Page 84 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
I shuffled position. ‘Anyway, you’re a fine one to talk about wanting to discuss things. You’re not exactly big on sharing muchabout yourself.’
‘Point taken. But I’m trying to work on that.’
I looked up from where I was fiddling with my jeans hem. ‘Are you?’
‘Yes.’
I thought about it for a moment. ‘I think that’s good.’
He gave a little laugh. ‘Well you’re the one who inspired me, so I’m glad.’
I frowned. ‘Me?’
‘Yep.’
‘When you say inspired, do you mean I was the only one who kept sticking my beak in?’
Cal laughedharder this time. ‘No. That’s not what I mean.’
My head thumped from crying and I was completely drained. I couldn’t even begin to have the energy to think about how I’d inspired Cal so I just took it at face value.
‘OK.’
‘I’m going to make us some hot chocolate,’ Cal said, pushing himself up from the sofa. As I began to move too, he turned. ‘You stay there and rest.’
I didn’t want to stayhere. I didn’t want to be alone with my thoughts right now.
‘I want to come with you.’
Cal frowned momentarily, assessing. Without a word, he put out a hand and helped me off the sofa, not letting go until we’d reached the kitchen. ‘Here. Sit down.’
Doing as instructed, I sat at the table and watched him move efficiently about the kitchen, grabbing mugs, grating chocolate, heating milk.
‘Wow.Proper hot chocolate,’ I said, letting my head slide down to rest on my arms on the table.
‘Certain circumstances demand it.’
‘And this is one of them?’
‘Yes. I think so,’ he replied definitely, his eyes flicking to me briefly before focusing back on the pan in front of him. Minutes later, two steaming mugs stood ready, and a plate full of mince pies sat next to it.
‘Have you been baking?’I asked, looking with interest at the slightly misshapen treats.
‘Hmmm. George wanted to do some the other day so we had a go. I think he ate half the cake mix before it got anywhere near the tin and decided after one bite that he didn’t like mince pies after all. I misread the recipe as to how many it served so I’ve got bloody loads of the things. Feel free to have one. Or five.’
I let outa giggle and some of the tension seemed to leave his shoulders. I snagged a pie and bit in. ‘These are lovely!’
He grinned. ‘You really don’t have to eat them.’
‘No, seriously. They’re good!.’
I caught the little smile of what might have been shy pride before he bent and threaded his fingers through the handles of the mugs. ‘Let’s take these into the snug. It won’t take long to build the fireback up in the there, and it’ll be warmer.’
‘Are you cold?’
‘No. But you’re shivering.’
I realised I was, although I didn’t feel it. ‘Come on. I’ll take these.’
