his laugh, and the way those hypnotic eyes became twinkly and full of joy. I loved the way his long legs covered the distance between me and the dog in a couple of strides and the soft look onhis face as he crouched down and carefully lifted Apollo’s head from where it was lying at a decidedly odd angle off the edge of his bed. Without waking him, Cal gently manoeuvred him back into a more comfortable position. Standing, he looked back to where I had remained by the door.
‘I’ve never had a dog so I don’t know whether dogs can get a crick in their neck or not but …’ He shrugged, aslightly sheepish look on his face.
‘He won’t now. Thank you.’ Silence drifted over us. ‘Have you thought any more about getting a dog of your own?’ I piped up eventually, in order to break it.
Cal shoved his hands in his pockets, dropped his head, and let out a big sigh. Bringing his head back up, he caught me in the tractor beam of that intoxicating gaze. ‘Is this the bit where you say everythingand anything in order to avoid talking about the things that really matter?’
I pondered a moment. ‘Pretty much, yeah.’
He walked back over to where I’d remained, almost fixed to the floor since Marco had left, half of me wanting to get over the fear I had about what might happen next, and half of me wanting to do exactly what Marco had said I always did. Run away. My eyes flicked to the doorhandle.
‘Don’t even think about it. Unless it’s just to go somewhere else to talk. Which, from the bit I overheard is something we definitely need to do.’
‘Oh, there you are!’ Giselle appeared, slightly pink-faced from the warmth and general busyness of the party that was now in full abandon in another part of the house. ‘We’d wondered where you’d gone.’
‘Marco was leaving. I … we … were justseeing him out.’
Xander wandered up behind his wife and I saw them both look curiously between me and Cal. ‘Are you all right?’ he asked.
Giselle was next to me now, peering at my face. Without a word, she tugged me over to the light. ‘You’ve been crying.’
‘It’s nothing. Really.’
The look she gave me showed just how little her kids were going to get away with if they ever tried it on withher.
‘Honestly. It’s all … fine.’
Actually, I had no idea what it was, so fine would have to do for the moment.
Giselle was having none of it but she’d known me long enough to know when not to push it.
‘OK. Obviously, I don’t believe a word but I’ll leave you both to it. Are you coming back in?’
‘I don’t really know, Gis.’
