Page 4 of A Festive Surprise

Chapter Three

Farid

Farid gripped the bag straps, clutching them so tightly his short nails dug into his palms. The woman stared at him. And what a woman: tall, elegant, striking, and smartly dressed in a crop tweed jacket, skinny jeans and boots. Something in her greyish-green eyes warned him not to mess with her but the depth of her irises told another story. A sad one. He saw a similar story when he looked in the mirror. Her face held him like a magical force, commanding him. He was drawn forward.

‘You’re not the elf?’ he said.

‘Do I look like an elf?’

He shook his head. ‘Too tall.’

‘Exactly.’

He rubbed his free hand across the bare patch of his chest. The woman’s gaze followed his movement. Heat throbbed within. The sweat he’d built up chopping wood spread. The woman trailed her fingertips along the smooth skin of her collarbone, just visible beneath her top. Did she like what she saw? He did.

He held eye contact, flicking up the corner of his lips. Stay cool. There were no expectations here. Take things easy.

Stepping forward, he pushed out his hand, forgetting the half-chopped log at his feet. He stumbled over it, almost losing his balance. The bag flew open and the contents spilled onto the ground. Bang went cool. An engine rumbled and Georgia’s car trundled down the path. The woman pressed her fingers to her lips, stifling a laugh. Farid straightened his shirt. Shit.

‘Are you ok?’ She blinked between him and Georgia’s car.

‘Ay. Yes.’ Farid snatched a pair of stripy leggings and shoved them back into the bag. The woman’s stare burned into his back. He stooped to grab the red top; bells jingled and a sprig of plastic plant caught between two paving slabs. He tugged it up and pulled a face at it.

Georgia’s car door banged.

‘Hello, hello,’ she said. ‘Oh, by gosh by golly, it’s mistletoe and Holly!’ She threw out her arms and embraced the woman.

‘Seriously?’ The woman returned her hug stiffly. Over Georgia’s shoulder, she arched an eyebrow at Farid, gave Georgia a quick pat on the back and pulled away.

‘Loving the festive spirit,’ Georgia said.

The woman’s expression dulled. ‘I don’t do festive spirit.’

Farid scrambled to pick up the remaining items from the bag. When he straightened up, he zeroed onto the woman again. Her expression was detached. Farid edged closer, tilting his head and frowning. How could he make her smile? Ha! What was he thinking? She was nothing to do with him. But a murmur in his chest made him certain their paths would cross again.

Georgia grinned. ‘I love Christmas.’

The woman drew back. ‘I’m here to escape Christmas. I can’t stand all the fuss. Didn’t I say?’ She peered at Georgia. Her chin jutted forward and her shoulders seemed tense. She rubbed her palm up the arm of her tweed jacket.

An urge to fill her world with magic burst through Farid’s veins. Where were these thoughts coming from?

‘I don’t remember you saying you didn’t love Christmas. Oops. I hope I haven’t scared you off with my giant Christmas tree,’ said Georgia.

The woman raised an eyebrow. ‘You might have.’

‘Please,’ said Farid. ‘Your pardon. I think I am the one scaring you. I thought you were the elf.’

Georgia raised her hand to her lips. ‘Holly definitely isn’t an elf.’

‘I see now. Please, I ask you, don’t go. My mistake. I apologise.’

Holly scanned him over, her cool eyes taking their time. No, she wasn’t an elf; she was an ice queen. Her dark pupils froze his blood as they travelled over every inch of him. His body blazed with ice burns.

‘All right,’ she said. ‘But keep me out of the Christmas prep.’

Georgia beamed and saluted her with a wink.

‘I mean it. And I’d rather elf-suit-brandishing lumberjacks didn’t accost me everywhere I go if it’s all the same to you.’

---