Page 49 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
I’d only known him for the shortest of times and yet the thought of not seeing him caused my insides to twist. I’d got used to seeing him. Looked forward to it. The thought of not doing so …
‘No! Not at all. I just meant that I think we’re better as friends. We know where we are and no one gets hurt. I think it’sa good plan.’
‘I’m not sure that’s exactly what I meant.’
‘Well, it should have been. It’s right. For both of us.’
Cal studied me for a moment until I could take the scrutiny no longer.
‘You should go before you turn into a full-blown snowman.’
‘You’re probably right.’
‘I’m definitely right. Goodnight, Cal.’
‘Night, Lexi.’ He leaned forward and his warm lips lightly brushed my cheek. ‘You’refreezing,’ he whispered.
I wanted to make some smart-arse comment about that being because I’d been standing out in the snow talking to him but I couldn’t. My cheek tingled from his touch and his warm breath close to my ear was sending a whole lot more tingles throughout the rest of me.
‘Thanks for today, Lexi.’
‘You’re welcome.’
Neither of us moved.
‘I should go.’
‘Yes.’
No!
I raisedmy gaze and fell into the grey storm of his eyes. For a moment we just stood there. And then he smiled briefly and turned away. As he crunched back to the car, I let out the breath I didn’t even realise I’d been holding and made my way up the gritted stairs to my room, fumbling in my pocket for the front door key as I did so. The wind whistled through the banisters and I yanked my hat further downas the cold bit into my ears.
‘I’ll call you tomorrow,’ he said as he reached the door to the car. ‘Now get inside and get warm. I’ve kept you out here long enough.’
‘I have three brothers who all played rugby. Believe me, I’ve stood in the cold for worse reasons.’
He grinned, and shook his head.
‘Drive carefully. And I hope George is fully recovered now.’
‘I will, and thanks.’ Martha hadtexted Cal a couple of times in the day, and George had slept well and sounded like he was well on the way back to being his perky self. The relief on Cal’s face had been obvious but I knew he’d feel better once he’d seen the evidence for himself.
I scooted up the last few stairs and let myself into the flat, tucking myself against the door, and waiting as Cal turned over the engine, returnedthe lights to their main setting, and began to pull out of the drive. He held up a hand in goodbye as he left and I waited until he was out of the farm’s drive completely before closing the door.
