Page 55 of A Festive Surprise

‘Yes.’

‘You do?’

He nodded. ‘I told you, this used to be my job.’

‘Go on then.’ She pushed the laptop towards him.

‘I might find nothing. But sometimes fresh eyes help.’

‘Do you want a coffee?’ She got to her feet and folded her arms, watching him lean forward to examine the data.

‘Can I have a marvellous hot chocolate, please? I left a bag in the hall. It’s full of stuff you might like.’ He grinned as he stared at the screen, scrolling, then typing. His fingers moved like a superhuman.

Almost as fast as me. Nipping into the hall, Holly picked up the bag. Soon the contents were laid on the worktop. She scratched her forehead. Squirty cream, flakes, chocolate sprinkles and a miniature bottle of rum. Seriously?

‘Rum in hot chocolate?’

Farid’s smile grew but he didn’t glance up from the screen. ‘Why not? We only live once, huh?’

She took out a measuring jug and filled it with milk. ‘I should look up a recipe. I haven’t a clue what to do with the rum.’ She pulled out her phone.

‘Here. I’ve found it. I think.’

Holly almost dropped her phone and ran around behind him. She peered over his shoulder. ‘Oh my god, it could be. Let’s see.’ He pushed the laptop back to her and she sat on the stool.

‘Do you want me to fix it?’

‘You know how?’

‘Don’t you trust me?’ He quirked a grin.

‘I do but I also trust you more with the hot chocolate; I don’t trust myself with that.’

He laughed. ‘Ok, you do the computer. I fix the drinks.’

With the right code isolated, Holly worked through it, debugging, and rewriting where necessary. Farid boiled milk in the pan and gorgeous aromas filled the room. Friday night was looking up again.

A hot chocolate with a perfect swirl of whipped cream landed on the worktop beside her in one of the fancy glass mugs she’d found in the cupboard – a masterpiece worthy of a barista in an artisan coffee shop. ‘Mmm. I hope this tastes as good as it looks and smells.’ She ran the new codes. Phew. All working. Delicious, sweet scents filled the room. ‘I’m going to email this to the test team and get them to check it. Hopefully, that’s it fixed. I honestly can’t thank you enough.’

‘No bother. It feels good to do it again.’

She closed her laptop. ‘I’m done for the day and, thanks to you, the weekend is clear. Maybe tomorrow we should bake the Christmas cake.’

‘Perfect.’ He clinked his glass on hers. ‘Fe Sehetak.’

‘Sláinte.’ She sipped the drink. Cream crowned the tip of her nose. She crinkled it and crossed her eyes, pretending to look at it.

‘Let me.’ Farid rubbed it off with a quick stroke of his forefinger.

‘Has it gone?’

‘Missed a bit.’ He leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers, sucking on her top lip. The bristles of his beard tickled her. ‘Got it.’

‘If you do that again, I won’t finish it. I’d rather have you.’

‘Later. We shouldn’t waste this.’

‘Yes. Let’s not rush.’

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