by June Gadsby
“Hello, hello, hello! And a very Merry Christmas to one and all!” Rob, dressed as Jojo, burst into their midst and there was much laughter, especially from Anna, who flew to join him and plant a kiss on his bulbous red nose. His ears lit up immediately and her happy giggles were like the sound of fairy bells to Sally’s ears.
“Daddy, is it all right for Jojo and me to ride the carousel?” Anna wanted to know, already pulling Rob in that direction.
“I guess it’s okay, isn’t it, Sally?” Gavin was there by her side, he was smiling down at her and his hand was fumbling for hers and she was blushing madly.
“Yes – um – yes, of course. I’ll just start it off.”
“No need, dear lady,” Jojo pronounced, holding up his big white-gloved hands. “Jojo can do it. Now, princess! Which stallion shall we ride?”
“The unicorn!” Anna jumped up and down in her excitement, clapping her small, chubby hands together.
“Then the unicorn it is. Allez-up!” Rob lifted Anna onto her mount and climbed up behind her with a wink to the others and an encouraging finger that told them to do likewise.
Sally and Gavin laughed to see the whole gathering scrambling to get up onto the slowly moving horses until there was only one horse left vacant.
“Daddy! Sally! Come on! You too!”
Sally glanced up at Gavin and found his eyes already on her and they seemed to be burning into her heart and mind.
“Shall we join them, Sally?” Gavin asked and she nodded, feeling her cheeks burn as he picked her up bodily and almost threw her onto the galloping white stallion with the red and gold crown and the royal blue saddle.
The carousel was gathering momentum, the music getting faster and louder. Suddenly, with one easy leap like a cowboy mounting his horse, Gavin was there behind her, so close that they might almost be one. One arm came around her waist, while the other gripped the reins.
Sally felt herself rise and fall in undulating movements as the carousel swept around and around. Her head was swimming, but it wasn’t just because of the punch or the ride.
Gavin leaned forward, putting his face hard against hers. “I could get used to this!” he shouted in her ear. “How about you?”
“I – I’m not sure – I….I need time to get acclimatised….”
“I’m prepared to wait, Sally – if you’ll promise to get acclimatised to me – and to Anna.” Sally could do nothing but breathe deeply and try to control the mad beating of her heart, which he must surely feel through the silk sweater she was wearing. “Do I have to spell it out, Sally? We both love you, Anna and I. Now, do you understand what I’m trying to say to you?”
Sally was suddenly aware that the carousel had stopped and so had the music, yet it all still seemed to be going on in her head.
“Oh, dear!” She laughed, a light, embarrassed sound. “It’s funny, but I could swear I’m still going around and up and down and I feel so light-headed…”
“Me too,” Gavin murmured against her ear as his arms tightened around her from behind. His mouth nuzzled her neck, giving her tiny butterfly kisses, his hands slowly but surely started exploring her breasts.
Sally came to in a blinding flash, then realised that they were alone. The others had tactfully withdrawn to the flat upstairs. No doubt Bella and the girls were checking on the turkey and organising the first course. Stephen would be opening the champagne and Jojo would be turning himself back into Rob. Sally would be waiting impatiently…
“I don’t know…” Sally started to speak, but Gavin had her face in his hands and was turning her so he could find her mouth and his was hungry and she had never felt like this before.
“Admit it, Sally,” he was saying against her lips. “Admit that you felt exactly like me the first time we met. Oh, my God, I’ve never wanted any woman more. Tell me you felt the same for me.”
Sally groaned. How could she deny it? “Oh, yes, Gavin! Yes!”
Almost as if by magic, the hurdy-gurdy Christmas music started up again and the undulating movement of the white stallion beneath them took them soaring higher and higher.
The End
June Gadsby books published by Books We Love
When Tomorrow Comes
To the Ends of the Earth
Glory Girls
A Touch of Magic
The Rose Carousel
Voices of the Morning
The Ironmaster
The Real Thing
The Jealous Land
Rosa
June Gadsby, author of multi-genre novels – historic, romantic suspense, wartime thrillers.
A miner’s grand-daughter, child of a broken marriage from the north-east of England, June stunned everybody when, at the age of eight she announced that she was going to be an ‘author’, rather than the artist they all thought she would rather be.
June had three passions that got her through those early years and they remain her passions even now. Writing, art and books. She never gave up hope of being a published novelist, despite repeated warnings that that she would never make it. Writing and painting were, they said, nice little hobbies, but unsociable pursuits that would get her nowhere.
Undaunted, June kept the painting as a hobby [though she sold quite a lot of paintings along the way] and kept writing, story after story, book after book, submitted them, got the proverbial rejection slip, though many publishers wrote personally to say that she was, in fact, a good writer, but… In the space of ten years June saw 23 books published and the reviews were rewardingly good.
She has now signed with BWL Publishing to publish her novels in digital and soft cover and, best of all, she is writing again and heading in the direction she has always wanted to go – psychological thrillers – but always with touches of romance and humour.
“I’m a romantic,” says June.
“And, above all, my sense of humour will always keep me going, no matter what.”