Page 73 of A Festive Surprise

‘Do you fancy this?’ said Holly. ‘Proper Scottish dancing. Your first ceilidh.’

‘I don’t know how.’

‘Me neither but most people make it up as they go along.’

‘Then how can I refuse?’

Holly led him to the floor and they tried to copy the people around them. Her smile returned as Farid twirled her and they almost collapsed, laughing. ‘We’ll get removed.’ Her eyes watered and she clasped her hand at her chest. The tune ended and everyone clapped. ‘I need air. Come over here, the window’s open.’ She stood beside it, half-hidden behind the giant Christmas tree and fanned her face.

Farid took hold of her shoulders and drew her into him, kissing her firmly on the lips. She clutched his cheeks and returned it.

‘We’ve had our moments, haven’t we?’ she said as they broke apart, resting their foreheads together.

He held her close. ‘Bahebek, jamilati.’

‘What does that mean, Farid? I know it isn’t Merry Christmas.’

‘I love you.’

‘What?’ She pulled back and stared at him.

‘Please. I’m sorry if that’s not what you wanted to hear, but that’s how I feel. That’s how I’ve felt for a long time.’

‘That’s what you’ve been saying to me?’

‘Yes. And why not? I love you, Holly. Why is it so bad an idea that we stay here together? Wouldn’t you stay? We could try – see what it’s like, even for a little while. This could be our home, together.’

She shook her head and backed away. ‘No, Farid. No.’ Her hands rose in front of her like a shield. ‘I told you already. That isn’t the life I want. I can’t.’

‘Why not? You wanted it before.’

‘I thought I did. But maybe that just showed me how stupid I was to want that. I’ve had so much more success in my life since letting go of all that.’

‘You succeed in life because you have skill, not because you gave up on love.’

‘What you feel isn’t love, it’s lust.’

‘Not true, Holly. I know the difference. I might not have the experience but I have a heart.’

‘I’m sorry, Farid. Now, please… I need to go to the bathroom.’

He watched her skim the edge of the dance floor on the side of the bar, avoiding where Georgia was at the table with her friends.

He ran his hands over his hair. What now? Go after her? Leave her alone? He’d played his last card and she ripped it into a hundred pieces. Lust? No. She was wrong. This was a lot more. His previous relationships might be non-existent but he was in touch with his own heart and knew his own feelings a lot better than her. The lights on the Christmas tree twinkled beside him, mocking his misplaced faith in himself, love and Holly.

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