Page 64 of The Christmas Catch
Morgan’s Christmas pudding hat tilted. “That I should buy it for you?”
“What? No, don’t be silly. How would we carry it home?”
“We’re in a car. Did your dad like gingerbread?”
“Hated it.” She was being awkward, but she couldn’t stop herself.
Morgan paused. “What about the rest of your family?”
Ali relented. “They like it.”
“Then I think this is a must-buy. You said it yourself, this Christmas will be a different one for you all. Wouldn’t it be nice to turn up with this?”
Ali rubbed her forehead, then eyed Morgan. She’d been avoiding thinking about going home, but this brought it all back. Where she came from. What had changed. What she was going to have to face. She took a deep breath. Her mum would love it, as would Nicole. Plus, it was brilliantly intricate.
“You were the one who wanted to make a gingerbread house. Now you’re buying me one?”
“Christmas is all about sharing and giving.” Morgan winked, then disappeared into the bakery. She pointed at the gingerbread pub, and the woman behind the counter gently removed it from the window, then put it in a box.
Beside Ali, Helen tapped the window. “You’re lucky. I was speaking to Laura who runs the bakery yesterday, and they’ve already sold most of these. The pub was the only one still available. Maybe Morgan’s right and itisa sign. I forgot that was the name of your pub, too.”
Helen stared at Morgan as she paid, then turned back to Ali. “Are you sure there’s nothing going on between you two? Because I’m definitely picking up a vibe. Plus, you don’t rush into a bakery and buy someone a gingerbread pub if you don’t care for them. Especially when the recipient isn’t the most amenable.”
Ali tried as hard as she could to keep her poker face. “We’re just friends.”
The look Helen gave her told Ali she didn’t believe a word of it. However, for now, Ali wasn’t ready for whatever they were to be public knowledge. Because if she said it aloud to someone else, that made what had happened true. Then, when it inevitably went nowhere, she’d be doubly sad. If she just kept it inside for now, she could manage it. Especially as she had enough to contend with when she got home.
Only now, Morgan stood in front of her, holding out a white cake box with a transparent lid, the gingerbread pub inside.
Ali blinked back tears. What on earth was going on? It was just a stack of biscuits with icing. But Morgan had bought it for her. Morgan knew what the original Rising Sun meant to Ali. Home. Family. Even though that was forever changed, this gingerbread pub was still standing, still making people smile. Just like the real thing.
A lump formed in Ali’s throat. She wasn’t going to get emotional. Not in front of Helen, or in front of Morgan.
Instead, she gave Morgan a tight smile. “Thank you. Mum’s going to love it.”
“And she’ll try to eat it at the first opportunity if I know my aunt,” Helen added.
Ali bit her lip.Keep it together.
“Can I have the car keys so I can put this in it? I don’t want to risk it getting broken.”
Helen nodded and handed Morgan the keys. “We’ll either be in the Paddings Gift Shop, or else Jen’s Boutique.”
Morgan took the keys and turned towards the car.
Ali watched her go. Buying her that was a super-sweet gesture. The more time she spent with Morgan Scott, the sweeter she became. Sweet and hot, the very best combination.
She followed Helen’s lead, walking along the pavement as the cold air needled her face. She spied the gift shop up ahead, and they dodged a slew of last-minute shoppers before they went in.
“There’s some great local gin in here I want to buy for Jamie. He loves it,” Helen told her.
The shop sold a mix of clothes, things to eat and drink, and high-end gifts. It was just the sort of place Ali loved. She stopped near the candles and picked up some rosemary and lavender pillars for her sister. If their luggage didn’t make it in time with Ali’s original gifts, Nicole would love these. She grabbed a rich orange cashmere scarf for her mum, and a bottle of expensive olive oil for Nicole’s husband Stuart, who loved to cook. As Morgan said, they had a car that hopefully worked. They should make the most of it.
She headed to the cash desk, but stopped when she saw some gorgeous dark green leather gloves. Morgan. She needed a gift for her, too, and these were just the thing.
A loop of Morgan’s hands running across Ali’s back last night made her zone out. She sank into the moment. Morgan was great with her hands, but she was severely lacking in accessories for them. Next time she got stranded, Ali was determined Morgan would be fully equipped. She grabbed a basket, put her purchases in, then picked up the gloves: they were as soft as Morgan’s backside.
Baby soft.
