Page 48 of A Merry Irish Christmas
He nodded.
‘I didn’t think you’d be into exchanging gifts.’
‘What on earth gave you that idea?’ he asked with a teasing smile.
She shrugged. ‘Considering you grudged even giving me the time of day…’
‘Well, I thought better of it, so…’
‘Thanks.’ Dazed, she slid into the seat opposite him. She opened the envelope and took out a piece of A4 paper.
‘Sorry it’s not more… glamorous. It was kind of last minute.’
Mary’s eyes widened as she read what was printed on thesheet. It was a printout of a voucher for a helicopter tour of New York for two with complimentary champagne.
‘Oh wow, this is amazing!’ She grinned. ‘Thank you. I’ve always wanted to do this.’
He smiled smugly. ‘I know.’
‘But how—’ Then she remembered him talking to her mum when she’d come back from Dingle yesterday. ‘Oh God, I hope Mum didn’t put you up to this. You could have just got me a box of chocolates or something.’ This must have cost a fortune.
‘She just gave me some ideas.’
‘She shouldn’t have?—’
‘Calm down,’ Evan interrupted. ‘I asked her.’
‘Oh! Well, thank you. It’s perfect.’
‘I’m glad you like it.’ There was a warmth in his eyes as he smiled at her that set her stomach fluttering. She was so relieved she hadn’t got him a leprechaun hat. That would have been mortifying. As it was, a sweater seemed a bit pathetic next to this.
‘I’ve always wanted to do that too,’ he said, nodding to the sheet she was still holding, his eyebrows raised suggestively. ‘Just saying.’
‘Really?’ Was he seriously saying he’d like to do it with her?
‘Yeah, it’s one of those things, isn’t it, that you don’t do when you live in a place.’
‘Yeah. Tourists have all the fun.’
‘But you can take whoever you want, of course.’
‘Hang on, I got you something too.’ She went over to the Christmas tree, retrieved his present and handed him the bulky parcel.
‘Wow, thank you. I honestly wasn’t expecting anything.’ The way his face lit up made Mary wish she’d bought him more presents.
He made short work of the gift wrapping. ‘Oh, it’s cool. I love it!’ he said, holding up the sweater in both hands. ‘Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome. You can change it if you want. I can take it back for you later in the week if it doesn’t fit or anything.’
He held it up against his chest. ‘I think it’ll fit perfectly.’
‘Well, time for breakfast round two,’ Mary said, getting up. ‘What did you have?’ She nodded to his bowl.
‘Granola and blueberries with Greek yoghurt.’
‘Ugh, so healthy. So, what’s the next course?’
‘You tell me. I’m completely at your mercy. What do you usually have on Christmas Day?’
