Page 73 of The Cosy Travelling Christmas Shop

God, she was gorgeous. He couldn’t get enough of her. Nor she of him, if last night had been anything to go by. They’d hardly slept a wink, yet he felt as fresh and as alert as if he’d had a solid eight hours.

She ignored his hand and walked across to the window, pulling the curtain aside. It was early, only just seven-thirty and still dark. ‘It’s pretty,’ she said, peering outside.

‘It most certainly is.’

‘You can’t see from— Oh.’ She blushed when she realised he was referring to her and not the scenery beyond the window.

‘Will you please come back to bed?’ His voice was husky with desire and when he saw the answering flame in Seren’s eyes, he groaned. ‘What are you doing to me, woman?’

Seren slipped back into bed and as her searching hands found what she was hunting for, she murmured, ‘This…’ She nibbled his earlobe. ‘And this… and this. Eek!’

Daniel pounced, and for a while neither of them said anything because there was no need for words, but when Seren’s tummy rumbled as she snuggled against him under the covers afterwards, he knew it was time to make a move if they wanted any breakfast. He guessed she was as hungry as he was, so he reluctantly slid his arm out from underneath her and got out of bed.

‘I think I’ll have a quick shower,’ he said.

‘Fancy some company?’

‘Not if I want to eat this morning. Can I take a rain check? I quite fancy seeing you all sudsy and bubbly.’

Seren sighed. ‘I’m due at work in an hour, so I’d better give them a ring. Pamela isn’t going to be happy.’

‘It can’t be helped,’ he said. ‘No one knew it was going to snow so much.’

‘I suppose, although Pamela’s not going to see it that way, especially since my dad said there was only a light dusting at home. She’s not going to believe me.’

Daniel left her to her phone call while he had a shower, and by the time he’d finished she was sitting on the bed with a cross expression on her face.

‘What’s up?’ he asked.

‘Pamela. She practically accused me of lying. I feel like taking a photo and sending it to her.’

‘You should.’ He posed naked. ‘You can tell her this is the reason why you can’t go to work.’ He waved an arm down the length of his body, and she giggled as he hoped she would.

‘Stuff her,’ she said. ‘I feel guilty that I’m not at work when I should be because everyone else will have to take up the slack, but I’m not responsible for the weather, and I’m hardly ever off. I can’t remember the last time I had a day off sick.’ She stood up and lifted her chin. ‘I’ll just jump in the shower, then we can go down for breakfast.’

Daniel dressed, wishing he had a change of clothes, then he messaged his mum to tell her where he was. He’d turned his phone off last night, partly to conserve the battery and partly because he didn’t want any interruptions, and when he switched it on again he saw he had a missed call from Miss Carruthers at Fernlea Manor.

He’d phone her back later. Right now the only thing he wanted to concentrate on was Seren and spending the rest of the day with her. Work could wait.

Breakfast was a cheerful affair, with Sally Prescott, the landlady, making a fuss of them, asking if they’d slept well (her knowing smile made Seren blush again, which Daniel thought was delightful) and plying them with more food than they could possibly eat.

‘The main road is clear,’ she told them when she brought them more toast, ‘but the road through the village is still blocked. My husband said it should be clear by lunchtime, and you’re welcome to stay until it is.’

Daniel looked at Seren, who shrugged. ‘It’s not as though we can go anywhere,’ she said. ‘Thank you so much for putting us up. What do we owe you?’

‘Nothing.’

Daniel cocked his head to the side. ‘You must let us pay you. For breakfast, at least. There’s enough food here to feed an army.’

‘It’s my pleasure,’ she said. ‘If the B&B part of the pub was still a business, it would be a different matter. But it isn’t. I was simply helping out a couple of people caught in the snow. Anyone would have done the same.’

‘Not anyone,’ Daniel argued. ‘Look, take my card.’ He removed his wallet from his pocket and handed the woman a business card. ‘When you need the pub garden seeing to, give me a call. I owe you a favour, so let me repay it.’

Sally smiled. ‘I’ll do that. Now, eat up. More tea or coffee? Or how about another slice of bacon?’

Seren blanched and when Sally was out of earshot she said, ‘If I eat any more, I think I might explode.’

‘How about we go for a stroll in the snow and walk it off?’

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