Page 40 of A Festive Surprise

‘Ok.’ Holly sat up. ‘I could count this as an early Christmas present.’

‘Really?’

‘Absolutely. Why wouldn’t I? Didn’t you enjoy it?’

‘I did.’ He stared at the grass, his cheeks glowing pink through his gorgeous tan. ‘I’m not sure it was the best though. And for someone to see.’

She slipped her hand over his. ‘Don’t sweat it. When we get back, we can refine our techniques.’

His shoulders flinched and he jumped to his feet. ‘Ok. Let’s go.’

Holly hauled herself up and straightened herself out. Farid had already started striding up the hill. She caught up with him and took his hand. ‘Have I overstepped again?’

‘No.’ He swallowed and looked away. ‘I feel… guilty. You get what I mean.’

Maybe he was right. Getting caught like that was pretty high on the list of embarrassing things that could happen during a kiss. She screwed up her face. But what a kiss. Satisfying and full of promise, begging to be carried on in more private surroundings. ‘I am sorry. I didn’t think. I acted on lust.’

‘I don’t blame you. I was as bad. It’s just…’ He ran his fingers through his hair. ‘I’m not used to this kind of thing. I was supposed to have a marriage. My family arranged it.’

‘What happened?’

‘I was captured before we were married. It would be dishonourable for us to marry now.’

‘And were you and her… you know, in love?’

‘I didn’t really know her. We had respect for each other, but I was resentful. I wanted to choose for myself. My father…’ Farid sighed. ‘My father will never forgive my sins. And this. If he knew.’ He covered his face.

‘There’s no way he ever will.’

‘But I still feel it.’ He put his fist to his chest. ‘Like I’ve done wrong and no good will come of it.’

Holly kept in step with him, not sure how to reply. The wind had blown away the moment of joy, bringing a cloud to hang over her. Why hadn’t she controlled herself? She was responsible for this change in Farid. If she could have waited until she was sure they were alone. Though the spontaneity would have been lost.

‘We’re both adults,’ she said at last. ‘It’s not a crime to enjoy each other’s company. And we were just kissing on a beach. We weren’t naked or anything.’

He cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. ‘Kissing, huh? That was some kiss.’

‘I’m glad we agree on that.’

With a quirk of his lips, Farid’s smile returned. ‘Let’s keep the next one for when we’re alone. And indoors. That is more sensible.’

‘We lost control.’

He stopped and looked her in the eye. ‘Fate brought me here. To you.’ He leaned in and kissed her cheek. ‘But I need it to be right.’

He started walking again. Holly’s pulse rocketed and she purposefully sucked in long, slow breaths of the cold air. He didn’t mean that she was ‘the one’, did he? All that stuff was bollocks; she believed in it as much as she believed in Santa. Relationships didn’t last – not for her – they were fleeting, passing things to be enjoyed before moving on. With Gavin, she’d dreamed so hard of the perfect life, she’d forced his hand and proposed in front of his whole family, on Christmas Day, certain he wouldn’t refuse, sure her future was safe with him. How wrong had she been?

This fling with Farid was only for Christmas. Come January, her bags would be packed and she’d be off. She tightened her grip on his hand. It felt too soon to leave him. She’d met him just over a week ago but she’d spent every second of every day since thinking about him. When she pared away the festive glitter, all she really fancied for Christmas was him.

He was special, but she couldn’t let that change her. No man would ever do that to her.

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