Page 13 of A Scottish Christmas Hideaway
‘Absolutely. I would love it if you could come and help me choose a tree, Jessie. It will be fun.’
Her mum looked on approvingly. ‘Wonderful. It’s just like old times.’
Jessica managed not to shake her head in disgust.Old times? When they were younger she had frequently wanted to batter him.
‘Right you two, off you go. We’ll see you back at the car.’ Then her mum turned away to help Angus.
‘Let’s find a tree you think your wee niece will absolutely love,’ said Reuben.
‘Sure.’ Jessica was trying to keep her voice steady. ‘Lead the way. But before we do, can I ask you something?’
‘Anything,’ he said, raising an eyebrow.
‘Pleasestopcalling me Jessie.’
Chapter Eight
It had been ages since Reuben could remember enjoying himself so much. Jessica had been a bit stand-offish with him to begin with, which he assumed was because her mum had forced her to do something she clearly didn’t want to. He could see the dismay in her eyes when Catriona had suggested that Jessica help him out. He couldn’t believe this was the Jessica whose ponytail he always used to tug when they were kids. She had certainly changed and he couldn’t help stealing quick glances at her when he thought she wasn’t looking. She wore dark jeans and boots and a black coat, which looked as though it belonged to her dad. Her hair hung loose over her shoulders and she wore a red hat. She was beautiful. Although she seemed confident and funny, there was also something vulnerable about her. As though she had a protective shell around her. Then he checked himself. If Murray could see him now, checking out his sister, he would probably want to clobber him.
‘I think this is the perfect one,’ she said, pointing at the branches of a huge tree.
He crinkled his nose. ‘Isn’t it a bit big?’ He walked towards a row of smaller ones and gestured towards one. ‘Is this not better?’
She tutted. ‘That wee skinny thing? Don’t be ridiculous. It will topple over as soon as you drape a bit of tinsel on it. And it will look lost in your front room which I’m assuming is still the same and like my parents’? You want something that will be the centrepiece.’
He scratched his head. ‘It will take over the whole room. I’ll need to move the furniture out.’
Jessica rolled her eyes at him. ‘Don’t be so dramatic. Trust me,’ she said tugging at the branches of her tree. ‘This will look perfect.’
‘Okay,’ he said. ‘If you insist.’
She grinned at him triumphantly and he couldn’t help but laugh. ‘You always did like to be right.’
She shrugged and he could feel her eyes on him as he cut it down and hoisted it over his shoulder.
‘That’s because I am right. I promise it will look amazing in the cottage,’ she said firmly.
They walked towards the exit, where Reuben paid for the tree as it was netted. ‘Do you want to come and see the cottage and advise me on where you think it should go?’ he said as he secured the tree on the roof rack of his car.
Her cheeks were tinged pink by the cold air and she looked at him almost shyly from beneath her hat. ‘Um, this is the part where I should say I’d better go and ask my mum and dad.’ She burst out laughing.
He pulled a face as he looked across the car park. ‘Well, I don’t like to break it to you, Jessica, but it looks like they’ve already left.’
She spun round in shock. ‘Oh my God, so they have. That isoutrageous.’ Her eyes smiled now. ‘They’ve actually left their child behind. I don’t believe it.’
‘Just as well I’m here then to give you a lift home. Otherwise, it would be a long walk back.’ He grinned at her and opened the car with a click of his key.
Inside, he turned the heating on high to warm them up from the outside chill factor.
‘Thanks,’ she said, rubbing her hands together. ‘I am so cold. I keep forgetting how much colder it is up here.’
‘Now that you’re a soft southerner,’ he joked.
‘Yup. I am clearly too used to the balmy London temperatures.’
‘I agree though, it’s chilly out there. Much colder than it has been. I wonder if it might even snow,’ he said, looking at the sky.
‘Maybe,’ she said.
