Page 10 of A Festive Surprise

‘Georgia said that’s why you came here. Your father knew Archie.’

‘Yes. My father had connections. I was lucky.’

‘Why did you leave?’

‘I was in a group that challenged the government. They captured and tortured us. We escaped. It wasn’t safe to stay after that.’

She stretched out her hand and placed it on his knee. The sting of attraction shot up his thigh and into his groin. She was fast. He inhaled, accepting the touch. As well as the burn, it brought comfort.

‘I can’t begin to comprehend it. How dreadful. It makes my worries seem utterly stupid.’ She squeezed his knee and he put his hand over hers. Stop. Stop. His sanity depended on it. Or at least his control.

‘You must have reasons.’

She looked him in the eye. He held his breath. Those lips begged to be kissed. He could dip in and claim the first true kiss of his life. Must not move. Don’t do it. Stay still.

‘I do. But they’re ridiculous when I hear what you’ve been through.’ Her other hand landed on top of his, sandwiching him between her beautifully soft palms.

His lungs spasmed. Breathe. Stay cool. But how? ‘Ya’ni, I won’t forget, but I must think about the future. Going back is not something I can do.’

‘That’s a great mindset. You must be resilient.’ She rested her head on the back of the sofa close to his shoulder, still not moving her gaze from him. ‘How about we eat some pies and drown our sorrows? I have wine.’

‘I didn’t drink much before I arrived here but I like the sound of it.’

‘I can tell you’re my kind of guy.’

A tremor rippled through him. She was definitely his kind of woman. No one had ever set his blood racing like this.

‘I have a condition.’ Farid edged his face a fraction closer. One centimetre more and the tips of their noses would touch.

‘What? Like hives or something? Should I keep my distance?’

He frowned. ‘You joke, huh? But no, not like that.’

Her lip curled. ‘Yeah, I’m joking.’ She ran her thumb over a raised vein on the back of his hand and he tightened his grip. Her deep eye contact scorched him low. ‘Tell me your condition then.’

‘You stay. Don’t go yet.’

‘That’s it?’

‘Yes. I help you.’

‘How the hell will you do that?’

‘Magic.’ He winked.

Holly gazed at him for a few seconds. ‘You’re cute.’ Lifting her hand from his, she tapped the end of his nose with her index finger and he chuckled. ‘Quite a bit more than cute. Tell you what. Let’s eat. If I like the pies, I might stay.’

‘You make a hard bargain.’

‘You have no idea.’ She raised her eyebrows and got to her feet. He followed.

‘You like music?’ he asked.

‘As long as it’s not some Christmas thing, then yes.’

‘Let’s see what I find.’ He turned up the volume on the radio and a song he didn’t recognise played out. It sounded like a children’s choir. He glanced at Holly. ‘What is this one?’

She screwed up her nose. ‘It’s called “War is Over”.’

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