Page 69 of A Festive Surprise

Chapter Twenty-Two

Holly

Holly stood at the door, staring into the darkness. The cold air bit her face. She hugged herself. What was she doing here? When the fluff was swept away, what was left? She’d come to escape Christmas and hurtled headfirst into a festive nightmare.

Now she didn’t just have Christmas to worry about, she also had Farid. ‘Oh, god.’ She rested her forehead on the doorframe. For a place so close to the edge of the world, it was both lonely and wonderful. And most of the wonderful happened when Farid was nearby. She craved him too much. He came home to her every night. They cooked together, had fun together, talked together, made love together and everything was a bit too perfect. What was to stop her from keeping it going?

She was supposed to be getting ready for the party but her head ordered her not to. Going somewhere public with Farid was making their relationship more than it should be. Come January, she was out of here and Farid would be nothing but a happy diversion she’d had one December. Staying here long-term wasn’t a viable option. Or was it? At one time in her life, she’d wanted to take the settling-down road and spectacularly fucked it up. It had been her dream for so long. She’d been the girl who dreamed of a white wedding and all the trappings, but when it came to the crunch... Ugh. She covered her face, blotting out the memory. What a prize mess she’d made of things. Men weren’t necessary for happiness. They could be good company but not in the long run. Everything that had happened post-Gavin had been better. She’d been freer and happier than ever before. Until now.

With a sigh, she closed the door and returned to the warmth of the cottage. She slumped onto the cosy sofa and hugged one of the reindeer cushions. This agonising was exactly what she was trying to avoid. Relationships did this. They brought self-doubt and uncertainty. No way did she need them in her life again.

A thud next door made her sit up. Was that Farid home? She’d just missed him. Somehow she had to tell him she couldn’t go, but how could she break the news without breaking his heart? She couldn’t face the look in his eyes when their end day came.

She sat upright on the sofa, unable to move. Run away? But where? Maybe if she stayed still, no one would find her.

‘Holly!’ Farid’s voice called at the same time as the door opened.

‘Shit.’ She was still in her pyjamas.

He strolled into the living room and her eyes almost popped out of their sockets. He was always well-groomed but he’d gone all out. His beard was neatly trimmed and every curl of his hair worked in perfection with its neighbour. He tugged back the cuffs of a slick white shirt tucked into shapely black jeans.

‘Wow.’

‘This?’ He glanced down and dusted an imaginary speck from his trouser leg. ‘I borrowed this shirt from Archie. He says I can keep it but I won’t need it again soon.’ His gaze travelled over her and she sucked on her lip. What now? Could she turn him away when he’d made such an effort? Was she that heartless? ‘You’re not dressed yet?’

‘I can’t.’

He furrowed his brow, stepped towards her and sat down. ‘Why not, jamilati?’

The utterly divine aroma of amber oil tickled her nostrils. His slightly open shirt presented his glorious chest – so kissable.

‘Are you sick? I can stay here and look after you if that’s better?’

‘No. I’m fine. It’s just…’

‘Christmas?’

‘Partly.’

Farid took her hand and gently stroked it. ‘Why do you hate it so much?’

‘The commercialism gets me. My family have always been materialistic. We had a lot of money growing up and my parents got me everything I wanted.’

‘Then you’re lucky.’

‘No, because it had no meaning. There was no magic. It wasn’t fair and it wasn’t right. I grew up entitled, thinking I could have whatever I wanted, but my parents’ gifts always came at a price. I wasn’t what they wanted. A son.’

‘And this makes you hate Christmas?’

Holly threw back her head. ‘Not really. Things changed because of Gavin.’

‘Your ex?’

‘Yup. He was like me in so many ways. We had lots in common: we worked in the same field, the same company for a while, and had similar interests. I knew he was the guy for me.’

Farid dropped his gaze to his shoes.

‘And he still is, huh?’

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