She drew in a breath, let it out slowly. ‘Sorry.’
He smiled into her eyes. ‘This is the best Christmas present I’ve ever had.’
‘Seriously?’
His mouth dipped towards hers, and he kissed her gently. ‘How could you possibly doubt that two nights away with you would be anything other than the perfect gift?’ He kissed her again. ‘Though two weeks would have been better.’
He proceeded to effectively – and rather fabulously – silence any protest she’d been about to make.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Boxing Day
Owen thought he might die laughing. The sight of Gabby and Zoe holding hands and wobbling around on their roller blades was too much for him.
His girls, he thought, as love rushed into his heart, leaving him ridiculously, blissfully happy. The only flaw to this otherwise perfect feeling was that neither of them were really his. Zoe was borrowed, and who knew whether her mother would keep to her word and allow him to see her regularly again?
As for Gabby, he was hers, no question. He’d taken the ultimate plunge, fallen so deeply in love he knew there was no way back. But she wasn’t his, not yet at least. Ever cautious, she was playing her cards very close to her chest and seemed to be in no hurry to reveal her hand. It hurt, he couldn’t pretend otherwise, but it wasn’t like he had a choice in the matter. Who you fell in love with was one of life’s great mysteries; at times its greatest curse, at others its most magnificent achievement. At least now he knew the difference between love, and ‘Love’. His twenty-four-year-old self had loved Stella. His thirty-two-year-old self had finally fallen in ‘Love’.
‘Aren’t you supposed to be teaching us?’ Gabby’s voice cut through his thoughts. ‘Or was your boast about being brilliant at roller blading all puff and no substance?’
‘Puff?’ He forced himself out of his head. ‘I’ll give you puff.’ In a manoeuvre that could only be called showboating, he speed skated away before gliding effortlessly back to them, adding a few step-overs for good measure.
‘Show off,’ Gabby muttered, causing Zoe to giggle. ‘And that’s hardly helping us learn.’
‘No,’ he conceded, bending to kiss her nose. ‘But it is impressing the hell out of you.’ Before she had a chance to give him the put down his comment deserved, he took both her and Zoe’s hands. ‘Now, lesson one. How to find your balance.’
An hour later and they’d both started to get the hang of it, Zoe declaring the roller blades her best present, ever.
‘How about you,’ he whispered to Gabby as they strolled back to the car. Zoe was ahead of them, still skating. ‘Best present ever?’
‘They were good, but not that good.’
‘Hey, give them a chance. When you’re as awesome as me, you’ll love them.’
She shook her head at him. ‘I don’t know how your neck supports that huge head of yours.’
‘That’s one of the reasons you and me work. You bring me down to earth.’ She gave him a quick sidelong glance but didn’t say anything. Frustration bubbled but he resisted the urge to grab her by the shoulders and tell her to stop being so scared. Instead he forced a smile on his face and returned to the previous conversation. ‘What is your best present ever, then?’ When she hesitated, he took hold of her hand. ‘I don’t want the careful reply, Gabby. This isn’t the winning question on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? You don’t need to think when you’re talking to me.’
Her eyes met and held his. ‘My sweets,’ she answered quietly. ‘They’re the best present I’ve ever had.’
Emotion balled, jamming into the back of his throat. First the hotel gift, now this admission. She was scared but she was trying. Which meant he could keep hoping. ‘Good to know.’ He dropped a soft kiss on her forehead. ‘I think I already told you mine.’
‘Do you think your dad will be well enough to go home by then?’
He wanted to say yes, of course, but the memory of the disaster of their last planned holiday made him hesitate. No more making promises he might not be able to keep. ‘I believe so. I hope so.’ A massive understatement. ‘Tell me about this hotel we’re staying in. You said you know the owner?’
‘I do, Faith Watkins.’ A soft expression entered her eyes and Owen knew immediately that Faith was important to Gabby. ‘I should say Faith Hunter now, because she got married two years ago. We went to university together.’
‘She’s a Ladette?’
Gabby nodded. ‘She bought the hotel a few years ago and Adam, her husband, was her first guest.’ Gabby sighed. ‘So romantic.’
For some bizarre reason, Owen felt a dart of jealousy. ‘More romantic than meeting at a coffee machine in the office of a large sweet manufacturer?’
Her eyes scanned his face. ‘You remember our first meeting?’
‘Of course I do. I knew who you were – my spies had told me the new marketing director was a knock-out brunette.’ He paused, drinking in her soulful brown eyes, her warm olive skin. ‘For once the build-up wasn’t as good as the reality. You didn’t have a clue who I was.’
‘Wrong.’ She gave his chest a playful prod. ‘I knew you had to be in sales. You asked me if I’d tried the new sherbet range before you even asked my name.’
He couldn’t help but grin back at her. ‘Sounds like you remember our first meeting, too. We must have made quite the impression on each other.’
‘Umm, one way or another.’ But she smiled as she said it, and when he bent to kiss her, she moved towards him, closing the gap.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Four days after Christmas
Gabby woke up in Owen’s bed. It was starting to become a habit. Automatically she pressed a hand to her stomach, feeling for the knot of tension. Sure enough, there it was. Smaller than she’d expected though, and largely overshadowed by the feeling of belonging, of happiness, as she stared at Owen’s sleeping form. When he slept, blond hair a mess around his face, he had the look of an angel. A sexy, handsome angel.
An angel who’d told her he loved her.
An angel, God help her, she thought she was falling for.
The last few days, all of them spent with Owen, had been the happiest of her life. Even sharing him with Zoe hadn’t dimmed the enjoyment – irrepressible, sweet, it was easy for Gabby to see how Owen had become so attached to her. Yesterday she’d even caught herself wondering what it would be like to have a child of her own one day.
And then there was Sidney, Owen’s dad. A few weeks ago she’d gone into full-blown panic over the thought of meeting him. Now she’d shared a pub lunch with him, cooked with him, spent the last four evenings with him. And it had all felt so natural.
But this wasn’t her life, she had to remind herself. It was a holiday. They might not have been in the sun, but that’s what it was. And it was easy, and dangerous, to get carried away with a holiday romance.
‘Hey.’ She felt the gentle press of his hand on her face. ‘What are you cooking up in that head of yours?’
It was time to retreat. To collect her thoughts for two days before they became muddled again when they went away for New Year. ‘I was just thinking I should head home today.’
His face fell. ‘Why?’
‘I have a house that’s been abandoned, things to sort out. Washing to do. Plus we’re going away in two days. I need to pack again.’
‘I can do all that with you.’
‘No.’ It was too sharp. She took a breath, and pushed down the jitters. ‘These last few days have been wonderful, truly, but …’ How to say it without hurting him? ‘I need some breathing space,’ she added softly. ‘And you need some time alone with Zoe, and your dad, before they go home.’
He stretched out onto his back, his naked chest rising and falling as he sighed. ‘Okay.’
She felt the tug on her heart. This man, this funny, kind, gorgeous man, had stuck his neck out by telling her how he felt. All she’d given him in return was a few days of her time. And even that she w
as taking away.
But if she was ever going to say his words back to him, and dear God, she wanted to, she needed to be sure. And she couldn’t be sure if she felt trapped.
‘Perhaps it was just as well we didn’t go on holiday together,’ he remarked as he threw the covers back and climbed out of bed.
‘What do you mean?’
His abdominal muscles rippled as he shrugged a T-shirt over his head. ‘Seems four days with me is your limit.’ As his eyes met hers, he didn’t try to disguise how hurt he was feeling.
‘That’s not fair,’ she countered. It was the reverse; being with him felt too good. She needed to get away and find some perspective. ‘I told you, I have a house I’ve abandoned. And Zoe must be dying for time alone with you.’
He laughed humourlessly as he pulled on his jeans. ‘Using Zoe as your excuse is a low blow, Gabby. I’ll go and get the breakfast started. Unless you’re planning on disappearing right away?’
He’s disappointed, she reminded herself, as her temper started to flare. ‘I’m not disappearing. I’m going home to get my life in order.’
‘You’re going home to hide from what you’re starting to feel,’ he snapped back, then cursed, slamming his hand against the wall. ‘Sorry. That was out of line.’ Silence crackled between them and Owen ran a hand through his hair, staring down at his feet before finally looking back at her. ‘Will you have a bacon sandwich with us before you go?’
‘That sounds good.’ She couldn’t shake the stiffness from her voice. ‘Thank you.’
He nodded and disappeared out of the room, shutting the door firmly behind him.
Well, that went well. With a sigh, she flopped back onto the bed. Definitely time to retreat. It was scary enough knowing she held her own happiness in her hands. Absolutely terrifying to realise she was responsible for his, too.
When it was time for her to go, Gabby felt uncharacteristically emotional. It was only when she’d given both Zoe and Sidney a hug, and been hugged back even tighter, that she realised why. These last few days, she’d felt like part of a family.
‘Don’t be a stranger now,’ Sidney said gruffly, squeezing her hand. ‘And you don’t have to wait for this man to bring you to see me. You can come by yourself. Clarissa and I will be happy to welcome you.’
Why was she so tearful? She barely knew Owen’s dad, yet there was something in the way he looked at her, with fondness, with affection, that drew long buried feelings out of her. What would it have been like to have a father? To be part of a traditional family, like Owen’s, where the parents loved each other? And showered love on their children?
‘Thank you,’ she whispered, placing her hand over his. ‘I might just do that.’
‘And you have to see me.’ Zoe pulled at her other arm. ‘We need to go roller blading again.’
Gabby laughed through the tightness in her throat. ‘We will. I promise to practice if you do.’ She glanced over at Owen, who was watching intensely. ‘Soon we’ll be better than Owen.’
Zoe giggled and gave her a final hug. Then it was left to Owen to see her out.
‘So.’ She moved towards him, but a sudden bolt of nerves had her stepping back. Stupid; she’d made love to this man every morning and every evening for the last few days, and now she was too scared to kiss him? ‘I’ll see you in two days.’
Owen had no such hesitation. In a flash he had her pinned to the wall, his mouth plundering hers as he pushed his hips against her. ‘Don’t miss me too much,’ he said roughly as he let her go.
With her lips tingling and her body humming, she staggered to her car. He’d made his point, she acknowledged as she fell into the driver’s seat.
She was missing him already and she hadn’t even left.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
New Year’s Eve
It was, admittedly, the third time he’d asked his dad if he was okay, but still, Owen didn’t think he deserved the rolling eyes treatment.
‘For Pete’s sake, stop fussing, lad. I told you yesterday, and I’ll tell you again today, for the third time. I’m perfectly capable of managing on my own.’
‘You’re sure?’
The words were out before he could stop them, and the look on his dad’s face was so comical, Zoe started to giggle.
‘Did you drop me home yesterday?’
Owen frowned, not quite sure where this was going, so Zoe answered for him. ‘Yes we did, Gramps.’
His dad’s eyes lit up at the term, as they always did. ‘Thank you, young Zoe. Now then, was I still in one piece when you called on me this morning?’
She giggled again. ‘Yes.’
‘Was I out of bed, dressed, looked like I’ve had a shower?’
‘Okay, okay,’ Owen cut in. ‘You’ve made your point.’
His father relented then, his expression softening. ‘I know you’re only looking out for me, lad, and trust me, I appreciate it.’ He clasped Owen by the shoulder. ‘Even when I’m being a grumpy git.’
‘Gramps, git isn’t a nice word.’
His dad smiled and ruffled Zoe’s hair. ‘No, it isn’t. I should have said grumpy old man.’
‘But you’re not old. Not really. Not like the Queen is old.’
Owen watched his father chuckle and felt a rush of nostalgia. This is the dad he knew. The one he’d grown up with, until fate had cruelly intervened.
Zoe ran off to feed the hens one last time, and his father gave him a keen study. ‘Out with it, lad. What’s on your mind?’
‘I was just thinking how much better you’ve seemed this last week. Maybe a dose of the women; Zoe, Hilda, Gabby, has done you good.’
‘Aye, maybe it has.’ His eyes drifted outside, to where Zoe was talking to the hens. ‘I’ve missed the company of women.’
‘You’ll need to get yourself to France and see Alice when you’re feeling up to it.’
‘I will.’ In a gesture that shocked Owen, his father grabbed him by the shoulders and gave him a quick, tight hug. ‘Don’t think I don’t know how much you’ve done for me, son. I wouldn’t be standing here considering a trip to France, planning a lunch date with Hilda, if it wasn’t for you.’
Bam, Owen felt tears prick his eyes. ‘Lunch, eh?’ he managed to squeeze out.
‘Thought I’d start slow.’ He darted Owen a look. ‘You all right with that?’
‘I’m more than all right with it. I’m proud of you. And Mum would be, too. She’d have hated to think of you moping around.’ He smiled. ‘Being a grumpy git.’
‘Aye, she would that.’ There was a moment of companionable silence while they both watched Zoe giggling as the hens darted towards the feed she was throwing. ‘How about you and Gabby? Any closer to winning her over?’
Unbidden, his body let out a long, deep sigh. ‘That’s the million dollar question.’
‘You say she booked this hotel stay for your Christmas present?’
‘Yep. Apparently she can only take a few days of me at a time.’ It was an unfair comment – she had needed to go home to sort things out, and he’d needed time alone with Zoe. But the hurt that she’d left him still felt raw. When he’d invited her to stay for Christmas, he’d meant the entire time. He’d not just felt short-changed when she’d darted back, he’d felt, yet again, that their relationship was uneven. He was all in, and she was still playing a slow, cautious game, the outcome a big unknown.
‘Maybe she needed time to think.’ His dad gave him a nudge. ‘Some people use their head, not their gut.’
Owen smiled sadly. ‘I was hoping she’d go with her heart.’
He was saved any further soul searching when Zoe flew into the kitchen; a dose of fresh air literally and metaphorically. ‘Right, we’d better get going. Stella and Simon are due in an hour.’
His dad bent down and kissed the top of Zoe’s head. ‘You take care now. Come back and visit us again soon.’
‘I will, Gramps.’ She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him.
Owen
knew his father was fighting back tears. Hell, he felt them himself, too. Saying goodbye to her was going to be a huge wrench. Thank God he was going away with Gabby and not staring at his empty four walls. Him, Gabby, a hotel room and a bottle of champagne.
Yeah, there was a lot to look forward to.
An hour later, he and Zoe were killing time playing cards. In the hallway were two packed bags; his and Zoe’s. As soon as Stella arrived to pick up Zoe, Owen would jump in his car and race round to Gabby’s.
Zoe heard the car before Owen did. She leapt to her feet and rushed to the door, flinging it open.
‘Mum!’
Owen slowly picked up the cards, giving them the moment they both needed. When he looked up, he stared at Stella and his heart sunk. Tears were rolling down her tanned cheeks.
‘What’s wrong?’
Stella wiped at her face. ‘Simon and I had a fight on the last day.’ A sob escaped her. ‘He stayed on. Said he needed a few days away from me.’ Tears were now streaming down her cheeks. ‘It was supposed to be our honeymoon.’ She lifted her red, puffy eyes to his. ‘I’m sorry but I’m going to need a lift home. We used Simon’s car to get to the airport. I paid for a taxi to come here but I can’t afford to get one all the way home.’
He glanced from Stella’s miserable face, to that of poor Zoe. She’d been so excited to see her mum. And now this. As his heart sank into his boots, he also thought of Gabby, waiting by the phone for him to tell her he was on his way.
For God’s sake, would nothing ever go right for them.
Gabby looked at her phone for the third time. Yes, it was on. No, it wasn’t on silent. Huffing out a breath she rose to her feet and walked to the kitchen to slap on the kettle. She knew Owen had to wait for Stella to pick up Zoe before he could leave. Flights were often delayed and besides, it was only two o’clock – only half an hour later than she’d expected him to phone her.
It didn’t stop the insecurities raising their ugly heads.
He’s forgotten. Unlikely, considering he’d phoned her only yesterday.
A Little Christmas Charm Page 20