Page 23 of A Festive Surprise

‘You are very naughty, aren’t you?’ His seductive lips quirked up. ‘Maybe this naughty list is something for you after all.’

‘No maybe about it.’

He opened the living room door and motioned for her to go in. ‘Please sit by the fire. I have something special for you.’

‘Now you’re talking.’ She parked herself on the deep burgundy sofa by the fire and leaned on a cream and gold scatter cushion. Somewhere close by, Farid was moving about. When the door opened, Holly covered her face and groaned. Elf pyjamas! ‘No, Farid, just no.’

‘Ah, come on, why not?’

‘A hundred reasons.’

He dotted into the kitchen area and returned seconds later with a large bowl and a roll of foil.

‘What’s this for?’ Holly eyed the bowl.

‘I hear roasting chestnuts on the fire is the thing to do.’

‘You are ridiculous.’ She fluffed her fingers through her hair, pulling it to one side.

‘Am I?’ He sat next to her. His leg touched hers; the heat was incredible. She sidled closer so their arms touched. A warm amber fragrance spread from his skin, drifted inside her and tickled her deep. He pulled off some foil and moulded it into a container. ‘You can explain why this is Christmassy.’

‘It’s a song and that’s all I know.’

‘Then let me tell you something about home.’ He placed some chestnuts from the bowl into his foil container and knelt before the fire. Looking up, he cocked his head, inviting Holly to join him. She followed, crouching on her knees, bottom on her heels. Farid took the fire irons and manoeuvred the foil into the fire. ‘Home is where people eat and make food. We do this together, we talk, we laugh, we share.’

‘Ok, is that my first lesson?’

‘Just the beginning, Holly.’ He glanced at her and she stared back. Kissing him would be glorious. Resist. Don’t screw this up. This ritual was obviously important to him. Stay cool and play along. Were rules more rigid in Syria? Maybe he wasn’t used to women moving so fast. Christ, she wasn’t normally like this. The need he exposed in her was raw and demanding. But there was more. Something almost spiritual.

‘I don’t think I even like chestnuts. I had one years ago at my grandma’s and I remember spitting it out when no one was looking.’

Farid ran his forefinger over the back of her hand, tracing his fingertip from her wrist to her nail. She melted and took a shuddering breath. ‘It’s not about liking or disliking. It’s about doing this together.’ He smiled and she melted a bit more. Soon she’d be a slippery pool. ‘And if you really don’t like them, I have marshmallows for after.’

She laughed and leaned in, resting her head on his shoulders. A sigh escaped her. Farid put his arm around her and they fell into an easy sitting position. ‘Farid.’ She moved her forehead, so it touched his neck. ‘Those scars on your chest. How…?’

‘It’s not a nice story.’

‘I’m quite sure it isn’t. You can tell me if you want to talk about it, but I completely understand if you don’t.’

He let out a slow breath, his body rising and falling. ‘I want to tell you.’ His grip tightened a little. ‘I’m from a good family. My father has much influence because he worked a long time in the oil industry. I had a good job.’ His voice was low and melodic, almost like he was singing.

‘Doing what?’

‘Programming computers.’

Holly tilted her head up. ‘Seriously?’

‘Yes.’

‘The same as me.’

‘Is that what you do?’

‘I work in software design, and my degree’s in programming.’

‘Wow. That’s so strange.’

‘Life’s full of coincidences. But go on with your story.’

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