Page 80 of A Merry Little Christmas
‘No, but I mean it. You were really brave to stand up to the bullies,’ I said as we sauntered on through the woods, admiring the amazing light show around and above us. ‘Just like Will, really.’
‘I hadn’t thought of it like that,’ he mused. ‘But I guess you’re right. We’ve both been battling our inner demons and fighting off the bullies.’
I nodded. ‘Sounds exhausting.’
‘It was. But it seems we’ve both pitched up on the other side, Will and I, relatively unscathed.’
‘Thank goodness. It was touch and go in that air raid shelter for a while.’ I shivered and Caleb pulled me closer as we walked. ‘And almost being run over wasn’t exactly the best experience of my life. But as you say, it’s all behind us now, so we can forget about it and look forward to Christmas.’
Now that there were no secrets between us, Caleb and I, we seemed to be closer than ever. And I hadn’t had any more of those scary nightmares...
‘I’m very much looking forward to Christmas,’ said Caleb, sounding perfectly serious for once. ‘But most of all, I’m looking forward to spending it with you.’
‘Our first Christmas together!’
‘Yes, indeed. Ah, there it is.’ He pointed ahead. ‘The Log Cabin Café. Time for a hot chocolate, I think?’
‘I like your thinking.’
‘But first... there’s something along here I think we should see.’
Before I knew what was happening, he’d taken my hand and pulled me into a little leafy glade just off the main walkway. Above us, a thousand tiny lights sparkled like stars and I gasped at the wonder and the romance of it all.
Then Caleb took me in his arms and kissed me so thoroughly that everything else flew right out of my head. There was only his mouth on mine and the tantalising male scent of him and the heady feeling of being crushed against his powerful body.
At last, we broke apart, gasping for air.
‘You have hot chocolate at home, don’t you?’ said Caleb, a wicked sparkle in his eyes.
‘I do.’
‘Fancy doing the Log Cabin Café another time?’
‘I do.’ I gave him a pert look, knowing exactly what he was thinking.
‘Let’s go, then. Last back to the car makes the hot chocolate! Agree?’
‘I do!’
He grabbed my hand and we started walking back the way we’d come, and I had to break into a run every now and then to keep up with Caleb’s long strides. Then we were both running – and panting with laughter at the same time – although Caleb was winning the race.
‘By the way,’ I called out to him, ‘if you’re going to ask me if I fancy leaving the hot chocolate until much later –I absolutely do!’
So we drove back to my flat.
And strangely enough, what with one thing and another, the hot chocolate went completely out of our heads...
