Page 68 of A Merry Little Christmas
A yawn escaped. I turned and slipped back into bed.
Warmed by Caleb’s body heat, I snuggled down, nestling my cheek against his shoulder. He stirred and shifted position, murmuring my name, and I fell asleep at last, with Caleb’s arms wrapped around me.
*****
‘I’m going.’
‘No, you’re not.’
‘Ooh, you’re very sexy when you’re cross,’ I teased him. But he didn’t laugh.
I sighed, having anticipated Caleb’s objections. ‘Look, this thing today is in aid of the most amazing cause and I refuseto allow this scumbag’sbloody intimidation tacticsto scare me into cowering here, instead of helping Ellie and the girls make the event go with a swing. I need to be there, Caleb.’
He looked at me in exasperation. Then he shook his head. ‘You’re mad. Do you know that?’
I shrugged. ‘I just don’t see why they should be allowed to get in the way of such a fabulous fundraiser.’
‘I never knew you could be so obstinate,’ he said, with the hint of a smile.
‘If it’s something I believe in, you can bet I’ll do what’s right.’
He gave a helpless shrug, levered himself up on one elbow and grinned down at me. ‘I’m starting to realise that.’
‘Good.’ I reached up and drew him down to me, and we kissed long and lingeringly.
After that, we lost all sense of the world outside our own private bubble for a while. And when we finally came up for air, Caleb said, ‘If you’re determined to man that bloody Christmas market stall today, I’ll be there manning it with you, okay?’
‘Perfect,’ I sighed, as I snuggled down in his arms. Being with Caleb was giving me the strength to face everything. I was determined that nobody was going to stop me helping to make that Christmas market a success.
We’d even had the perfect fall of snow overnight – not too much so that people would be deterred from driving in it, but just enough to set the scene at the glamping site and make the Christmas market all sparkly and festive.
It was going to be a lovely event. And Caleb and I would come back to this cosy hotel afterwards, and make the most of the spa and enjoy a romantic dinner in the candlelit restaurant.
What could possibly go wrong?
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
When we arrived at the Christmas market, the glamping site had been transformed into a winter wonderland.
Around a dozen stalls, all decked out with fairy lights, had been set up at the far end of the site, the goods for sale ranging from bakery items and handmade Christmas cards to jewellery and Kenzie’s gorgeous pottery.
As the visitors started to arrive at midday, Caleb and I manned the bakery stall together. We worked well as a team, chatting and joking with the customers, and after a while, I started to enjoy myself so much that I almost forgot we were in hiding from dangerous criminals. The atmosphere was so festive and jolly, and it felt so good sharing it with Caleb after all we’d been through.
Around three, Penny and Will appeared at our stall.
‘Will’s friend Daniel’s coming over,’ she told us. ‘His dad’s dropping him off. We came on the bus and I’m trusting Will to get the bus back to Henley Green with Daniel at areasonable time.’
She gave Will a smile, but it was a warning look at the same time.
Will shook his head. ‘I’ve told you, Mum. We’ll be getting the five o’clock bus. You don’t need to worry about me.’
‘Fair enough,’ said Penny with a grin. ‘I suppose I have to cut the apron strings at some point.’
She went off to explore the other stalls with Will, and then Ellie came over with a cardboard box.
‘I’d forgotten about these,’ she said, unloading the contents onto our stall.
‘You havemorechutney?’ I stared at the half-dozen jars she was lining up. ‘But I thought it all went to the WI Christmas sale?’
