Page 59 of A Scottish Christmas Hideaway
‘I’m sure you would have been okay. You’re a very capable woman. But I’m very glad I decided to go into town and could help.’
‘Me too.’ She brushed his lips with hers. ‘I’d better go, otherwise I’ll be late.’
‘I’ll call you this afternoon,’ he said. ‘Hope work goes well.’
‘Drive carefully,’ she said, kissing him one last time. She watched as he drove away, unable to wipe the beam from her face.
Chapter Forty
Jessica quickly changed as quietly as she could and then trudged down the snowy lane to wait by the bakery door for Struan to open up.
‘Morning,’ he said gruffly, hurrying along to her, his keys jangling.
‘Good morning,’ she said cheerily.
He eyed her suspiciously. ‘You’re awfy happy for this time of the day.’
She grinned. ‘That’s because it’s Christmas soon and it’s been snowing.’
‘It’s bloody freezing,’ he grumbled, unlocking the door. ‘Come on then, two more shifts to go and that will be us for a good few days.’
She was very glad he had taken the decision to close early on Christmas Eve and not open again until the thirtieth. That meant no early morning alarm calls for five mornings which would be bliss. Especially if she could enjoy some of them with Reuben.
‘I’ll even put on the Christmas tunes for you today. As a treat.’
Jessica laughed. Struan had banned all Christmas music in the bakery as he said it made him feel completely un-Christmassy. ‘I used to quite like that Mariah Carey woman,’ he’d said to her and Gillian the other day. ‘Then that bloody song, “All I Want for Christmas” was in every shop I went into from October onwards and that was it. Killed it for me. I just can’t look at her in the same way.’
Gillian had looked at Jessica. ‘I’m sure she’s devastated,’ she said drily. ‘I’m not sure you would necessarily have been her type anyway, Struan.’
He looked affronted. ‘You never know. Lots of American women go for Scottish men. Look atOutlander.That’s all the rage in the States.’ He stood there looking quite indignant in his baker’s overalls and hat.
‘I don’t like to break it to you butOutlander’smain star is Sam Heughan,’ said Gillian.
Struan had shrugged. ‘And? What’s your point?’
Jessica couldn’t help laughing. ‘I think what she’s trying to say is that she doesn’t really thinkheis representative of your average Scottish bloke.’
Struan had harumphed and gone out back muttering to himself.
Now as they switched on the ovens and got ready to bake for the day ahead, Struan turned on the music. The first song to play was “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and they quietly got on with the baking, the soft hum of festive music filling the kitchen. Neither Jessica or Struan said much, quite content in their shared routine that they had grown used to over the past couple of weeks. Jessica loved the sound of the mixers, the beeping ovens and the scent of cinnamon that filled the air.
‘Well, good morning,’ said Gillian, running in a couple of hours later looking flustered. ‘Sorry I’m a bit late. I meant to try and come in a bit earlier to help, but I slept in.’
‘Hey, Gill, don’t worry it’s all in hand. And now it’s the twenty-third of December, Struan says we arefinallyallowed to have Christmas music on in the bakery.’
‘Yes, I can hear that. Though not the most obvious choice, is it?’ She crinkled her nose in disgust. ‘Is thatLuther Vandross? I didn’t know he even had any Christmas hits.’
‘He has lots. And there is nothing wrong with Luther,’ said Struan firmly. ‘At least he can sing, unlike the young numpties of today.’ He turned and disappeared through the back.
Gillian shrugged. ‘I suppose it makes a change from Slade and Shakin’ Stevens.’
Jessica sniggered. ‘I’ve a feeling this could be a whole compilation of Luther’s Christmas songs.’
Gillian groaned. ‘Well at least it shows he’s not a complete Scrooge.Andhe keeps telling me how much he loves the gingerbread house. Struan never praises anything. I think you’re maybe making himlightenup a bit in his old age.’
Struan wandered through from the back. ‘I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Anyway, look what I’ve got.’ He held up three red Santa hats. ‘I’ve even got us some special hats for when we open.’
‘Have you been talking to my dad?’ said Jessica, remembering his Santa suit. She wondered when he was planning to wear it. She wouldn’t be surprised if her mum had hidden it away so that he never wore it.
