Page 71 of Hope and Hot Chocolate on Mistletoe Lane

46

PAUL

I was walking around the Birchbrook green trying not to be antisocial. But everyone wanted a piece of the gorgeous woman by my side, and I just wanted her all to myself. I kept physical contact with her as we talked to our relations and friends and neighbours, enjoying the feel of my arm around her or how warm her hand felt in mine or the way she giggled every time I sneaked a quick cheeky kiss. She was wearing a short cream faux fur jacket that suited her perfectly and made her feel like my own personal teddy bear to squeeze. She seemed so light tonight – smiling and blushing when our eyes caught and leaning against me like she too wanted to touch me as much as possible.

It was like a dream having her back here. I had kept telling myself not to hope for it and be happy without her but now she was here, I knew I’d been kidding myself. I couldn’t not hope for this. And yeah, I could be happy without her but I was so much happier by her side.

Mum and Dad refused to let me back in the café van. They handed us Holly’s hot chocolates in takeaway cups and a gingerbread muffin each and waved us away, telling us to mingle and not work for the rest of the night.

We went to see Holly’s mum’s stall and when Holly wasn’t looking, I bought her an infinity necklace, slipping it into my pocket ready to give her at Christmas. It seemed to say everything I wanted to. Holly got a bracelet for her friend Georgia that matched her snowflake one as Georgia had loved it. Then we stopped by Daisy’s and Mary’s flower stall and Holly picked up a poinsettia plant. At the antiques stall run by Daisy’s husband Blake, she bought a vintage photo frame for her mum, telling me she’d put a photo of the two of them in it. We put money in the bucket for the school choir and bought a selection of chocolates from the sweet shop stall.

Then we reached Elliot and Lewis.

‘It’s nice to have you back, Holly. You’ve put a big smile on this guy’s face,’ Elliot said.

‘Yeah yeah,’ I said, but I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face.

‘It’s nice to see you both so happy. We’re heading off now,’ Lewis said as he wrapped an arm around his husband.

‘What about the pub?’ I asked.

‘You really want to come to the pub?’ Elliot said with a grin.

I looked at Holly then back at them. ‘Yeah, definitely not. I’ll call you.’ They hugged us then headed off. I took Holly’s hand and leaned in. ‘Can we get out of here too now? Let’s just sneak off…’

‘That’s very naughty; what will people say?’ she said with a grin. ‘I love it, let’s go.’

I chuckled. She was a girl after my own heart. We weaved through the crowd, trying not to make eye contact with anyone else, and when we reached the edge of the green, I pulled her into a jog with me towards the café. Her hair billowed out behind her and she laughed as we raced away from the crowd towards the quiet café, its lights beckoning us like they knew we needed to be alone.

I unlocked the café and ushered her in, closing the door quickly behind us and then I tugged her towards the stairs and up to my apartment. Once there, I breathed out a sigh of relief, closing the door behind us.

‘Now you have me to yourself, what are you going to do with me?’ Holly asked me, her eyes twinkling as she slipped out of her jacket. I’d left one lamp on in the living room so the light was dim and romantic in here. Her cheeks and nose were pink from the cold.

‘Want to tell me everything that happened when you left?’ I asked her.

‘Yes, but I need to kiss you first,’ Holly said. ‘I won’t be able to think straight otherwise. And I’m freezing…’ She gave me a suggestive look that made me twitch inside my jeans in anticipation.

‘Hmm, you do look like you need warming up,’ I agreed.

She nodded eagerly. ‘How will you do that, though?’

‘I know the perfect place…’ I held out my hand and she took it eagerly as I led her into my bedroom.

‘My cosy place,’ she said with a smile that warmed my heart.

‘It’s yours if you want it to be,’ I said as I cupped her cheek and leaned down to brush her perfect lips with mine. ‘You can stay whenever you like. Actually, maybe you should leave the farm and sleep here instead. Just to keep you warm, of course.’

‘Ah, yes, it’s only for health reasons?’ she purred back at me, smiling.

‘There would be no benefit for me,’ I joked.

This time, she kissed me. ‘I think I could provide a few benefits, though,’ she whispered as she reached for the zip of my jumper and started to pull it down. She then slipped it off my shoulders, revealing the buttoned long-sleeved top I had on underneath. ‘Did you wish I was in your bed while I was away?’ she asked as she tucked her fingers under the hem and raised a questioning eyebrow.

‘Every day and every night,’ I replied easily. ‘Did you miss it here?’ I asked, lifting my arms up so she could pull my top off, leaving my chest bare. But under her darkening eyes, I wasn’t cold.

‘Yes. And I missed you,’ she replied just as easily, making me smile. She reached for her jumper and tugged it off. I drank in her lacy red bra hungrily. ‘Did you miss me?’

‘A crazy amount,’ I said, pulling her close. She was too far away for my liking. My mouth met hers eagerly as I ran my hands over her smooth back. My body instantly responded to touching hers. I was already desperate to be naked with her.