Page 117 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
‘Oh, I know you don’t mind, darling,’ Mum replied, planting a big kiss on my cheek before beginning to tap away on her phone.
‘I think we might have created a monster introducing Mum to social media.’
Standing close to me, I could feel Cal’s laughter. ‘You’re not helping.’
‘You love it.’
I looked up, meeting his eyes, and I couldn’tdeny it. I did love it. All of it. But especially him.
***
As the sound of the parade drifted down, the children began jumping excitedly. Almost as one, Matt and Cal both lifted a small boy onto their shoulders, enabling them to see over the crowds as carefully decorated Christmas floats drove slowly into view, their costumed occupants dancing along to the music and waving to the crowds thatlined the village high street.
Bringing up the rear was Santa’s sleigh with a well-padded Father Christmas at the helm, and a very glamorous Mrs Christmas next to him. The ornate sleigh body, crafted by Matt, hid something that sounded suspiciously like an old Mercedes.
‘Sounds like she’s running all right now thanks to you two.’ Dan appeared next to us, directing his comment at Cal, a nieceperched happily on his broad shoulders, her little hands firmly grabbing two handfuls of hair. Claire was his other side, bundled up against the cold in a warm, puffy coat and looking healthy and happy. ‘Make quite the team, don’t you?’
Cal looked down at me. One arm rested on George’s leg, as he balanced on his shoulders, but the other was wrapped around my waist, holding me close. I met thosestormy ocean-grey eyes, tonight filled with laughter and joy that perfectly reflected my own.
He let that almost illegally sexy smile slide onto his face. ‘I think we make the perfect team.’
