Owen smiled, mopping up some of the tears with his thumb. ‘Zoe’s fine. And Stella and Simon will be, too, I’m sure. But I don’t want to talk about them right now.’
‘Oh?’ Her pulse skittered. ‘What do you want to do?’
‘I want to grab a drink from the bar and meet your friends.’ Her face must have looked a picture because he grinned. The wide, easy, sexy grin she’d never see enough of. ‘Bloody hell, Gabby, if you think having a drink with your friends is at the top of my mind right now, you still have a lot to learn about me.’
Laughing with relief, with happiness, Gabby reached for his belt. ‘Actually, I think I know you quite well.’
His eyes burned into hers. ‘You do, huh?’
She smirked as his breathing quickened when her hands slid under his shirt. ‘Your bag is in the car because you were sure you’d end up staying the night with me.’
‘Not sure. Hoped.’ His body shuddered as her fingers trailed over his rock-hard abs. ‘I’m an optimist.’
‘I know that. Just as I know that even without actually meeting my friends, you’ve already managed to convince them you’re a good catch.’
‘I’m persuasive.’ He drew in a sharp breath as her fingers dipped below the waistband of his jeans. ‘And charming,’ he added huskily. ‘Don’t forget charming.’
‘How can I forget, when you constantly remind me.’ Desire pulsed through her as she slipped open the button on his fly. ‘Want to know what else I know about you?’
‘Yes.’
It came out as more of a groan and Gabby let out a satisfied smile. ‘I know that any minute now your control will slip and you’ll pick me up, throw me on the bed and—’
She didn’t have a chance to say anything more. The next moment she was flat on her back on the bed, his body covering hers, his eyes blazing down at her. ‘You, Gabriela Sanderson, are going to drive me crazy.’
She smiled up at him. ‘And you, Owen Cooper, are going to enjoy every minute of it.’
Slowly his mouth moved towards hers, stopping a whisker away. ‘Amen to that. Now shut up and let me kiss you.’
Gabby placed a hand on either side of his beautiful face. ‘No. Let me, kiss you.’
The breath from his laughter floated across her face. ‘I tell you what, let’s kiss each other.’
Epilogue
His dad was driving him mad. How many times had Owen told him to put his damn suit on? But when he popped his head round the door to his dad’s hotel room there he was, still in his dressing gown, playing cards with Zoe.
‘Dad, I’m getting married in forty minutes. Did you hear that? You’re giving Gabby away to me in forty bloody minutes.’
Zoe’s eyes popped out of her head. ‘You said bloody.’
‘Did I?’ Feeling frazzled, Owen jammed his hand through his hair, belatedly realising he’d tried to smooth it down with wax only five minutes ago. ‘Sorry, Zoe. But I suggest if you don’t want to hear any more bad words, you go and find your mum and get your bridesmaid dress on. Or am I the only one who’s going to be ready for this wedding on time?’
Zoe glanced at his dad, who shrugged, though his eyes twinkled. ‘What do you reckon, Zoe. Is our Owen getting a teeny bit nervous?’
Zoe started to giggle and Owen glared at his dad. ‘I’m not bl— I’m not nervous. What is there to be nervous about? I’m marrying the woman I love. In front of our family and closest friends. And two dogs, apparently, but hey, that’s fine. I’m sure they’ll be perfectly well behaved. I’m sure nothing will go wrong. Nothing at all.’
Shit, he didn’t need his dad’s highly amused look to tell him he was rambling. Owen tugged on the collar of his shirt, which suddenly felt too tight. But at least he was damn well dressed.
Obviously taking pity on him, his father nudged Zoe. ‘Probably about time you put your dress on, before Owen here has a wobbly.’
‘Okay, Gramps.’ She rose to her feet and rushed over to Owen, flinging her arms around his waist. ‘Don’t be nervous, Owen. Gabby isn’t.’
Owen’s heart bounced. ‘You’ve seen her? This morning?’
Zoe rolled her eyes. ‘Duh, of course. I’m her bridesmaid.’
‘And she looks like she wants to do this?’ Immediately he let out a strangled noise. ‘What I meant to say is, does she look happy?’
Zoe grinned. ‘She looks well pretty. Just you wait and see.’
As she skipped out, Owen felt his father’s eyes on him. ‘Don’t say anything,’ he muttered. ‘Just get dressed. I’ll be in the next room.’
His father stood and walked over to him, clasping his shoulder. ‘I take it the nervous groom act isn’t because you’re not sure you want to get married?’
‘Me not sure?’ That strange noise came out of him again, like laughter only with an edge of hysteria, and without the amusement. ‘I’ve never been more sure of anything.’
‘You think Gabby isn’t?’
Restlessly he shoved at his hair again, wincing as he felt the wax. Damn, if he kept this up he was going to look like he’d been wrestling a bear in his wedding photos. Slowly he inhaled. Yeah, that was better. He was thinking more positively. For there to be wedding photos, there had to have been a wedding.
‘Owen? Has anything happened between you and Gabby arriving at this fine hotel last night, cooing over each other like a pair of loved-up doves, and now?’
If his father put it like that. ‘No.’
‘But you’re worried she’s going to get cold feet?’
His dad’s tone had gentled, obviously seeing the state Owen had got himself into. ‘You don’t know how hard it was for me to get her to even come on a date with me. How skittish she’s been.’
His father squeezed his shoulder. ‘That was last year. Did she or did she not happily agree to your proposal at Easter?’
‘She did, but we were in the Maldives. And she’d had a lot of champagne.’ Which was why he’d dared to risk asking her.
‘Did she or did she not phone Faith and organise your wedding in this fine Old Mill Hotel two months later?’
Owen swallowed. ‘She did.’ She’d wanted intimate. A place she felt a connection to, and a handful of friends and family.
‘And did you have to cajole her to come here yesterday, in preparation for your wedding today, or did she come of her own free will?’
‘She wasn’t happy about coming in my car.’ He’d not been about to drive off on his honeymoon in a daft TT when he had a far superior car. ‘But she did seem happy, yes.’
His dad grinned, punching him on the arm. ‘Then pull yourself together, lad. You’re getting married in half an hour.’
Owen’s eyes widened in horror. ‘Shit, Dad, half an hour and you’re still in your ruddy dressing gown.’
Sidney chuckled. ‘I don’t know about you young un’s but it doesn’t take us oldies long to get ready.’ He started to walk towards the bathroom, then stopped and turned. ‘Your mum would have loved today. She’d be so proud of you, lad.’
A lump flew into Owen’s throat. ‘Thank you.’ Then, because he’d had enough moping on his wedding day, he clapped his hands. ‘Now get in the bloody shower or I’ll send Hilda in.’
He’d never seen his dad move so quick. It always made Owen smile to watch the pair of them together. They’d started having the occasional lunch out in February. Then it had moved to dinners, too. And the theatre. Gradually his dad was getting his mojo back. And Hilda was mellowing.
Didn’t mean she couldn’t still turn stern and officious when she wanted something done.
Feeling a lot calmer, Owen went to tap on Stella’s door.
‘Hey. Just checking you’re on schedule.’
Stella raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘You mean you got ready too soon and now you’re pacing around, wondering what to do.’
He smiled. ‘Something like that.’
‘Well, come on in. Simon’s in the bar and Zoe’s in the bathroom, putting her dress on.’ He was aware of
her eyes studying him as he went to sit in the only available chair. ‘You look good, Owen Cooper.’
His eyes skimmed across her turquoise silk dress and up to her carefully styled, highlighted blonde hair. ‘You too.’
She bit into her lip. ‘It’s funny to think that in an hour, you’ll be married.’ As Owen didn’t know what to say to that, he kept quiet. ‘Do you think if instead of getting all impatient, I’d waited for you, we’d have worked out?’
‘We weren’t right for each other, Stella, not for the long haul, and you know it. Simon is a much better fit for you.’
‘True. And you never once looked at me the way you do at Gabby. She’s a lucky girl.’
‘I’m the lucky one.’ He leant forward, hands on his knees, and spoke the next words carefully. ‘You are too, you know. Zoe is amazing. You’ve done such a good job of bringing her up. And she’s happier now than I’ve ever seen her, so I know you and Simon are working out.’
Stella smiled, and whatever else she was going to say was halted by the appearance of Zoe. The soft pink dress was perfect for her, Owen thought with a rush of love. Not too flouncy, or too prissy. It was simple, yet pretty. And that, together with the wide grin splitting her face, made his heart miss a beat.
‘She’s your daughter in everything but DNA,’ Stella whispered as Zoe did a twirl for them.
Christ, now tears were in his eyes. If he was reacting like this to Zoe, heaven help him when he saw Gabby.
‘You look stunning.’
Gabby turned to see her mother smiling at her. There was admiration in her expression. Admiration and something that looked a lot like she’d imagined a mother’s love might look. They’d grown close over the last six months, helped by her mum’s move up North. Now she only lived five minutes away from Gabby – or more correctly, from Owen and Gabby, as she’d moved in with him after he’d proposed. Her mum still worked for the charity, but she did her work locally. And came round to dinner every Sunday, along with Sidney.
‘Thank you.’ She glanced down at the long, cream lace dress she was wearing. ‘You look pretty amazing yourself.’ Her mum’s elegant sheath dress emphasised her trim figure. ‘I’m glad you went for red, considering I was banned from it.’ Owen had baulked at the idea of his bride to be in a red dress. Who knew he’d be such a traditionalist when it came to weddings? She had a feeling he’d have gone for the whole big white wedding if she’d let him, but the Old Mill Hotel suited Gabby just fine. She didn’t want a load of people she hardly knew watching her marry the man she’d defied her own expectations and fallen in love with. She wanted only those who’d been part of their incredible journey.
And amazingly, one of those was her mother. Realising it was time, Gabby drew in a breath. ‘I need to say this quickly, because I don’t want to cry.’
Her mother looked surprised. ‘What?’
‘I love you, Mum.’ As the shock raced across her mother’s face, Gabby added. ‘Everything in the past, it’s forgotten and forgiven. I’m just happy you’ll be part of my future.’
‘Oh, Gabby.’ Her mum swallowed, eyes brimming with unshed tears. ‘You have no idea how much that means to me.’
She did now, Gabby thought, but just as emotion threatened to overwhelm them both, they were disturbed by a tap on the door. Knowing who it would be, Gabby opened the door in a rush. ‘Sidney. Right on time.’
Her soon to be father-in-law grinned. ‘Of course. Didn’t need Owen getting his knickers in a twist about it.’
‘Oh dear, is he getting stage fright?’
‘Only about whether you’ll turn up, lass. Only about that.’
Her heart twisted. Confident, bordering on cocky, except when it came to matters of the heart, she’d discovered. Her backing away from him, twice, last Christmas had done more damage than she’d thought. Now she couldn’t wait to get married to him, to prove once and for all how much she loved him. And how far she’d come from the prickly, independent woman he’d first charmed into dating all those months ago.
‘Then we’d better get a move on before he worries himself into a frazzle.’
Zoe popped her pretty blonde head from behind Sidney. ‘He was so nervous he said bloody in front of me.’ She grinned. ‘He’s funny when he’s nervous.’
She patted Zoe’s cheek. ‘I bet he is. But if you’re ready, I think it’s time we put him out of his misery.’
Sidney held out his arm, and Gabby threaded her hand through. From having no family, except for a distant mother, she’d gone to having a surrogate daughter and father … and her own mother back.
Now it was time to complete the picture, and bag herself the husband she thought she’d never want.
The wedding ceremony took place in the hall of the Old Mill. Something of a tradition now, as it was where Faith and Adam had got married two years ago.
Keeping with the tradition, Nip and Tuck were honorary page dogs. It apparently meant they got to scamper around, creating havoc, yet also look very dashing in their blue bow ties.
Gabby couldn’t stop smiling as she and Sidney, with Zoe and her mother behind them, walked towards the small group of special friends. There was Faith and Adam, of course, sitting next to the other two Lancaster lasses. Cindy was there with her husband, too, beaming at her, and sitting next to them was Hilda, her face looking happier than Gabby had ever seen it. Whether that was for her, or for Sidney, she didn’t know. Standing at the front was Owen’s sister and her young family. Then came the registrar and to the side of her, Pierre, Owen’s brother-in-law and best man. Finally, there was Owen.
Suddenly the heart that had been beating wildly in her chest, leapt into her throat, and she stumbled. Sidney clenched her arm, keeping her upright. His eyes asked the question. Everything okay?
She tried to smile back, but felt too full of emotion, of love, of bloody-hell-this-is-really-happening. This man is mine.
Her gaze locked on Owen’s, and she was dazzled by the love that blazed back at her. Resplendent in his expensively tailored charcoal suit, white shirt and red tie, he looked like the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.
And then he smiled and held out his hand. In an undignified haste she marched towards him, leaving Sidney, Zoe and her mother behind, and making everyone laugh.
‘I have no words.’ He grasped her hand, moving it towards his mouth to kiss the palm, just as he had the night she’d first cooked for him. ‘You’re breathtaking.’ Reaching into his pocket he drew out a stunning necklace, twinkling with deep red rubies.
‘Oh God, Owen.’ No, she wasn’t going to cry on her flaming wedding day.
‘To match.’ His eyes flickered down to her wrist, and the beautiful bracelet he’d bought her for Christmas. ‘I was going to get Dad to give it to you this morning, but he was late getting ready.’ He gave her a wonderfully sheepish smile. ‘And I forgot.’
She couldn’t resist. ‘Because you’d worked yourself into a state, worrying whether I’d get cold feet.’
If anything, his expression grew even more sheepish. ‘Maybe.’
‘You daft, crazy man. Have you no idea how much I love you?’
His eyes turned bluer, a sheen of unshed tears making them glisten. ‘I do now.’
* The End *
We would love to hear how you enjoyed A Little Christmas Charm. Please leave a review on the eBook store where you purchased this novel. Reviews on retail sites really do help the author. Thank you!
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Thank You
from Kathryn Freeman
I get so much pleasure out of writing a book – spending months in a fantasy world with my perfect hero, what’s not to love?! The greatest pleasure though, comes from hearing that others have enjoyed the fantasy I’ve created. I’m not alone in that. Authors love feedback – it can inspire, motivate, help us improve. It can also help spread the word. So if you feel inclined to leave a review, I would be really grateful. And if you’d like to contact me (details are un
der my author profile) I’d be delighted to hear from you.
Kathryn
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About the Author
Kathryn was born in Wallingford, England but has spent most of her life living in a village near Windsor. After studying pharmacy in Brighton she began her working life as a retail pharmacist. She quickly realised that trying to decipher doctors’ handwriting wasn’t for her and left to join the pharmaceutical industry where she spent twenty happy years working in medical communications. In 2011, backed by her family, she left the world of pharmaceutical science to begin life as a self-employed writer, juggling the two disciplines of medical writing and romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero …
With two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to bother buying a card again this year (yes, he does) the romance in her life is all in her head. Then again, her husband’s unstinting support of her career change goes to prove that love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes can come in many disguises.
For more information on Kathryn:
www.twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1
www.kathrynfreeman.co.uk
See all Kathryn’s novels next …
More Choc Lit
From Kathryn Freeman
A Little Christmas Faith
Book 1 – Christmas Wishes
Is it time to love Christmas again?
Faith Watkins loves Christmas, which is why she’s thrilled that her new hotel in the Lake District will be open in time for the festive season. And Faith has gone all out: huge Christmas tree, fairy lights, an entire family of decorative reindeer. Now all she needs are the guests …
But what she didn’t bank on was her first paying customer being someone like Adam Hunter. Rugged, powerfully built and with a deep sadness in his eyes, Adam is a man that Faith is immediately drawn to – but unfortunately he also has an intense hatred of all things Christmassy.
A Little Christmas Charm Page 22