Page 105 of Merrily Ever After
‘Surfing changed my life.’ Will’s eyes softened as if he was there in the water, the taste of salt on his lips. ‘When you surf, you’re in the moment, your focus has to be right there in your body. If you let your mind wander even for a second, whoosh, you’re down. It builds strength and confidence and self-belief. It’s great for your mental health. What kid can’t use a bit of that?’
She shook her head. ‘Wow.’
‘I know. Fantasy, right?’ He pulled a face.
‘Not at all. You’re a very special man, Will. And because of that’ – she handed him the last decoration reverently – ‘you get to put the star on the tree.’
‘I am honoured,’ he said with a bow.
He lifted the star in both hands as if he was holding a trophy and placed it on top of the tree.
Will turned off all the lamps in the room and Emily bent down to the switch beside the tree and flicked on the Christmas lights.
‘Merry Christmas,’ she said, holding out a hand to him.
‘To you too.’
Wordlessly, they moved into each other’s arms and kissed. She’d known this beautiful man for only a month, things were moving fast, faster than she would normally be comfortable with, but it felt right, and he felt right in her arms. It was far too soon to tell him how she felt. So she wouldn’t, not just yet.
‘It’s with the greatest regret,’ she said, tearing herself away from him, ‘that I’m going to have to stop you there. And ask you a serious question.’
‘OK.’ He gave her a bemused look.
She grabbed the gift she’d bought to take to Merry and Cole’s, a wooden carving of two lovebirds, and grinned at him. ‘Are you ready to party? Because I am.’
Chapter Thirty-Four
Merry
I slithered into my sparkly dress, the satin cool against my skin. I’d only just arrived home after getting caught up at work, and Cole, understandably, had been unimpressed at having to do all the party preparations by himself.
In my defence, I was late because I might have found someone to work at Merry and Bright. A girl called Bella had responded to the advertisement I’d placed in the window. She was studying for her master’s degree in marketing and needed to earn some money to make her student loan go further. The downside was that she was only interested in part-time hours, and I was fixed on wanting someone full-time. But she’d had some great ideas, which meant I lost track of the time and was late getting home.
There was a zip at the back of the dress and buttons which I couldn’t do up without Cole’s help. I left them open, then added some big silver hoop earrings, a spritz of perfume, and put my feet into my shoes. I was ready in the nick of time, the party was due to start in a few minutes. I’d even beat Cole for once, who was in the bathroom downstairs.
Music was playing softly in the living room and the smell of warming mulled wine permeated the whole house. Neither of us liked the taste, but everyone else I knewdid and for the aroma alone it was a Christmas must-have. The kitchen table was groaning with food and rows of glasses stood to attention on the side. We’d decided against a formal dinner in the end; it was going to be a buffet and mingle party instead. There wasn’t enough room to seat everyone in the kitchen for one thing, and the more people I invited, the less I wanted to cook a proper meal. Besides, tonight had always been about spending time with my favourite people before the wedding and not about food, and now it had a new and exciting purpose – to introduce my sister to everyone.
I shivered with delight and made my way downstairs, admiring our home-made garland, consisting of tinsel (Freya) and faux eucalyptus (me). Holly Cottage looked gorgeous. I’d gone to town on Christmas decorations this year, assisted by Freya whose enthusiasm for all things sparkly knew no bounds, and Holly Cottage bristled with our festive flair.
I was checking myself in the hall mirror for smudged mascara when I heard a car pull up.
‘Cole, there’s someone here already!’ I called, tottering through the kitchen to the bathroom as fast as I could. ‘I need your help.’
It was probably Nell, who liked to arrive early. And if it was Nell, it shouldn’t matter, I should just open the door and let her do me up, but …
Tonight felt different. This was our first party, mine and Cole’s. Holly Cottage might only have been rented, but it was the first place I’d ever felt truly at home. And now I thought about it, I’d never hosted a proper adult party before.
And that was why I didn’t want to answer the door with my underwear on display.
Cole opened the bathroom door wearing his boxer shorts. ‘Our next house has to have an upstairs bathroom. I left my trousers upstairs again.’
‘Um, yes, so you did.’ I tried not to look at his thighs. He had lovely thighs, they were one of my favourite parts of him, second only to his arms. I did like muscular arms, I especially liked trailing my fingers down them.
‘You wanted help?’ He waved a hand in front of my face, grinning at me.
‘Yes, quick! My zip.’ I yelped as Cole unzipped it all the way down to my bottom and pressed a languid kiss to my spine. ‘Wrong direction!’
‘That’s a matter of opinion,’ he said huskily. ‘You look sensational by the way.’
